Introduction
When I saw the tide in the Gulf of Mexico I thought
about the words of the song: Send The
Light. You will remember the words, "There's a call comes ringing o'er the restless wave, A Send the
light! Send the
Light!" There are souls to rescue, there are souls to
save, Send the light! As I watched
the waves I thought of the love of God for the
lost; and His desire for us to share the message that too
few of us share.
1. Send
the Light with . . Confidence. 15:14‑15b
A. Confidence
to Send The Light to the . . Brethren. v
14
1. Paul's Confidence In His Brother's . . Advancement.
v 14a
14 Now, my brothers, I myself am convinced about
you that you also are full
of goodness, filled with all knowledge, . . ."
2. Paul's Confidence In His Brother's . . Abilities. v 14 b
A. . . and able to instruct one another."
B. Confidence
to Send The Light with . . Boldness. v
15
1. Paul
Expressed Boldness In . . Penmanship. v 15 a
15 Nevertheless, to remind you, I have written to
you more boldly on some points . . ."
2. Paul Expressed Boldness In . .
Preferences. v 15 b
". . . because of the grace given me by God."
We can send the light with confidence in our
brother's abilities and willing advancement. Many times we sell ourselves, and others,
short of what God can do in our lives.
Sometimes Christians think they "can't" when they "can" under the power God gives. I have seen timid new Christians become
bold in their ability to share the gospel, and to teach others. Paul wrote with a bold confidence to the
Roman Christians because he believed they could accept his boldness, and
because of the grace given to him by God.
2. Send
The Light with . . Credentials. 15:15c‑16
A. Send
The Light with . . Grace Credentials. v
15c
A. . . of the grace given
me by God.@
B. Send
The Light with . . Gospel Credentials. v
16a
16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a
priest of God=s good news.
C. Send
The Light with . . Gentile Credentials.
v 16b
My purpose is that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable,
sanctified
by the Holy Spirit.
I am one who likes for a person to have authority
or credentials behind their words and works.
It does not matter what we think if we do not have some authority behind
our thoughts. If a person shares a
thought obviously backed by scripture I immediately give those thoughts
acceptance. Paul shared the Gospel with
the credentials of grace, Gospel, and Gentile converts. If someone shares thoughts about witnessing,
and then says here are the people I have led to the Lord, and several converts
step forward. I listen to this person
because the credentials back up what has been said. Paul did this with the Gentile converts he won to faith in
Christ.
3. Send the Light with . . Commitment. 15:17‑20
A. Commitment
through the . . Word of God. 15:17-18
17 Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus
regarding what pertains to God.
18 For I would not dare say anything except what
Christ has accomplished through
me to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed,
B. Commitment
through the . . Wonders of God. 15:19
19 by the power of miraculous signs and wonders,
and by the power of God's Spirit.
As a result, I have fully proclaimed the good news
about the Messiah from Jerusalem
all the way around to Illyricum.
C. Commitment
through the . . Will of God. 15:20-22
20 So my aim is to evangelize where Christ has not
been named, in order that I will
not be building on someone else's foundation, 22 That is why I
have been prevented many
times from coming to you.
D. Commitment
through the . . Work of God. 15:23
23 But now I no longer have any work to do in these
provinces,
and I have strongly desired for many years to come
to you
E. Commitment
through the . . Ways of God. 15:24-25
24 whenever I travel to Spain. For I do hope to see you when I pass
through, and
to be sent on my way there by you, once I have
first enjoyed your company for a while.
25 Now, however, I am traveling to Jerusalem to
serve the saints;
Paul's commitment to Send The Light centered in
the Word, wonders, work, and ways of the Lord.
Paul teaches us to be obedient to the Word of God
and lead others to do the same. When he
led a person to faith in Christ he wanted them to become obedient to all God's Word says. Do the wonders
of the Lord inspire us to share? It is
my opinion the wonders add confirmations to God's word. Paul wanted to share the gospel in other
places so he stated his work was done in one region, and looked forward to
sharing in another location. Can you
look over your life, and see how God has led you? Sometimes we may wonder what is happening only to see clearly a
year or two later. We may not always
understand the ways of God, but our commitment needs to honor His leading even
if we do not fully understand.
4. Send
the Light with . . Contributions. 15:28-32
A. The
Contributions of . . Funds. v 28
28 So when I have finished this and safely
delivered the funds to them, I will go
by way of you to Spain.
B. The
Contributions of . . Fullness. v 29-30
1. Fullness
of Blessing. v 29
29 But I know that when I come to you, I will come
in the fullness
of the blessing of Christ.
2. Fullness
of Prayer. v 30
30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus
Christ, and through
the love of the Spirit, that you strive together
with me in prayers to God for me, NKJV
C. The
Contributions of . . Freshness. v 31-32
31 that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in
Judea, that my service for
Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 and that, by God/s will, I may come to
you
with joy and be refreshed together with you.
To Send the Light we need contributions, and
I see the contribution of funds, fullness, and freshness in these verses. Paul wanted to deliver the funds to the
Church, and then go on to share in Spain.
Our missionaries answer the call to go, and we need to make sure the
funds are there to support their wiliness to share the Gospel Message. The fullness of Christ's blessing includes funds but is definitely more. Paul says he will come to the church in the
fullness of Christ, and that included prayers, and blessings, all of which are
beneficial for us to Send the Light.
Amen? Amen!