Preached March 11, 2012
from
Philippians 1:9-11

Theme: This passage shows us how we can pray for each other in the church family in such a way as to lead to ultimate joy in Christ.

(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)

In the introduction to the apostle Paul’s wonderful letter to the Philippian believers, he lets his readers know that he had been praying for them. And this morning, I ask that we focus in on what it was that he prayed. We can learn a lot from Paul’s prayers; and I ask that you pay particular attention to how he describes his prayers for his fellow believers at the beginning of this great letter.

In Philippians 1:3-11, Paul wrote;

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:3-8).

And then comes his declaration of what it was that he had been praying for them:

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (vv. 9-11).

* * * * * * * * * *

Now; if the only thing that his readers had known was what it was that Paul had been praying for them, I wonder if they might not have been just a little bit offended. After all, how would you feel about a letter that begins with the writer telling you that he’s praying that you’d be more loving; or that you’d make wise choices; or that you’d be sincere; or that your life would demonstrate righteousness? You might not want to read the rest of a letter that began that way.

But the reason I read the whole passage is to show that Paul didn’t begin his letter that way. In fact, his letter gushes, from the very start, with genuine love and affection for his readers—long before he even gets to the statements of what he had been praying for them.

He lets them know what he really thinks of them, for example, when he tells them how he thanked God upon every remembrance of them. There are lots of people that you know that you probably thank God for when you remember them. But let’s face it; you perhaps do not give thanks upon every remembrance. There might be a few imperfections you’d have to overlook. But not so with respect to the Philippians. Paul thanked God upon every remembrance of them.

Paul, you’ll remember, was in prison for preaching the gospel when he wrote this letter. And yet, he was deeply grateful for how the Philippian believers enjoyed a fellowship with him in the gospel from the first day even up to then. The gospel he had brought to them had utterly transformed their lives. He was so committed to the gospel to others that he suffered for preaching it; and he was deeply grateful that they were committed to it right along with him.

Note also how he was assured of their salvation—saying in verse six that he was confident that the good work that God had begun in them would be bought to full completion until the day that Jesus returned. These were people that he knew—without a doubt—were destined for glory!

And what’s more, he had them in his heart. Paul was no dry and dusty scholar. He was a passionate lover of people—and he loved these people very passionately! And the feeling was mutual. Paul himself said that they were partners with him—both in his chains and in those times he was called before courts to defend his gospel. In fact, if you read on to the end of this letter, it becomes clear that they even sent a very large financial gift to him to support him during his time of imprisonment. His love for them was so great, in fact, that he could say, ” For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ” (v. 8).

So; when he writes to them and tells them what he is praying for concerning them, it could not have been taken in any other way than as from the deepest possible love and respect and praise to God for them. They were already “loving”—but he was praying that they would be more so. They were already a people who had the right priorities—but he was praying that they would pursue those right priorities with even greater devotion. They were already sincere—but he was praying that they would remain that way until the day Jesus returned. They were already fruitful Christians—but he was praying that they would be more so unto the glory and praise of God.

And given that this is a letter about how to enjoy a prevailing and lasting joy, even in the midst of the deepest trials of life, then I take it that the things that Paul said that he was praying for them were intended to lead to their enjoyment of the greatest possible experience of that joy.

In other words, the things that Paul prayed for them were prayers that led to ultimate joy in Jesus Christ.

* * * * * * * * * * *

One of the things about our church that I love—and for which I am very grateful—is its commitment to prayer. This is known as a praying church. Prayer has grown to be a very significant part of every meeting and ministry we have here. (I believe I’ve told you once before that someone once quit coming to our church because they felt we prayed too much. We were very sorry to hear that, and we prayed for them.) But with all our praying together, I’m not sure that we give enough thought to the general subject matter of our prayers. And that’s where Paul’s example of prayer in this morning’s passage helps us greatly.

Take for example who it was that Paul said he prayed for. It was for these outstanding, very strong, dynamic Christians in Philippi. Very often, when we pray for people, we tend to give the focus of our attention to those who are not as committed to the faith as they should be, or who are not spiritually mature, or who are not being fruitful in their Christian life. And don’t get me wrong—we obviously should pray for them. But what’s fascinating to me in this passage is that Paul is praying intensely for a community of people that someone might be inclined to think didn’t really need much prayer. They were already committed. They were already proving themselves to be very mature. They were already very fruitful.

You may not have noticed this before; but Paul even used the Philippian believers as an example to the Corinthian church. He wanted the Corinthian Christians to be more faithful in their giving, so he spurred them on by telling them;

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).

Now; you’d think that such strong believers as these wouldn’t much need prayer. You’d think that they were doing just fine. But it was, in part, precisely because they were such a great example of the faith that Paul was so committed to praying for them! And I wonder if his example isn’t meant to show us that we need to pray more intentionally than we do for those who are strong and mature and fruitful in the faith. They are the ones that God is using to impact our world in powerful ways; and they, in fact, need our prayers even more than most!

