Philippians 1:9-11
Paul’s Heart (3)
We continue to look at Paul’s heart in the first chapter of the book of Philippi.
Just to do a quick review:
1. Paul was in prison in Rome, but he had confidence of being released
\\#Phil 1:19\\.
2. The church of Philippi had helped Paul both in his ministry and now in
his imprisonment.
3. As Paul writes this letter, he writes it as a friend, from the heart.
a. \\#Phil 1:3-8\\ It is easy to tell that Paul cares greatly for these
people.
b. \\#Phil 1:9-11\\ Paul shares with the Philippians the prayer he prays
for them.
4. Last week, we looked at the first of four parts in Paul’s prayer.
a. Paul prayed that the Philippians’ love would grow in knowledge and
judgment.
b. From that prayer, we can see the need to shape and form our love like
we would any living, growing thing.
c. Nothing can provide the knowledge and force necessary to keep a sinful
heart loving correctly like the Word of God.
d. When you consider the kind of love that Paul is praying would grow in
the Philippians, you realize that this love would make everyone’s
life more peaceful and pleasant!
Tonight, we continue to look at Paul’s prayer for these Philippians.
I. \\#Phil 1:1-2\\ Introduction
II. \\#Phil 1:3-30\\ Paul’s Heart
A. \\#Phil 1:3-6\\ Paul’s Love
B. \\#Phil 1:6\\ Paul’s Confidence
C. \\#Phil 1:3-11\\ Paul’s Prayer
D. \\#Phil 1:12-18\\ Paul’s Desire
I. \\#Phil 1:3-11\\ Paul’s Prayer
A. How to pray. \\#Phil 1:3-6\\
B. What we are to pray for. \\#Phil 1:9-11\\
1. \\#Phil 1:9\\ That their love would abound more and more in
knowledge and judgment.
2. \\#Phil 1:10\\ That they might "approve things that are excellent."
a. To APPROVE means to SEEK and TEST. That is a two-part request.
(1) Paul is first praying the Philippians would be looking
for the best things. Not that they would just be passively
waiting for the best things to come but that they would be
seeking them.
(2) And second, that they would test to make sure the things
they have found are the best things.
b. There are a lot of things that can come into your life!
(1) opportunities - jobs, education, investments, ‘ministries
(2) friendships, attractions. and loves
(3) ideas and philosophies
(4) behaviors and habits
(5) hobbies, recreation
c. God’s people should be looking for the BEST.
(1) What does that mean? Have the "name-it-and-claim-it"
preachers been right all along?
(2) We are not to seek the things that are best based on our
tastes and judgments.
(a) What we want is carnal.
(b) What we know is wrong.
(c) The way we think is faulty.
(3) God has a better desires for us, and His desires our best.
(a) We are a carnal people with carnal tastes and
judgments.
(b) God wants us to desire the things that will bring
glory to Him.
(4) The goal is to test these things with a spiritual meter
to see what is best!
(a) That would be the Word of God. The Word of God works
on us from the outside in.
(b) That would be the discernment from the Holy Ghost. The
Holy Ghost works on us from the inside out.
d. I will tell you upfront so that you will not be surprised.
(1) Many of the things that you think are best for you, God will
not.
(2) Some thoughts to keep in mind when trying to discern what is
best.
(a) God gives priority to what is best for our eternity not
our immediacy.
i. What we judge to be good for us right now may
actually harm us in the future.
ii. With years comes wisdom - I’m glad I did not get
everything I wanted when I wanted it.
(b) Not all battles we wage are between good & evil. Some
of them are between better and best.
i. I’ve heard it said and believe it to be true.
ii. Just before God brings His best, Satan brings out
his best.
iii. Wait on God.
3. \\#Phil 1:10\\ That they might be "sincere" (pure) and without
offense.
a. To be SINCERE is "to be pure and unsullied."
(1) We think of it as being an emotion as in EARNEST or
DETERMINED.
(2) In the Greek, it is a "condition" or "a state of being."
