First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.  Romans 1:8-14

1. Thankful heart: Rom. 1:8, 1 Cor. 1:4, Eph. 1:15-16, Phil. 1:3-5, Col. 1:3-5, 1 Thess. 1:2-3, 1 Thess. 2:13, 2 Thess. 1:3, Philemon 4-5

a. Evidence of an obedient, Spirit-filed life: Col. 3:17, 1 Thess. 5:18, Eph. 5:18-21

b. Patterned after the Lord Jesus: Mat. 15:36, Matt. 26:26-29

2. Intercessory prayer: Rom. 1:9-10

a. Marked Paul’s prayer life: Eph. 1:15-19, Phil. 1:9-10

b. Patterned after the Lord Jesus: Heb. 7:25, Luke 22:31-34

3. Desire for fellowship of mutual encouragement: Romans 1:11-12, Phil. 1:8, 1 Thess. 2:5-8

a. Evidence of new birth: Ps. 119:63, Acts 2:1, Mal. 3:16

b. Patterned by the Lord Jesus: John 17:24, Luke 22:14-15

4. Sense of Responsibility: Rom. 1:13-14

a. Evidence of living under the control of Christ’s love: 2 Cor. 5:14-15, 2 Cor. 12:15

b. Patterned by the Lord Jesus: John 5:30