I Thank My God

I have never known a child have “thank you” be among their first words. In fact, I have never known a child to say thank you without being told to do so!

This highlights the reality that thankfulness is not natural to our fallen nature. Thankfulness is a learned behavior.

A thankful person is someone who has learned to see life from a different perspective. Rather than viewing life, blessing, and happiness as something owed to us; as thankful people we understand that everything we receive is better than we deserve.

A thankful heart is born out of a focus on Christ that minimizes self.

I made a connection this week that I had never made before. We are going to look at where Paul says these four words “I thank my God.” But I want us to look first at vv. 18-23. It has always struck me that part of the condemnation of unbelievers is due to their lack of thankfulness. Romans 1:18-23.

The presence of unthankfulness in a list of things like rejecting the knowledge of God shouts to us that thanksgiving is important.

God takes thanksgiving very seriously.

The holiday that we celebrate as Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Oftentimes our thanksgiving is self-focused. We are thankful for things only as they affect us. Thankful for what we have received and what has been done for us.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Oftentimes our thanksgiving is self-focused. We are thankful for things only as they affect us.

Now, there is nothing wrong with that. However…

Today I want us to think through some other reasons we can be thankful.

We are going to consider Paul’s prayer for the believers in Rome.

Through Paul’s prayer we find three reasons to be thankful

All three reasons find their source in Christ.

Thanksgiving’s truest expression comes through a focus on Jesus Christ.

When we are thankful, Christ is glorified.

As we come to Paul’s prayer we find the first reason to be thankful. We thank God…

1. For The Faithful Testimony Of Others v. 8

Have you ever observed someone who is faithfully serving the Lord and felt a little twinge of jealousy? Am I alone in this?

A powerful habit we can form is to take those temptations to envy and turn them into a cause for praise!

We can also view the faithfulness of others as a challenge for us to be faithful as well.

As Paul expresses his thanks for the testimony of the Roman church we find that it has a dual focus.

First Paul thanks God that they have…

a. A salvation testimony v. 8a

Why does Paul thank God in Christ for the church in Rome? Because of their faith.

We ought to give thanks for the salvation testimony of others.

I love hearing how God brought people to Himself. I love hearing how He is still drawing us ever closer to Him.

As I thought about Paul thanking God for the salvation of the Roman believers a question occured to me.

Why do we even have salvation testimonies? Because of Jesus!

Can we say this? Can we honestly express thanksgiving for the salvation of others? ALL others?

How can Paul say this?

There is a very important phrase that explains Paul’s ability to thank God for all.

“Through Jesus Christ”

I am thankful for others when I view them through Jesus Christ.

We may have a personality conflict, but I can be thankful that Christ has saved them!

Every single believer is a testimony to God’s matchless grace!

I can be thankful for that.

Ungratefulness for others arises when I view them through my limited human vision instead of seeing them through Christ.

They are in Jesus Christ and because of that, Paul thanks God for them.

Let me give you just one other example of Paul expressing his thanks in this way. Look at (S).

2 Thessalonians 1:3–4 NKJV

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,

Paul thanks God for their growing faith, demonstration of love, and their endurance of persecution.

God is lovingly, graciously, and powerfully bringing people to Himself.

We thank God for what He is doing and how He is working in the lives of others.

When God brings others to Himself and works through them for His glory, we thank God.

WE need to see saved sinners from

A salvation testimony is about God’s glory.

We praise and thank Him for how He is at work.

Paul doesn’t stop with their salvation testimony. He continues to express his thanksgiving as he points to…

b. A spreading testimony v. 8b

Spoken of – καταγγέλλομαι (katangellomai) proclaim. To be announced broadly v. — to be or become known openly and with wide distribution.

Spoken of – καταγγέλλομαι (katangellomai)

The faith of this church was something well known.

How? I think we find the answer to that in (S).

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Their faith was well known because it was evident!

This begs some questions.

Do we make our own testimony spread? No. God does that.

Do we do that? Make our testimony spread? No. God does that.

Should the spreading of our testimony be the goal of good works? No. Our desire is God’s glory and not self-promotion.

When we are faithful, He takes that faithfulness and uses it for His glory!

A salvation testimony is about Christ in us.

We need to be thankful when the faith of others is well known!

This also serves as a challenge for us to live so that our faith is known.

A salvation testimony is about Christ in us.

Our faith becomes known as we walk in the Spirit and are conformed to the image of Christ.

It is about Him and what He has done. It is not about us.

#300 “I’ll Tell The World That I’m A Christian” (verse 1)

Paul is thankful for the faithful testimony of others.

Secondly, through Paul’s prayer we learn that we can be thankful…

2. For The Power And Comfort Of Prayer vv. 9-10

Peace, joy, strength, hope, encouragement, conviction, and growth. Prayer accomplishes all of these things.

If we do not spend regular time in prayer, we rob ourselves.

Paul share two vital components of a vibrant prayer life. These are not all the components, just the two that come up here.

The first vital component is…

a. Continual prayer v. 9

Paul calls God as his witness because this may be a difficult assertion to believe. He prays for them so often that it is practically constant.

He refers to God as the one He serves in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s thanksgiving for them and service for Christ combine in prayer.

True thanksgiving is expressed.

Paul spends much time in prayer for these believers.

Here is an interesting fact though, Paul had never met the believers in the Roman church. He had never been there.

Paul is thanking God for people, praying for people, he has never met!

This is something I love about being a Christian. I can pray for people I don’t know and have never met. Why? Because they are brothers and sisters in Christ!

Prayer is powerful! Prayer brings comfort! And I thank God for the ability to pray.

