Romans 15:20–21 (ESV) 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”

• Paul gave the thinking behind where he focuses his time. To him the top priority was to the unreached. They were primary.
• Jesus set priorities as well for His time.
• 1 Time with his Father. He was willing to ghost everyone and disappear.
• Mark 1:35–39 (ESV) Jesus Preaches in Galilee 35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
• That was so important he would even leave active ministry opportunity to secure the time. (thinking of the time where everyone went around to the other side of the lake to ambush Jesus.)
• Mark 6:30–37 (ESV) 30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”
• (Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand)
• Mark 6:44–46 (ESV) 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. 45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
• (Jesus Walks on the Water)
• Mark 6:53–56 (ESV) Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret 53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
• 2 to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
• Matthew 15:21–28 (ESV) The Faith of a Canaanite Woman 21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
• The priorities he gave to the Disciples - Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria – uttermost parts of the earth.
• Paul’s priorities, as stated, were to the Gentiles. Nested within that, the unreached were primary.
• Dirk used to have a bone to pick about the title of evangelist, and whenever he met one that seemed to be really big on titles, he would ask – where do you evangelize? More often than not they would answer naming so and so churches.
• “Are those churches in that bad of shape that they need an evangelist?”

Romans 15:22–24 (ESV) Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome 22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.

• He’s elaborating on the statement he initially made in the beginning of the letter. Romans 1:13 (ESV) 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

Satan hindered Paul’s intention to go to Thessalonica

• 1 Thessalonians 2:17–20 (ESV) 17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

Paul, like Jesus turned down ministry opportunities to focus

• 2 Corinthians 2:12–13 (ESV) 12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

Plans where God prevent –

• Acts 16:6–7 (ESV) 6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

Plans where God sends, urges and constrains to complete.

• Acts 13:4 (ESV) 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
• Acts 19:21 (ESV) 21 Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
• Acts 20:22–23 (ESV) 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

The Afrikaans saying: “’n Boer maak ’n plan.”

• Literally: “A farmer makes a plan.”
• Meaning: A resourceful person figures something out / makes a way when there isn’t an obvious one.

Making Plans

• Proverbs 16:1 (ESV) The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
• Proverbs 16:3 (ESV) 3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
• Proverbs 16:9 (ESV) 9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
• Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) 21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
• Proverbs 24:27 (ESV) 27 Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.
• Proverbs 27:1 (ESV) Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
• James 4:13–15 (ESV) 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Romans 15:23–24 (ESV) 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.

• Really amazing that one of the books so critically important to Christian Theology. Was a letter written to a church that Paul only wanted to introduce himself to so they could be a launch pad to preaching the Gospel to the unreached people in Spain. – That did not happen. Maybe.
• Several early Christian writers, however, say or imply that Paul fulfilled this plan and reached “the farthest limits of the West,” which in Roman usage most naturally means Spain. Clement of Rome (c. 95 AD), writing from Rome, says Paul reached “the limits of the west,” and John Chrysostom explicitly says that after being in Rome “he returned to Spain.”
• Likely wanted Rom to be a base of operations like as was the case with Antioch.

Romans 15:25–29 (ESV) 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

• His plan to go to Rome was delayed, because of a need in Jerusalem.
• Water tank busting and flooding will change your plans for the day. Hospital trips. Aid to believers have the same ability to interrupt our plans for something obviously part of God’s plan that we discover along the way.

Romans 15:30–33 (ESV) 30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

• Appeal. Not throwing down the Apostle card.
• Strive – Agonize.
• iii. The ancient Greek word translated strive together is sunagonizomai—literally meaning, “agonize together.” To emphasize the importance and intensity, Paul repeats the word twice: sunagonizomai sunagonizomai.
• iv. This same root word for agony is used of Jesus’ anguished prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus asked His disciples to agonize with Him in prayer. They failed at that critical moment and left Jesus to struggle alone. We must not leave our ministers and leaders to struggle alone. “It reminds us of Carey, who says, when he goes to India, ‘I will go down into the pit, but brother Fuller and the rest of you must hold the rope.’ Can we refuse the request? Would it not be treachery?” (Spurgeon)[1]
• Brothers. – I’ve been teaching this to our children. Problems arise when they start to boss each other around or try to compel each other vs appealing to one another. It’s no different in the church.
• Strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf – he says.
• What can we strive together with you in our prayers to God on your behalf?

Wrap Up Lessons

• Priorities with our time. Priorities in focus.
• What are we prioritizing in this church? Where is our focus, and are they in alignment with what we believe is the Lord’s will?
• Same question applies personally.
• Plans. It’s our job to make them. It’s our job to notice when The Lord might be preventing them or constraining you to accomplish them anyway.
• The Lord’s will is always revealed, yet often hidden until then.
• What can we strive together with you in our prayers to God on your behalf?

[1] Guzik, David. Romans. David Guzik, 2013, p. Ro 15:30–33.