Acting on the Good News Marks of True

Spiritual Service-Part 2
by

John MacArthur
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,ntroduction In Romans 1:8-16a, the apostle Paul endeavored to open up his heart to the Roman believers. He showed his real motives for serving the ord !esus "hrist. #o greater servant has ever lived than the apostle Paul, other than our ord Himself. $his portion of %&ripture for&es "hristians who read it toda' to loo( inside and see what reall' motivates them for true spiritual servi&e. It was apparentl' ver' important for Paul to unbare his heart to the Roman believers be&ause he was preparing b' the will of )od to &ome to them. He stopped at the ver' beginning of this epistle--*ust after introdu&ing the theme of the gospel of )od--to show the Romans how mu&h he reall' &ared for their spiritual growth. Paul had never been to the Roman &hur&h and most of the "hristians there had onl' heard about him. He wanted them to better understand him and his tea&hing. In verses 8-16, 'ou &an see the +ualities of Paul,s life, the &hara&ter of his servi&e to "hrist, and the motives that moved his heart. In so doing, "hristians ever'where &an find a pattern for themselves be&ause all "hristians are &alled to serve "hrist. $he apostle Paul is an e-&eptional e-ample of what it means to serve "hrist. RevieA. /rong Motives for Serving the 0ord 1. Pani& Paul wrote to the Romans e-plaining that his servi&e was not e-ternal or legalisti&. He served the ord from the heart. a. !ohn /:01-0/--!esus said, 2$he hour &ometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the 3ather in spirit and in truth4 for the 3ather see(eth su&h to worship him. )od is a %pirit4 and the' that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 2 5ou &annot worship )od with e-ternals, ritual, or routines. 5ou either worship Him from the heart or 'ou do not worship Him at all.

b. Romans 10:1--Paul said, 2I besee&h 'ou therefore, brethren, b' the mer&ies of )od, that 'e present 'our bodies a living sa&rifi&e, hol', a&&eptable unto )od, whi&h is 'our reasonable servi&e. 2 1o e-ard 2ound $here is a stor' of an old missionar' who was returning home after man' 'ears of sa&rifi&ial servi&e in 6fri&a. He was on the same ship with $edd' Roosevelt, who was President at that time. Roosevelt had also been in 6fri&a, for a big game hunt. 7hen the ship do&(ed in #ew 5or(, great &rowds greeted the President, and the press &overed it all: $he old missionar' and his wife wal(ed off the ship unnoti&ed, and made their wa' all alone to a &heap hotel for the night before traveling to the west. 2It *ust doesn,t seem right,2 said the missionar' to his wife in a rather bitter tone. 27e give our lives in 6fri&a to win souls to "hrist and when we arrive home, there,s no reward or an'one to meet us. $he President shoots some animals and gets a ro'al wel&ome. 2 6s the' were pra'ing before retiring, it seemed that the ord spo(e to them and said, 28o 'ou (now wh' 'ou haven,t re&eived 'our reward 'et9 :e&ause 'ou,re not home. 2 $hat is what Paul had in mind in his spiritual servi&e. He didn,t want to re&eive superfi&ial or temporal a&&laim. He was willing to wait until he went home--his ultimate home--to re&eive what )od had promised him. 0. Prestige a. 1 "orinthians ;:16-1<--Paul said, 2$hough I prea&h the gospel, I have nothing to glor' of4 for ne&essit' is laid upon me4 'ea, woe is unto me, if I prea&h not the gospel= 3or if I do this willingl', I have a reward4 but if against m' will, a dispensation of the gospel is &ommitted unto me. 2 b. 0 "orinthians /:>--Paul said, 27e prea&h not ourselves, but "hrist !esus the ord, and ourselves 'our servants for !esus, sa(e. 2 &. 1 "orinthians ;:1;--Paul said, 2$hough I am free from all men, 'et have I made m'self servant of all. 2 1. Pride /. Peer pressure >. Parents 6. Profit ,t -as not Paul3s goal to serve the 0ord for oney.

