The Driving Force Of Spiritual Debt-2 Series

THE DRIVING FORCE OF SPIRITUAL DEBT-II—Romans 1:8-17

Need:

Debt causes many Americans to work at things they never intended to give themselves to.

That is why retirement is sought & defended so vehemently by Americans.

We spend our lives working off our debt—at anything that is financially profitable—Oblivious to our spiritual indebtedness.

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

This sense of 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.

Spiritual indebtedness drives God’s messenger to...

1. SUSTAINED GRATITUDE(:8)

2. SUSTAINED HONESTY(:9a)

3. SUSTAINED SERVICE(:9b)

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

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

SUSTAINED PRAYER(:9c)

—Explanation:(:9c)

: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,”

“Without ceasing”—???????????—without intermission, incessantly.

“Mention”—?????—Remembrance, memory, mention.

“Prayers”—????????—Prayer addressed to God. A word of sacred nature.

—Argumentation:

1Thess. 5:16-18—“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Lk. 18:1—“Then He[Jesus] spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray & not lose heart,”

Col. 4:2—“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;”

1Pet. 4:7—“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious & watchful in your prayers.”

Php. 4:6-7—“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer & supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; & the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts & minds through Christ Jesus.”

Jas. 5:16—“Confess your trespasses to one another, & pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

—Illustration:

Food World/Various jobs/Constant contact & communication w/Bruce Phelps(mgr.)/SUSTAINED PRAYER

—Application:

?Your Spiritual indebtedness produce SUSTAINED PRAYER?

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

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

SUSTAINED CONTACT(:10)

—Explanation:(:10)

:10—“making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.”

The will of God for Paul’s way to the Roman church was thru imprisonment!

“Request”—??????—To want, lack; To desire, long for; To ask, beg. Asking of the need.

“If by some means/If by any means/If perhaps”—?? ???—If indeed, since, if after all.

1Cor. 10:13—“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

“At last”—????—Once—formerly, aforetime, at some time.

“Find/Have a prosperous journey/Succeed in”—??????—Future Passive Indicative—To grant a prosperous & expeditious journey, to lead by a direct & easy way; To grant a successful issue, to cause to prosper; To prosper, be successful.

“Will”—??????—What one wishes or has determined shall be done; Will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure.

“Come”—???????—Denotes motion or progress generally, & of any sort, hence to "come" & arrive at, as well as "to go.”

Rom. 15:18-25—“For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word & deed, to make the Gentiles obedient-- in mighty signs & wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem & round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.” For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. But now no longer having a place in these parts, & having a great desire these many years to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, & to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.”

1Thes. 3:9-10—“For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, night & day praying exceedingly that we may see your face & perfect what is lacking in your faith?”

—Argumentation:

Php. 1:24-26—“Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain & continue with you all for your progress & joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.”