Turn with me to Romans 16. Romans 16. I'd like to pick up where we
left off last week. We started in verse 3 and went
through verse 7 last week, and then I'd like to Pick up verses
8 to 16 this morning. And the Apostle
Paul is coming to a conclusion of this
letter to the church at Rome. And under the inspiration of
the Spirit of God, he's named some of our brethren. These that we're going to look
at this morning, these are our brothers and sisters in Christ. And some of the names are strange
sounding to us, but they're not to God. I was reading the other day,
looking at them, and I was thinking how easily it would be for me
to be writing a letter if I was writing a letter and had many
of you on my mind. You know. You know. Sloot, you know. Carl. Great Gary. Kevin. That would
be easy for me. The Apostle Paul starts off in
verse 8 and says, Great Amplius, my beloved in the Lord. You know, as I looked at some
of the things that were being said by Paul, concerning these
people, it gives me a good understanding of the heart of God's people. Greek, Amplius. Paul said, I love him. I love
him in the Lord. By this shall all men know that
you are my disciples. You have love one for the other.
You love each other. You love those that God has manifested
Himself in. And you listen. You listen to
what they say and you watch how they walk. Both of them. Both of them. A man might make an outward confession
with his lips, His heart is far from God. He just does not act like a believer. He just doesn't. Paul said, I love this man. My
beloved in the Lord. Salute Urbain, our helper in
Christ. And Stachys, I love him too. Our helper. You know, there's
no jealousy in the work of the ministry. There's no jealousy on God's
people's part. Now, I do know, I know this,
and this is nothing but just sheer flesh, and sometimes one
pastor might look at how another ministry is going. And I wish
this, you know, oh, geography and size of the building, position
that a man is called to. Paul said this in 1 Corinthians
3, 6, I planted, Apollos watered, God gave the increase. Oh, I tell you, I love this place
right here. I love this place. I'm thankful
for this pulpit. I'm so thankful that God would call me to be a preacher. I'm thankful
for that. Because if He didn't give me
a heart to want to do this, there's no way in the world I'd do this. I may fake it for a while, but
eventually I'd quit. And you would too. I'm so thankful
for those positions that God... You know what I've noticed about
God's people? When it comes to Paul says, I
want you to salute Urbain, our helper in Christ. You know what? You just watch. You just watch
and give it time. And God's going to raise up whoever
He's pleased to raise up. And He's going to put them in
a position that's vital to the body of Christ. And I'm telling
you, they're faithful, faithful, faithful. Why? Because God put them there. And
where God, as Brother Scott said, where God puts a man, God keeps
a man. Our Helper. I tell you, God Almighty, He
may call a Moses, He may call to Paul. He may tell us who they are.
Describe them. But I think of those Scriptures
where there was a woman and she had two mites. And she gave two
mites. And the Lord saw her. You see,
the Lord gave her a heart to do what she did. And this was
our Master's statement concerning her. She
gave more than everybody else because she gave out of her lack. God's people, I'm telling you,
they are faithful people. They're faithful. Faithful. They're faithful in everything. They're faithful in their time.
They're faithful in their gifts. They're faithful in their resources. I'm telling you, this is just
the way it is. And for those of you that God
Almighty has raised up I thank God for you. I thank the Lord. I'd be around you and just take
a big, deep breath and just say, I'm so glad that God gave me
the privilege just to be around you. Bob, I'm glad I can be around
you and Margaret. I can just name you all. I'm just so glad to be here. The great Irving, our helper in Christ, states,
my beloved, salute, appellees approved in Christ. Approved in Christ. What does
that mean? Here is something we know about
the Lord. He is going to make sure that His people are known
in this world. When it says, Approved in Christ, listen to this Scripture and
it will give you an understanding of what that's talking about.
1 Corinthians 11, 19, For there must be also heresies among you,
that they which are approved, may be manifest among you. What that means is God Almighty
proves you or sets you forth or manifests you by His grace. A man is not approved because
he remains faithful to Christ. He remains faithful to Christ
because God has approved him in Christ. Approval is a state
of being. God Almighty has set you forth. Salut Appelles. God Almighty has proved him. Shown him to be faithful. He's there. He's there. Faithful. And salute them which are of
Aristobulus' household. I don't know exactly where Aristobulus
stood. I don't know where he stood.
Scripture doesn't say, but it does say something about his
household, his friends is what that word is interpreted. Aristobulus
may have been someone that real high up had a lot of influence
and maybe as far as I know Maybe the Lord never called him out
of darkness. I don't know. But he did do something
for his household. He did do something. I know this. God is not a respecter
of persons. And this man, though he may have
been one of great distinction, It could have been. I don't know.
