Theology for Everybody: Romansنموونە

In Romans 15:14–21, we looked at the power of the Word of God, and now in verses 22–33, we move to planning. When it comes to allowing the Holy Spirit to accomplish His works through us, power and planning inextricably go together. The combination of the two is like a sailboat—planning is like the rudder, and power in the Holy Spirit is like the sail. You need both to go anywhere.

Some believers are filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit; they have a lot of energy, excitement, zeal, and enthusiasm. These people tend to be young in age and faith, and despite their absolute best intentions, they don’t know where they are going. Others are incredibly good at planning, but they have no power. These could be the mature saints—they’ve put together a portfolio and amassed some savings, stocks, and bonds, but they don’t have the same excitement they once did about their faith. This is the reason why it is good for believers to be together. Some can be filled with enthusiastic power, and others can plan wisely. We can all learn from each other.

Paul demonstrates that to live life and do ministry, you need the power of the Holy Spirit—the sail—and you need the plan of the Holy Spirit—the rudder—to direct what God would have for your future. Planning is working on your life. We spend so much time and energy working in our life that sometimes we don’t pull back to work on our life.

Sticking with the sailboat analogy, allow me to ask you a question: who is the most important person in relation to a boat? Some might say the captain, but the correct answer is the boat’s builder. You can have the world’s best captain, but if the boat won’t float, it doesn’t matter who is steering it. Planning is building your boat, working on your life, and determining how to bring all of life together so it floats into the future God intends for you in His will.

Paul is the model of planning, and part of his ministry planning was strategizing for urban ministry. He had been doing ministry in one portion of the Roman Empire, going from city to city and focusing on urban centers. In Romans 15:22–23, he essentially says, “I’ve completed the work in this area. There is nothing left for me to do.” That doesn’t mean he had reached everyone, planted every church, and finished every assignment; instead, he had set up Jesus-centered, Bible-teaching, Spirit-led, healthy churches in the major cities. From there, other believers would finish the remainder of the work.

Today’s Reflection

Are you more proficient in planning or power? How can you improve your weak area?