And another way that I believe Paul’s example helps us is in that it encourages us to lift the content of our prayers to a higher level than we’re used to. We’re accustomed to praying for things on what we might call ‘the temporal level’. We pray a lot about temporal matters—about our illnesses or those of someone we love; or about our material or financial needs; or about troubles and frustrations we might encounter. And again, please don’t get me wrong. We should pray about those things; and I’m not for a moment suggesting that we shouldn’t. But when we pray for them, we tend far too often to pray for them on ‘the temporal level’—that is, we only pray about them as they related to the temporal matters of life on earth only. We don’t pray for them in respect to how they touch on eternal matters and concerns—how God might be glorified in them; or how to those things might open doors for lost people to hear the Good News of Christ; or how those things might be used by God to advance our eternal treasures in Christ.

It is our privilege to pray about those temporal matters; and we most certainly should do so. But I believe Paul’s example teaches us not to let ourselves get stuck praying for ‘temporal’ things with a ‘temporal’ mindset—that is, strictly on “the temporal level”. I believe his example encourages us to examine the details of the temporal things of our lives, and lift them up above of “the temporal level”, and pray for them in such a way as to touch on eternal matters. I believe our prayers will be much more effective—and much more honoring to God—if we do so.

I believe that’s what Paul does in his prayers for the Philippians. And the particular “eternal matter” that his prayers touch on is our experience of joy in Jesus Christ. His whole letter to them is about how to experience that joy—a joy that endures, and that prevails over even the trial of a prison cell, and that satisfies our soul to the deepest level, and that is the very joy of Jesus Christ Himself. And what he prays for concerning his beloved brothers and sisters in Christ at the beginning of this letter is meant to find an answer in their greatest possible experience of joy in Christ.

In fact, as we take a closer look at the things that he said he was praying for them, you’ll find that they set the tone for major themes that he takes up elsewhere in this letter about joy.

* * * * * * * * * *

So then, dear brothers and sisters; how can we pray for each other as a church family in such a way as to lead to real, lasting joy?

The first thing that Paul prayed was for . . .

1. GROWTH IN A DISCERNING LOVE.

He told them, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more . . .” (v. 9). As we’ve noted before, this was a very loving church already. Paul wasn’t praying that it would become loving. He had already experienced their love himself. Rather, he was praying that their love “may abound more and more”—that it would be over-and-above!—that it would be increasing to a superfluous level!

But note the love he was praying for wasn’t simply a matter of having “warm feelings” toward each other. It was a love that was deeply rooted in the truth of the gospel—and in the kind of practical lifestyle that the gospel demands of those who believed it. He prayed that their love would abound still more and more “in knowledge and all discernment . . .” (v. 9).

The kind of “knowledge” that Paul speaks of here is a kind that is acquired over time. It’s a kind of knowledge that grows and matures through a careful interaction with what God says in His word. And the kind of discernment that he speaks of is one that applies that growing knowledge to the temporal things of everyday life—the kind that understands the truth about all the things that we encounter in life, and understands them to be what God says they are.

Do you remember how, in 1 Corinthians 13—in the great ‘love chapter’—the apostle Paul warned that if you have all knowledge, but do not have love, you are nothing? Well; here’s the flip side of that same coin. You can say that you have loving feelings; but if you do not have “knowledge and all discernment”, you are really not loving as God would have you love. You wouldn’t be loving as God Himself loves; because He always loves in perfect accord with truth. He never sets aside matters of truth in order to express “love”; and neither should we.

Later on in this letter; Paul takes up this theme again—a love that is rooted in a knowledge of the truth and that is discerning with respect to the things of this world. Near the end of chapter 1, he wrote and encourages these very loving Philippian believers;

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others (Philippians 1:27-2:4).

Dear brothers and sisters; this is something we should be praying for concerning each other—that our love will grow more and more; but in knowledge and all discernment; because that will lead us together into the greatest possible joy in Christ.

* * * * * * * * * *

Now; if you look at them carefully, all of these different prayer concerns follow one after another in a logically connected and mutually supportive way. In the translation that I’m using, Paul says that his prayer for discerning love is “that” something else will happen. He says, “. . . that you may approve the things that are excellent . . .” (v. 10a).

And this leads us, then, to his prayer . . .

2. UNTO AN APPROVAL OF WHAT REALLY COUNTS.

When Paul writes of “approving” something, the word that he uses is one that speaks of testing a thing by examination and thus recognizing its value. And the things that are to be tested and rightly valued are “the things that are excellent”—or, as the NIV has it, “what is best”.

Dear brothers and sisters; if I may be frank, we waste a lot of our precious time and energy in things that are “not excellent”—on things that are, perhaps, not necessarily bad, but that are certainly not best. And that’s not right for us to do as God’s people. We give far too much of our time to the things that the entertainment culture gives us; or we spend far too much time in front of the computer screen in pointless chatter—or with our heads down, in disregard to the people standing right next to us, as we send text messages on a phone to someone that is far away. Often, some of these things can be very wicked in nature; but more often than not, it’s just that they’re not the best use of our time. Or sometimes, we can get caught up in a social cause, or a political battle, or some other agenda that—while not necessarily wrong in and of itself—is not among “the things that are excellent”, and that can become a distraction to our primary call for the cause of Christ. Spending our time with such lesser things does not lead us to the joy our Lord wants us to experience; and, what’s more, they can actually rob much us of the joy God wants us to experience in Christ.