a. 6&ts 0?:1>--Paul said to the @phesian elders, 2I have shown 'ou all things, how that so laboring 'e ought to support the wea(, and to remember the words of the ord !esus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to re&eive. 2 b. 1 "orinthians 1?:0/--Paul said, 2 et no man see( his own, but ever' man another,s wealth. 2

2. Right Motives for Serving the 0ord ,. A T1A45670 SP,R,T (v. "( ,,. A &84&'R4'9 SP,R,T (v. :( ,,,. A /,00,4% SP,R,T (v. !#a( 7illiam "are', the great missionar' to India, had a willing spirit. 6s he was preparing to leave from @ngland, his friends said, 26re 'ou sure 'ou want to go to India92 )oing to India in those da's was +uite dangerous. "are' was alleged to have said, 2I will go down Ainto the pitB, if 'ou will hold the rope2 C%. Pear&e "are', 7illiam "are' A ondon: $he "are' Press, 1;01B, pp. 11<-18.. $hat is a willing spirit= 0esson ,;. A S72M,SS,;' SP,R,T (v. !#b( 2:' the will of )od to &ome to 'ou. 2 A. Paul3s &o it ent

$he apostle Paul did not want to do an'thing outside the will of )od. He began his epistle hoping to visit the Roman "hristians if it was )od,s will, and ended it the same wa' CRom. 1>:10.. Paul,s life was regulated b' a &ommitment to the will of )od. 2. Paul3s Model $he ord !esus "hrist Himself was Paul,s ultimate e-ample of one who was &ommitted to do )od,s will. 1. Datthew 06:1;--!esus said in the )arden of )ethsemane, 2E m' 3ather, if it be possible, let this &up pass from me4 nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. 2 0. Datthew 6:1?--!esus, showing the dis&iples how to pra', said, 2$h' (ingdom &ome. $h' will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 2 Paul &onformed his life to the will of )od. He was utterl' &on&erned with serving Him. &. Paul3s '<a ple 1. 6&ts 01:11-1/-- u(e re&orded this about believers who tried to dissuade Paul from going to !erusalem: 2Paul answered, 7hat mean 'e to weep and to brea( mine heart9 3or I am read', not to be bound onl' but also to die at !erusalem for the name of the ord !esus. 6nd when he APaulB would not be persuaded, we &eased, sa'ing, $he will of the ord be done. 2 Paul was being told b' ever'one that if he went to !erusalem, he would be bound as a prisoner. :ut Paul lived for the will of )od. 6nd his dis&iples were resigned to the fa&t that death might be the will of )od for him.

0. !ames /:11-1>--!ames said, 2"ome now, 'e that sa', toda' or tomorrow we will go into su&h a &it', and &ontinue there a 'ear, and bu' and sell, and get gain4 whereas 'e (now not what shall be on the ne-t da'. 3or what is 'our life9 It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth awa'. 3or 'e ought to sa', If the ord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 2 $he limiting fa&tor in ever'one,s de&isions should be if it is the will of )od. $he true servant is totall' submissive to )od,s will. Paul was resigned to )od,s will and it didn,t matter whether it brought him pain or pleasure. $hat (ind of obedien&e is not fatalism. Rather, it re+uires the &onfiden&e of (nowing that )od has the best plan for His &hildren. /hy Pray if %od3s %oing to 9o /hat 1e /ants to 9o Any-ay= 8r. 8onald )re' :arnhouse gave a great illustration to &onve' the relationship between our pra'ers and )od,s sovereignt': CDEE85: 7@ H6F@ 7RI$$@# 3ER P@RDI%%IE# $E G%@ $H@ 3E E7I#). . 7e will suppose the &ase of a man who loves violin musi&. He has the means to bu' for himself a ver' fine violin, and he also pur&hases the ver' best radio obtainable. He builds a librar' of the great musi&al s&ores, so that he is able to ta(e an' pie&e that is announ&ed on the radio, put it on his musi& stand and pla' along with the or&hestra. $he announ&er sa's that Dr. Ermand' and the Philadelphia Er&hestra are going to pla' :eethoven,s seventh s'mphon'. $he man in his home puts that s'mphon' on his stand and tunes his violin with what he hears &oming from the or&hestra. $he musi& that &omes from the radio we might &all foreordained. Ermand' is going to follow the s&ore *ust as :eethoven wrote it. $he man in his living room starts to s&rat&h awa' at the first violin part. He misses beats, he loses his pla&e and finds it again, he brea(s a string, and stops to fi- it. $he musi& goes on and on. He finds his pla&e again and pla's on after his fashion to the end of the s'mphon'. $he announ&er names the ne-t wor( that is to be pla'ed and the fiddler puts that number on his ra&(. 8a' after wee( after month after 'ear, he finds pleasure in s&raping his fiddle along with the violins of the great or&hestras. $heir musi& is determined in advan&e. 7hat he must do is to learn to pla' in their tempo, in their (e', and to follow the s&ore as its been written in advan&e. If he de&ides that he wants to pla' 5an(ee 8oodle when the or&hestra is in the midst of a :rahms number, there,s going to be dissonan&e and dis&ord in the man,s house but not in the 6&adem' of Dusi&. 6fter some 'ears of this the man ma' be a rather &reditable violin pla'er and ma' have learned to submit himself utterl' to the s&ores that are written and follow the program as pla'ed. Harmon' and *o' &ome from the submission and &ooperation. %o it is with the plan of )od. It is rolling toward us unfolding da' b' da' as He has planned it before the foundation of the world. $here are those who fight against it and who must ultimatel' be &ast into outer dar(ness be&ause He will not have in His heaven those who proudl' resist Him. $his &annot be tolerated an' more than the authorities would permit a man to bring his own violin into the 6&adem' of Dusi& and start to pla' %hosta(ovi&h when the program &alled for :a&h. $he s&ore of )od,s plan is set forth in the :ible. In the measure that I learn it, submit m'self to it and see( to live in

