This morning we are at Romans 15 - starting at verse 14.

To get us there and thinking about what we’re coming to this morning - first a question.  Does anyone know where this is?

San Francisco.  Mount Davidson Cross.

Some brief backfill.  In the early 1930’s the city of San Francisco - using public funds - built a 103-foot tall concrete and rebar cross on the top of Mount Davidson - the highest hill in the city.  The cross was dedicated at an Easter Sunrise service in which President Franklin D. Roosevelt participated by turning a switch in Washington D.C. that lit up the cross in San Francisco.  That was a while ago.  Things have changed.

In 1996, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals made a ruling that said, “You can’t have a religious monument - that symbol of Christianity - on city land.”  So, the city of San Francisco - through a public auction and an election in which 68% of the voters gave approval - San Francisco sold the land at the top of Mount Davidson - and the cross - to the Council of Armenian American Organizations of Northern California.  Personally it was a significant experience for me to be involved in the saving of that cross.

Someone could say, “It’s just a cross.  301 feet of concrete and rebar.  It’s a symbol.  But, so what?”

What is concerning is that there are over 400 religious monuments on land owned by the city of San Francisco.  And yet - for example - no one has seriously demanded the removal of the statue of Buddha in Golden Gate Park.  It was the Christian cross of Christ that they went after.

Which is where the USA has gone.  We know this.  Yes?  The society we’re living is choosing to systematically move away from God.

In 1947, the United States Supreme Court - in a watershed decision - said:  “The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state.  That wall must be kept high and impregnable.  We could not approve the slightest breach.”

As a result of that decision other decisions have been made by the courts:

In 1963 the courts said, “A verbal prayer offered in a school is unconstitutional, even if its both voluntary and denominationally neutral.”

1965:  “Freedom of speech and press is guaranteed to students unless the topic is religious, at which time speech becomes unconstitutional.”

1969:  “It is unconstitutional for a war memorial to be erected in the shape of a cross.”  Which is a long way from President Roosevelt dedicating a cross on city land as a war memorial.  But only took 35 years to make that transition.

1976:  “It is unconstitutional for a Board of Education to use or refer to the word ‘God’ in any of its official writings.”

1980:  “It it unconstitutional for the Ten Commandments to hang on the walls of a classroom since the students might be lead to read them, meditate upon them, respect them, or obey them.” (1)

We live in a society which is increasingly under the influence of our adversary Satan - a society that is choosing to remove from government - from education - from culture - from history - rewriting history - removing or editing everything that is Christian or might show Christianity in a favorable light.  And it’s not just indifference to God and God’s people - but there’s a growing hostility towards those who choose to live following Jesus. 

The point being - not to camp on what we know is going on around us but to think proactively how God would have us live as the Body of Christ in the midst of all that.  Because the issue isn’t about loosing or reclaiming America as a Christian nation - oh my.

We’re no longer a Christian nation.  We need to get over that.  If we’re focused on a battle for America - as if that’s why God has us here.  If that was the battle.  We lost.  We need to get over that and move forward. 

The issue is people.  People living in darkness.  People living wounded and damaged and without hope.  People heading away from God to what is an eternal horrendous separation from God.

We need to be way less concerned with losing America as a Christian nation and way more concerned with loosing people to the pit of hell.

We need to be less concerned with loosing America and way more concerned with loosing the church.  Bible believing Evangelical Christians make up about 7% of the US population -  a percentage of the population that’s shrinking.  The church in America is in serious trouble.  The church that is God’s messenger of the Gospel that America desperately needs to hear.

So, more to the point - in the midst of all that’s going on around us - how is it that God would have us to be living for Him in America today and where America is heading tomorrow?

“To Boldly Go Where No Church Has Gone Before” - today’s message title.  Or more to the point:  “To Boldly Go Where No Church In America Has Gone Before” - into an America that’s not just neutral but increasing hostile to God’s people - into persecution - into the great opportunities that God is laying before us.

Coming to Romans 15.  Paul - as he lived and preached the Gospel - just about everybody took turns coming after Paul for one reason or another - persecuting Paul - the Jews - the Gentiles - the Christians - the various governments of the day.  Following Jesus, Paul is living counter-culture.  Greatly misunderstood.  Often a target.

Paul is writing to the church in Rome - at the heart of the Roman Empire - a church greatly at odds with the culture around it - a church on the eve of great persecution.  Many of the Christians he is writing too - within a few short years - would be arrested - tortured - thrown to wild animals to be eaten - shredded - impaled - burned alive.

