Lesson 3
Listen, Paul Is Praying!
Philippians 1:9-11
I enjoy listening to people pray. My favorite people to listen to are new Christians (who talk to the Lord very informally), old people (whose prayers always seem to so rich) and children.
I once read the story told by a mother of listening to her sleepy little daughter saying bedtime prayers. The little girl said, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, and when he hollers let him go, eeny, meeny, miny, mo."
One very hot summer day, a family was entertaining friends for lunch. At mealtime the Father asked his 6 year old to say the prayer. The little boy said, "I don't no what to say." His mom suggested, "Just say what you've heard me say." To which the little boy bowed his head and said, "O Lord, I don't know why I invited all these people over on such a hot day!"
One little boy was sent to his room by his father to await a spanking. When the Father came to the door of the bedroom he overheard the boy praying, "Oh God, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob have mercy on me!"
When I was a kid, I once heard a man pray, "Dear God, forgive us of our falling shorts ...!"
I love to hear people pray. Honestly, it is not for humor that I hear, but because prayer is a barometer measuring the spiritual life of a believer. You can tell a lot about a person from their prayer-life. What a person prays for is a "leading indicator" of the nature of their spiritual life. The passion of a person's heart is evident by their prayers.
In our text, today, from Philippians, we can listen to a man pray. The man is Paul, the apostle, now Paul, a prisoner in Rome. He is writing a letter to a church which he was used of God to start in the city of Philippi. It has been about 10 years since this church was born. Over the years this church has remained very close to Paul, providing him financial support, and even sending him a helper during his imprisonment. He is writing to thank them for their help and to encourage them in their Christian walk. He wants them to know that his circumstances haven't robbed him of his joy and that they should have joy in the Lord, too.
The first 11 verses of chapter 1 form the introduction to the entire epistle. The real body of the letter doesn't actually begin until verse 12. These first 11 verses, then, are pretty much standard with Paul. In verses 1-2 Paul begins with a salutation, a greeting. This is followed by a statement in which Paul expresses his love and appreciation for the people (vs. 3-8). The introduction to the letter concludes with a prayer for the Philippians (vs. 9-11) which is our text for today. Paul told the people that he continually prayed for them; now he does pray for them. Philippians not only give us the fact of Paul's prayer but the content of his prayers as well. I want us, today, to be very quiet and attentive and listen to Paul pray for the Philippians, to see if we can hear the heartbeat, if we can feel the pulse of Paul, and perceive the passions of his heart for God's people. This is a prayer worth listening to, folks. It is a prayer which we can benefit from listening to. As we study this prayer, we should ask ourselves, "Is this prayer being answered in me?"
Later in the letter, Paul will tell the Philippians that they should "let their requests be made known to the Lord" through "prayer and supplication with thanksgiving" (4:6). That is exactly what Paul does in this prayer. What are his requests? Paul has 5 requests that he is praying for. Each of these requests is a spiritual request. He does not ask for them physical, material, or financial blessings ... only spiritual things. These 5 requests are not just a listing of unrelated things. The requests are progressive, that is, out of each one comes the next one. Notice, the 5 requests with me...
I. LOVE, 1:9.
The first request of Paul for these people concerns their love (agape). It is only natural and only right that love would be his first concern. Love is the first and foremost of all Christian characteristics. We learn from the scriptures that "God is love" (I John 4:7-8), that love comes from receiving the Spirit at the moment of salvation (Rom.5:5 "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which he hath given unto us"; Gal. 5:22 "the fruit of the Spirit is love ..."), that love is the foremost of all the commandments of our Lord (John 13:34 "a new commandment give I unto you, that you love one another"), that love is our most convincing testimony to he unsaved (Jn.13:35 "by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one for another"), that love is a force most compelling (II Cor. 5:14 "the love of Christ constrains me"), that love will continue when other gifts have ceased (I Cor. 13:8 "Love never fails, but where there be prophecies they shall cease"), that "love is the fulfillment of the law" (Rom.13:8), that the greatest of all Christian virtues is love (I Cor. 13:13). So it is only right that Paul would pray for them concerning love.
What is the object of the love for which Paul is praying? Love of what? Love of country? family? what? It doesn't say! Which leads us to conclude that what Paul speaks of here encompasses every aspect of Christian love? Love of God, love of truth, love of scripture, love of souls, love of God's people, love of the church, love of family. Everything a Christian should love is included in this prayer.
Paul's prayer is for 3 specific qualities to be present in their love.
A. An Overflowing Love - "abound" = verb form of the word "abundance" which means more than enough. (Carla's 30 pairs of shoes = illus. of abundance). "I pray that your love would abound (overflow).
B. A Growing Love - "more and more" (I Thess.3:9-10)
ILLUSTRATION: Love for Carla grows...