Paul wrote about this later in his letter. He told the Philippian believers;

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:8-9).

I believe that it would be a very worthy thing for us to pray that—as a church family—we learned to turn away from lessor things, value the things that really matter to a higher level of life, and grew increasingly to approve things that are excellent! We’ll be a more joyful church if we do.

* * * * * * * * * *

Now; in the original language, Paul joins that last prayer matter with the next through a word that clearly expresses statement of purpose. We are to approve things that are excellent “that” a certain result will be brought about. And that result is . . .

3. THAT WE MIGHT LIVE SINCERELY AND WITHOUT OFFENSE.

When Paul writes, “. . . that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ . . .” (v. 10b), he’s looking at the daily walk of the Philippians with the Lord, in the midst of this world, from two different perspectives. The first perspective had to do with their relation to themselves. Paul prayed that they will be “sincere”.

The word that Paul uses is a fascinating one. It’s one that speaks of being viewed in the light of the sunshine and judged to be pure and real. It was a word that was used to describe how pottery was examined. In ancient times, merchants of fine pottery were not always honest. They might receive some pieces of fine pottery that were cracked or damaged; and so, they would fill in the cracks with wax and smooth the surface over in such a way as to hide its imperfections. But a wise buyer would take the piece of pottery outside and hold it up to the sunshine—where the light of the sun would shine through the thin shell of the piece of pottery and reveal the cracks that are covered over with wax. God wants us to live in this world in such a way that, when we are held up for examination in—as it were—the bright light of the sun, people can see that we’re the real thing; that there are no areas of sin or hypocrisy in our lives that we’re trying to cover up; and that we really are genuine men and women of God.

The second perspective from which Paul spoke of the daily life of the Philippian believers in this world had to do with their relationship to other people. He prayed that they would not only be “sincere” in relationship to themselves, but “without offense” or “blameless” in their interaction with others. We, of course, can’t always avoid offending other people when we seek to walk sincerely before the Lord. In fact, the Bible promises in several places that we will offend many of the people of this world if we seek to walk in righteousness before God. But we’re to make very sure that it’s the righteousness of God in our lives that is the cause of the offense—and not our own foolishly offensive behavior.

Later in this letter, Paul spoke of this combination of “sincerity” and “blamelessness” when he wrote;

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me (Philippians 2:12-18).

To be examined and to be found “sincere” in Christ, and to walk in such a way as to be blameless in the sight of others, is vital to an experience of full joy in Christ—not only for ourselves, but also for others. May God help us to pray for each other that, in our daily walk—and even in our times of trials while in the midsts of this watching world—we may shine the light of Christ faithfully by proving to be both “sincere” and “without offense”.

* * * * * * * * * *

But it’s not all a matter of being “passive” in the purity of our walk. It’s also a matter of being very active. Paul goes on to speak of . . .

4. BEING FILLED WITH THE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS .

Paul said that he prayed the Philippian believers would prove to be “sincere” and “without offense”, while, at the same time, “being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ . . .” (v. 11a).

The word “fruits” speaks of what it is that people see in our lives, in a practical way as an expression of our “righteousness”. But it’s very important to notice that Paul is not talking about a righteousness that we produce in and of ourselves through the power of the flesh. That’s what people often try to produce through religious ceremony and rituals and traditions—a kind of righteous-looking “fruit” that they produce. But that’s nothing more than “artificial fruit”. The sort of ‘fruits of righteousness’ that Paul was praying for were those “which are by Jesus Christ”. It’s by Him alone that we are made righteous; and it’s by Him alone that truly righteous “fruits” are produced.

Paul himself, at one time, tried to produce the fruit of his own self-made righteousness through religious rituals and traditions—identified most clearly by the Jewish rite of circumcision. In Philippians 3:1-6, Paul—himself a very devoted Jewish man—wrote;

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless (Philippians 3:1-6).

But there came a time when he said a final ‘goodbye’ to such things, and trusted in Jesus Christ alone. He went on to write;

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (vv. 7-14).

What a great thing to pray for each other!—that we will grow increasingly to live lives characterized by an abundance of the fruits of righteousness. And not a righteousness of our own, but the righteousness—and indeed, the very fruits of that righteousness—that come only through faith in Jesus Christ!

* * * * * * * * * *

And look at what where Paul says that all of this leads . . .

5. TO THE GLORY AND PRAISE TO GOD.

Near the end of Chapter 3 of his letter, Paul wrote and told the Philippian believers;

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved (Philippians 3:20-4:1).

And that will not be to our credit. It will all be to the glory and praise of God our Savior!

So then; we should follow Paul’s example. We should pray for a growth in a discerning love for one another, unto an approval of the things that really count in life, that we might live sincerely and without offense in this world, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, and all unto the glory and praise of God. And dear brothers and sisters in Christ; that leads to a joy in Christ that perseveres through the troubles and trials of this life, and that will endure throughout eternity.

May God teach us increasingly to pray together toward such joy!