I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.
5 sermons cite this verse
Amen. You see the burden of mission created by the beauty of the gospel? And Paul says, with great sorrow, unceasing anguish, before God, he says, I would go to hell if I could. I would throw myself into damnation. if that would mean the salvation of these people. He's talking specifically about the Jewish people. I don't know how to comprehend that statement. to stand on the brink of everlasting darkness, eternal fire that will never end, and to say, I would jump in. I'd jump in right now if it meant the Jewish people's salvation. Jewish people, mind you, who were persecuting Paul, who were waiting for him in Jerusalem to arrest him and have him killed. And Paul says, I'd go to hell forever for you. Why would Paul say that? Why would you say something like that? So think about it. Now, I know it's different, but there's many similarities. Think about an unreached people group today. So think Iraq or Syria. Think about an unreached people group that is producing terrorists intent on killing Christians. …
… my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. So here's this Paul who's saying, man, rejoice, rejoice in the Lord always. You know, and I'll say it again, rejoice. He goes, and let your forebearing spirit be made known to all men. But then he says in Romans, he goes, I'm telling you the truth that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. What? Rejoice in the Lord always. I've got this unceasing anguish in my heart, my deep inside. He's not talking about a few tears. He's not talking about every once in a while I'll well up. He goes unceasing anguish. You know what that word anguish means? There's times we cry, times we shed a little tear, and then there's those few moments in life when we're in anguish, where you just feel like you're going to lose it. And Paul says, I have that in my heart always. It's like this, man, on the one side, I'm rejoicing. I'm always rejoicing. I'm commanding you, always rejoice. And then there's this other side of me that is just dying inside full of anguish. Why? He says, because of my brothers. …
An objection answered. The objection is, “If we are apprehensive of the damnation of others now, it in no wise becomes us to rejoice at it, but to lament it. If we see others in imminent danger of going to hell, it is accounted a very sorrowful thing, and it is looked upon as an argument of a senseless and wicked spirit, to look upon it otherwise. When it is a very dead time with respect to religion, and a very degenerate and corrupt time among a people, it is accounted a thing greatly to be lamented; and on this account, that at such times there are but few converted and saved, and many perish. Paul tells us, that he had great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart, because so many of the Jews were in a perishing state: Rom. ix. 1, 2, 3. “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ, for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” And if a neighbour die, and his death be attended with circumstances which look darkly as to the state of his soul, we account it a sorrowful thing, because he hath left us no more comfortable grounds to hope for his salvation. Why, is it not then an unbecoming thing in the saints in glory to rejoice when they see the damnation of the ungodly? …
… Amen. Here is a man who is saying, I am willing to go to hell in order that all Israel may be saved. I want you to understand that in this message, I'm not expecting everyone to respond by saying, Lord, give me the minister of intercession. But all of us should have a ministry of intercession, that is bringing others before God in prayer. There are some people who are called to a ministry of intercession. That's their life calling. That's their work. That's their ministry. All of us should be in prayer. All of us should be praying for many things. But there are some people whom God calls to the ministry of intercession. But on the other hand, all of us have and should have a ministry of intercession that is bringing other people. We should begin with our own family, our children. Then there are many other people for whom you and I are going to pray. But it's one thing simply to pray for someone, but it's something else to begin to intercede in their behalf before Almighty God. …
But oh, you ungodly, if He will deal thus with His children, how will He deal with you who are not His children? If He means to bless you, He will not let you go unpunished, but He will smite you with heavy strokes. I remember one who used to bless God for a broken leg—he said that he never ran in the ways of God until he was lame. I believe that some parents never loved the heavenly Father till their dear infant child was taken away. The shepherd tried to get the mother sheep into the fold, but she would not come, so he took up her lamb and carried it away in his arms—and then the mother followed him! He has done that to some of you. You would never have come to Christ if dear little Johnny had not gone Home to Jesus. You lost one and another for that same purpose—have you not had enough strokes? You have been smitten till your "whole head is sick and your whole heart faint." Will you not turn unto your God without more ado? His blows are sent in mercy! It is far better that you should have a Hell here than Hell hereafter! It were better for you to live a lifelong agony than to be cast into Hell forever! Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved! He died for sinners—died for aggravating, guilty, willful sinners! And if they look to Him, they shall at once be forgiven! I cannot give the look of faith for you, or I would gladly do so, but I beseech you to look and live! May God the Holy Spirit lead you to do so, for Jesus' sake! Amen. …