Do you ever get to a passage of scripture and find that for some reason you just cannot stop thinking about it? Sometimes as I read my Bible I will come upon a passage that grabs my attention. I find in those moments there is something about that verse or passage that God wants me to grab hold of… that is what has happened to me with Paul’s prayer for the Philippians found in verses 9-11.
“9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”[1]
In my opinion, praying for one another is an act of love. I can’t tell you how encouraged I am when someone tells me I’ve been in their prayers. Their willingness to petition the Lord on my behalf is so encouraging to me. So I can imagine that when Paul writes I’m praying for you to this church they were comforted and blessed by it. Do you hear his heart? Do not forget he is writing them from prison and yet he is concerned for their needs. What a radical change Jesus brought about in Paul’s life! From Saul the Pharisee whose mission was to destroy Christians to Paul the Pastor who wanted these believers grow in Christ. They mattered to Paul and he knew they mattered to God.
What does he pray for? He prays their love may abound still more and more… Paul’s words are beautiful and it has taken a bit of work for me to wrap my mind around what Paul was saying. I’m a simple girl from Texas and although I’ve been known to use flowery, descriptive language it can’t hold a candle to the vocabulary Paul uses. So, I needed to look up this passage in two different translations. This allows me to see how scholars have interpreted Paul’s words. The first translation I looked at is the New Living and it reads…
“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.”[2]
The other translation I chose was the Amplified Bible which says this…
“9And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], 10 So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble]. 11May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized].”
That our love may abound still more and more…that it may overflow mixing with knowledge and discernment… Why… because love must be what balances both. Love is the foundation for everything. In fact, 1 Corinthians 13 (another of Paul’s letters) says in verse 2:
“If I have the gift of prophecy, and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains but have not love, I am nothing.”
Knowledge without love is worthless to us, and meaningless to others because its all head and no heart. What happens when we apply knowledge without love? We become judgmental, critical, without mercy, and accusatory. Don’t think so? Consider the Pharisee’s… Jesus often reserved His harshest words for them… why? They knew all about the law – the “you should do’s” and the “you should not do’s”. They knew all about the history of God’s interaction of the Jewish people. I suppose they even thought they had a pretty good idea of the character of God. What they should have learned from the scriptures they had to memorize was this one simple truth… the very essence of God is love. Go to Luke 7:36 and read the story of the sinful woman who anointed Jesus feet and then dried them with her hair at a Pharisees house. Look at how the Pharisee reacts to this woman. Then see how Jesus responds to the Pharisee, and then this woman He treasured.
Love must abound – it must overflow, it must temper everything! As we grow, our love grows in knowledge that comes by not just reading His word, but by experiencing Him. I’ve met many of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that have knowledge but lack love. I hear them make judgmental, critical, condescending comment’s about people we are supposed to love… and honestly I will admit that I am just as guilty and unfortunately probably will be again. I pray that every time I find myself applying knowledge without love, every time I get full of myself Jesus would gently remind me to remove the plank from my eye first. That is why my prayer because of this passage is Lord as I grow please give me more love than you do knowledge so that my words and actions reflect your heart for others.
Love must also be the basis of discernment. What is discernment? It is the capacity to perceive or recognize the difference. It is important so…
“that you may approve the things that are excellent”
If there are things that are excellent then it stands to reason there are also things that are bad… discernment is the ability to know the difference between the two. As believers we must learn to sense and understand what is good, right and pure and seek to act accordingly.
I like to think of discernment as God’s internal alarm system powered by the Holy Spirit because it also protects us. We need to be aware there are people in the world who will try to take advantage of us or who have questionable motives. J. Vernon McGee used to pray driving into his Bible studies that God would help him to discern who he could help and who was there to take advantage of him. I think that is a great prayer… God show me… give your servant discernment and understanding so balanced with love so that I may know what is good, and what is evil. Give me eyes to see the people who genuinely need help, and the ability to know who wants to take advantage of me so that I may be more effective in your work.
If you are unsure of what discernment is Proverbs speaks often of it. My favorite verse is Proverbs 18:15 it says…
“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.”
If you don’t know the answer, if you are unsure of what is right, good, or pure; a discerning heart seeks the answer by asking God. The Bible says if we lack wisdom we can ask… if we need guidance we can ask of God who is faithful to answer and to guide us. David prayed for discernment (Psalm 119:125) and so can we.
Verse 10 continues with the second and third reason Paul prays for the Philippians to have love abounding with knowledge and discernment and that is so, “… that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ”
One of these days I want to do a study on every place in the Bible where we find the words “so that”. Why… because they indicate a result – What is the result?
