The Driving Force Of Spiritual Debt-1

The Driving Force of Spiritual Debt-I—Romans 1:8-17

Need:

Paul related to the Christian church in Rome, his keen sense of spiritual indebtedness.

A keen sense of spiritual indebtedness drives the emissary/delegate/messenger of God.

To What does a keen sense of spiritual indebtedness drive the Christian?

12 products of a keen sense of spiritual indebtedness.

“Apostle”—See:1—?????????—A delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.

1—Spiritual indebtedness drives God’s messenger to...

SUSTAINED GRATITUDE(:8)

Explanation:(:8)

:8—“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”

—Paul thanks the Lord specifically because God has granted the Roman church unto his charge.

—Paul is thankful for all the Christian church at Rome primarily because their “faith” is the object of open declaration “throughout the whole world.”

Thus their faith must have been noteworthy.

?What is noteworthy or declarative faith?

“First”—??????—First in time or place; First in rank; First, at the first.

“Thank”—??????????—To be grateful, feel thankful; give thanks.

“Faith”—See :17—??????—Conviction the truth of anything, belief; Fidelity, faithfulness.

“Spoken of/Proclaimed”—??????????—To announce, declare, promulgate, make known; To proclaim publically, publish; To denounce, report, betray.

“World”—??????—The inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family; The ungodly multitude, the mass of men alienated from God & therefore hostile to the cause of Christ; The world, the universe; The earth. Has very frequently an unfavorable meaning.

—Argumentation:

1Thess. 5:18—“in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1Cor. 15:57—“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ps. 107:1—“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

Ps. 107:8, 15, 21, 31—“Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!”

—Illustration:

Savannah’s ‘Clyde Bruner’s Krispy Chick’/Supplied ice free to citizens of Savannah w/o electricity after hurricane/Anna Boyette never forgot generosity/SUSTAINED GRATITUDE

—Application:

?Your Spiritual indebtedness produce SUSTAINED GRATITUDE?

?You have a keen sense of Spiritual Indebtedness to the Lord?

—2—Spiritual indebtedness drives God’s messenger to...

SUSTAINED HONESTY(:9a)

Explanation:(:9a) Openness/Transparency

:9—“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,”

Paul serves God by ministering to the church thru local churches.

Paul feels as if he has a need to convince the Romans of his faithfulness to them. They need to understand that “God” Himself is the “witness” not only to Paul’s thankfulness(:8) but particularly & especially to his prayerfulness regarding his concern for the Roman Christians. He is dedicated to lifting them before God in prayer. Having God as his witness is bolstered by the fact that Paul states that he “serves” God. & that his service to God is “with my spirit.”—His very spriti is stirred to give himself in the full context of “the gospel of” God’s very Son—Jesus Christ. Paul “makes mention” of them in his prayers “without ceasing.”

“Witness”—??????—A witness in a legal, historical, or ethical sense.

—Argumentation:

Lev. 19:35-36—“‘You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume. ‘You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, & an honest hin: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.”

Deut. 25:13-15—““You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a heavy & a light. “You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large & a small. “You shall have a perfect & just weight, a perfect & just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. “For all who do such things, all who behave unrighteously, are an abomination to the LORD your God.”

Ps. 32:2—“Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

Gen. 3:13—“And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, & I ate.””

1Tim. 3:7—“Moreover he[overseer] must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

—Illustration:

Dsddy’s dental practice/Honesty his policy/Loyal clientele/SUSTAINED HONESTY

—Application:

?Your Spiritual indebtedness produce SUSTAINED HONESTY?

?You have a keen sense of Spiritual Indebtedness to the Lord?

3—Spiritual indebtedness drives God’s messenger to...

SUSTAINED SERVICE(:9b)

Explanation:(:9b)

:9—“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,”

—Paul serves God by ministering to the church thru local churches.

“Serve”—???????—To serve for hire; To serve, minister to either to the gods or men & used alike of slaves & freemen.