Paul as he brings his letter to this church to a close - he brings them - and us - back to the basics of what it takes to move forward together in the face of great opposition - certain coming persecution - and yet great opportunity to live and proclaim the Gospel.

We’re going to break these verses down into three sections - three “P’s” -to help us remember Paul’s points.  The first “P” comes in verses 14 to 21.  Paul’s reminder of our Purpose as a church.

Read with me verses 14 to 16 - we’ll pause there and unpack Paul.

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.  But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 

Let’s pause there.  Paul hands out three compliments to the Roman Church.

First, they’re “full of goodness.”

Their motives - their character - their responses to each other and the needs around them - are genuine - good - with a goodness that only comes from God Himself.

Second, they’re “filled with all knowledge.”

Many times when we say, “We’re going to study Romans.”  People panic.  Because Romans is a deep theological letter.  The reason there’s a lot here that’s really hard to understand is because there’s a lot here that’s really hard to understand.

The amazing thing is that the Roman Church got it.  They’ve grasped the essentials of the Gospel.  They understood what Paul was writing about.

Third, they were able “to instruct one another.”

The whole church - not just the pastors - or some elite group of teachers.  They all we’re open to be instructed and loving enough to offer instruction to others.  With Godly wisdom and insight they were able to encourage and correct and counsel and teach each other. 

The Roman Church had issues.  We all have issues.  We’ve been reading about their issues for 15 chapters.  And yet, in the midst of all that was going on there seems to have been a depth of fellowship that these believers must have experienced together - that with everything they were struggling with - there seems to be some really good things that they we’re experiencing together as a congregation.

And then - with all that was right - these three compliments - then Paul writes, “I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder” - “I’ve been pretty direct in what I’ve written - calling you out on few things -  because you need a reminder.”

Memory is a tricky thing.  A wife said of her husband, “His memory is so good, he even remembers things that didn’t happen.”

When things are going right sometimes we loose focus on what’s really important for our lives.  Things are good.  How people are treating each other.  The word is being taught.  We’re interacting with each other in a way that no one’s getting bent out of shape.  We’re not in crisis mode. 

We begin to think that living a good moral Christian life style is all that’s expected of us.  Knowledge becomes the end and not the means.  Instruction means helping each other to maintain the harmony of our relationships together.  We’re doing church okay.  Let’s not rock the boat.

Paul reminds them, “because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles...” 

God’s undeserved grace being what Paul has been pounding away at since chapter 1.  God hasn’t saved us to be a part of the Creekside Evangelical Free Club of Merced - to live here in comfort and complacency - doing “church” and instructing each other in how to survive a few bumps along the way.

Sometimes we need the reminder that our purpose as the Church is not all the wonderful things we experience together - what we might enjoy as being a part of this congregation - opportunities for our kids or being able to hang out with our friends.

Our being here isn’t about us but about God - who by His grace calls us together for His purposes - to reach the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  To God be the glory.

Going on in verse 17 - Paul gives us his own life as an example - let’s read together down through verse 19:  In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.  For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 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, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of Him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”

Question.  Verse 19 - where is Illyricum?

Illyricum was the Roman province east of Italy - across the Adriatic Sea - from what is now Albania up the coast to Austria.

Paul draws this wide geographic arc from Jerusalem to up northwest of Greece to a spot that he could have seemingly looked across the Adriatic Sea and longed to cross it into Italy - to where he had yet to go.  That’s a lot of territory that God had been leading Paul through.

Paul writes that he’s been working for God.  He’s been on a mission for God through all that territory.  Christ Jesus has been using him.  This isn’t about Paul - and Paul’s comfort zone - Paul’s vision for Paul’s life - but about what Jesus has been doing through Paul to bring the Gentiles to obedience.

How?  First - verse 18 - “by word and deed” which is about preaching and living out of the gospel.

Then - verse 19 - “by the Power of signs and wonders”  Signs being something visible that happens that has invisible spiritual significance.  A wonder is something that appeals to our senses.  Some kind of phenomenon that makes us wonder.  Sets us off looking for an explanation.  God’s visible affirmation of the truth of what Paul is preaching.

Then “by the power of the Spirit of God” which is the working of the Holy Spirit.  The working of the Holy Spirit is necessary to convict people of their sin and to help people make the connection between the signs and wonders and the message - the words and deeds - and so to believe and respond to the gospel and be saved. 