In when giving the armor of God, Paul ends with these words. (S).

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Prayer is a part of spiritual warfare. We do battle in prayer.

The only reason our prayers are heard is because of Jesus.

says (S).

Psalm 66:18 NKJV

If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.

It is the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all sin.

Apart from the finished work of Christ our prayers go no higher than the ceiling.

Paul says he prays for the Roman believers always. That is the first vital component in prayer.

Prayer has power when it is a lifestyle.

That is what Paul demonstrates here.

But there is another component. That second component is…

b. Centered prayer v. 10

Paul’s prayers for them are centered on a desire to visit them and be a blessing to them. This becomes even more clear in the next two verses which we will look at shortly.

What I want to contemplate in this verse is that Paul is not offering generic, meaningless prayers. His prayer for these believers has a focus.

Whenever possible, we need to pray specifically.

This is something we see in Paul’s epistles.

For the Ephesians Paul prays a deeper intimacy with and knowledge of Christ.

For the Philippians, Paul prays for growth, maturity, and knowledge.

For the Colossians, Paul prays that they would walk worthy of the Lord and please Him.

For the Thessalonians, Paul prays that they would abound in love toward one another.

We could go on.

The point is that We give thanks to God for the power and comfort of prayer.

When we pray, we pray specifically.

Why? Because…

Prayer has power when it is focused.

The end of tells us that (S)…

James 5:16 NKJV

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

We pray passionately, and we pray with focus. This is cause for thanksgiving!

#433 “Sweet Hour Of Prayer”

Paul’s prayer teaches us to be thankful for the testimony of others, to be thankful for prayer. Finally, we learn to be thankful…

3. For The Fellowship Saints Enjoy vv. 11-12

In our social media obsessed culture, being social face to face has been downplayed.

Yet interacting personally and physically is what Scripture commands of the child of God.

What Paul mentions in these next two verses helps us to understand why.

How many of us have ever been uplifted and encouraged by being with others in the body of Christ?

That is what fellowship is supposed to do!

Paul gives us two benefits of fellowship here. These are goals for us as we come together as a church.

As the body of Christ we need to be engaged in…

a. Fellowship that establishes v. 11

Paul wants to be a blessing to these believers. That is why he desires to visit them. That is why his prayer for them is focused on going to Rome.

Paul wants to bless them spiritually so that they can be established.

Established – στηρίζω (stērizō) establish; strengthen. To be confirmed (strengthened) v. — to be or become more marked by firm determination or resolution.

Established – στηρίζω (stērizō)

Paul wants them to be firmly rooted in their faith.

This establishment is going to come through face to face interaction.

There are ways in which the Spirit works, blessings that the Spirit gives only as we fellowship in obedience to the Word of God.

Often the question is asked, why is church attendance so important? Because that fellowship with the saints helps to establish Christians in what we believe.

This establishment, in turn, enables us to have the kind of testimony that everyone hears about.

I believe that Paul is trying to accomplish in the Romans what he wrote to the Corinthians. (S).

1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

We can thank God that the fellowship enjoyed by believers gives us the strength to do what this verse says!

But notice, the work is the Lords, the Labor that is not in vain is labor for Christ!

It is all about Him!

When iron sharpens iron, faith is established.

That is the first goal of Christian fellowship. Secondly, when the church comes together we need to engage in…

b. Fellowship that encourages v. 12

I love this. Paul is not only seeking to encourage, he wants to be encouraged.

Fellowship is not one sided. Not even for church leaders.

Regardless of your spiritual maturity level, you need encouragement.

Paul states that it is their mutual faith that will provide the encouragement.

Who is the object of that faith? Christ!

The mutual faith being spoken of here is belief in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is the faith we place in His finished work!

We can have fellowship on any number of levels. We can fellowship over sports, hobbies, work, or family. But The fellowship that brings true encouragement is fellowship centered on Jesus.

Do we have that kind of fellowship?

This is the kind of fellowship I thank God for.

This is what we have seen Barnabas doing several times in Acts. Barnabas was an encourager.

Paul commends Philemon for this same trait. (S).

Philemon 7 NKJV

For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

When the body of Christ gets together for fellowship, this is what should be taking place. The refreshing of our souls.

Encouraging fellowship is centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ.

He is the source of encouragement. When the body of Christ focuses on Him, we find strength, peace, and courage.

#282 The Family Of God (repeat)

Turn with me to . This is a time for believers to remember the price that was paid. To be reminded of the penalty of sin. Taking part of communion does not save you. This is simply a way for us to be reminded of what Christ has done. If you know the Lord as savior this morning, please join us in bread and juice as we remember Jesus Christ. These are only symbols, they represent the body and blood of our Savior. Examination – verses 26-32

OBSERVANCE OF COMMUNION

The Bread (His Body) vv. 23-24 “Thank You Lord” (chorus)

“Thank You Lord” (chorus)

Thank You Lord for saving my soul Thank You Lord for making me whole Thank You Lord for giving to me Thy great salvation so rich and free

The Cup (His Blood) v. 25 #203 “And Can It Be?” (chorus)

#342 “Just As I Am” (v. 2)

Amazing love how can it be That Thou my God shouldst die for me

Conclusion

I thank my God, for all of you.

Your faith is evident, your love for Christ is visible.

My prayer is that everyone around us would know that we are followers of Jesus Christ.

One of the ways they will do that is through our thanksgiving.

We need to be thankful people to the glory of God.

Thankful for salvation.

Thankful for prayer.

Thankful for fellowship.

May we be thankful people.

May our thanksgiving, bring glory to our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“Give Thanks”

Give Thanks

Romans 1:8–12 NKJV

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

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