A Look At Paul’s Heart

Temple Baptist Church - 7-30-2017

Romans 1:8-15

Introduction:

A.  In these verses, we find the heart of the great apostle laid bare before us.  Paul was possibly the greatest missionary to ever live.  He had a passion for God, though in ignorance, before his salvation.  When he was saved in Acts, chapter 9, that passion did not cool down.  His love for a people whom he had never met shows up in these verses.  I want to take a short look at them tonight.

B.  Paul’s heart:

1.  Paul had a Thankful Heart – verse 8.  We live in days of jealous hearts of men who preach the gospel.  I am all for separation when the Bible commands it, but we often spend our time “wrestling” with flesh and blood instead of principalities, powers, and wickedness in high places.  We need to thank God for every man of God, every Bible preaching church, every soul winner, and every soul won to Christ.  Many forget who the enemy is, that sinners are dying without Christ, and we are on the same side!

Philippians 1:15-18  Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:  (16)  The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:  (17)  But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.  (18)  What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

2.  Paul had a Prayerful Heart – verse 9.  If we cannot personally reach souls in other lands, we can pray for them.  Our Lord’s prayer request should be ours.  We have a prayer list here at church where we share our prayer time with people on the list that we do not know.  We need to pray for Christ’s request.

Luke 10:2  Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

1 Timothy 2:1-4  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  (2)  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  (3)  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;  (4)  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

3.  Paul had a Willing Heart – verse 10.  Paul did not ask or send others of go, he was more than willing.  Isaiah was willing after his eyes beheld the Lord, high and lifted up.  Paul was willing to go.  Do we have that willingness to just go across town or to the store or in the neighborhood to share the gospel.  If thee is a willingness, then that willingness will find a way.

Isaiah 6:8  Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Acts 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

4.  Paul had a Sharing Heart – verse 11.  Paul’s desire was to establish the Roman believers with sound doctrine.  It is sound, biblical doctrine that will hold both the believer and the local church when the storms come.  So many churches in the south have no doctrinal grounding.  Paul continued to use the phrase “but I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren.”

Psalms 11:3  If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Hosea 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

5.  Paul had a Caring Heart – verse 12.  Paul understood that we must stand together with out churches of like precious faith.  Though we are an independent Baptist Church, I do care about the spiritual and physical condition of others.  As in Nehemiah’s day, we are spread thinly about the wall with a construction tool in one hand and a sword in the other. When needed, one can call and others respond.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  (4)  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

3 John 3-4  For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.  (4)  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

6.  Paul had a Purposed Heart – verse 13.  The clearest verses concerning Paul’s love for the Lord and the ministry is found in the Book of Philippians.  His earnest expectation and hope was to magnify Christ either by life or death.

Philippians 1:20-21  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.  (21)  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

7.  Paul had a Debtor’s Heart – verse 14.  Though the Lord appeared to Paul individually on the Damascus Road, the “pricks” that our Lord spoke of were varied.  Paul had a knowledge of the Lord’s life, ministry, death, burial, and resurrection because he was “in the know.”  He also had the privilege to watch the martyrdom of some of God’s choice servants such as John the Baptist.  Those who died left a witness that brought Paul to Christ and he now owed that same witness to the rest of this lost world.

Acts 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

8.  Paul had a Ready Heart – verse 15.  Paul was ready to try the doors of opportunity and walk through them as they opened. 

Acts 9:20  And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

2 Timothy 4:1-2  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  (2)  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.