Romans 1-2 - The Burden for Souls#
Romans 1-2 The Burden for Souls
(JP Text Group - Wang Na Compilation)
Let us begin with a prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you, for it is your love that draws us to you. It is you who leads us to listen to your words and receive the blessings from heaven together. Through your words, grant us strength and the ability to overcome, so that we may know our mission and share your love through Jesus Christ. You have mercy on us and give us a heart to have compassion for others. May each of us carry a burden for souls. Bless every brother and sister who seeks you today. Lead us in the time ahead, that we may receive supply from you. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!
Brothers and sisters, peace in the Lord! We share a topic called: A Burden for Souls
Romans chapter 1, verses 7 to 15,
7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; 10 and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. 11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you but have been prevented from doing so until now, in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
The book of Romans is addressed to the people of Rome. Paul had not been to the Roman church. Paul wrote to the believers in Rome out of concern for them. In Paul's heart, there was a stirring, a burden; he wanted to comfort them, encourage them, and share the gospel with them. Why did he have such a burden? It was placed in him by God.
First Point: Hearing the Testimony of the Roman Church, Paul Had a Burden.
If he knew nothing about this church, he could not possibly have a burden. How did Paul know about the Roman church? It was because many testimonies came out of this Roman church.
Let me briefly share some background of the society at that time. Rome was a vast empire, occupying many places, and as Romans, they never needed to work for a lifetime, relying on colonies and taxes from other places, which was enough to cover their expenses for life. Because of this, the lifestyle of Romans was indulgent, luxurious, willful, selfish, and so on. In short, they enjoyed every conceivable pleasure. In such a wasteful place, one can imagine what the people there would be like.
Many people have a misconception that only those who are at the end of their rope or suffering from illness will come before God. In such cases, indeed, some people will come before God; however, there is another type of person who deserves our admiration even more, those who lack nothing but are still willing to believe in Jesus and become witnesses for Jesus Christ.
The local Roman believers were just such a group of people. They were not corrupted by the Romans of that time; they believed in Jesus Christ and still lived a sanctified life. They also proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ, declaring that the world needs Jesus.
In Romans chapter 16, we see that Paul encountered many Roman believers while preaching the gospel, and these believers were of great help to him. These people were also faithful in serving the Lord and diligently doing the Lord's work. Whether they were local or traveling, they were witnessing for Jesus Christ and serving others. Their reputation spread to many other places, including reaching Paul.
Never say that the people in our area are too rebellious, filled with idols, and cannot believe in Jesus, or that they are living well and lack nothing, so they will not believe in Jesus. Do not make such a judgment. For what we see is only the surface of people; perhaps they are materially prosperous, but deep inside, they all long for true love and fulfillment.
When God created man, He left a place for the Holy Spirit in the heart of man. There is a yearning for love, for care, for eternal life, for life itself, etc. This yearning cannot be satisfied by material things in the world, except by the Holy Spirit of God. In other words, when one accepts Jesus, it can fill all the needs within.
Although the Romans lived a very extravagant and decadent life at that time, the local believers were bearing a beautiful witness for Jesus. Today, as we become soldiers of Jesus Christ and children of God, we must stand firm and be witnesses for Jesus Christ wherever we are. At any time and in any place, we can be beautiful witnesses for Christ.
It is not that after believing in Jesus, God forgives us and accepts us, so we no longer need to have good behavior. We still hope that brothers and sisters can be examples to others in their behavior. Not everyone loves us like God does; not everyone knows the grace of Jesus Christ; not everyone can see the Lord you believe in.
Many people cannot see the Lord you speak of, but they can see you. Your actions represent Jesus Christ. If they see love, care, and compassion in you, they will be willing to believe in the Lord you believe in because they see the love and compassion of God through you.
As recipients of the gospel, do not say that since we are already saved and in the grace of Jesus Christ, it does not matter whether we have good behavior! After all, God loves me. After all, I am saved! Living out the life of Christ is extremely important. Not everyone can understand or see the Lord you believe in; you are a witness of Jesus Christ. We need good behavior to manifest the beauty of Christ.