1. That we may be sincere... I love the definition of sincere…
Without deceit, pretense, or hypocrisy… being the same in actual character as in outward appearance; genuine; real…
Sincerity, is “the personal quality of living life from a pure motive without deceit.” (Holman’s Bible Dictionary).
2. That we may be without offense… which is defined as…
The act of creating resentment, hurt feelings, or displeasure and as something that causes sinning or wrongdoing.
Sincerity and offense go hand in hand… Is there something in my life that would cause someone else to sin or to do wrong? Am I lacking sincerity in my faith? Am I living what I believe… not perfectly but honestly? Am I honest enough with others to admit my faults and my struggles? Am I brave enough to say like Paul to my friends, family and those watching me… “yes, I blow it – I want to do right, I try to do right but when I want to do right – sin is right there with me. Thank God for Jesus and the Cross! Thank you for mercy and grace and that salvation is a gift because I can’t be good all on my own”. That is sincerity and if we our sincere in our walk then hopefully we will not offend. So what is the action step – how can I apply this part of Paul’s prayer to my life?
Step 1 – Admit - God show me – search me and know my heart, try me and test my anxious thoughts see if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Confess what He shows you, and ask forgiveness.
Step 2 - Ask – God how can I use this area of weakness, temptation or mistake in my life to bring you glory? For example you could ask… Would sharing my struggle with anger help someone else who is dealing with anger? Or - God how can I share overcoming my habit of gossiping with others to encourage them with the same temptation?
Step 3 - Act – Do what He shows you… share your struggles. Testify to God’s goodness. Share your journey with others encouraging and helping them along their journey.
Finally in verse 11 Paul prays:
Verse 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.[3]”
Who produces “righteous character”? Jesus – Why… to bring much glory and praise to God. Our changed lives point others to the Father. The fruit of our salvation is the change in our character produced in our lives by Jesus. It should be obvious that we are different because of Christ. When I look back over my life I can see where I have come from – I’m different – I know it – I am not the same person I was before I met Jesus. If it is obvious to me I pray it is obvious to others. Is it obvious? Can others see Jesus in you? That’s Paul’s prayer – changed lives that bring glory to God. I love Paul’s prayer – I think I want to ask the same thing of God for my friends, family, and for me. Let me leave you with these thoughts to ponder… is your love abounding? Is love what guides us? Is it the foundation of knowledge and discernment? Let’s pray that as we grow… as we study, God always gives us more love than anything else. After all… it is love that draws the world to Jesus.
Well, I guess it’s time to move on to chapter two.
Till next time –
Love you guys - CJ
[1] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982, S. Php 1:9-11
* Greek with the fruit of righteousness through Jesus Christ.
[2]Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. Php 1:9-11
* Greek with the fruit of righteousness through Jesus Christ.
[3]Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. Php 1:9-11
That our love may abound still more and more…that it may overflow mixing with knowledge and discernment… Why… because love must be what balances both. Love is the foundation for everything. In fact, 1 Corinthians 13 (another of Paul’s letters) says in verse 2:
“If I have the gift of prophecy, and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains but have not love, I am nothing.”
Knowledge without love is worthless to us, and meaningless to others because its all head and no heart. What happens when we apply knowledge without love? We become judgmental, critical, without mercy, and accusatory. Don’t think so? Consider the Pharisee’s… Jesus often reserved His harshest words for them… why? They knew all about the law – the “you should do’s” and the “you should not do’s”. They knew all about the history of God’s interaction of the Jewish people. I suppose they even thought they had a pretty good idea of the character of God. What they should have learned from the scriptures they had to memorize was this one simple truth… the very essence of God is love. Go to Luke 7:36 and read the story of the sinful woman who anointed Jesus feet and then dried them with her hair at a Pharisees house. Look at how the Pharisee reacts to this woman. Then see how Jesus responds to the Pharisee, and then this woman He treasured.
Love must abound – it must overflow, it must temper everything! As we grow, our love grows in knowledge that comes by not just reading His word, but by experiencing Him. I’ve met many of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that have knowledge but lack love. I hear them make judgmental, critical, condescending comment’s about people we are supposed to love… and honestly I will admit that I am just as guilty and unfortunately probably will be again. I pray that every time I find myself applying knowledge without love, every time I get full of myself Jesus would gently remind me to remove the plank from my eye first. That is why my prayer because of this passage is Lord as I grow please give me more love than you do knowledge so that my words and actions reflect your heart for others.
Love must also be the basis of discernment. What is discernment? It is the capacity to perceive or recognize the difference. It is important so…
“that you may approve the things that are excellent”
If there are things that are excellent then it stands to reason there are also things that are bad… discernment is the ability to know the difference between the two. As believers we must learn to sense and understand what is good, right and pure and seek to act accordingly.