I don't know if this is the fullness of this of this statement. Maybe
the Lord did show him mercy. But I do know this. Of his household. 1 Samuel 16, 7 says, For the
Lord seeth not as man seeth. For man looketh on the outward
appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. I'm telling you there there may
be some that They're in this world, and I'm telling you, as
far as this world is concerned, maybe, boy, they're up at a big
position. Maybe they're a big politician. Maybe they're senators. Maybe
they're a doctor. I don't know. But I tell you
this, if God doesn't show mercy to them, they're going to leave this world
just like a pauper. They are going to leave this
world with nothing. Salute Herodian, my kinsman. This probably, according to the
word, the kinsman, was one that was probably paused by blood
and grace. What else? But for the grace
of God, could a man have anything to say about his family that
are believers? There is nothing that we can
say except out of the same lump. And I am telling you, I know
that that lump extends over the whole scope of mankind. But you take any given family out of the same lump. My mom
and daddy had four kids. I was the oldest and the worst. I'm not just telling you that.
I'm telling you that's the truth. out of the same lump. And it is a miracle of God's
grace that God would show mercy to anybody, especially me. Paul says, Salute, Greet, same
word, Herodian, my kinsmen, and greet them that be of the household,
the friends of Narcissus, which are in the Lord." Again, how much do we know about
them? I know that some are there by the grace of God and they
are in the Lord. How did they get in the Lord?
God chose them. according as He hath chosen us
in Him to be represented by." That's what that means. To have
one to answer for. That's what that means. In Adam
all die. To be answered for by Adam. All
are going to die. Oh, but to be in Him. "...Great them which are in the
Lord, We see the evidence of God's
grace. Hear the speech of those in Christ. We take them at their word, their
profession, because we see God's evidence. Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa
who labored in the Lord. My reading on these two women
right here were more than likely they were probably twins. Now, that's all I know about
them. Women called to a particular labor in the Lord. I know this. I know that God
didn't call them to preach. I know that, here again, I don't
even need to deal with that. You know that. God does not call
women to stand in pulpits and preach. But whatever the Lord
has called them to do, I know this, they labored in the Lord. They weren't hit and miss, in
and out, up and down. They are not. Faithful, unfaithful. It was a labor to them. It was
a work. And it was a worthy work. Do you know what a man loves?
Whatever he does. That's what he does. A man does
what he wants to do. Whatever a man desires, that's
what he's going to do. long after. 1 Corinthians 4 says,
Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful. There is nothing that is more
beautiful than to behold the grace of God in faithfulness
in God's people. Because He is faithful. Now you
think about this. What would you think concerning
Christ What hope would we have if his faithfulness was less
than what it is? Now, you could say, well, that's
no possible. I know that there's no possible way in that because
he's the true and faithful witness. But I'll tell you this, those
that he does something for, they manifest an attribute of faithfulness. And I'm telling you, this is
not preaching salvation by the law. I'm just telling you this
is the evidence of salvation. This is the evidence of salvation.
God's people act like God's people. And those that don't, probably
aren't. Now, I'm not saying that a man
cannot find himself with some wayward ways. I know, you know
better than that, and I do too, but I'll tell you this, he doesn't
continue, not continuously. How long did that prodigal son
stay gone? Scripture says he came to himself. And he said, I'm going to go
back to my father's house. Salute these two women. They're
labored in the Lord. Salute the beloved Paris who
labored much in the Lord." Again, these two and this one,
the beloved. Beloved by God. Beloved in Christ. Beloved by God's people. Beloved. She, this Paris, a woman's name,
She labored much in the Lord. Notice the wording of Paul. Obviously, her labors excel those
of others. Self-sacrificing for the glory
of God. Whatever you do, whether you
eat, drink, whatever you do, Do you know how convicting this
is to me? I'm just going to be honest with you. I'll let you,
as I've said before, I'll let you sit there and you think about
this for yourself. I'm going to think about this
for me. Labored much in the Lord. Let me just share with you how
convicted I am right now of myself Do you know how few times that
there are that I found myself praying individually for each
of you? How few times that I can remember
right now calling individual names. Sometimes, Gary, it's
easy for me to say, Lord, bless Katie Baptist Church, but how
many times have I called your name? Some. but not enough. How many times have I asked,
Lord, please keep my mind as I study. Lord, bless this message
right here. Is he not worthy to be asked? I'm telling you. I'm just honest
with you. This is convicting to me. She labored much. in the Lord. And I think how many things I've got, Neil,
that just steals my mind, steals my heart. This afternoon, tomorrow morning, next Saturday,
next Sunday, I'll be busy. I've got stuff to do. I've got
a place to go. I've got an appointment. I wish I could be there. labored much in the Lord. I wonder
just how much is going to be important on the Day of Judgment.
Now, here again, I'm talking to me. I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to me. How much is
going to be important? Oh, how little we think. Luke 12, 48, listen to this.