(a) Strong’s defined it as "being found pure or clean
when unfolded and examined by the sun’s light."
(b) We have looked ourselves over in the artificial
light of our homes and thought we were looking
good, only to step out in the bright sunlight and
have it expose some spot or blemish previously
unseen.
(c) The LIGHT that is going to be used to examine us is
the presence of God. God’s presence will surely
show off our imperfections.
(d) Sarah Palin is on the cover of Newsweek (11/23/2009)
and is not very happy as it shows her in running
shorts, a photo she took for an athletic magazine,
when the article in Newsweek is political in
nature. But she was also on the cover of that
magazine on 10/13/2008. Some were not happy with
that picture either as it was an un-touched close-
up which showed "every imperfection that we all
have." With both pictures, Newsweek is being
accused of presenting Sarah Palin in the worst
light possible.
(e) I do have some opinions on the subject, but the
point I want to make is that when we stand before
God, we will stand before Him with no touch-up
work performed.
(f) It will just be you and Him and all of His glory!
(g) So the idea behind the word is A STATE OF EXTREME
CLEAN, THROUGH AND THROUGH CLEAN.
(h) This is what Paul is praying for in the lives of the
Philippians.
b. But that request also includes that they might not have any
offense toward God, UNTIL Jesus comes.
(1) To have no offense means to have no sin against them.
(2) However, Paul does not say that they would have no
offense WHEN Jesus comes, but that they would have
no offence UNTIL Jesus comes.
(3) The way to have no sin WHEN Jesus comes is to confess
often. The way to have no sin UNTIL Jesus comes is to
live clean.
(4) Paul is praying that the Philippians would do right all
the way to the end!
(5) I understand human nature enough to know that people
are not going to be sinless for long; however, I am
equally familiar with God’s divine nature enough to know
we don’t have to be sinful either!
4. \\#Phil 1:11\\ That they might be filled with "the fruits of
righteousness, which come by Jesus Christ."
a. These would be the uniquely spiritual qualities that we can
not produce in ourselves, but which come as part of the work
of Jesus Christ.
b. Paul was asking that the Philippians might produce the fruit
of a Christian!
(1) That they might pray.
(2) That they might study and comprehend the Word of God.
(3) That they might witness or "defend" the gospel as Paul
puts it in this chapter.
(4) That they might truly worship God.
(5) That they might live holy lives. Lives that are filled
with…
Gal 5:22 …love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance….
c. These things then bring glory and praise to the Father.
C. What a great prayer to pray for your friends!
II. \\#Phil 1:12-18\\ Paul’s desire for the Philippians’ understanding.
A. It is probably difficult for us to comprehend how some of Paul’s
churches, and even his friends, felt about him.
1. Some were ashamed of Paul. Others doubted his apostleship.
1Cor 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our
Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal
of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
2Cor 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others,
epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
2Cor 11:5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been
throughly made manifest among you in all things.
2 Corinthians 12:11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I
ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very
chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in
signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
2. Perhaps some of it had to do with the fact that Paul spent time
in prison.
B. There is no indication that the Philippians felt like this toward
Paul.
1. Even so, Paul desires that the Philippians understand that
God has worked for His glory through his imprisonment.
2. \\#12\\ The gospel has generally been furthered.
3. \\#13\\ Specifically, those in the palace (and other places)
have heard it.
4. \\#14\\ Believers have been encouraged to speak of Christ.
5. \\#15-17\\ And even those who are talking evil about Jesus and
Paul were at least talking about Jesus.
6. The reason Paul wanted these Christians to understand this is probably
not so that they will think better of him, but so that they will
not shun being imprisoned for Christ.
C. \\#Phil 1:18\\ Regardless, Paul rejoices that Jesus is preached.
1. Paul is the one who told us to rejoice in everything.
1Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice evermore.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
2. He is sitting in jail with his life hanging in the balance,
rejoicing that he got to tell someone about Jesus!
3. Rejoicing is not just his sermon. It was his example.
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