I like to think of discernment as God’s internal alarm system powered by the Holy Spirit because it also protects us. We need to be aware there are people in the world who will try to take advantage of us or who have questionable motives. J. Vernon McGee used to pray driving into his Bible studies that God would help him to discern who he could help and who was there to take advantage of him. I think that is a great prayer… God show me… give your servant discernment and understanding so balanced with love so that I may know what is good, and what is evil. Give me eyes to see the people who genuinely need help, and the ability to know who wants to take advantage of me so that I may be more effective in your work.
If you are unsure of what discernment is Proverbs speaks often of it. My favorite verse is Proverbs 18:15 it says…
“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.”
If you don’t know the answer, if you are unsure of what is right, good, or pure; a discerning heart seeks the answer by asking God. The Bible says if we lack wisdom we can ask… if we need guidance we can ask of God who is faithful to answer and to guide us. David prayed for discernment (Psalm 119:125) and so can we.
Verse 10 continues with the second and third reason Paul prays for the Philippians to have love abounding with knowledge and discernment and that is so, “… that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ”
One of these days I want to do a study on every place in the Bible where we find the words “so that”. Why… because they indicate a result – What is the result?
1. That we may be sincere... I love the definition of sincere…
Without deceit, pretense, or hypocrisy… being the same in actual character as in outward appearance; genuine; real…
Sincerity, is “the personal quality of living life from a pure motive without deceit.” (Holman’s Bible Dictionary).
2. That we may be without offense… which is defined as…
The act of creating resentment, hurt feelings, or displeasure and as something that causes sinning or wrongdoing.
Sincerity and offense go hand in hand… Is there something in my life that would cause someone else to sin or to do wrong? Am I lacking sincerity in my faith? Am I living what I believe… not perfectly but honestly? Am I honest enough with others to admit my faults and my struggles? Am I brave enough to say like Paul to my friends, family and those watching me… “yes, I blow it – I want to do right, I try to do right but when I want to do right – sin is right there with me. Thank God for Jesus and the Cross! Thank you for mercy and grace and that salvation is a gift because I can’t be good all on my own”. That is sincerity and if we our sincere in our walk then hopefully we will not offend. So what is the action step – how can I apply this part of Paul’s prayer to my life?
Step 1 – Admit - God show me – search me and know my heart, try me and test my anxious thoughts see if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Confess what He shows you, and ask forgiveness.
Step 2 - Ask – God how can I use this area of weakness, temptation or mistake in my life to bring you glory? For example you could ask… Would sharing my struggle with anger help someone else who is dealing with anger? Or - God how can I share overcoming my habit of gossiping with others to encourage them with the same temptation?
Step 3 - Act – Do what He shows you… share your struggles. Testify to God’s goodness. Share your journey with others encouraging and helping them along their journey.
Finally in verse 11 Paul prays:
Verse 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.[3]”
Who produces “righteous character”? Jesus – Why… to bring much glory and praise to God. Our changed lives point others to the Father. The fruit of our salvation is the change in our character produced in our lives by Jesus. It should be obvious that we are different because of Christ. When I look back over my life I can see where I have come from – I’m different – I know it – I am not the same person I was before I met Jesus. If it is obvious to me I pray it is obvious to others. Is it obvious? Can others see Jesus in you? That’s Paul’s prayer – changed lives that bring glory to God. I love Paul’s prayer – I think I want to ask the same thing of God for my friends, family, and for me. Let me leave you with these thoughts to ponder… is your love abounding? Is love what guides us? Is it the foundation of knowledge and discernment? Let’s pray that as we grow… as we study, God always gives us more love than anything else. After all… it is love that draws the world to Jesus.
Well, I guess it’s time to move on to chapter two.
Till next time –
Love you guys - CJ
[1] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982, S. Php 1:9-11
* Greek with the fruit of righteousness through Jesus Christ.
[2]Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. Php 1:9-11
* Greek with the fruit of righteousness through Jesus Christ.
[3]Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. Php 1:9-11
2 comments:
So many life lessons in just three verses! Thank you so much for your teaching, CJ. You have given me a lot to think about. I know I have been guilty of knowledge without love (or the "I'm right, you're wrong" syndrome) and that will be a new prayer for me. Very convicting. More later.
I had the same experience you describe, CJ: the prayer that Paul prays in Philippians 9-11 has been sticking with me for the past few days, since I read it as part of my study of Philippians. That love would abound with knowledge and discernment... I have made these words the basis of my prayers, not only for myself but also for the others whom I pray for. Rather than petitioning God to bring a job to my unemployed friend, or bring an end to a tough ordeal for another friend, I have been praying that their love would abound with knowledge and discernment. This is so powerful, and goes beyond the circumstancial request for God to do or bring "something."
Thanks, CJ, for the challenge of studying (and commenting on) the book of Philippians!
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