07/08/12

Fulfilling scriptures

Romans 15:21 - But as it is written, 'To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand'.


IIn today's message we read about Paul who desired to go to Rome and preach to the Romans but could not do it. The Lord worked mightily through Paul yet he struggled to fulfil one of the greatest desires in his life that was to go to Rome to preach there especially to the Roman emperor - Caesar.

Paul was a half Roman yet most of his communications with the Romans, after he came in the Lord was through letters only. Paul states his activities kept him busy so that scriptures would be fulfilled in Isaiah (52:15) that the people who did not know the Lord would see Him and those did not hear of Him would understand Him.

The Jews did see the Lord Jesus Christ but did not recognize Him. They even heard Him preach but did not understand it. The salvation that first came to the Jews went to the people of God who were not Jews (Gentiles - lost sheep), people who were of God but did not know Him.

We also read in the Bible, in all things that Jesus did He fulfilled the scriptures.

Did Paul and Jesus plan their lives according to scriptures? No. Paul and Jesus knew scriptures for they studied them from childhood. Paul before he came in the Lord was a student of one of the best Jewish scholars of his time and was respected by the Jews for being a student of Gamaliel. It was like in UK being a student of Cambridge, in US of Harvard's or in India of IIT. I am sure at that time Paul would narrate scriptures like a parrot (like most good religious Jewish students do) even though he had no understanding of them.

Both Paul (after he came in the Lord) and Jesus did not plan their activity by scriptures but were led by the Spirit of God to do things which caused the scriptures to be fulfilled.

The Word of God are guidelines to us. We should not try to follow them with our strength but do according to what the Spirit of God leads us. But then we should check if we are been led by the Spirit of God, for what we do will be in-line with the scriptures, fulfilling them.

The Lord is telling us there are many among us, who are trying hard to keep the commandments, to follow the Bible with great struggle and are tired. The Lord is telling them that although He gave the Word yet He did not expect us to succeed in keeping them or following them by our own strength that is the reason He gave us His Spirit.

The Lord is telling us to be led by His Spirit and automatically we will find ourselves fulfilling scriptures and keeping God's Word. Success comes only through the Spirit of God.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, we pray your people realize the importance of your Spirit. That they realize it is not possible for anyone to keep the Word or become overcomers without the help of your Spirit. Holy Spirit lead us your people that we be blessed and all the promises of Christ be fulfilled in us...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Romans 15:20-25
20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

Luke 4:16-22
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears.
22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth: and they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

Matthew 13:13-17
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.

Mark 14:49 - I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but this is done that the scriptures might be fulfilled.

Luke 24:44 - And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me.

Zechariah 4:6b - ... saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith Jehovah of hosts.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)