In that huge arc of geography - going where no one else had been with the gospel before - in that huge arc of people and places - God has been using Paul for the purposes that God - by God’s grace - has called Paul - to preach the gospel.  And the Gentiles - along with the Jews - by the work of the Holy Spirit - they’re coming to faith in Jesus.

Paul writes, it’s not about me.  It’s about God.  Praise God.  To God be the glory.

If we’re going to live in what America is becoming - in opposition and  even preparing for persecution - then right now - we’ve got to be clear on our purpose.  So that when we run up against all that we will do instinctively what is the most important thing for us to be doing.

We’re not here to make America in to some kind of Christian nation - whatever that is.  We’re not here to be good people - or to stuff our heads with Christian knowledge - or to admonish each other - the fellowship of the like minded.  All those things have their place.

But our purpose is to reach the lost with the Gospel.  Now - not later under persecution - now is the time to become as passionate - as completely sold out - as driven - as Paul was to accomplish our purpose as the Church.  Can we say that everyone from Atwater to Planada has had an opportunity to respond to the Gospel?  We have work to do.  To God be the glory.

The second “P” of living and preparing begins in verse 22.  That is the “P” of PRIORITY. 

Verse 22:  This is the reason...

What reason?  Because Paul’s been led by God all over the Eastern Mediterranean proclaiming the gospel to Jews and Gentiles…

This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.  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, 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.  At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.  For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 

Paul had a deep desire to go to Rome.  To be with the believers there.  But there’d been a famine in Judea and many of the Christians there were in danger of starving to death.  The Christians in Macedonia and Greece had raised money to send to help out.

So, on Paul’s list of things that he needed to do - the last of Paul’s responsibilities in the Eastern Mediterranean was to take that contribution - along with the prayerful encouragement of the believers - to the church in Jerusalem.  Once he’s done with that he’s free to go to Rome - and Spain - the last stop before a person fell off the edge of the earth.

Let’s go on - verse 27:  For they were pleased to do it...     

Who’s they?  The Macedonian and Greek Christians - Gentiles who’d raised money to help their Christian siblings in Judea who were mostly Jews.  Imagine, Gentiles helping Jews.

Going on:  For they were pleased to do it - to send the contribution -  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  When therefore

Therefore - meaning?  Paul longs to see the Roman Christians but he has this one more thing to do.  Therefore when…  I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you.  I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

All of which happened.  But not in the way Paul may have thought it would.

In the closing chapters of the book of Acts we read that Paul did get to Rome.  But Paul arrived in Rome after having been seized by a blood thirsty mob in Jerusalem - after spending two years in jail in Caesarea - after being taken to Rome in chains as a prisoner of Caesar - along the way suffering shipwreck and hardship after hardship.

When Paul finally does get to Rome - rather than being bent out of shape and complaining about what he wanted to do and how he was going to do it and trying to hang on to his agenda - his Paul focused vision - for what he thought his ministry should be like - Paul says to the church there in Rome and specifically to the Jewish believers there in Rome - Paul says, “I am wearing these chains for the sake of the hope of Israel.”  (Acts 28:17ff) 

To Paul the only thing that mattered was knowing Jesus and faithfully obeying God.  Everything  was stripped away from him and that wasn’t an issue.  His security and purpose in life was not in the stuff of this world.  The book of Acts concludes with Paul - in Rome - sharing the Gospel with everyone who would listen. 

A number of years ago some of us from here were at BASS - the Bay Area Sunday School convention - over in Castro Valley.  I attended a seminar led by Don Roberts from Bible Couriers International.  Bible Couriers is a missions organization focused on delivering the Bible to Christians in places where they’re restricted or persecuted.

As I was listening to Don Roberts speak - kind of half listening - half dozing like some here might be doing now.  This was 3:30 on a warm afternoon so I was justified.  Don asked this question, “How can the church in the United States prepare for coming persecution?”  Immediately my ears perked up.  Really good question.

Don said, that as they’ve been in contact with persecuted Christians around the world - many who’ve been imprisoned for their faith - they’ve asked them this question.  “What would you tell Christians in America that they need to do to prepare for coming persecution?”  Great question.  The right people to ask.

