Paul’s Thoughts About Thanks, Part 3

“What the World Needs Now Is Love” has remained a popular song since it was written in the 60s.  We learn just how true that song title is, just how powerful sincere love really is, in Bro. Jeff’s message here.

1. The Seasons of His Thanksgiving
   1. When He Remembered Them
   2. When He Prayed for Them
2. The Reasons for His Thanksgiving
   1. The Gospel Fellowship
   2. The Good Work
      1. The Creation of the Good Work
      2. The Continuation of the Good Work
      3. The Completion of the Good Work
   3. The Great Love
      1. The Great Love in Paul
         1. The Sincerity of Paul’s Love
         2. The Source of Paul’s Love
      2. The Great Love for Paul

Philippians 1:3-8 (KJV)

³ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

⁴ Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

⁵ For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

⁶ Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

⁷ Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

⁸ For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 7:3

³ I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

Philippians 2:1

2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

1 John 4:8

⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 3:1, 16-17

1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

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?

Romans 5:5

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.

Galatians 5:22

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Philippians 4:10-20

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

¹⁴ Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

¹⁵ Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

¹⁷ Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

¹⁸ But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

Philippians 1:27

²⁷ Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;