It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Romans 15:27-29

As I’m writing this, its been almost a week since the murderer of Charlie Kirk. Many people who are not familiar with Kirks work would just say he was a political activist, but as I documented on my website https://youtu.be/x3cCWUt44xA , Charlie was a bold preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the ultimate reason he lost his life.

I’m sure as Satan plotted the death of Kirk, he figured this would put an end to his movement, the movement of reaching millions of young people with the gospel of Christ, however it had the opposite effect, as it sparked a worldwide movement. Many people who haven’t been to Church in years, some decades, went back to Church. Why? Because they witnesses pure evil right before their eyes. They knew Kirk had a light in him, the Holy Spirit, and the world hated him for it.

This has been the history of the Church, the more the world tries to persecute and kill us, the more the gospel of Jesus Christ is spread and the Church grows. It’s very fitting as we look at our scripture here this morning, the Apostle Paul knows he is going to be killed for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. As Paul states “And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ”

You can imagine the Apostle Paul, when he was here on Earth, was a massive figure for Christianity. A trained Pharisee, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, planting Churches throughout the world. Paul was bold and uncompromising, sometimes he even got in it with the other Apostles, (Galatians 2:11-14) However Paul knew his mission, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21)

The Apostle Paul knew one day that he was going to lose his life for the gospel of Christ (2 Timothy 4:6-8) But Paul pressed on to fulfill his calling, because He knew he had a greater calling by Jesus. When Paul was murdered by the Roman Empire by the Emperor Nero, I’m sure this sent shockwaves through the Churches. Our beloved brother, the Apostle Paul, a man so filled with the Holy Spirit, was larger than life, was executed like an animal. The sorrow and grief that filled the Church must have been overwhelming

However we must then be reminded, Our Lord laid down his life for the Church, and was killed by the world, we as followers of Christ shouldn’t expect any difference, correct? If the world is willing to crucify the Son of God, the world will have no issues killing you! This is the calling in Christ, as Jesus said ““If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)

So what happened after Pauls death? The Church exploded and grew as usual, the writings and teachings of the Apostle Paul as still carried on today, as we are reading the epistle to the Romans right now! The fullness of the blessing is not found in this world, its only found in Jesus Christ, who has given us victory over death and world! 

I like to just end with the words of Jesus our Lord himself “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)