Paul Email -15Nov2013- Hope and Offering Romans 15

How you doin? The last 2 emails seem to have been sensitive subject matter. I hope no one is offended or upset. I was talking with Stacey and said that my over eating or gluttony is one of my biggest conscience sins. Gluttony is a non-disputable matter. The Bible makes it clear that it's a sin. I pray for the Holy Spirit (is that better Jerry?) to free me from the captivity of gluttony. As well as other things. I thank those of you who continue to love me despite my iniquities. The heading on Romans 14 is "The Weak and the Strong". I believe the theme of that chapter can be summed up in the first two verses of Romans 15.

Verse 1-2, "

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ² Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.

" If that's not enough verse 3 should cover it, "

For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”

WOW!!!!!!! I'm going to start picturing Jesus every time I insult someone. That's a crushing thought to think that every insult I've ever hurled has landed on Jesus. I'm just better off not insulting. I'm bunny trailing here.

Hope is mentioned 4 times in chapter 15. Verse 4,

"

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

" That's a good word. Keep in mind that hope is not a wish. Hope is eager anticipation of something good. Through endurance and encouragement provided by the Scriptures, we may have hope. AWESOME!!!!!!! I want hope. Verse 5-6,

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you 

a

spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow

Christ Jesus, ⁶ so that with one

heart and mouth

you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

" God gives endurance and encouragement. Everything good comes from God. I couldn't help to hear the huge qualifier in verse 5, "as you follow Christ Jesus". COME ON!!!!!!! This has everything to do with whom we are speaking to. All that we do should be to glorify God. SO GOOD!!!!!!! More on hope, verse 12, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” DIG IT!!!!!!! I read the last part of this verse like this, "in Him the Gentiles will eagerly anticipate something good". That's a good word. Here's why, verse 13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." SO GOOD!!!!!!! So God is the God of hope who gives endurance and encouragement. He's SO GOOD!!!!!!!

This must be a good word because my hands are soaked with oil. COME ON!!!!!!! Two more verses. Verses 15-16, "Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me ¹⁶ to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." Spike has been teaching me Greek. I think the Greek word for these verses is HOLY MAC-A-LOLY. First off God's attributes continue to increase. God is the God of hope who gives endurance, encouragement, and grace. AWESOME!!!!!!! The part about the Gentiles (me/you) becoming an offering acceptable to God and being sanctified (set apart) by the Holy Spirit makes me extremely full of endurance, encouragement, and able to receive grace. COME ON!!!!!!! I want so badly to be an offering acceptable to God. That my life may be a sweet fragrance to God. The Holy Spirit in me, Christ in me will make it so. PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!! Have hope (eager anticipation of something good) of being an acceptable offering to God today.

PS   God has shown me what an incredible mom Stacey is. I believe mom's have a special anointing from God. I often use WOW to express my adoration and amazement of God. I'm sure you all realize that wow upside down is mom. I proudly admit that I am a mama's boy. I loved and still love my mother dearly. Now I love Stacey more then ever for being the mother that she is. PRAISE GOD!!!!!!! Please pray for her endurance, encouragement, and grace.

PPS   These emails are proof of the endurance, encouragement, and grace that God gives me. PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!!