a&&ordan&e with all that is theirin set forth, I shall find m'self in *o' and in harmon' with )od and His plans. If I set m'self to fight against it, or disagree with that whi&h &omes forth, there &an be no pea&e in m' heart and life. If in m' heart I see( to pla' a tune that is not melod' the ord has for me, there will be nothing but dissonan&e. Pra'er is learning to pla' the same tune that the eternal plan of )od &alls for and to do that whi&h is in harmon' with the will of the @ternal "omposer and the 6uthor of all that is true harmon' in life and living C@-positions of :ible 8o&trines $a(ing the @pistle to the Romans as a Point of 8eparture, vol. 1 A)rand Rapids: @erdmans, 1;>0B, pp. 100-01.. ;. A 08;,4% SP,R,T (v. !!( 2I long to see 'ou, that I ma' impart unto 'ou some spiritual gift, to the end 'e ma' be established. 2 A. 0ove ,nvolves %iving $he apostle Paul wanted to give the Roman believers a spiritual gift that would establish or strengthen them in their faith. $he primar' demonstration of love is giving. !ohn 1:16 sa's, 2)od so loved the world, that he gave his onl' begotten %on. 2 $rue love alwa's gives. Paul wasn,t &oming to Rome be&ause he wanted to tour the 6ppian 7a' or see the 3orum and wat&h &hariot ra&es. He wanted to &ome be&ause he wanted to give. Dan' times in m' ministr' as a pastor, I sometimes sa' to m'self, 2I wonder whether an' one is reall' hearing what I,m sa'ing. I wonder if people reall' appre&iate me or the 7ord of )od. 2 5ou &an ver' easil' fall into a woe-is-me &omple-. Da'be 'ou,ve felt the same wa' in 'our ministr'. If so, 'ou must remember that as long as 'ou loo( at the ministr' 'ou,re in as something 'ou give, 'ou will never have that problem. If 'ou loo( at the ministr' as something 'ou get, 'ou will end up with a twisted view of what real ministr' is. 1. "olossians 1:0<-08--Paul said that 2)od would ma(e (nown what is the ri&hes of the glor' of this m'ster' among the )entiles, whi&h is "hrist in 'ou, the hope of glor'4 whom we prea&h, warning ever' man, and tea&hing ever' man in all wisdom, that we ma' present ever' man perfe&t in "hrist !esus. 2 0. )alatians /:1;--Paul agoniHed over the spiritual state of those to whom he ministered: 2D' little &hildren, of whom I travail in birth pangs again until "hrist be formed in 'ou. 2 I &annot totall' identif' with Paul, but I have e-perien&ed severe pains in m' stoma&h with an-iet' over the la&( of response to the tea&hing of )od,s 7ord. It is as if some people &ome to &hur&h with a thimble,s worth of desire for (nowledge and spill it on the steps going out= 1. 1 $hessalonians 0:<-8--Paul said, 27e were gentle among 'ou, even as a nurse &herisheth her &hildren. %o, being affe&tionatel' desirous of 'ou, we were willing to have imparted unto 'ou, not the gospel of )od onl' but also our own souls, be&ause 'e were dear unto us. 2 #o one is more gentle than a nursing mother with her little bab' at her breast. $he word translated &herisheth is a ver' strong term and means 2to warm

