Romans 15:22-33

Paul continues to speak of his ministry.  Having spoken of his current ministry (15:17-21) he now speaks of his plans for future ministry (15:22-29).

·        Future ministry in Rome, v22-24: Remember how Paul was led by the Spirit not to continue ministry in what we call “Asia” but to cross the “Dardanelles” from modern-day Turkey to Greece (Acts 16:6-10).  The ensuing ministry in cities such as Philippi, Corinth, Thessalonica and Ephesus had taken years and prevented Paul from heading to Rome.  But now he felt the time was nearing in the plan of God.  He planned to stop there on his way to Spain.

·        Future ministry in Jerusalem, v25-27:  First he was headed to Jerusalem to serve the saints.  This is the time, at the end of his third missionary journey, when Paul was being warned of trouble ahead if he went to Jerusalem (Acts 20).  But he was convinced God was leading and cared not at all about his own life but about completing the ministry God had for him (Ac. 20:24).  He and those with him were carrying an offering for the saints in Jerusalem from the churches of Asia Minor (Western Turkey today) and Greece.

·        Future ministry in Spain, v28-29:  Paul then planned to go to Spain.  Tradition says he made this trip between his two Roman imprisonments.  The Bible doesn’t say.  Spain was on the western side of the Roman Empire and boasted major cities and ports that were part of the Mediterranean maritime business.  It made sense, as part of the pioneer ministry (15:20-21) to go there.

The closing verses (v30-33) are quite instructive in the matter of planning for ministry.  Paul requests that the Roman believers strive together in praying with and for him.  Ministry involves struggle.  There is a roaring lion (1 Pt. 5:8-9) who must be resisted and prayer is fundamental to our defeat of this enemy.

Paul asks that they pray for two things.  First, for the Jerusalem ministry, to be delivered from unbelievers and that his ministry to the saints will be pleasing (to God and to the saints).  Second, for the Rome and Spain ministries, that he might come with joy to Rome and be refreshed by them as he headed off for Spain.  

Key to all of this is the phrase in v32: “by the will of God.”  How did God answer this prayer?  Paul was delivered in Judea UNTIL he got to Jerusalem.  Then he was attacked at the temple, arrested by the Romans and imprisoned two years in Caesarea.  That didn’t go well.  But wait!  He made it to Rome, all expenses paid by the Roman treasury.  And then he came to the Roman believers “with joy” and was “refreshed together with” them.  Isn’t God good and wise!  (You can read all of this in Acts 21-28.)

Should we make plans in ministry? Absolutely!  Should we pray and ask others to pray with us?  Absolutely!  All this should be done “through the Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit” (v30).  Then we should remember: A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps (Prov. 16:9).