Perhaps your husband or your children see that your behavior has changed for the better, and they will be willing to accept Jesus.
Paul saw that the Roman believers had such good behavior and many testimonies, which gave him a burden for this church. He began to pray for the Roman believers, hoping to teach them more truths from the Bible to help them.
I write to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people.
This is Paul's greeting, and in this short sentence, there is an important message. Paul repeatedly emphasizes, you are loved by God, you are called to be holy people. The special word here is "holy people."
“Holy” means set apart! When you accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior, God has set you apart from the world and dedicated you to Him. You belong to Jesus Christ. You are holy. This is related to your identity, not your behavior.
May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Many people say this phrase is wonderful. Pastors often use this blessing when preaching, and many people say "Amen!"
If you have a burden for a soul, fully convey the blessings that Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross. Share as much as you have received.
Every church and every believer should live out the likeness of Christ, which is beneficial for us and those around us! The world does not look at what you say but at how you conduct yourself.
Acts 1:8 also tells us, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
This mentions that when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, it makes us witnesses for Christ to the ends of the earth. We are to be witnesses to others. With the love of Jesus Christ and the grace we have received, we share that grace.
Do not think that witnessing for the Lord is a shameful thing; it is a glorious thing because we know for whom we are doing this work. He is the King of kings, and He desires to use us and elevate us. Let us be a help to others.
1 Peter 3:15 says, But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
Someone may ask, why do you do such things?
You help me without asking for anything in return; what do you want from me?
This is the best time for us to witness. You can say, the reason I help you is not to get anything from you, but because the Lord Jesus loves me this way, I am willing to help you.
This is a beautiful testimony.
When these testimonies come forth, they will bring comfort to many people and to many pastors, and they will have a greater burden for souls.
The gospel we speak of is related to Jesus Christ. He loves us and died on the cross for our sins, reconciling us with the Father. The Father is willing to bless us, use us, and make us His beautiful witnesses. Paul preached the gospel not for any other reason but that everyone might know Jesus Christ, and that these souls might receive His abundant grace from the Lord Jesus, transforming our lives.
First, he saw the good behavior and testimonies of the Roman believers, realizing that the church truly needed the gospel. Perhaps their understanding of Jesus Christ was very limited, while Paul had received many revelations about the gospel, so he was willing to share the gospel with the Roman believers, which became his burden. Paul often prayed for the local church in Rome because he had this burden in his heart, wishing for them to understand more about the benefits of the gospel.
When you have a burden for someone, you will pray for them. When I learn about someone’s situation, and it becomes my burden, I will pray for them every day. We may not meet, just like Paul and the current Roman believers; they may not have met, but he already knew about some people in the church and heard about their situations, so he was willing to pray for them.
No matter where you are, our prayers are not limited by time and space. The prayers here can be received there. The preaching here can be received in your place. You can instantly draw strength from the words of Jesus Christ. May God give you a stirring, a burden for the souls around you.
Break the limitations of denominations and regions; do not say they are not from our church, so I do not need to pray for such a person. If you hear about someone’s situation and God gives you a burden to pray for someone, then follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit!
Or if you often think of someone and cannot let go, then this is the burden God has given you. I suggest you pray for them and not quench the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Prayer is not empty talk; it is truly interceding for someone from the heart.
Paul here says, I thank my God through Jesus Christ, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
Faith means to believe firmly and without doubt in any situation. They may know very little about Christ, but they believe in the part they know and hold fast to their faith. So Paul says, I am willing to pray for you, constantly mentioning you in my prayers.
Paul prayed for these souls, wishing to see them, wanting to help them, and wanting to tell them more about the mysteries of the gospel. This is Paul’s burden for souls!
May each of us brothers and sisters have such a burden, praying for our country, for our church, for our community... offering prayers for our gospel ministry. Your prayers can change our country and make it more prosperous.
