My Prayer for You

Introduction

This morning we are continuing our study in the book of Philippians. One of the things that I love about the book of Philippians is that it is extremely practical.

Such is the case with our passage today. Paul begins this letter by telling the church at Philippi that he was truly thankful for the church of Philippi.

Last week we saw that when he prayed for them he was always filed with joy. And his joy came because they always partnered with him in sharing the gospel.

When we come to verse 9, Paul tells us what his prayer was for the church at Philippi. Today, it is my prayer for our church.

So if you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to Philippians chapter 1 and we’ll begin reading with verse 9.

Philippians 1:9 NIV

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

Paul’s Prayer

I love the fact that Paul tells us exactly what his prayer is was for the church.

First, Paul prays that their love (Gk. agape—or unconditional love) would abound—(Gk. grow, be more than enough, be in abundance) more and more! (v. 9a)

Paul wants two features to drive this love:

—Knowledge—knowing facts about something (v. 9b).

—Depth of insight—(Gk. aisthesis; which has the idea of discernment or wisdom) or knowing how to use the knowledge (v. 9c).

Philippians 1:10 NIV

so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

The key point in growing knowledge and depth of insight is so that we may have discernment (this is a different word than used in verse 9) about something (v. 10a).

Specifically that we can discern what is “best!” The Greek here is the idea that it would be more than enough, or is superior to all the rest.

Now if there is a “best” then that implies that there is a good, better, and best.

Often Satan does not get me tripped up with “bad” things or wrong things. No he gets me tripped up by the difference between good and best! (v. 10b)

The second reason for our love to grow is so that we will be pure and blameless until Jesus comes back! (v. 10c)

And Paul wants us to be filled with the fruit that a righteous life produces (v. 11a).

All of this comes through our relationship with Jesus Christ (v. 11b).

And all of this is done to bring glory and praise to God! (v. 11c).

So What

This is my prayer for our church, and for you.

I pray that your love may grow more and more. I praying that as our love grows it will grow in knowledge—getting to know each other more and more.

But knowledge without knowing how to use it does us no good. So I pray that with our knowledge will come wisdom, so we know how to use our knowledge.

Then I pray that Jesus will make us and keep us pure and blameless until we see Jesus face to face.

I pray that we will be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes from Jesus.

And I pray that each one of us will bring glory and praise to God!

That is what the Lord’s Supper is all about. Jesus, the night he was betrayed celebrated His last Passover Celebration with His disciples. During that celebration, Jesus told His disciples that people would know they were His disciples if they had love for one another (Jn. 13:35).

Also that night, Jesus instituted what we have come to refer to as “The Lord’s Supper.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NIV

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

[Prayer]

Lord, this morning we come to you thanking you for all that you do for us.

Lord, I pray that our unconditional love will grow deeper and more profound. I pray that as our love grows we would get to know each other better, or deeper.

And I ask that you, Lord, would give us wisdom as we learn about each other.

I pray that you will fill us with the fruit of righteousness that comes from Jesus, and that we may give your, Father, glory and praise!

And I pray that we will use us as we serve you. In Jesus name we pray, Amen