An Obedient Spirit
Paul continues to talk about his attitudes and motives about doing ministry. In his introduction to the letter to the Roman believers, Paul gives us some marks of true spiritual service we would do well to study and use as a standard to measure our own service to God.
The apostle Paul did not preach or teach the Gospel because of personal reasons or because the calling seemed attractive. I have talked to some who went into full-time Christian service because their father was a pastor, or because they grew up being told they would be a preacher someday. Or someone may be a Sunday School teacher and their reason is, “nobody else would do it”. If it is not being done willingly, then it might be a questionable motive.
Now let’s look at what Paul said. The Gospel stirred Paul with a deep sense of indebtedness. He considers himself a debtor to the whole world. But why? Paul is a Jew. He was once a very proud Jew. What is different about Paul the Christian? First, Paul’s motives are different than they were.
I. Paul’s Motive for Service – obligation
A. Debtor – to owe, to be obligated, to be bound by duty
1. The Gk. is impossible to translate into English, for two ideas are being expressed by Paul. He was a “debtor”…
a. because Christ had done so much for him (saved him)
b. because Christ had called him to preach (given him a task to do)
2. Paul served God and others BECAUSE!
B. “The just because factor” What if we don’t feel like “doing” ministry? Every sincere pastor and Christian worker knows there are times when ministry is its own reward, when study, preparation, teaching, and shepherding are exhilarating in themselves. There are other times, however, when the work does not seem very attractive, and yet you still study, prepare, teach, and shepherd because you are under obligation to God and to those you are serving. Christ is our Lord and we are His servants; and it is a poor servant who serves only when he feels like it.
C. Paul’s two-fold duty
1. First, he was under obligation to God on behalf of the Gentiles. Because God had appointed him as a unique apostle to the Gentiles (Rom. 1:5; Acts 9:15), he was under divine obligation to minister the gospel to them.
2. Second, he had an obligation, or debt, to the Roman believers directly, because of their spiritual need. That is the kind of obligation a person has to someone whose house is on fire or who is drowning. When someone is in great danger and we are able to help, we are automatically and immediately under obligation to do what we can to save him. Because unbelieving Gentiles, like unbelieving Jews, face spiritual death, Paul was obligated to help rescue them through the gospel.
3. Paul wanted to get there soon. Paul exhibited instant obedience. “Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from Grace.” Thomas A Kempis
Question: Is obligation alone a good motive to serve God? Well, it’s a start. For it to fully please God there needs to be another element to our service.
II. Paul’s Manner of Service – willingly
A. Paul was willing to put shoe leather to his prayers. (v.10) As we mentioned while we were covering verse 10, there are many who would rather give than go. Who would rather pay for someone else to perform what is our responsibility. Paul was not only willing to pray for the Romans, he was willing to go to Rome and invest his life in evangelizing and encouraging the saints personally. Paul didn’t just talk and consider; he acted. Oswald Chambers has said, "One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it."
B. Paul was Obedient because he wanted to be. (1 Cor. 9:16-17)
1. He realized the consequences of doing nothing: people would spend an eternity in hell apart from Christ. He actually felt that he owed the gospel to the world; therefore, if he kept quiet, it would be worse than knowing the cure for the most terrible disease of history and refusing to share it. He did have a cure for the world, and he was willing to share it. (16)
I would like to read a quote that I found…
Obedience is seeking God with your whole heart. Performance is having a quiet time because you’ll feel guilty if you don’t.
Obedience is finding ways to let the Word of God dwell in you richly. Performance is quickly scanning a passage so you can check it off your Bible reading plan.
Obedience is inviting guests to your home for dinner. Performance is feeling anxiety about whether every detail of the meal will be perfect.
Obedience is following God’s prompting to start a small group. Performance is reluctance to let anyone else lead the group because they might not do it as well as you would.
Obedience is saying yes to whatever God asks of you. Performance is saying yes to whatever people ask of you.
Obedience is following the promptings of God’s Spirit. Performance is following a list of man-made requirements.
Obedience springs from fear of God. Performance springs from fear of failure.
2. He realized the reward for doing something willingly. (17) That great saint and missionary pioneer, Hudson Taylor said, "The real secret of an unsatisfied life lies too often in an unsurrendered will." Halfhearted obedience satisfies neither us, nor God.”
III. Paul’s Mode of Service – everyone
A. Greeks and Barbarians/Wise and Unwise
1. Parallel statements
a. Greeks saw themselves as civilized and wise.
b. Greeks saw everyone else as uncivilized and uneducated.
c. The Romans would understand this analogy
2. Paul’s intent – leave no one out. Paul was no respecter of persons. The gospel is the great equalizer, because every human being is equally lost without it and equally saved by it.
Paul is willingly obedient to the call of God upon his life. He is not afraid to get involved in the lives of others.
Are we serving God with an obedient spirit? Are you doing what God is prompting you to do? Is obedience merely academic to you, or has your obedience become practical? God wants us to practice obedience rather than just talking about it.
A wealthy businessman, who was well known for being ruthless and unethical, told Mark Twain that before he died, he wanted to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He said that when he got there he wanted to climb to the top of Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments, and there read the Ten Commandments aloud at the top. “I have a better idea,” replied Twain, in his typical wit, “You could stay in Boston and keep them.”