with bod' heat. 2 Paul was sa'ing, 27e provided 'ou with the warmth of our bod', as a mother does for her little bab', and we longed for 'our presen&e and fellowship. 2 /. 0 "orinthians 10:1>--Paul wrote, 2I will ver' gladl' spend and be spent for 'ou4 though the more abundantl' I love 'ou, the less I be loved. 2 @ven if the' hated him, he would still love them. $he main &hara&teristi& of love is unselfish giving. 2. 0ove ,nvolves %iving a %ift %in&e one who loves alwa's see(s the best for what he loves, Paul said he longed to impart some spiritual gift to the Roman believers. He wanted them to re&eive a &harismata, or gift of gra&e. :e&ause Paul referred to a spiritual gift--the )ree( word pneumati(on is used--this gra&e gift is a gift of the Hol' %pirit. 1. Romans >:1>--Paul used the same term to spea( of "hrist when he said, 2#ot as the offense, so also is the free gift. 3or if through the offense of one man' are dead, mu&h more the gra&e of )od, and the gift b' gra&e, whi&h is b' one man, !esus "hrist, hath abounded unto man'. 2 0. Romans 11:0;--Paul referred to )od,s blessing of Israel when he said, 2$he gifts and &alling of )od are without repentan&e. 2 1. Romans 10:6--Paul here spo(e of the gifts of gra&e to the bod' of "hrist when he said, 2Having then gifts differing a&&ording to the gra&e that is given to us. 2 $he gifts of )od,s gra&e are used to spea( of "hrist, the general blessings that )od gives to His people, and of spe&ifi& spiritual gifts. How is Paul using it in Romans 1:119 I thin( he is using it in the largest possible sense. Paul ma' in effe&t be sa'ing, 23or some of 'ou, I,d li(e 'ou to re&eive "hrist Himself, for others I,d li(e 'ou to re&eive the blessings of )od, and for still others, I,d li(e to minister m' spiritual gifts among 'ou. 2 7hat Paul wanted to impart to them wasn,t ph'si&al, but spiritual. &. 0ove ,nvolves %iving the /ord of %od %o mu&h prea&hing toda' is superfi&ial. @ndeavoring to impart spiritual depth into someone,s life is a diffi&ult tas(. 5ou must build on the foundation of the 7ord of )od. $here is no point in m' doing boo( reviews or reading emotional stories to m' &ongregation, as some ministers do. $hat is sheer frivolit'. If 'ou love people, 'ou alwa's see( to give them the best 'ou have to offer, and the best thing I &an offer is the tea&hing of the 7ord of )od. Ferse 11 gives us the reason for imparting spiritual gifts: 2$o the end 'e ma' be established. 2 $he )ree( word used for establish is stAmaBeriHAmaBo, whi&h means 2to fi-,2 2to &onfirm,2 or 2to strengthen. 2 Paul e-pressed the same thought in another wa' in @phesians /:10: 23or the perfe&ting of the saints for the wor( of ministr' for the edif'ing of the bod' of "hrist. 2 Paul wanted to use the 7ord of and the gifts of the %pirit to impart spiritual depth in the lives of the believers. ,s %enuine 0ove >our %oal= 6 girl in our &hur&h who was a student at a lo&al universit' said to me, 2I learned a great lesson from one of 'our sermons on love. I alwa's told m'self that I loved the little