Does our love for God grow? God's people? God's word? Souls? Unfortunately, it seems to diminish.
C. A Knowing Love - "in knowledge and in all judgment"
knowledge = epignosis - advanced, full, real knowledge.
judgement - deep insight, understanding, perception
Paul wants God's people to have a love that knows all the facts and understands all the
meanings and implications of those facts.
ILLUSTRATION: "Love is blind" (Shakespeare).
Love is blind to the truth. Not so! True love is based on truth. We are told not to
concern ourselves if a person is living in sin and disobedience to God or is a false teacher. Just love them! But love cannot, must not be blind to sin or to truth! We need a knowing love.
II. WISDOM, 1:10a.
"approve things that are excellent"
From a fervent expression of love should come a finer evaluation of life. It is progressive "That" means "so that; in order that".
The phrase "approve things that are excellent" is not an any one to understand. What does it mean to approve things that are excellent? The word for "approve" means to put to the test so that you can make a determination". Remember the man who Jesus talked about who had "bought a yoke of oxen and had to prove them"? This is the same word. Basically it means to evaluate, or to differentiate. The things that are excellent means the things that are best. Putting it together, then, we understand that Paul is praying that they will be able to make the best choices. They will be able to evaluate things and decide what is best, what is really important. Not just choosing between good and bad, but properly deciding between better and best.
The idea is that God's people will be wise in discernment. This is a tremendous need among God's people and within the church. We have a great need for wisdom. Often it requires discernment to understand subtle differences. It is not enough to know what is good and what is bad. It is necessary to know what good and what is excellent. ILLUSTRATION: An ear for pitch, tuning a guitar. Not everyone can do it. But that is what Paul is praying for spiritually, that these people would be able to make the exactly right choices. It is what we need. (Examples: leading the church I need wisdom, planning our budget, preparing for a major building program).
Like the love that is necessary, this wisdom does not come to us of ourselves. It is supernatural. James speaks of "wisdom which is from above" (Ja.3:17). James also says if you lack wisdom, what should you do? Ask of God who giveth to all men liberally ...
We need an overflowing, growing love which is not blind which leads to an ability to make the best choices. (Finding the balance is not easy).
III. INTEGRITY, 1:10b.
Paul prays that the Philippians would be 2 things right up until the day of Christ (the day when Jesus returns). They are ...
1. The Greek etymology - "brought into the sunlight". The idea is of a person who is considering a purchase. Before deciding he would bring the object into the sunlight to make sure it was not flawed. It meant to make sure it was what it was suppose to be.
2. The English etymology - our English word sincere is derived from 2 Latin words which mean "without wax". A potter or a sculptor would often conceal flaws & cracks with wax. Thus, a wise customer would want to know if the object was without wax, sine cera, sincere. Once again you see the idea is making sure something is what it is suppose to be. We are to be sincere, without wax, brought into the sunlight. We are not to be hypocrites. We should be the kind of people who can say, "What you see is what I am!" Nothing false, no pretense, no hypocrisy. That's integrity.
B. Be Without Offense - once again, the words paint a picture. The word for offense is a stumbling block. It was an object laid in a path which would cause a person to trip and fall. Our life is suppose to not cause others to trip. "Without offense". When we are not sincere we will be an offense; when we are sincere we will not. Jesus said that a person is better off dead than to cause another to trip (Mt. 18:6).
Overflowing, growing, knowing love ® wisdom to choose the best ® genuine integrity
IV. FRUITFULNESS, 1:11a.
"being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ"
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever seen a tree laden down with fruit? (My experience picking tangerines in Israel: Once a branch was picked it would move significantly, enough to dislodge the ladder).
That is the image here. Filled with fruits. Laden down with fruit. Fruit is natural for a Christian. It is not manufactured. In fact, something is wrong if there is no fruit.
What fruit is being spoken of here? "fruits of righteousness"
® Souls - Rom.1:13; Prov.11:30
® Holiness - Rom. 6:22
® Money - Rom. 15:25-28
® Good works - Col.1:10
® Praise - Heb.13:15
Where does it come from? By Jesus Christ!
Love ® Wisdom ® Integrity ® Fruit ® ...
V. GOD'S GLORY, 1:11b.
"unto the glory and praise of God"
The glory and praise of God is the ultimate motive and purpose of everything.
Paul is saying, "Here is my prayer for you ...
That your love will an overflowing, growing, knowing ... so that ...
You will have the wisdom to choose what is best ... so that ...
Your life will be one of integrity, without hypocrisy and causing no one to stumble ... so that ...
You will be laden down with fruits of righteousness -souls, holiness, money to share, good works, praise ... so that ...
God will be glorified and get the praise He deserves.
What a wonderful prayer! What a noble passion in his heart! What unselfish, spiritual goals and objectives!
One question: Is Paul's prayer being answered in you?