Paul developed a burden for them because he heard about the situation of the Roman church.
Let me give a testimony to the brothers and sisters.
How did I finally walk the path of full-time service? It was because God stirred me and gave me a burden for souls.
At that time, I was doing business, and on the way back from a business trip by train, God's words kept appearing in my heart,
John 4:35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
But where are the harvesters? At that time, I did not understand. I said, "Lord, what does this have to do with me? I do not plan to be a pastor; I do not plan to serve you full-time; I can just be a layperson." I had no burden for this matter. But this passage kept appearing... Later, I saw a sister nearby sharing the gospel with another person.
At that moment, the Holy Spirit urgently prompted me, “Go sit with her.”
I thought, “Lord, I don’t know her; why should I sit with her? There are so many empty seats; why should I squeeze in with her? Maybe she is thinking, what does she want from me?”
But the Holy Spirit prompted me again and again, and I still went over.
After I went over, that sister was sharing the gospel with another young girl. After the next stop, the young girl got off, and I began to ask the sister,
“Do you two know each other?”
She said, “No, I just met her on the train.”
She said, “I know very little about the gospel, but I am willing to share the gospel with her and let her believe in Jesus.”
I asked, “Which church are you from?”
She said, “Our church has many people, but no one preaches. Every time we meet, we just read the Bible together and then finish because we cannot preach, and we have no materials, and no one tells us how to do the Lord’s work. Our understanding of the gospel is very limited.”
At that moment, I understood because I knew how to do this. In that moment, the Spirit of God stirred me. In my heart, I had a burden for this sister.
I said, “I can help you; I happen to have a book about the gospel that you can read. It is very helpful for new believers; it is systematic Bible study material.”
I gave it to her. The sister was moved to tears.
Brothers and sisters, do you know? In an instant, God gave me this burden, and I began to tell her about Jesus Christ. This burden comes from God; it is a burden for souls.
I hope that the brothers and sisters listening today can have a burden for souls. There are many souls around us who are gradually sliding toward death, and you have the ability to stop that by telling them the gospel. This is what we just talked about, the burden for souls.
Second Point: Paul’s Burden for the Gospel
What is the reason that motivates Paul to want to go to the Roman church? In the text we read, there was something that hindered Paul, but he was determined to go.
The first reason shared: To Strengthen Believers
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong.
Paul seemed very eager to go to Rome to meet the local believers. What was the reason that made Paul so determined to meet the Roman believers? Because Paul hoped to impart spiritual gifts to the local believers so that their spiritual lives could be strengthened.
Just like the experience I shared with the brothers and sisters earlier. When you understand the gospel and know the basic information of the gospel, when you hear that someone in a certain place only knows Jesus and is just reading the Bible, you immediately have a burden. You want to tell them what you know.
In fact, at that time, the Roman believers had very little access to the gospel message. Paul had received many rich revelations from the Holy Spirit. When he heard that the Roman believers were lacking in information and were particularly eager, he was very willing to strengthen them. He wanted to share these gifts with them. We also hope to share such gifts through preaching to help more people understand.
If in Paul’s time, there were devices as advanced as we have today, Paul could have recorded his sermons and sent them directly to the Roman church. We live in such a blessed era today. Back then, they could only communicate through letters.
Paul had a desire; he was very willing to explain the gospel of God to these believers in person. What are these spiritual gifts? In the original text, it refers to the spiritual blessings that God gives to people in Jesus Christ, specifically referring to “the truth of grace.” Reading the original text makes it clear that it does not refer to speaking in tongues, visions, etc. Paul wanted to tell them about the truth of grace; he wanted to share the gospel with the Roman believers. Thank the Lord!
Brothers and sisters, now you can understand why the book of Romans speaks so thoroughly about justification by faith and explains grace and law so clearly. It is for this reason. Because Paul could not go himself, he hoped to write the book of Romans to convey as much of the grace he knew to them as possible. Hallelujah!
