Prayer that Promotes Joy

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Introduction:

It is possible to live above life’s circumstances. It is possible to experience joy irregardless of your circumstances. One of the resources available to the believer to aid in this is prayer.

Paul was able to engage in prayer for the Philippian believers “with joy.” (μετὰ χαρᾶς) (vs. 4). The attitude of Paul was affected by his prayer life and his prayers were focused on aiding the Philippians in living above their circumstances and experiencing Christ’s abiding joy.

T. S.: Paul’s prayer for the Philippians contained 4 elements that promoted joy.

I- THANKFUL REFLECTION FOR FELLOW BELIEVERS (Philippians 1:3 – 5).

A- Thankful for the memories (Philippians 1:3 – 4).

Philippians 1:3–4 NLT

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,

1- Giving thanks changes the perspective of the one praying.

2- Giving thanks enables the pray-er to focus on the types of requests that can make a difference for the object of the prayers.

B- Thankful for continuing meaningful fellowship (Philippians 1:5).

Philippians 1:5 NLT

5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.

1- Thankful for the quality of partnership.

κοινωνία= “a having in common (koinos), partnership, fellowship”

Partnership with a common mission and goal: “spreading the Good News about Christ.”

Christian fellowship is a marvel. People who by nature have nothing in common find a common life in Christ. Think again of Paul’s ministry in Philippi. Lydia, the slave girl and the jailer had nothing in common until they came to Christ (Acts 16). But the gospel of Christ made them partakers of the same life and partners in the same cause.

2- Thankful for the quantity of partnership.

a. It was a lasting partnership.

“ from the time you first heard it until now.”

Because of this partnership, the Philippians and supported Paul both in his ministry and imprisonment. They had sent him gifts while he was in Thessalonica (4:14 – 16) and in Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:9). They had done the latter by sending one of their own people effort Titus to minister to Paul (2:25; 4:18).

II- THOUGHTFUL REQUESTS FOR CONTINUED SPIRITUAL GROWTH (Philippians 1:6 – 8).

A- Request made with confidence in God’s continued activity (Philippians 1:6).

Philippians 1:6 NLT

6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

1- What God begins, he will finish.

a. He has the power to do so.

(Romans 1:16)

Romans 1:16 NLT

16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

(1 Peter 1:5)

1 Peter 1:5 NLT

5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

B-Negative circumstances do not alter God’s power (Philippians 1:7).

1- Because of the grace received.

2- Negative circumstances do not alter God’s grace.

a. Note the biblical examples:

Paul in prison

Peter in jail

Stephen during stoning

John on Patmos

III- THOROUGH INTERCESSION FOR A DEEPENING LIFE (Philippians 1:8 – 9).

A- Deepening in love (Philippians 1:8 – 9).

Philippians 1:8–9 NLT

8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

1- The type of love:

a. self – sacrificing love.

(John 15:13)

John 15:13 NLT

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Love for other believers

(John 15:12)

John 15:12 NLT

12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

Love for God

(Mark 12:30)

Mark 12:30 NLT

30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’

2- the way of love

(Romans 5:5)

Romans 5:5 NLT

5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

a. abounding love

B- Deepening in knowledge (Philippians 1: 9 b).

Philippians 1:9b NLT

9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

1- Knowledge of who Jesus is (2 Peter 3:18).

2 Peter 3:18 NLT

18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

C- Deepening in understanding (Philippians 1: 9 c).

Philippians 1:9c NLT

9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

1- knowledge of the key to Christian living.

(Colossians 1:27)

Colossians 1:27 NLT

27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

(Galatians 2:20)

Galatians 2:20 NLT

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

IV- EARNEST REQUEST FOR THE RIGHT FOCUS IN LIFE (Philippians 1:10 – 11).

A- A focus on living out God’s best. (Philippians 1:10 a).

Philippians 1:10a NLT

10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.

1- There is a difference between what is good and what is best.

(1 Corinthians 3:10 – 15)

1 Corinthians 3:10–15 NLT

10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

(John 10:10)

John 10:10 NLT

10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

B- A focus on maintaining a pure heart before God. (Philippians 1:10 b).

Philippians 1:10b NLT

10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.

1- Standing firm for Christ.

(2 Peter 3:14)

2 Peter 3:14 NLT

14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

(1 Peter 5:8-9)

1 Peter 5:8–9 NLT

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

C- A focus on being fruitful for Christ. (Philippians 1:11).

1- Evangelistic fruit (souls won to Christ).

2- Fruit of the spirit – controlled life. (Galatians 5:22 – 23)

Galatians 5:22–23 NLT

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Conclusion:

Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 1

3 Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ θεῷ μου ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ μνείᾳ ὑμῶν, 4 πάντοτε ἐν πάσῃ δεήσει μου ὑπὲρ πάντων ὑμῶν μετὰ χαρᾶς τὴν δέησιν ποιούμενος 5 ἐπὶ τῇ κοινωνίᾳ ὑμῶν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης ἡμέρας ἄχρι τοῦ νῦν, 6 πεποιθὼς αὐτὸ τοῦτο, ὅτι ὁ ἐναρξάμενος ἐν ὑμῖν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἐπιτελέσει ἄχρις ἡμέρας Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, 7 καθώς ἐστιν δίκαιον ἐμοὶ τοῦτο φρονεῖν ὑπὲρ πάντων ὑμῶν, διὰ τὸ ἔχειν με ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμᾶς, ἔν τε τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀπολογίᾳ καὶ βεβαιώσει τοῦ εὐαγγελίου συγκοινωνούς μου τῆς χάριτος πάντας ὑμᾶς ὄντας. 8 μάρτυς γάρ μου ὁ θεός, ὡς ἐπιποθῶ πάντας ὑμᾶς ἐν σπλάγχνοις Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ. 9 καὶ τοῦτο προσεύχομαι, ἵνα ἡ ἀγάπη ὑμῶν ἔτι μᾶλλον καὶ μᾶλλον περισσεύῃ ἐν ἐπιγνώσει καὶ πάσῃ αἰσθήσει, 10 εἰς τὸ δοκιμάζειν ὑμᾶς τὰ διαφέροντα, ἵνα ἦτε εἰλικρινεῖς καὶ ἀπρόσκοποι εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ, 11 πεπληρωμένοι καρπὸν δικαιοσύνης τὸν διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, εἰς δόξαν καὶ ἔπαινον θεοῦ.

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