 Good morning and welcome to class sorry for the slight delay. I was not able to join into the class It was not just allowing me to join So I had to we tried different ways and then finally have to shut down and restart and then it worked Thank God. So apologize for the delay will begin Can I ask one of you to please lead us in prayer? Please anyone anyone like to lead us in prayer? Father in heaven, we thank you for this wonderful day and for this wonderful moment We thank you for the gift of life that you've given to us Lord. We still thank you For the lay for the lesson we are going to have we pray that we are blessed that we also bless our teacher We still thank those who have not yet come to also come in the name of their Lord We do pray that we take we learn a lot But that's going to help us to our last assessment in the name of the Father and Son the Holy Spirit we have prayed Amen. Amen Thank you, Loubega. Just give me a minute, please so On Monday, we began studying Romans chapter 15 and We Stopped at was 21 We basically were looking at versus 14 221 where we were looking at Paul to sharing some of his own personal thoughts and He talks about the grace of God that was upon his life and why is he mentioning about the grace of God in versus 15 to 21 is because he's saying that you know, he's been so confident and bold in Writing to them and telling them, you know, how they need to relate with each other how they need to treat each other how they need to serve each other and He says that, you know, he's using this boldness Because of the grace of God in his life or over his Life and he's mentioning this because you know, he's not Been there to roam before he is not mentored the church. He's not started the church He's no spiritual leader over the church is at Rome He's no has no, you know, spiritual leadership authority over them because he's not founded the church But he's saying he's using this boldness to write to them About all of these matters and how they need to relate with each other need to treat each other Serve each other is because of the grace of God in his Life and he says that, you know, the grace of God in his life has made him to be a minister to the Gentiles again and Because of the grace of God over his life. He says he's able to teach the gospel from Jerusalem to Ilocrum Ilocrum is modern-day Albania And he's able to proclaim the gospel In all of these places where the gospel has some of those places where the gospel has not been Reached he has taken the gospel there and he's done it through the power of the Holy Spirit And he's done it with boldness because the grace of God that has been Given to him and so he's saying that because of the grace of God in his life he is able to do what he's doing and he's doing it boldly and He says that he's able to do it boldly because and he's able to Admonish the churches he's able to tell them what they need to do what they shouldn't do how they need to live their Christian life What are the things that need to put in order in the church? It's because he says that I have you know Not only have the grace of God over my life, but he says that I've also proved that grace Okay, so he's it's important that we prove the grace of God over our lives So one thing that we can learn from Was it 15 to 21? In Romans chapter 15 is that you know, we have the grace of God over our lives the grace of God and the gifts of God is given to us to Equip us to empower us to fulfill a specific function or calling that God is given to us in the body of Christ, okay, so grace we know is divine enablement divine character and divine favor, okay, so Paul is saying that he has received this grace and this grace has equipped him To take the gospel where it has not been You know Established before that's why he says that I established the work where it has not been done before and it's I don't build on someone else's Foundation because he says since the grace of God to preach the gospel where it has not been preached Before and he says that even as this grace of God is over my life You know, I'm able to prove it because you are able to see the work that I have done, okay How is he able to prove it is because he says that you know He's proved the grace of God over his life because the Gentiles have come to accept the gospel Right from Jerusalem to Ilocrum wherever he's preached and he's preached the gospel with mighty science miracles and wonders Which has led the Gentiles to obedience of Jesus Christ and also he has established the work of God He has established believers is established churches in a place where there has no one Health has gone before and worked up or preached the gospel Dead and so he says that you know because of all of the grace that is in his life is being able to establish the work of God and So we learned two things from you know this passage that we need to know the grace of God over life and we And we we can once we know the grace of God in our life. We need to prove it How do we prove it? You know, we prove it by you know by moving in that grace So what do I mean when I say that we move in the grace? It means that you know How we exercising it know how we are practicing the grace in the way that we live In the way that we go about doing ministry You know the way that we pray for others the way that we minister to others the way that we preach and teach the