Romans 15:30-33

I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Paul commands (urges) the Roman believers to “join him in his struggle” by praying to God for him by Jesus and the love of the Spirit. Notice first the clear mention of the Trinity. Then notice how prayer warriors are just as important in the work of evangelism throughout the world as the missionaries themselves. We join with the missionaries in their struggles, in their challenges, in their dangers, by wrestling, by laboring, by fighting with God in prayer for them in the work of evangelism. His urging or begging is essentially a command. He’s just mentioned that he was convicted of their standing and now he’s saying, “If you have any regard for Jesus, then pray for me. If the Holy Spirit has worked in your heart the love of God, then pray for me.” And we know what Paul was about to experience, but he didn’t know when writing this letter. He was forewarned by the Spirit (Acts 20:22-24) that danger was ahead, but compelled to go; he didn’t know how it would play out. See 2 Corinthians 1:8-11.

Notice next Paul’s threefold prayer request. First, he asks that the Roman believers pray for him to be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, which happened in a strange way. He was locked up for 2 years in Roman prisons to be saved from the Jews. We could say that it was remarkable that Paul escaped Judea with his life. See Acts 22:22. This is not s selfish request by Paul. He wants to be saved to serve in some form of ministry. And we should as well. Second, he asks that they pray for his service in Jerusalem to be acceptable to the believers there. Remember the Jerusalem believers weren’t extremely fond of Paul and his ministry to the Gentiles, because they weren’t real excited about the non-Jews being included. They may have accepted it, but it took some time for them to cherish the Gentiles as equal brothers in Christ. Nevertheless, Acts 21:17-20a tells us that the believers in Jerusalem received Paul warmly and heard his testimony and praised God. He was humble, and they accepted him. Third, and somewhat indirectly, Paul asks the Roman believers to pray that he would arrive in Rome by the will of God with joy for a time of mutual refreshment or peaceful spiritual rest and renewal. Of course, we know that Paul did arrive in Rome by the will of God, though again, in quite an unexpected manner, as a prisoner enduring a lengthy and tumultuous journey. See Philippians 1:12-14. Was he filled with joy and refreshed? See Acts 28:14-16, 30-31. Indeed he was! He was encouraged and strengthened for more preaching.

Finally, see Paul’s benediction. “May the God of peace be with you all.” Regardless of our circumstances, the God of peace gives peace when He gives Himself into our presence. What a great thing to say to someone: May God be with you.