You can understand that the book of Romans is Paul’s sermon; he hopes to tell more people who are willing to know Jesus about the gospel he understands. Paul particularly desired to share the truth of the gospel with the Roman believers. Because the spiritual blessings of God flowed in Paul’s heart, he could not help but share.
I wonder how many brothers and sisters listening today long to share grace? To share the gospel of Jesus Christ? Because Paul understood the grace of Christ, he could not help but preach the gospel, sharing this good news with others.
The spiritual gifts are for the building up of believers; “to build up” in the original text means to strengthen their faith. We receive spiritual gifts not to show off ourselves but to strengthen believers. It is to use your gifts to make more weak people, those with little faith, strong again. Through your gifts, they can turn back and look up to Jesus Christ. This is the ultimate purpose of the gifts: to strengthen believers and build them up. Thank the Lord!
Many people’s faith remains in a state of wavering. I truly hope that those who want a solid foundation can be willing to share the truth like Paul. First, we must be rooted and built up in the truth, often studying God’s word, and then share it so that more people can understand.
The second reason: Expecting to Bear Some Fruit
Verse 13 says, I have often intended to come to you in order that I might have some fruit among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
The reason Paul was willing to go to Rome was that he expected to bear some fruit there. For example, in the places he was, he had many faithful coworkers like Barnabas, Apollos, Luke, and Timothy, but in Rome, Paul also hoped to establish solid fruit, to help more people understand this gospel, so he was particularly willing to go there to bear some fruit.
I also wish that those who understand grace will bear more fruit and then teach more people to work with you in the Lord’s work. This way, the gospel will flourish rapidly. I hope everyone can systematically learn these truths and then systematically teach others.
Today, many people know too little about the gospel and do not understand God’s intentions. They are still relying on themselves, living a very tiring and 苦苦的 life. A few days ago, I was chatting with some brothers and sisters, and they said that some people believe in the Lord, and when they come to church, the pastor tells them that they must do this and that; they must do it this way or that way… otherwise, God will discipline you, and God will bring disasters upon you...
Many people keep talking about such legalistic messages, making us feel that we are not doing well enough. Thus, they overlook what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross. Brothers and sisters, we are under the New Covenant, under grace. Our focus is on what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. Because of what Jesus did, God has accepted us, called us righteous, and is willing to bless us and help us. This is the good news we need to tell the world.
So, after we understand the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we see the people around us living under condemnation and bondage. God wants to use you to tell them the good news, to let them receive release and freedom.
We should indeed live out good behavior under grace. But it is not to please God through good behavior. Rather, we know that God is already pleased with us, so we are willing to live out the likeness of Christ. We are willing to live out good behavior to glorify our Lord; this is our original pattern. You are originally a prince; there is no need to live like a beggar; you should live out the pattern of a prince.
Brothers and sisters, this is freedom; this is the gospel. This is the love of Jesus Christ that motivates us to move forward, not the intimidation or control of God. When you see that the people around you are still bound by the law, you should have a burden for souls! Tell them the message of grace so they can be released from it. Hallelujah!
I encourage everyone to read the Bible more and ensure that what you believe aligns with the Bible. Then teach others. Just like Paul, be confident in what you understand and then teach others. Cultivate more coworkers to work together in the Lord’s work and live out beautiful testimonies.
Third Point: We Must Take Action on the Burden for Souls
Paul did not just speak with his mouth. Paul meant that he was particularly willing to meet you and share the Lord’s gospel with you face to face, but now he could not go. He wrote this letter to tell you what he knew about the gospel. You can know a little through this letter, but one day, I must go to Rome and explain this gospel to you.
In the end, Paul broke through all restrictions and limitations and went to Rome. For several years, he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to the local believers. He truly did it. He did not merely say, may the Lord have mercy on you, may the Lord comfort you!
1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Brothers and sisters, besides praying for souls, you should help them in action, and in life, you should help each other and love one another. This is what it means to be of Jesus Christ; this is what it means to be a true family.
