MUTUALLY COMFORTING FAITH

Romans 1:11-12
"For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established; (12) That is, that I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me."

A bond exists between all those who share the Christian faith in common. Paul acknowledges this in his letter to the Romans when he uses the term mutual faith, and expresses his desire to both encourage and strengthen Christians in this faith, while also  being encouraged and strengthened himself.


Paul's letter to the Romans was written from Corinth during his 3rd visit there in A.D.60. It is addressed "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:" (Rom.1:7).

After his usual offerings of grace and peace there is an expression of gratitude towards the Roman Christians because they have made their faith known, and not hidden it away in some secret corner,(Rom.1:8). We too can be grateful for those who have made their faith known in our lives as well. In the 1970's I was in and out of church fellowship like an ocean tide, and my faith was quite erratic, but it seemed that wherever I went saints kept testifying to me and I was eventually urged by the Holy Spirit to admit to the value of continuing in regular communion with the body of Christ.

Paul had not been to Rome but assures the believers there that they are continually mentioned in his prayers, this being a way in which he serves God with his "spirit in the gospel of His Son" (Rom.1:9). Furthermore, Paul makes very specific requests when he asks God for the opportunity to travel to Rome "by any means now at length", and also that he "might have a prosperous journey", (Rom.1:10). Sometimes we can find ourselves praying prophetically, using words that achieve a greater significance when answers arrive, like Paul's did with the means of his prosperous journey being his arrest and deportation to Rome for trial as a Roman citizen at the government's expense and with a military escort.(Acts 26:32).

Paul writes to Rome about the cause of his delay in coming to see them in person. His obedience to God's will is the cause of his delay. He would only go to Rome if God gave him leave from his work of planting churches and preaching in places where Christ was unknown;(Rom.15:20,21,22,23,24). We learn to seek the things of Christ more than our own will, giving special priority to ministrations which "much hinder us" in the pursuit of desires which, although from the Holy Spirit, are for a later time;(Rom.1:10,11,12,13).

Habakkuk 2:3 "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it may tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."

Instead of allowing ourselves to become frustrated by divine

delays or giving in to the forces of darkness and evil designed to obstruct or destroy us, we can like Paul, make the most of ministry opportunities, survive shipwreck and snakebite on our spiritual journey, and continue to serve God despite the restrictive chains that politics and worldly authority may place on us.(Acts 28:20).

Paul longed to see the believers who were living in Rome. A study of translations has led me to understand this as a yearning from deep within, and something which is of great motivational significance, when linked with the following two goals which Paul has in mind for the Christians in Rome.

• Spiritual Gift Impartation...  (Rom.1:11)
• Mutually Comforting Faith... (Rom.1:12) 

To impart something is to liberally share it, so Paul yearns for fellowship in Rome in order to liberally share something from the Holy Spirit. His letter contains an informative and instructive discussion of spiritual gifts (Rom.12:6,7,8) in which he exhorts the church to make full use of them. While in Rome, although in chains and under house arrest, he was still able to use his particular preaching and teaching gifts "with all confidence, no man forbidding him";(Acts 28:31)
 

It is the purpose of spiritual gifts to build up and strengthen us, and this is the meaning of the word "establish" that the text tells us is the "end" Paul is working towards. Bearing in mind that none of the apostles had as yet been to Rome and ministered with the laying on of hands in that city, the knowledge and use of spiritual gifts was limited to those who had travelled from areas where growing, functioning churches were familiar with them.

Acts 19:6 "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke in languages, and prophesied."

2Timothy 1:6"For which cause I put you in mind to rekindle the gift of God which is in you by the putting on of my hands."

So here we have an example to follow, set for us by Paul who had

"a yearning to fellowship with those of like faith, in order to liberally share something given freely by the Holy Spirit to reinforce them."

PAUL'S JOURNEY TO ROME

Click Map To Enlarge 

May you be reinforced by the Holy Spirit as you fellowship in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Righteous One.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TURN POETS' CORNER

Walk down poets' lane,
Climb poets' hill.

Swim in poets' pool,
Visit poets' mill.

Sit in the shade of poets' tree,
Wander in poets' park.

Cross poets' river,
By means of poets' ark.

Eat poets' pie,
Drink poets' ale.

Study poets' verses,
Read poets' mail.

Fly in poets' jumbo jet,
Sail in poets' yacht.

Turn poets' corner,
And see who you can spot.


23-03-10

SPIRITUAL GOALS

S – E – R – V – I - C - E

1) S - Submit to Scriptural Leadership - Hebrews 13:17
(17) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

2) E - Edify the Body of Christ - 1Co 14:12
(12) Even so you, forasmuch as you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church.

3) R - Resist Unscriptural Forms of Control - 1Timothy 6:3-5
(3) If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
(4) He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
(5) Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

4) V - Value Genuine Ministries - 1Corinthians 16:16-18
(16) That you submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helps with us, and labours.
(17) I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.
(18) For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge you them that are such.

5) I - Ignore Insults - 1Peter 2:21-23
(21) For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:
(22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth:
(23) Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judges righteously:

6) C - Continue in the Faith of Christ - Colossians 1:21-23
(21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has He reconciled
(22) In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight:
(23) If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

7) E - Earn a Respectable Living - 1Thessalonians 4:11-12
(11) And that you study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
(12) That you may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that you may have lack of nothing.

S – E – R – V – I – C - E

NOTHING TO LOSE

They were right,
I was wrong.

They won,
I lost.

They succeeded,
I failed.

They were victorious,
I was defeated.

They were congratulated,
I was ignored.

They were accepted,
I was rejected.

They were honoured,
I was shamed.

They were excused,
I was blamed.

May as well read the Good News,
Now that I have nothing to lose.

ALPHAPARALLEL

Alphaparallel - synchronising numerically with the alphabet.

Triserial - a series of three.

Oblique - in a slanting, sloping, or inclined direction, course, or position.

Motif - a distinctive idea or theme elaborated on, such as in music, literature, or designwork.

M	I	C	H	A	E	L
C	O	L	D	H	A	M	-
F	U	S	S	E	L	L

SHADORMA SUNSET

Waiting here

For the sun to set

On the sea

Horizon

Closing down another day
WINNING FAMOUSLY.

 

10-01-10

Shadorma: a six-line poem with a syllable count of 3/5/3/3/7/5.

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

I went to a University and there studied Nothing.
And slept on a mattress with very good stuffing.
With stress levels climbing everywhere by degrees,
My goal was to write a philosophical treatise.

While I studied Nothing in Utopian bliss,
My efforts revealed something awfully amiss.
It's impossible, Methinks, for Nothing to exist,
Because then it would be something not there to be missed.

Confirmed was my find in this verse sent from heaven,

"With God nothing shall be impossible", Luke 1:37.

My thesis on Nothing I then boldly presented,

My Doctorate of Philosophy would, I hoped, be consented.

Theologians and scholars, esteemed lawyers and doctors,

Distinguished professors, and even some proctors,

Appraised my great dialectic with much huffing and puffing,

And awarded me a straight P.H.D. in Nothing.

 

© 07-11-05