A Prayer Request from Paul

by Gene Easley  

“Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; ³¹That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; ³²That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed”                   (Romans 15:30-32).   

    As Paul came to the conclusion of his long letter to the Romans, he made a special petition for prayer on his own behalf.  It was a prayer for deliverance from the malicious hands of the unbelievers in Judea.   

    Paul’s plan to travel to Rome was settled in his mind.  God willing, he would stop by there to visit the Roman Christians on his way to Spain.  But first he must make a trip to Jerusalem to deliver financial help to the churches in that city.  He knew he would face opposition in Jerusalem.  Later, as he drew closer to that destination, prophets warned Paul of great impending danger that could mean the loss of his life.  He continued his journey anyway, willing, if necessary, to give his life for the Gospel.  

    Paul’s afore-mentioned prayer request to the Romans was that they would “strive” together with him in their prayers to God for deliverance from those who opposed him and that the church at Jerusalem would accept the offering he was bringing.  Paul completed his prayer request by asking the church to pray, “that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed” (Romans 15:32).  

    Paul’s prayer was that God would make this trip one without a lot of troubles: “Keep me out of the hands of evil men at Jerusalem, let me go on to visit the saints in Rome, and continue my planned trip to Spain.”  That was his request, but it didn’t turn out exactly that way.  God did spare his life.  He did intervene more than once during that period to save Paul from his enemies.  God even assured Paul after his arrest in Jerusalem that he would still make the journey to Rome: “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome” (Acts 23:11).  But Paul would have to live on that promise in a jail cell for over two years before his trip to Rome would be made, and then only as a prisoner.  

    Paul realized his need for added prayer for the trip he was planning to Jerusalem.  He asked the Romans not to just mention his name in prayer, but to “strive” with him in prayer (Romans 15:30b).  He was asking them to enter into spiritual warfare against the powers of darkness.  He wanted to go to Jerusalem, greet the saints, perform his duties, and make a joyful exit to continue his trip to Rome and on to Spain.   

    What happened?  Why was Paul’s prayer not answered in exactly the manner he petitioned?  Did the saints at Rome not pray as they should?  When they received Paul’s letter, did they just read over the words, “strive together with me in prayer,” and not take it to heart?  Is that the way we sometimes read God’s Word and how we sometimes respond to prayer requests?  Maybe they just whispered a little “God help Paul” prayer and went on their way, not taking to heart the seriousness of the matter.  

    We know that prayer matters.  We know that our prayers do make a difference.  Every laborer in the work of God could testify to the fact that at one time or another, or probably many times, they have felt the prayers of fellow Christians.  “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16b).  So, did the church at Rome fail to pray as they should have prayed?  

    Maybe the church at Rome did pray fervently for Paul.  Maybe they had prayer meetings where the believers cried out in agonizing prayer on Paul’s behalf, and still things did not happen as Paul desired.  Maybe God’s plan for Paul, for his life and his ministry, was different than what Paul wanted.  He wanted to visit Rome, go to Spain, pioneer churches, and preach in uncharted territory.  Paul’s mission was to preach in places where none had gone before with the Gospel.  To spend two plus years in prison in Caesarea, more years in Rome in chains, and eventually give his life were not in the plans of Paul.  That was not how he wanted to conclude his ministry.  But it was during Paul’s time in prison that he was able to accomplish what may not have taken place had he continued on to Spain.  For it was from the prison cell that he would write many of his epistles, and from there he gave witness to all of us how to suffer for Christ.   

    What in God’s view would be more valuable to the church, Paul starting more churches in Spain or Paul’s writing the epistles?  For nearly two thousand years, people from all parts of the world have been instructed, blessed, edified, and taught the ways of the Gospel more clearly--all because Paul went to prison instead of to Spain.  In our striving together in prayer, we cannot just pray, “God do things my way.”  We must pray, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”   

    After Paul was first imprisoned in Rome, there is some Biblical evidence that he was released for a season and accomplished more evangelistic work.  Possibly, he did make a trip to Spain.  We have no assurance of that.  But later he was placed again in the Roman prison where he would give his life for his testimony of Christ.  

    The book of Romans is believed to have been written from Corinth.  In chapter one of that long letter, Paul emphasized how greatly he desired to visit Rome.  It seemed to be a burden on his heart given by the Spirit of God.  Yet when he finally arrived at Rome, it was as a prisoner.  And though God did use him there and his ministry was effective, because of his bonds, his ministry was limited.  You might ask why Paul was so eager to go there.  Why would the Spirit of God put such a burden on his heart for no more results than this?  I would submit three possible reasons.   

    First, because his burden for Rome was so great, Paul penned an epistle to the Romans from Corinth that would later become a cornerstone for Christian doctrine and would be one of the most valuable documents ever written.  The book of Romans could easily be said to be the greatest product of Paul’s burden to go to Rome, certainly far greater than his actual labors for Christ while there.      

    Second, as we have already mentioned, the epistles Paul wrote while in prison (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 2 Timothy, and Philemon) were of greater value than anything else Paul could have done.  Paul did not know this at the time, of course.  

    And, third, as we have mentioned, God used Paul for an example of one who would have to suffer for his faith and keep the victory while doing so.  It appears that while in custody at Rome, Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians and in so many words said that what had happened to him was for the good: “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel” (Philippians 1:12).  And he went on to say in the next verse that his bonds in Christ were, “…manifest in all the palace, and in all other places.”  In the midst of Paul’s sufferings and humiliation in prison, he told the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).   

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