gospel You know to others is a way that we are actually moving in the grace and we are actually Proving the grace of God over our lives. So when people See our life and our ministry, you know, they're able to see the grace of God the favor of God the character of God The divine enablement of God over our lives And the calling that he has Given to us. So the first thing that we can learn is to know the grace of God in your life By proving it and secondly, but when you know the grace you can move in it boldly Okay, so you can move boldly to do what God has called you to do to accomplish what God has Called you to do and the task that he has Set you apart to do and he says because he has proved the grace of his life, you know and The believers at various places Are able to see the life and the ministry of Paul It says because of this On or based on this I'm able to write all of these things to do for you to practice and follow and to take into consideration and Do it because it is what, you know, because the grace of God that is over my Life, okay. Otherwise people can question Paul's authority. You know, who is he to tell us, you know Why is he writing all this to us? He's not even come and met us. He doesn't even know us as a church He doesn't know as believers, you know, so Paul look at how very How beautifully he, you know talks about the grace of God of his life and using that to Tell them, hey, this is the reason why I'm writing to you and and this is the boldness that I'm using You know to tell you how to live your lives It's not just because I'm asking you to do it But I have practiced it myself and I'm able to do it because of the grace of God over my life and I just love the way Paul is such a good you know Not only good in how he Ministers how he goes about doing the building the kingdom of God his life his testimony But also such a wonderful writer, you know, it's the amazing writing skills and of course it is the holy spirit that is Imparting to him and you know getting him to write all of these things and so such powerful truths that We can learn from Paul's writing and what the holy spirit is imparting through him again So he says, you know, I have gone about teaching and teaching the gospel where Not where Christ was named that means Paul did not want to build on another man's foundation Rather, he wanted to do You know a pioneering work for the Lord Not because Of pride Why do you think Paul did not build on somebody else's foundation or why do you think he went And started the work where nobody else was willing to go Why do you think Paul went where no one else was Going and ministering any thoughts Maybe he was led by the Holy Spirit Okay, thank you. Lou Begiel was led by the Holy Spirit Master he was called to Do this like pioneer ministry Okay, he was called to be an apostle to be a pioneer Okay, we also see that when he was in Jerusalem What happened to him when he was preaching? There was a lot of mistrust with people there and we see how they Took him through a basket. So maybe he feared saying Let me go there. Let's say And his passion also has a lot a lot to pray To pray. Thank you. Yes. Yes. Thank you Lou Begiel Uh, I'll just share my thoughts. I'm not sure if I'm right but then Because he was called for the Gentiles also might be one of the reason because we see people they first only reached the Jews And out of that Paul Paul he started this reaching out to the Gentiles and he explained why he's reaching out to gentle And how God is moving Maybe that might be one of the reason because he's laying the foundation for the Gentiles. That's what I feel like Okay, thank you all for your inputs Yes, maybe because there was so much to do on the frontiers, you know, so much doing the borders the boundaries the borderline you know Just to go where no one was going So that they can reach the unreached. Okay So that was a good You know initiative of Paul and he says but as it is written so Paul saw his pioneering heart as obedience to the Scriptures fulfilling, you know, the passage that he quotes from the Old Testament in verse 21 Says but as it is written to whom he was not announced they shall see and those who have not heard shall Understand so Paul is saying that he's going where No one has gone before and he's beginning a work where no one has built on is also because You know, he's doing it in obedience to scripture. He's fulfilling You know, uh, what is quoted in the Old Testament and he Quotes from, uh, you know, he quotes scripture passage in verse So we know that you know, Paul was a learned man. He was well-wised in the Torah and the Old Testament so Maybe also that was another reason and the Holy Spirit also guiding him and leading him To go to the frontiers, okay We'll move on to verses 22 to 33 Where Paul is sharing some of his travel plans before that anyone has any questions So like y'all to focus on, you know, know, what is the grace of God over your life? What is your full calling your function? Know the grace and the gifts and you know, not just know your grace and gifts move in the grace, you know By exercising practicing it in your living in your life in your ministry And prove the grace of God over your life and even as you do that, you know move in boldness Even as God gives you the boldest, okay We'll move on to verses 22 to 33 if no one has any questions any doubts any thoughts you'll like to share Okay, if not, we will again Someone read verses 22 to 33 please for us For this reason, I also have been much hindered from coming to you But now No longer having a place in these parts and having a great desire these many years to come to you Whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you for I hope to see you on my journey and to be hoped On my way there by you If first I may enjoy your company for a while But now I'm going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints for it pleased those from Macedonia And Achiria to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem it pleased them indeed and They are their debtors For if the Gentiles have been partakers of these spiritual things their duties also to minister to them in material things therefore When I have Performed this and I have sealed to them this fruit. I shall go by the way of you to Spain But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in fullness of blessing Of the gospel of Christ Now I beg you brethren Through the Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the spirit That you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me That I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe and that My service to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints that I may not come to you with That I may come to you with joy by the will of God and May be refreshed together with you for the Lord for the God of peace be with you all amen Thank you. Lou Bega So here Paul is sharing his travel plans. It was his 22 to 33 and he says in was 22 for this reason. I also have been much hindered from coming to you So do you think Paul wanted to visit the church at Rome? Was he desirous was he eager to visit the church at Rome? What do you think Or is or is or is yes, you know Maybe because Rome was you know a big city well known Establish city and he's heard so much about the the believers there. I think he was his great desire to Visit or meet the believers at Rome, but he says For this reason, I've also been much hindered from coming to you. So what's the reason? So it's this reason. I've also been much hindered What is the reason and what has hindered him from, you know visiting the church at Rome? Because Yes, uh, jeffina. Thank you smart. He says look at the previous verse Uh, I said for this reason means, you know, Paul is basically Continuing what he's writing. So he's saying for this reason means he's saying that you know, uh, The worst 20 where it says and so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel Not by christ was named unless I should build on another man's foundation So he says I'm going to places where you know, the word has not been preached before not building on somebody else's foundation And he says, you know, this has what has hindered me or for this reason, you know I've not been able to come in visit you because there's so many places that you know I need to go and preach the gospel where no one has gone before okay, so Paul is writing this letter from Corinth Towards his third missionary journey and he plans to go to Jerusalem Because he has collected some money for some churches in Akiah and Macedonia Uh, you know, he's collected from the money from the churches in Akiah and Macedonia to take it to the churches at Jerusalem because the church is a Jerusalem, you know The the people at Jerusalem were facing a famine And so there must have been lack there. Surely there was lack there And so he wants to provide for them And so he's collected some money from the churches in Akiah and Macedonia And he's planning to go first to Jerusalem to meet the needs of the believers there Then he plans to go to Spain and on his way to Spain. He plans to stop at Rome, okay And he has this assurance that when he comes to Rome He says in verse 29. What does he say in verse 29? What is the assurance that he has? When he comes to Rome In verse 29, what does he say? What's 29 It says he shall come to them in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ, okay So a very important phrase from this phrase or this verse, you know comes the term full gospel You know, there are churches who are called the full gospel churches And why is why are they called as a full gospel churches? Any idea? Or what does Paul mean when he talks? I shall come to you in the fullness Of the blessings of the gospel of Christ. So why are these churches named as full gospel churches? Any thoughts any ideas? I can give an example of a local full gospel church that I know and what they speak of themselves They say that they have both faith And miracles that the Holy Spirit works in them. Thank you Absolutely, right. Thank you. Lou Bega. Yes, you know So Paul is saying that when he comes to minister to them, you know, he will share the fullness the blessing of the gospel of Christ Which means or you know, uh, you know The the the full gospel church is when they share the gospel of Jesus Christ They're not only talking about The gospel that brings about forgiveness of sins But also the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings healing to the bodies and deliverance from every demonic power Which means, uh, you know, just not just preaching the word teaching the word that brings about reconciliation and forgiveness of sins but also You know Plowing in science miracles and wonders the