Category Archives: Messenger

Person walking towards a wooden cross on a hill at sunset with mountains in background
Bible, Gospel, Isaiah, Messages, Messenger, Messiah, Romans, Scripture

THE MYSTERY OF THE MESSAGE

ROMANS 15:21

“but just as it is written: ‘THEY WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT HIM WILL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD WILL UNDERSTAND.’”

Okay, be honest. How is today’s verse even possible? They will see what they have not been told about and will undertand what they have not heard about? Really? How is that even possible? Have you not heard about the dreams and visions that have been happening around the world where unbelievers are coming to Christ after seeing Him in a dream? It is happening a lot in the Muslim world, but it is not limited to that. God can speak in ways we cannot even begin to comprehend.

Paul is quoting (not exactly) Isaiah 52:15 which says, “So He will sprinkle many nations, Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; For what they had not been told, they will see, and what they had not heard, they will understand.” You really need to read the preceding two verses in Isaiah 52. “13 Behold, My Servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. 14 Just as many were appalled at you, My people, So His appearance was marred beyond that of a man, and His form beyond the sons of mankind.”

APPLICATION

Who does that remind you of? That’s right! The crucified Christ. Jesus came to “sprinkle” many nations with the blood of the perfect Lamb of God. Through that all men may be saved. But don’t they have to hear? Paul even says back in Romans 10:14, “How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?” Paul is not contradicting himself. He knows God is able to do great and mighty things well beyond his comprehension.

One of the concerns I have today among some followers of Christ is they try to put God in a box. You have to say the magic words to be saved. God only chooses certain people. God requires us to do this or do that. Don’t limit the Almighty God. Remember the context of this verse. Paul is making sure everyone knows that he is not responsible for anything he has accomplished. He is just a vessel who has been willing to be used.

Have you written certain people off of ever being saved? We have probably all done that at some point in our lives. We hear of the death of someone we knew as an unbeliever and we automatically assume they are now lost for eternity. We don’t know what happened in those last minutes of their lives. There have been a lot of deathbed confessions. Just do your part to usher in as many as you can while you have breath. God will take care of the rest.

Lord, use me to do Your will however You choose.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Woman attentively listening to speaker with microphone
Bible, Gospel, Messages, Messenger, Psalms, Romans, Scripture, Voice

JUST LISTEN

ROMANS 10:18

“But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? On the contrary: ‘THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD.’”

As I am getting older, the one thing that irritates me the most is the loss of hearing. I have lost some of my hearing in my left ear and have tinnitus in both ears. Just plain irritating. However, it does give me a good excuse sometimes when I don’t want to hear something my wife is telling me, lol. Just kidding. But there are times when she is trying to tell me something, and I just don’t hear her. My lack of hearing does not negate the words she is saying. She has still given me a message. I just didn’t respond to it.

Paul continues his line of thinking in today’s verse in regard to the message of God being proclaimed to everyone. He quotes from Psalm 19:4 which says, “Their line has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun,” Albert Barnes says this about the Psalmist. “The psalmist employs them to show that the works of God, the heavens and the earth, proclaim his existence everywhere.” There is just no argument about the fact that God will judge everyone who does not respond to His message of salvation, no matter how He delivered it.

APPLICATION

In Acts 26:26 Paul confronts King Agrippa with the facts that he has heard the message. “‘For the king knows about these matters, and I also speak to him with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner.’” Pretty bold move, huh? Paul confronts the person who holds his fate in his hands. Could we be as bold in presenting the message to others?

In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he states the fact of the message being voiced to all. In 1:23 Paul writes, “if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.” The gospel message has been “proclaimed in all creation under heaven.” Wow!

The word used by Paul for “voice” is phthoggos which is only used here and in 1 Corinthians 14:7. It has the idea of a musical note by voice or instrument. This note is unique and is recognizable. God’s “note” of the Gospel message is unique and recognizable by all. There is no excuse for not responding. Let us be God’s musical instruments strumming the chords of the Gospel to all who will listen.

Thank You, Lord, for sending Your message to mankind to enable them to respond to Your gift of salvation through Jesus.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Messenger, Minister, Sacrifice, Scripture, Servant

A MESSENGER AND MINISTER

PHILIPPIANS 2:25

“But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need,”

Think of someone who has done something special for you that you will never forget. I am not talking about a spouse or a child. I’m thinking about a fellow believer and friend. I have someone in mind who truly blessed me years ago. I won’t go into the story because I don’t want to divulge their identity or what they did. Just suffice to say I will never forget their sacrifice and what they did for me during a very hard time in my life.

Paul spends the next six verses and one more in chapter four talking about a fellow brother, worker and soldier – Epaphroditus. His name means “lovely” or “charming.” Perhaps he was. We do know he was sent by the church at Philippi to minister to Paul and bring him something to help during his imprisonment. This servant of God took that long trip from Philippi to Rome to deliver this gift to Paul and then stayed to minister to him. We’ll see more about that in the coming days.

APPLICATION

Paul calls him “your messenger and minister to my need.” He recognized that Epaphroditus was acting on behalf of the church. He must have been a trusted member of that church since he was given the task of delivering the gift to Paul. The Greek word for “messenger” is the same word used to describe the apostles. It means someone who is sent with the authority of the sender. In Epaphroditus’ case, he had the authority of the Philippian church. His message to Paul – we love you and want to comfort you.

Then Paul uses the Greek word leitourgos which implies a servant who serves others at their own expense. It was normally used to describe a public servant. But in the case of Epaphroditus, it describes his service to Paul. The word is only used four other times in the New Testament (Romans 13:6; 15:16 and Hebrews 1:7; 8:2).

I love the way it is used in Hebrews 1:7. “And regarding the angels He says, ‘HE MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.’” The author of Hebrews quotes from Psalm 104:4 here. “He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers.” Paul describes Epaphroditus with the same word used there to describe angels. Certainly, Epaphroditus was dear to Paul.

Are you serving that way? Are you a messenger and minister to someone? Be an Epaphroditus today!

Father, thank You for servants like Epaphroditus who give us an example to follow.

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Bible, Comfort, Commitment, Encouragement, Messenger, Scripture

MESSENGER OF ENCOURAGEMENT

PHILIPPIANS 2:19

“But I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition.”

Some people have the gift of encouragement. Anytime you’re around them you just feel better. Wouldn’t it be great if we all acted that way? The world would be a much better place. Hey, the church would be a better place. Too much complaining and arguing happens there, don’t you think? We need more encouragers.

Paul sent Timothy, whom they knew when he had accompanied Paul there, to bring back news on how the Philippians were doing. Timothy had a two-fold task – take news of Paul to the church in Philippi and to bring news back to Paul in Rome. You need to understand something. Travel back then took a lot longer than it does now. This was a 1286 km (@800 miles) trip one way. It would have taken 3-6 months, depending on the time of the year. This was a huge commitment Timothy was making for Paul. Timothy would have been gone 6-12 months. A lot can happen in a year.

APPLICATION

But Timothy makes the journey and returns to Rome with news about the church. Of course, that is not talked about in this letter. What do you think Timothy said to the Philippian believers when he arrived there? “Paul is doing great. He has been chained to these Roman soldiers, but that means he has had a captive audience with these guys.” To that I bet all the Philippians would roar with laughter and say, “That’s just like Paul.” That news would have encouraged them.

Then Timothy would return to Paul in Rome. What do you think he told him? “The church is doing great! They are embracing their suffering as you asked. They are being witnesses throughout the city, following your example here in Rome. They send their love and gratitude.” Wow! What encouragement! This was Timothy’s task.

Are you like Timothy? Do you try to encourage others, or do you ignore others? We are all called to encourage. The word used for “may be encouraged” is only used once (right here) in the New Testament. It can mean to be of good comfort. Are you a comforter? Seek out what the Lord would have you do about this today.

Father, I know I could be a better encourager. Give me the words and ability to comfort others.

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