For unto whom for unto whomsoever much is given that is in grace
of him shall much be required. God's called me to pastor. Katie Baptist Church to be an
under shepherd. To sit. Prepare. Study. Pray. The apostles told
some fellows, he said, call you out seven men of good report
that they may handle the business. And we will give ourselves to
prayer and to the ministry of the Word. You know, you can try to skirt
around things if you try, but you don't get very far. Salute Rufus, verse 13, chosen
in the Lord and his mother in mine. Oh, here's another characteristic
of God's sheep. chosen in the Lord, chosen by the grace of God that
God would show mercy to them and compassion to them. Is it too much for me to thank
the Lord every time my mind is even able to think that I would thank
Him that He showed mercy to me. A few weeks ago, I went to a
doctor, and I was there to get a report from some surgery that
I had. And I wanted to be there, and I didn't
want to be there. I wanted that doctor, Glenda
was sitting there with me, and I wanted the doctor to come in.
I didn't want him to come in. See, I had already pretty well
formed in my mind the way that things are. And he came in and he gave a
report that pretty well dispelled some thoughts that I had already
established for myself right now. And I said to some folks, I didn't
know whether or not I wanted to laugh or cry or pray or jump
or run or shout. I didn't know. As Brother Henry
said to me, why don't you do all of them? I said, I know I
should have. And the first thing that went
through my mind as soon as that doctor said that, I walked out
of that office and I thought, I don't even know how to thank
Him. I asked and asked and asked. Importunity. Man, I thought about
that Scripture where this man was already in bed. I've got to have something to
eat. He said, I'm already asleep. My children are already asleep. I said, I'm already in bed. And I asked, and I asked, and
I asked, and I said, Lord, I was like Abraham. Lord, I pray I
don't offend You. I don't offend You. But if I
ask just one more time, Lord, I'm so weak. But Lord, if it be Your will,
would You help me? And then I realized, and then I thought how little
I'm able to thank Him. But then I started thinking about
salvation. How seldom. I don't even know
how to thank Him. I don't even know how to. And
just honest, Lord, I don't even know what to say. Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord. How in the world could I ever
come to that point to thank Him that God Almighty would choose
me in Christ before the foundation of the world, before the foundation
of the world that he knew, Marvin Stoniker. This one. Salute him, Paul says, and his
mother and mine. Oh, I tell you, that Rufus' mama,
Obviously, she was a believer. And Paul said, she's like a mama
to me. I think about those of you women
who are like faithful mothers. Faithful. Faithful. You that God has raised up. Rufus' mother. A mother demeaning,
but Paul said she was a mama to me. Faithful lady. Faithful. Salute Asencritus, Phlegon, Hermas,
Patrobus, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. Salute.
Philologus, and Julia, Nerus, and his sister, and Olympus,
and all the saints which are with them. Names of our brethren, those that God Almighty particularly
chose to show mercy to, Vessels of God's mercy by the grace of
God. Those that we'll spend eternity
with. We'll see them. Know them. We'll know them. Know who they
are. On the Mount of Transfiguration
when Moses and Elijah came and saw the Apostle Saul and knew
who they were. Peter wanted to build an altar,
three altars to Him. God spoke from heaven, this is
My beloved Son. Oh, you hear Him. He knew who
they were. Salute, last verse, verse 16. Salute one another with a holy
kiss. The churches of Christ salute
you. You know, there are many recordings in Scripture concerning
the kiss. I think about the kiss of idolatry,
how men love things that are fading. 1 Peter 5.14, "...Greet
ye one another with a kiss of charity." This holy kiss, it's
a kiss Not necessarily even on the cheek or anything like that.
It's the embracing, the love, the affection, the oneness, the
binding. That's the kiss. You want to be with God's people. It's not a kiss as a traitor. The kiss of Judas that some said
Judas kissed the door of heaven and perished." Not like that. No, you love one another. You
are glad to be with one another. Paul says, Salute one another
with a holy kiss. You know we kiss Him when we
kiss each other. When we greet each other in the
Lord, we greet the Lord Himself. Because I am looking at many
here that are of His body. And when we love one another,
when we kiss one another in affection, we kiss the Lord Himself. Last verse, 1 John 3. 1 John.
3. Verse 14 to 18. We know that we've passed from
death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth
not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother
is a murderer, and you know that no murderer hath eternal life
abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of
God, because He laid down His life for us. we ought to lay
down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good,
and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his vows of compassion
from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children,
let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in
truth." Paul greeted some Except for
these Scriptures, I'd have never known and you wouldn't have either.
But look at those things that were said about them as Paul
wrote to them and said, greet this and salute this one. Embrace
it. Greet the church. Greet them
with a holy kiss. A bond of affection and love. for those that God Almighty has
everlastingly loved. May the Lord bind us together
in Christ, in affection. Cover one another's faults. Hide our frailties. If someone
comes up and says something about one of God's sheep, defend them. Somebody comes up and tells you
something that's truthful about them. You say, you know what?
You're probably right. Let's pray for them. Let's defend
them. Let's guard their character. Why? Because they're the Lord's. They're His. For Christ's sake. Amen. Gary, would you come?