THE FERVENT DESIRE OF A CHRISTIAN

Romans 10:1

Morning Meditation 7/8/2014

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved."

The effect of salvation upon the soul of man should point him like an arrow, aimed at, and fired at a target. As we consider this subject, let us begin with Paul. He was a man aimed at a target. He had a purpose in life that demanded fervency. He was converted in one of his campaigns against Christians. When this happened, he turned completely around. Instead of being Saul the persecutor, he became Paul the persecuted. Every thing about this great apostle speaks of fervency of desire. Let's notice first of all,

THE FERVENT DESIRE FOR THE SALVATION OF OTHERS

We begin with the verse that speaks of this truth. He speaks to those in the church in Rome, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is . . ."

The word "Brethren" translates "adelphos" means here, "a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection." When one addresses another as a brother, he automatically places himself on the same level with the one or ones to whom he speaks.

The words, "my heart's desire," translates two words. First, "kardia" which refers to "the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors," and, "desire" translates, "eudokia" and means, "a desire for, or delight in any thing, the absence of which, easily produces a longing for it."

The very soul of Paul pulsated with a longing which had such a grip on him that he could make a statement like he makes in Romans 9:1-3, "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:" I have never personally met a Christian that I believe had this kind of a burden. I certainly do not qualify. Paul is an unusual man. But he is no more than a sinner saved by the grace of God. What Paul did could be attainable. But in our day of effluence, it is doubtful that a person will deny himself to the extent that Paul did. However, I do believe that we could come a lot closer than we do.

Paul had "continual sorrow" in his heart as he yearned for the salvation of his kinsmen according to the flesh. He was not obsessed with a tunnel vision for his own countrymen to the extent that he was distracted from the need of the world. He finally came to the place where he turned from the Jew to the Gentile. Does this mean that he no longer tried to win the Jew? No. But he did not allow his consuming hunger for the Jew to keep him from seeing the bigger picture, i.e., the great commission.. Acts 13:46 says, "Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."

We need a world vision. And we need to examine our desire to see if it conforms with the Scripture. I am searching my own soul as I write these words. It is too easy for us to see the wrong in others and not see our own personal shortcomings. May the Lord give us a vision of the lost being eternally separated from God. Then may we see we have the ONLY message that is the remedy.

There is another area where we need a fervent desire.

WE NEED A FERVENT DESIRE FOR THE MISSIONARIES WHO LABOR FAITHFULLY

This truth is brought out in 2 Corinthians 7:7: "And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more."

Paul is the missionary of all missionaries. He was a church planter. I have learned over the years and my close association of missionaries, that they many times feel forsaken by their supporters. I know of no missionary that would put it in writing. To say it aloud or to write it down, would seem to them that they would be suggesting that they did not have a proper appreciation of those pastors and people who keep them on the field financially. While financial support is imperative, it does not always represent a fervent desire that the donor has for the missionary.

As great a man as Paul was, we can feel his deep appreciation of the people at Corinth when he says, "when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more."

The words "earnest desire" translates a word that means "to yearn with strong earnest yearnings." The word "mourning" is from a word that means, "go under, be plunged into, sink in." The idea is to sink in to a state of grief. Paul had to rebuke this church in his first Epistle. This Epistle is believed to follow closely on the heels of the first. The intervening time is Titus' arrival and his message to Paul about their obedience to first letter and their personal feelings toward him. They had not been offended by his first letter but had mourned over the careless way in which they had dealt with the problem. The words "fervent mind" translates "zelos" from which we get our word zeal. The Lexicon defines it as, "excitement of mind, ardor, fervor of spirit." We see here the effect that this report of Titus about the believers in Corinth had on Paul.

THE MEANS OF DIVINE COMFORT. These means accord with the nature with which the Creator has endowed us, and are none the less honoring to his wisdom because they are often of the simplest kind. The case of Paul illustrates this.

1. The presence and brotherly kindness of a friend is consolatory to the afflicted; e.g. the coming of Titus.

2. The good tidings that reach the downcast cheer the soul; e.g. good news concerning the Corinthian Church.

3. The assurance of affection and sympathy on the part of those whose welfare is sought.

THE MINISTER'S DESIRE FOR BELIEVERS TO GROW STRONG IN DOCTRINE

Paul says in Colossians 1:9, "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding."

The church at Colossae had serious problems with the Gnostic heresy. This heresy dealt with who Jesus really is. This heresy was of such a complicated nature that it is not easily explained. When the Gnostics dealt with material creation they had to answer how a perfect God could create an imperfect creation. The way they did this is to teach that there were emanations that came out from God in the form of angelic beings. This is like the water makes waves when a pebble is dropped in it. The first wave is the response to the initial disturbance. The next wave is made from it and the next from it and so on. When those angelic beings got far enough from God to retain creative power but still far enough not to contaminate God, there is where creation took place. They believed that Jesus was one of these emanations. This answered the question of a holy God and at the same time a material universe that was imperfect.

It was against the background of this heresy that Paul wrote on of the greatest books on Christology. There is not room in this meditation to do more than make a reference to it. Paul was concerned that the Colossian believers not be contaminated with this false teaching. So when we read Colossians 1:15-20, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

This truth about Jesus would tighten the jaws of the Gnostics but it would give simple Bible believers the tools to identify them as heretics and keep the Church pure in doctrine.

Notice what this text says again: "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." Let's break this down in understandable segments.

1. There was a cause that motivated Paul to act. He says, "For this cause." Paul has a cause. It is not some private opinion. He is addressing something that has the power to neutralize the gospel so that it is no saving gospel at all.

2. This cause demanded immediate action. He says, "Since the day we heard of it." When you know the truth, heresy will not be easily hidden. A little statement here and a little opinion there. The first thing you know is that the church is in the hands of Satan's apostles. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

3. Paul had a way he went about handling this problem. He says, "For this cause we also since the day we heard of it, do not cease to pray for you . . ." I wonder what it means to pray "without ceasing?" I am not writing this in the spirit of judgment upon anyone. I just may need to confess, this is another area in which I could improve a lot.. I am sure I would not be identified by the Lord as one who prays without ceasing. The good thing is that God is a God of grace. Grace forgives and restores. Grace even restores some people we don't think He should. Oops. Better get off of that. Prayer before teaching can make a big difference how the truth is received.

4. Paul gave the clincher in the words, "and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." I will not elaborate on this statement. However, the way to help believers to stand against heresy is not to know what the heretic believes, it is to thoroughly know what the Bible teaches and be committed to it without reservation. God's will is stated in His Word. Wisdom is the right application of knowledge. Spiritual understanding is seeing the truth from the standpoint that the Holy Spirit gave it.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White