gospel that brings about healing to the mind to the soul And also deliverance from demonic powers. Okay Worcester, he says you strive together with me in prayers to god for me so, you know Paul is at Corinth and the believers that he is writing to are at home And he says I wanted to strive with me in Prayer, okay Though they are in different places Yet, you know They can come alongside to pray for each other So, you know, we can strive together with other believers Even if they are in different parts of the city different parts of the nation different parts of the world You know come alongside with other people And we can lend them our spiritual strength even as we pray with them um Sorry for the background noise. There's some work construction work going on Just in the in the neighboring compound So, you know, um, we can lend our spiritual strength as we pray with them Even though we are in different places, but we can still come together in agreement In prayer when we strive to Gather, okay. What's the meaning of strive together when Paul says strive together with me? What does he mean? The greek word basically means, you know, the greek little translation means agonized together Okay, so it basically means to struggle in partnership with To struggle in company with to strive to strive along with so, you know, um, you know, just Engage in battling in in in fighting and just praying Along with the other So, you know, um from this same word strive Comes the root word for the word agony Which you know is used of jesus when he was in great anguish in prayer in the garden of gethsemane And when jesus asks his disciples to strive along with him or that means to agonize with him in prayer So basically saying hey, you know, i'm struggling So, you know partner with me in my struggle company me with my with me in my struggle come along with me in my Struggle so jesus asking his disciples to agonize with him in prayer But we see that they failed, you know to pray along with him. They were so sleepy. They fell asleep You know, they failed at that most important part of jesus's life to strive along with him to agonize along with him um, and you know, but we learn a lesson from this that Even when, you know, other brothers and sisters are going through challenges. They're facing difficulties, you know When you pray for them, you're actually striving along with them You're with them in the struggle partnering with them in company with them, you know together with them in their battle And when you are striving with them agonizing with them in prayer You're basically you stepped into the fight along with them. So their fight is your fight, you know Their conflict is your conflict. You are in this conflict along with them And you know, even as they are battling it all out. You are there along with them in partnership in company with them Basically their strength is enforced Because you're praying along with them and this is how we can come alongside each other and reinforce each other So sometimes we think hey, what? What what is going to happen if I'm just going to pray for somebody who's far away and they're going to the struggle? I've heard you'll pray for the spread request pray for that prayer request You're basically striving along with them. You're there with them in the fight to step to them Step into the fight along with them in the conflict with them and it it does You know miracles it does wonders their strength is being enforced and You are alongside with them And you're alongside with each other Reinforcing each other strengthening each other and building each other And so paul, you know Is saying strive together with me in prayers to god for Me so when apostle paul himself, you know is asking the church Hey, you know, please come along with me strive along with me in prayer Surely, you know, you and I also need to do that as Well, okay, we need to strive together with others in Prayer and what is he asking for them to pray along with him? Um, you know, he knows that even as he goes to jr. Muslim You know those in judia those do not believe are going to Cause an uproar. They're going to You know persecute him. They're going to cause him harm and danger He knows the impending danger that is looming large over him And so, you know, he wants the brothers and sisters in christ to pray With him along with him And step Into the battle or the fight that and the conflict that he is Going That's going on in his life or he's going to face to be alongside with him to strengthen him. Okay was 31 That I may be delivered from those in judia would not believe that my service for jr. Muslim may be acceptable to the saints so Paul knew that the church in jr. Muslim was a very was very conservative and sometimes, you know They saw men as like paul or they regarded men like paul to be, you know, some dangerous innovators, uh, you know people who are Uh dangerous leaders or reformers or people who are visionaries Or developers and so for this reason he asked the church at room to pray that his service for the people at jr. Muslim may be acceptable to the States because basically the believers At jr. Muslim the church is jr. Muslim a jews and he's An apostle to the gentiles and so, you know, there's a lot of things that Um, that was that they did not, uh, you know agree with paul. But so paul is saying, you know pray for Me but we see that