I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. - Phil 1:3-11(ESV)
Background:
Pauls Purpose in writing Philippians:
That the saints would…
A. Place their hope in Christ
B. Grow in Christ
C. have peace in the midst of trials
1) The Prayer: Love
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more…
Phil 1:9(ESV)
Agape Love = Gods character
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8 (ESV)
Paul Instructs we show this love in:
11. 1:15-16 Preaching
12. 2:1-2 In Community
13. 2:3-4 In Service
2) The Prayer: Knowledge
though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (Phil 3:4-8)
3) The Prayer: Discernment
The Result:
A. To Approve what is excellent
B. Be pure & blameless.
C. filled with the fruit of righteousness
D. God is glorified.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3
O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? Psalm 15:1
Application
1) Recieve Christ.
2) Pursue God.