Romans 15:22

Romans 15:22 says, For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.  Paul was writing to the Romans, and he told them it was his desire to come to them and proclaim the gospel.  Paul was one of the greatest men of faith, but he did not get to do everything that he desired to do.  We need to make sure that what we are doing is really for God and not just a fulfillment of our own desires. Verse twenty-three adds, But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;  Paul's desire to come to them was something that he had wanted for many years.  Again, we must put our desires second to following the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Paul had not given up on his desire to go to Rome, but he was not going to put his desires first.  Verse twenty-four continues, Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.  Paul said he was going to Spain, though we don't know if he really made it there.  We may have a desire to do many things today to proclaim the gospel, but we must first make sure that the Holy Spirit is leading us to do whatever we desire to do. Paul did not always get to go where he wanted to go, but he always went where God needed him to be.  Verse twenty-five states, But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.  Paul said was returning to Jerusalem at this time to minister to the saints.  We need to never lose sight of the need to help our fellow believers grow in knowledge of Christ.  Paul did not just reach people with the gospel and forget them once the accepted Christ, but he did all he could to help them grow in faith.  The saints were not those people who were morally superior to other people but they were all the followers of Christ.  They had not been designated such by any earthly group, but were saints by there faith in Christ.  Verse twenty-six adds, For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. Christians in Macedonia and Achaia were sending contributions to the poor saints in Jerusalem.  We might think it would be the other way around, but though Jerusalem was considered the city of God, the saints, the believers there, were poor, at least somewhat because of those who called themselves God's people.  As followers of Christ, we need to do all that we can to help other believers, wherever they are.  Verse twenty-seven continues, It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.  I believe that Paul is telling us that we need to help fellow believers materially as well as spiritually.  Since we receive the free gift of salvation from the witness of others, then if we are better off materially than they are, and they are in need, we need to help them. Verse twenty-eight says, When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. Paul's plan was to deliver the contributions to the believers at Jerusalem then he was going to Spain.  We need to have a plan of how we are going to serve God today, but we need to realize that our plans may be changed by the Holy Spirit. Verse twenty-nine adds, And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.  I believe Paul is telling us that when we carry out our plans, we must make sure that we do so with the full blessing of Christ.  We must go under the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit. Verse thirty continues, Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; Paul asked for their sincere prayers for him as he went to Jerusalem. We today need the sincere prayers, not just empty words, of others as we do whatever God has called us to do.  Paul ask them to strive in prayer, to really feel a burden when they prayed. Verse thirty-one states, That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;  In Jerusalem, there were a lot of Jews who wanted Paul dead and a lot of believers in Christ who didn't trust Paul.  Paul asked for prayers for his safety and acceptance.  Verse thirty-two adds, That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.  Verse thirty-three continues, Now the God of peace be be with you all.  Amen. He wanted to come to them in joy by the will of God. When we go in God's will, it should always bring joy to us. Paul wanted to be refreshed in faith, and we should want the same when we gather in God's will.  When we are doing God's will, we will always go in His peace.