even as paul goes to jr. Muslim. He's captured there by the jews and for two years he's imprisoned in syria and You know, he finally appeals to Caesar and then he is taken to rom as a prisoner So he eventually ends up in rom Not as a free man, but as a prisoner and even as he's brought in rom Uh, you know, he's under house arrest which allows him A little freedom for people to come and meet and talk and to preach and to teach You know, not as a free man, but you know, even though he's in chains He's still able to believe minister to the believers at Rome so you see that, you know, paul had this great Desire to go and meet the believers at rom But you know all the plans had changed but he eventually ended up in rom But you see irrespective of the way that he landed in rom as a prisoner It did not deter him or did not stop him from ministering and preaching and teaching or breaking his heart You see that he still uses the opportunity to Minister to the saints to the believers There so we do not know Something that we can learn from this is we do not know You know what tomorrow holds And what are the things that we're going to face but you know, whatever we face We can use as opportunities to still Fulfill the calling that god has in our lives, okay So all of the circumstances were different. He was able to minister to the believers, okay, and then he Ends this part of his letter or the he says now the god of peace be with you all Amen, this is not the end of his letter though You know, but paul concludes this part of the letter here by you know, his personal You know blessings that he's given he's saying the god of peace be with you all but You know, he goes on to to talk about various things and then he Finally ends his letter with his personal greetings in roman's chapter 16. Okay So that is roman's chapter 15 for us any thoughts anything that you like to share Anything that you all didn't understand you want me to explain again any queries any questions you'll have No, okay. If there are no queries or questions, then we'll move on to chapter 16 This is final greetings and farewell. Okay Okay, we'll read verses We'll read chapter 16 There are 27 verses so If all of you can read Five of you can read You know five or six verses it can help Yeah So who like to begin from verse one roman chapter 16 I commend you comment to you fee be our sister who is a servant of the church in kinkreah And that you may receive her in the lord in a manner worthy of the saints And assist her in whatever business she has need of you For indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also greet priscilla and akula Jesus who wrist their own necks for my life To whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles likewise greet the church That is in their house greet my beloved epinatus Who is the first fruits of akhaya into christ greet medi who labored labored much for us Greet andronicus and junia my countrymen and my fellow prisoners Who are of not among the apostles who also were in christ before me? Even thank you paul can someone else continue reading from verse eight If it amplifies my beloved in the lord greet Urbanus our fellow worker in christ and stack is my beloved greed Appeal is approved in christ greet those who are of the household of Aristotelus greet Herodion my countrymen greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the lord greet Triphena and Try for try for south who have labored in the lord greet the beloved purses who labored much in the lord greet rufus chosen in the lord and his mother in mind greet asyncritus Flegon hermus Petrovis hermus and the brethren who are with them greet from philologous and julia Narius and his sister and olympus and all the saints who are with them Greet one another with a holy kiss the churches of christ greet you Amen amen Thank you roslyn can someone else continue reading from verse seven 17 I I Now I urge you brother ends not this Not these who cause division and offenses Contrary to the doctrine which we learned Which you learned and avoid them for those who are such do not serve our lord jesus christ, but They are only buried and by smooth words and flatten flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple For your obedience has become known to all therefore I'm glad on your behalf, but I want you to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil And god of peace will crush certain under your feet shortly the grace of your lord jesus christ be with you Amen Timothy my fellow worker and lucius jason and So see Micah kinsman greet you I Who wrote this episode greet you in the lord amen Amen Thank you, lupega To finish we have to This human versus We need to read some more verses right lupega. You read to us I read up to verse 22 22 yes Can somebody read from verses 23 towards 27, please That is my post and the post of the full church Greece you erupt us the treasure Treasure of the city greets you and quarters a brother the grace of our lord jesus christ be with you all amen Now to him who is able to establish you According to my gospel and the preaching of jesus christ According to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began Now but now made manifest And by the prophetic scriptures Made known to all nations According to the commandment of the everlasting god for the obedience to the faith to god alone wise We glory through