I used to ask the brothers and sisters, if all the brothers and sisters prayed for China every day, would China change? Many people said, “Yes.” I said, “No.” Because it is limited to prayer. Unless after praying, someone stands up and says to those around them, “Will you believe in Jesus?” At that moment, people can change.
If we want more people around us to understand the gospel, besides praying, we also need to open our mouths and preach to them, so they can correctly understand the gospel of Jesus Christ through you. When you have a burden for souls, it will inevitably lead to action. Correct faith will certainly lead to correct behavior.
When I first believed, I also encountered significant problems. After arriving at church, I said, “Pastor, I have encountered such difficulties; I don’t know what to do?”
The pastor replied, “Pray more, read the Bible more, and God will naturally tell you.”
I said, “Pastor, I have been praying for a long time, but I still don’t know what to do.”
He said, “You haven’t prayed enough; keep praying!”
If this is how you comfort others, it is an extremely irresponsible way of comforting. Because you have not told him how to act! Anyone can say this; the Bible has also mentioned such examples: At night, if your neighbor comes knocking on your door and says, “A friend from far away has come, and I have nothing to give him to eat.” You should not say, “May God bless you! Go in peace!” Comforting others like this is useless; you cannot bring any comfort to him.
What does the Bible say? You should give him practical help. You really do not want to get up, but because of his persistent asking, you should get up and help him as much as you can. This tells us what to do: You should not only tell him to pray. Many times, they have already lost the strength to pray. Instead of saying, “You go back and pray well,” it is better to say, “Let’s pray together.” Saying this is more comforting than letting him pray alone!
Besides praying for others, you should genuinely help them, allowing them to receive comfort from the heart. Do not say that after having a burden, you only stay in prayer; you must take action. Just like mentioned earlier, not everyone has faith like us to look up to God, especially when people are weak; they may not even have the strength to pray or the desire to gather. What they see is you; your words and actions will have a decisive impact on them.
Romans 1:14-15,
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
From a personal emotional perspective, what relationship do the Romans have with Paul? They have no relationship; they are not his own church! Such things really happen around us today. A few days ago, a sister from Shanghai had some faith-related issues with her friend and consulted me multiple times. We communicated over the phone, but due to distance and many reasons, we could not meet. I asked her, “In Shanghai, can’t you find a pastor who is willing to help you and has a burden for you?” She said, “I went to find the church pastor, and the pastor said, ‘I have no burden for your friend.’”
This is not something a pastor should say. If she is in your city, and you have no burden for her, will you have a burden for others? Is it only for those who obey you? Is it only for those who give you offerings? Clearly, this does not align with the Bible.
Look at Paul’s heart! Although he was not in Rome, he heard about the situation of the local believers and developed a burden for them. If Jesus said, “You are Gentiles; I have no burden for you,” we would have no hope.
What did Paul say?
Romans 1:14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.
Whether Greeks or Gentiles. At that time, Greeks were knowledgeable and cultured, belonging to the civilized people, while Gentiles referred to the uncivilized. Even so, Paul’s heart did not have these distinctions. Whether you are knowledgeable or not, wise or foolish, I owe them a debt.
Actually, what debt does Paul owe? If, like some today say, as long as I take care of the believers in my church, it is fine; I have no burden for others. Even if they seek me, I would not want to help. He would not feel he owes any debt. Paul is a servant of God; he knows the heart of Jesus. The love and compassion of Jesus are in Paul’s heart.
If I think like this, I would not be preaching here; as long as I take care of the believers in our church, what does it matter to me whether you are good or bad? But I know that when I was weak, many unknown brothers and sisters helped me. After I stood up, I had no way to repay them, so I was willing to help some people. To make the gospel clear so that people can benefit.
I want to say that as long as someone seeks me, wanting to understand God’s word and seek help, I am willing to share and tell them the truth of the Bible, trying to solve some of their problems. This is my burden.
I hope brothers and sisters can break the limitations of regions. Do not say, “I belong to a certain church; I belong to a certain pastor.” Serving personnel should not say, “I only have a burden for our believers.” We should have a kingdom mindset. In Christ, all who believe in Jesus are one family. Thank and praise the Lord!