Here’s what our persecuted Christian siblings said to us.  Number one answer - with almost universal agreement:  “You must learn to voluntarily deny yourself daily so that when you are made to involuntarily deny yourself you will ready.  Otherwise, when the time comes you will compromise.”  (2)

That answer has stuck in my brain and I pray it is coming out in my attitude and actions.

Self-denial means letting go of anything that keeps us from totally trusting the Lord.  Whatever else - besides God - that we place our security in.  Social Security - IRA’s - politics - a paid off mortgage - insurance - our own wits, wisdom, and working.  The self-focused comfort zone of what we say it means to be a Christian in America.

If our security is placed in any thing or any one else beside God - then Satan will use that item of security as a weapon against us - to  compromise - to trust the wrong thing - to do the wrong thing - to make wrong decisions - that limit - that cripple - to take us down and out as an effective witness for God in America.  To destroy our ability to stand up for Jesus and accomplish His purpose for us as His Church. 

Most of us have read Paul before.  Heard the message before.  Intellectually we may know this.  But it’s hard to let go.  In the persecuted church the government - those under the influence of the adversary - they’re constantly taking away freedoms and stripping them of everything they could place security in.  So they’ve learned - what’s the point of holding on to stuff or people or our own achievement?

But here - we’re afraid to live that way.

Ask yourself, “If God took this away - whatever this is - is that okay?”  If you hesitate it’s not okay.  If it’s not okay then we’re placing greater security in having whatever that is than in God.  That security is what we need to voluntarily deny ourselves today.

Our purpose is to share the Gospel.  Our priority is Jesus Christ.  If that’s true.  Then we’re free of whatever Satan may try to bind us with.  We don’t need to fear what may come - what may be removed from us - what may be done to us - where we may be led.  It doesn’t matter what the future holds.  God knows - and that’s all the security we need.

The third “P” - The first was what?  PURPOSE.  Then, PRIORITY.  Third is PARTNERSHIP.

Verse 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, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.  May the God of peace be with you all.  Amen.

Paul writes, “Strive together with me in your prayers.” 

“Oh great!  Here comes Bob.  I told him I’d pray for him!  ‘Dear God, help Bob.  Amen.’”  “Hey Bob, Been prayin’ for you!”

Not that any of us would ever do that.  Right?  Ever said we’d pray for someone and then forgot to pray?

Paul’s striving together in prayer isn’t a prayer said when, “God brings Paul to mind.”  This is intentional - focused - consistent prayer taken seriously.  It’s joining with Paul in the struggle.  Striving together.  Becoming a warrior with Paul in prayer.

In verses 31 and 32 Paul makes 3 specific prayer requests.  All of which were answered.  He was rescued.  His service was accepted.  He was brought to Rome.  Even if in chains.  God moved in Paul’s life in answer to his prayer partners in the Roman Church.

Life in Christ is combat - a spiritual battle.  The restrictions we face in the United States are not a political issue.  It’s a spiritual attack.  Opposition - oppression - persecution is a battle we’re in - not against our persecutors - not against people - but against Satan.  Prayer is a weapon that God gives to us - chooses to respond to - works through.  Because of God’s power at work in prayer - prayer removes obstacles - breaks down doors - pushes back the gates of hell.

Some of you may understand this far better than I do.  When you’re in combat and being shot at it - it tends to rearrange your priorities.  People who we may have disagreement with suddenly become our best friends.  We’re not called into partnership as the Church to strive against each other.  We’re called to strive with each other.

The partnership we have is precious - to be valued - to be honored - sacred - having been purchased with the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ.  We need to learn today what it means to stand with each other.  To fight together.  To uphold each other.  To pray for each other.  So that in the coming sucker punches of our adversary - in the battle - whether restricted or persecuted - we will stand confident of each other to the glory of God.

All that is tough to think about.  Isn’t it?  Many Christians would rather bury their head in the sand of comfortable and complacent Christianity  and think that it could ever happen here - being dragged from our homes and thrown in jail - tortured - simply because we’re believers in Jesus Christ.  Church - if we’re not persecuted then we’ll be the lone exception in Church history.

We’re not here for ourselves.  We’re engaged in the war in which the transformation of America is too small a vision.  God has us engaged in the war which is transforming eternity.

We must be clear on our purpose.  We must have our priority straight.  We must be able to stand with each other in God’s unshakable partnership.

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1. See The Myth Of Separation, David Barton, pgs. 11,12

2. Bible Couriers International, Sacramento, California

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.