jesus christ forever amen Amen Thank you subashis When we read this passage, you know What is what impressed you in this passage? Romans chapter 16 There's so many names It's like a tongue twister, but what impresses you? It shows that the the work of the gospel is teamwork not individual work Amen, yes So the work of the gospel God has You know given our specific functions and those functions are all Link interlinked with each other because we are one body in christ You know we are all different parts and we have one head And so it's important for us to A partner with each other You know come and even as we partner we compliment each other in Building the kingdom of god and not come we should not compete with each other You know most of the time as ministers we compete with each other rather than Compliment each other and coming together to build god's kingdom um Another thing is that you know we need to be mindful that it's even if god has called us to given us specific visions specific functions in the body of christ specific ministries, you know, um You know to set up a church or to set up a christian ministry organization, whatever It is not just about our vision. It's not about just my church But it is how You know I can use the vision that god has given me the calling that god has given me to enhance or build the kingdom of god, so We look at our calling our vision our function the broader framework of building the kingdom of god Because we are part of the kingdom of god We're here to be stewards of the kingdom of god and we are here to build the kingdom of god So we see that Paul is even though he's a great apostle. He's pioneered so much so many churches. He's established so many churches written so many You know Letters, you know Ministered to so many people men got so many men and women He's actually, you know all of his letters. He closes off with greetings Mentioning people Just to show that hey, it's a teamwork. It's not just I me my self and I think it's a very important lesson to for us to learn that you know Christian ministry is not just my My business my work what god is entrusted to me But how I can use that to partner with others And also how I can build the kingdom of god and what god has called me and entrusted me with okay, so Here we see that, you know, what is very impressive um Was also that Paul Is recognizing people right? He's recognizing people. He's thanking them. Do you think it was easy for them to write out all of these names? What do you think in those days was easy to write? in Paul's time Jefina says is to remember the names itself is difficult the people in your team You know, do you think it was easy for them to write all of these names? Uh, or write these scripts? No, why? Jefina says in those days there's no computer. There's no pen. You just take a paper and a pen, you know, you can just write Or you can just, you know, type it out or It was parchment and you know, it was painstaking You know, it was a lot of effort. They had to put into Basically write out. So if Paul is taking the The pain and the effort to mention so many names It just means that he has people in his heart You know, that is so important Uh, another thing we need to remember is kingdom building or Ministry is not about, you know, how many books you wrote how many places you preach how many churches you established Um, you know your degrees the fame their name Uh, you know, all of that is not going to impress god It's it's it's it's writing into the hearts and lives of people. So when we have people in our hearts, you know Uh We can serve them better. We can serve them with the love of god and you know And when we have people in our hearts, we can actually write into their hearts That means we can take the liberty to speak into their lives We can take the liberty to preach and teach and admonish and correct and rebuke and train them in righteousness and holiness like paul Is using the boldness and the liberty that's because he has people in his heart And when we have people in our heart god will give us the permission and god will give us the right to write into people's heart To speak into people's heart So that is another very important thing that we need we can learn from Paul that he had people in his heart and so god gave him the liberty the freedom the right to Speak into their lives to write into their lives or the decree over their lives and to admonish them teach them and to train them in righteousness and holiness some of these truths we've already learned in The minister's foundation class in the first year and also in the kingdom of god and kingdom Builders so even as we go about doing ministry. Let's be mindful of these things. Let us know the grace of god You know, let us move in the grace of god. Let us practice the grace and move boldly Let us know that we're here to build the kingdom of god And even as we do that we are here to minister to people And have people in your heart so that god can give you the freedom and the liberty to speak over people And to write into their hearts. Okay, we'll stop here We'll finish chapter 16 on monday, which will be our last class I posted the assessment Um Yesterday, sorry for the delay. I've mentioned the reason I've stated the reason that so you can submit your assessment by next Thursday Thank you all have a blessed weekend and I will see you on monday