1 Corinthians 9:16 For when I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
Many people do not understand why Paul said this. Many under the law use this verse to scare believers, saying if you do not preach the gospel, you will face calamity, and God will bring disasters upon you! This is a fundamental misunderstanding.
Paul said this because he had a burden for these souls. If I do not preach the gospel to them, their souls are under the bondage of the devil, which is a torment for Paul. This is what Paul meant to express.
Paul said, “I am willing to do my utmost to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome.”
With my strength, to do what I can, I am willing to tell you in Rome the grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ because I have a burden for you.
Now, I am willing to use the internet to teach you the gospel of Jesus Christ, to help you understand the truth because I have a burden for you, because I have a burden for these souls. If you are willing to receive, I am willing to share the grace of Jesus Christ that I know.
When you have a burden for the souls you know, God will open doors for you to preach. God will prepare everything you need. If we all act this way, then more people will benefit.
The meaning of owing a debt in the original text is: to have a responsibility, an obligation to do something.
Paul felt he had a responsibility and obligation to preach the gospel; this was not something God forced him to do; it was his burden for souls. He felt he had too much to do for the Lord. He said, “The Lord Jesus saved me with His life; what I do is nothing. Even if I dedicate my whole life to the Lord, I feel it is not enough!” This is what Paul believed. Therefore, he said he was willing to proclaim the power of Christ with the rest of his life.
Paul said, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Because he saw the depth, width, height, and breadth of the love of the Lord Jesus, he was willing to let this love flow through him so that more people could understand. Because he had a burden for souls, God used him to accomplish great works. Thank the Lord!
Today, you are the same. When you have a burden for souls, God can use you. If you do not have this burden, at least for now, God will not force you to act! Serving is always voluntary.
Romans 1:15 So I am eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
So Paul felt that the gospel was a debt; he had to do these things, and he was willing to do them gladly. If we today, who have heard grace, all have such a burden, the people around us will be blessed. Here it says, “I am willing,” and in the original text, there is a tense that is very urgent, very willing, very eager to preach the gospel to them!
To do my utmost. There is no need to compare with others; serve according to the gifts God has given us, and just share what we know. We only need to do according to our strength. If you only know that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead three days later, and that believing in Him will save you, just tell others what you know. This is doing your part.
If you have no other special talents, and God has given you the gift of healing, then use your strength to help more people know Jesus Christ. If you are more gifted in teaching, then comfort and build people up with God’s word, witnessing for Jesus Christ.
I hope you can share what you have received and witnessed. Because when we share with each other, we will comfort each other. Paul heard the testimonies of the people in the Roman church and was comforted, which gave him a burden for them. Then Paul said, if we share the testimonies of our church with you, you will also be comforted.
Brothers and sisters, take out the beautiful testimonies of your church and of Jesus Christ. Do not say, “I have no testimony, so I won’t speak.” Share the testimonies you know with the people here, and I will also share the testimonies I know with you. Then we will comfort each other. The information you know will comfort many people. This is doing our part to preach the gospel, doing our utmost to tell more people about the grace of Jesus Christ, so that those around you can see the grace of Jesus Christ through you. Hallelujah!
Let us pray together:
Loving Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you. Lord, I am here; I am willing to go for you, please use me. Give me strength to witness for you, grant me more revelations and light, so that I can help more people through your words. Also, connect me with those who have the same vision, to comfort and build each other up, all for the glory of Christ’s name.
Heavenly Father, also give us strength to live out your words and experience the power of your words. May others see the power of Christ and the love of Christ in us.
May your love inspire more coworkers like Paul, who dedicate themselves solely to the Lord, not for fame or profit, but to convey the power of Christ.
Heavenly Father, may you raise up servants from all over who align with your heart, to prosper the gospel, so that the gospel can flourish everywhere in China! Glory be to the Father in heaven. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen!