I Thank God for You - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
- Pastor Shiflett
- Jun 14
- 6 min read
I Thank God for You
Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
Intro: One of the most neglected topics in the church today is the absolute importance of God’s people loving one another and not taking one another for granted.
Over and over again in Paul’s writings, he demonstrated to us what it means to love the people of God.
It has been said that the Greek phrase translated "one another" occurs about 100 times in the New Testament, with roughly 59 specific commands about how Christians are to treat one another.
The command to love one another is the most repeated of them all.
A. It is a Command to the Saints
If Jesus were here today, there is a great possibility that He would preach a message similar to this.
The Word of God repeats this commandment over and over again.
· John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
· John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
· John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
· 1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
· 2 John 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
Paul referenced this repeatedly throughout the book of Romans. Notice:
· Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
· Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. (unfeigned, undisguised, sincere)
· Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
· Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
· Romans 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
· Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
B. It is a Confirmation of Salvation
The unbelieving world does not understand the relationship that Christians have with one another.
It exceeds the world’s ability to love and to appreciate.
They can see it in us, and should see it in us.
And it will speak volumes when they do.
Jesus said it like this:
· John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
The love that believers have for one another was birthed in their hearts at salvation.
One of the proofs of regeneration is love for the brethren.
1 John 3
· 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
· 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
· 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
· 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
· 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
· 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
· 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
· 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
C. It is a Commendation of Service
This is where we begin to understand Paul’s statement in Romans 1:8.
It was generated by love and affection for these believers. (see next section)
I Thank God for You – Part 2
Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
Intro: One of the most neglected topics in the church today is the absolute importance of God’s people loving one another and not taking one another for granted.
Personally, I never want to take this church for granted.
I felt strongly impressed to encourage you and edify you by telling you just how much I appreciate you.
You can see Paul’s great love for the people of God in these few verses.
It was demonstrated by:
1. His continual prayer for them – vs. 9 “…without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers…”
2. His longing to see them – vs. 10, 11 “For I long to see you…”
3. His desire to invest in them – vs. 11 “…that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift…”
4. His concern for their spiritual well-being – vs. 11 “…to the end ye may be established.”
5. His assurance of being comforted by their mutual faith. – vs. 12
6. His anticipation for fruit among them – vs. 13
I thank my God for your…
I. Commitment to the Preeminence of Christ
Colossians 1
· 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
· 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
· 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
I thank my God for your…
II. Conviction about the Purity of the Church
Ephesians 5
· 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
· 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
· 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
· 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
1 John 3
· 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
· 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
I thank my God for your…
III. Compassion for the People of the Community
· Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Compassion at their lack of leadership.
· Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Compassion at their love for idolatry.
· Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
Compassion at their lack of food. (spiritual)
· Mark 8:2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
I thank my God for your…
IV. Cooperation with the Pastor’s Call
Romans 16
· 1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
· 2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
· 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
· 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
· 6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
· 9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
· 12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