girls in m' fourth-grade %unda' s&hool &lass. $he' all have small, frill' dresses and the &utest smiles. I told m'self I would never miss m' &lass be&ause I love them so mu&h. 2 %he went on to sa', 2Ene %aturda' I was attending a football game at m' s&hool-something I do ever' %aturda'--and the ord &onvi&ted me about not ade+uatel' preparing m' %unda'-s&hool lesson. :e&ause I attended the games on %aturda', I was in the habit of running through the lesson earl' %unda' morning, but it was ver' shallow and superfi&ial. )od pointed out that I didn,t reall' love those girls the wa' I thought I did be&ause I made no sa&rifi&e in m' own life to give them something of eternal value. 2 %he ended our &onversation b' sa'ing, 2%o from now on, I will not be attending an' more football games until m' lesson is &ompleted and I feel I &an impart to them something of eternal value. 2 ;,. A 17M20' SP,R,T (v. !2( 2$hat is, that I ma' be &omforted together with 'ou b' the mutual faith both of 'ou and me. 2 A. Mutual 2enefit Paul was not &oming in as the spiritual e-pert to dispense information to the Roman believers. He wanted also to be en&ouraged b' their faith. $hat is a demonstration of his humilit'. $here are man' people who thin( the' have so mu&h to give and nothing to learn. 6 true servant of )od, should never feel superior to others. Paul was sa'ing, 2I going to minister to 'ou and impart m' spiritual gift, but I (now in return that 'ou will minister to me as well. 2 !ohn "alvin on&e wrote, 2#ote how modestl' he e-presses what he feels b' not refusing to see( strengthening from ine-perien&ed beginners. He means what he sa's, too, for there is none so void of gifts in the "hur&h of "hrist who &annot in some measure &ontribute to our spiritual progress. Ill will and pride, however, prevent our deriving su&h benefit from one another2 C$he @pistle of Paul the 6postle to the Romans and to the $hessalonians A)rand Rapids: @erdmans, 1;6?B, p. 0/.. Paul was eager to learn from ine-perien&ed beginners. 2. Mutual 2lessing #ew "hristians have &ome to me and said, 2I don,t (now wh' I,m tal(ing to 'ou. I (now there must be important people for 'ou to tal( to. I (now 'ou must be bus'. I,m *ust a nobod'. 2 $he' thin( the' have nothing to offer, but a&&ording to verse 10, the great apostle Paul himself was willing to learn from the most ine-perien&ed of believers. I had dinner not long ago with someone who (ept sa'ing, 2I am so sorr' for ta(ing up 'our time. 5our,re probabl' not interested in spea(ing to me. 2 I (ept sa'ing, 27ait a minute= I appre&iate 'our tal(ing to me. $his is building m' faith and I,m having a wonderful time. 2 I don,t want people to den' me that privilege=

$he humble tea&her sa's, 2 et,s learn together. 2Ene writer said that humilit' is that low sweet root from whi&h all heavenl' virtues shoot. $here are few things worse than a pompous tea&her who treats 'ou as if 'ou (new nothing and he (new ever'thing. 1. 1 Peter >:0-6--Peter dire&ted this &omment towards elders: 23eed the flo&( of )od whi&h is among 'ou, ta(ing the oversight of it, not b' &onstraint but willingl'4 not for filth' lu&re but of a read' mind4 neither as being lords over )od,s heritage, but being e-amples to the flo&(. 6nd when the &hief %hepherd shall appear, 'e shall re&eive a &rown of glor' that fadeth not awa'. In li(e manner, 'e 'ounger, submit 'ourselves unto the elder. 5ea, all of 'ou be sub*e&t one to one another, and be &lothed with humilit'4 for )od resisteth the proud, and giveth gra&e to the humble. Humble 'ourselves, therefore, under the might' hand of )od, that he ma' e-alt 'ou in due time. 2 0. Philippians 0:1->--Paul said, 2 et nothing be done through strife or vainglor', but in lowliness of mind let ea&h esteem others better than themselves. oo( not ever' man on his own things, but ever' man also on the things of others. et this mind be in 'ou, whi&h was also in "hrist !esus. 2 &onclusion $he true servant of )od is alwa's than(ful. He,s alwa's pra'erful be&ause he (nows that although he &an than( )od for what has been done, there is still mu&h that needs to be done. 6nd, he,s willing to be the solution to the problem if it,s )od,s will. He see(s to give to others, not onl' for what he &an give but also for what he &an re&eive. %omeone on&e wrote, I gave m' servi&e, but with a heav' heart, 6nd with it went but little love or trust: He was m' master, I must serve or die, %o I gave m' servi&e for I must:--is the voi&e of destin'. $hen, o,er the drear' dulness of m' road $here &ame the (indling ra' of better thought: I owed m' servi&e to a loving )od, %o I gave m' servi&e, for I ought:--is the voi&e of dut'. 6nd lo= the Daster made m' servi&e sweet, 6nd, li(e a ra' of glor' from above, $here &ame the (nowledge that to serve was *o', 6nd so I give m' servi&e, for I love:--is the voi&e of devotion. C"ited in 6. #aismith,s 10?? #otes Iuotes and 6ne&dotes A"hi&ago: Dood', 1;60B, p. 1<;. .

6ocusing on the 6acts 1. 7h' was it important for Paul to reveal his heart to the Roman believers Csee p. 1.9 0. How did Paul show the Roman "hristians that he &ared for them Csee p. 1.9 1. 7hat &an "hristians gain from reading Romans 1:8-16 Csee p. 1.9 /. $he apostle Paul did not want to do an'thing outside the JJJJJJ of )od Csee p. 1..

>. 7ho was Paul,s model for pursuing the will of )od9 %upport 'our answer with %&ripture Csee p. 1.. 6. $rue or 3alse: $he limiting fa&tor in ever'one,s de&isions should be if it is the will of )od Csee p. /.. <. 7hat is the relationship between a "hristian,s pra'ers and )od,s sovereignt' Csee pp. /->.9 8. 7h' did the apostle Paul want to &ome to Rome Csee p. >.9 ;. $he primar' demonstration of love is JJJJJJJJJ Csee p. >.. 1?. 7hat did Paul mean b' sa'ing he wanted to impart a spiritual gift to the Roman believers Csee p. 6.9 11. 7hat is the best thing a pastor &an offer his &ongregation Csee p. <.9 10. 7hat was the purpose in imparting spiritual gifts among the &hur&h at Rome Csee p. <.9 11. How did Paul demonstrate a humble spirit in writing to the believers in Rome Csee p. 8.9 1/. 6 true servant of )od should feel superior to others Csee p. 8.. 1>. 7hat did !ohn "alvin sa' about learning from others Csee p. 8.9 16. %ummariHe what a true servant of )od is li(e Csee p. ;.. Pondering the Principles 1. $rue spiritual servi&e is mar(ed b' a submissive spirit. $he apostle Paul would not ta(e one step further unless he (new it was the will of )od. Is 'our life mar(ed b' a submissive spirit9 8o 'ou endeavor to live ea&h da' in the perfe&t will of )od9 %tud' the following verses and let them be a model for how 'ou &ondu&t 'our dail' affairs: 6&ts 18:01, 1 "orinthians /:1;, and !ames /:11-1>. 0. $he true servant of )od is mar(ed b' a loving spirit. 7e should see( to give more than re&eive and build up others in the faith. Paul wanted desperatel' to e-er&ise his spiritual gifts among the Roman believers. How desperatel' do 'ou want to use 'our spiritual gifts to minister to others9 Read the following verses and as( )od to give 'ou the same desire: 0 "orinthians ;:1/, and Philippians 1:8, 0:0>- 0<, and /:1. 1. Humilit' is an important mar( of true spiritual servi&e. Humilit' does not involve thin(ing lowl' about 'ourself4 it is not thin(ing about 'ourself at all= 8o 'ou possess a humble spirit9 8o 'ou be&ome *ealous when someone else gets the &redit 'ou thin( 'ou deserve9 8o 'ou re&eive an e+ual amount of *o' when others are blessed. Ever the ne-t few da's, memoriHe Philippians 0:1-> and as( )od to ma(e 'ou a humble person.