AUDIO COMING SOON! (Philippians 1:12 and following contain audio)
Praying for the Philippians Philippians 1:3-11 September 15, 2013 Without a doubt one of the simplest Yet most important spiritual disciplines is that of prayer. We have at our disposal, access to the God of the universe, In order to petition His help into our present situations. And that means one of the greatest gifts we can give to fellow believers Is to petition God’s help into their present situations. We know prayer is effective. James 5:17-18 “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.” We know that prayer is commanded. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray without ceasing;” And we know that God delights in our prayer. Luke 18:1-8 “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. “There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘ Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ “For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” So we all know that prayer is an important aspect of the Christian life. And we could spend time looking at the life of Jesus. Not only did He continually petition the Father, But His role as our intercessor is one of the most valuable assets we enjoy. We love it when people pray for us We certainly are called to pray for others However, at times we can feel a little incompetent in our prayer life. • It’s not that we doubt the power of prayer… • It’s not that we doubt the faithfulness of God to answer prayer… But sometimes it is just so hard to know what to pray for. In fact often times our prayers are limited either to the lost, or to the sick. Obviously they need it, but one of the reasons for this Is because at least with them we know what to pray for. But sometimes we find it more difficult for our brothers and sisters Who don’t have any obvious needs. They aren’t lost… They aren’t sick… What do I pray for you? What do you pray for me? Well to some degree we never really know what to pray at all. (even for the lost and the sick) Romans 8:26-27 “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” There are some issues that become obvious to us, But there are many that we just don’t or can’t know. And for that the Holy Spirit steps in, who knows the perfect will of God, And He prays according to God’s will for us. However, we still want to pray. • We are still called to pray without ceasing. • We are still called to intercede for one another. • We are still called to devote ourselves to prayer. So the question remains: what do I pray for? How do I pray for other believers? Well, to gain some insight in this regard tonight we look at Philippians 1. Here we have Paul outlining his prayer life for the Philippians. Here is a great place to start. I want you to recognize 3 things about the way Paul prayed. #1 A THANKFUL PRAYER Philippians 1:3-6 Paul here has a thankful prayer. And specifically he is thankful for God’s PAST and PROMISED work. “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,” And we gave the background last week so I won’t carry you through all of that again. And you remember that in Philippi there was no synagogue, There were only a few women meeting for prayer outside of the city limits. But God began to move in a special way. (When we studied Acts we even talked about God’s providence in Philippi) Acts 16:13-14 “And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.” Lydia was the first ever convert from Europe. But did you notice how Lydia came to have faith in Christ? “the Lord opened her heart to respond” The only reason anyone in Philippi believed Is because God started breathing life into that place. Remember what we learned in Ephesians Ephesians 2:1-5 “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ ( by grace you have been saved),” No one comes to Christ apart from God opening their heart. God did that for Lydia. Remember the next recorded convert in Philippi? The Jailor How did he get saved? • Well God sent an earthquake. • Then God working through Paul and Silas caused this jailor to see something different and want to be saved. There is only one reason there is a church in Philippi. That reason is the sovereign hand of God. So it is only fitting that when Paul begins praying for the Philippian church the first thing he does is thank God for them. Every time he remembers that church, he was moved to gratitude Toward God for the word He did in starting that church. “always offering prayer with joy in my ever prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.” Paul said every time I pray for you, I thank God for you. Because He not only made you a church, but obviously caused you to be a participant in the gospel and the gospel ministry. • It was God who opened their hearts to believe. • And it was obviously God who moved in their hearts to contribute. None of those things were normal human desires. None of those things were the result of human ingenuity. The Philippian’s were an example of God’s work in the lives of people. And that wasn’t all. (6) “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Paul knew that God wasn’t finished. It is another foundational truth in regard to God’s sovereignty, That God finishes what He starts. Romans 8:29-30 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” None fall short of that. If God begins a good work, God finishes that work. He has no scrap pile of broken people that He just had to toss aside. He finishes what He starts. And so when Paul thought of the Philippians The first thing he had to do was stop and thank God for them. • God was the reason they were saved • God is the reason they served • God is the reason they are secure Now there is a way to start your prayer for fellow believers. • Thank God for saving them. • Thank God for prompting them to serve. • And thank God for promising to finish His work on them. Pray thankfully! A Thankful Prayer #2 A JOYFUL PRAYER Philippians 1:7-8 Now you will notice Paul starts out saying, “For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all” Feel what way? Look back up at verse 4, “always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer” When Paul thought of the Philippians, He was not only moved with gratitude to God, But was also overcome with joy. He rejoiced when he thought about the Philippians, And here he says, that joy is only natural. “It is only right” So Paul prayed thankfully because of God’s Past And Promised Work. Here Paul prays joyfully because of God’s Obvious Grace. (7) “For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.” Now on one hand we are thankful for grace Because of the salvation it produces. We are all saved by grace, and just the thought of it should obviously lead to rejoicing. But that is not all that Paul has in mind here. • Paul didn’t just use grace to get saved. • Grace was important in his life in far more ways than that. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” That grace came in response to a trial. I firmly believe there is a grace that can only be known through hardship. There is a grace that you just can’t partake of unless you are suffering. For example: • You can’t know God is provider, if you’re never in need. • You can’t know God as healer, if you’re never sick. • You can’t know God as defender, if you’re never in danger. There are certain avenues of grace you just can’t enjoy unless you suffer. Paul had this partly in view later in this letter when he says: Philippians 3:10 “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;” Again, there is a fellowship in suffering. We understand this. Every year Spur has a relay for life. And cancer survivors walk a lap around the track. There is a fellowship among that group That those who have never had cancer can never know. It is the same way with the grace Paul refers to in 2 Corinthians 12. It is a grace given in response to suffering. I also want you to recognize the effect of that grace in Paul’s life. 2 Corinthians 12:10 “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” What did that grace produce in his life? Strength. So we know about salvation. That is grace given in response to faith that produces forgiveness. But this grace is given in response to suffering And it produces strength. This caused Paul to boast about his weaknesses And be well content with his hardships. That is what Paul is talking about here in Philippians. The Philippians were “partakers of grace” with Paul. Not just salvation, but also the grace That is given in response to hardship. For notice what he says: “both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.” There was a fellowship forged between these two Through common suffering and common grace. And the result? (8) “For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” The result of this fellowship of grace was tremendous love. There was joyous fellowship between the two. • So when Paul prays, He prays with gratitude, thanking God for what He did in the lives of the Philippians and for what He will do. • And when Paul prays, He prays with joy because of the fellowship forged through suffering and the common grace they understand as well. Now, when you pray for your brothers and sisters. First, thank God that they are your brothers and sisters. He is the only reason they are saved. And when you pray, pray with joy over them Because of God’s obvious grace in both of your lives. • These people have walked with you through various hardships and trials… • These people were in the same fire with you a number of times… • And they know about God’s grace in those situations just like you do… • There is a fellowship there… • There is a camaraderie there… So when you pray for them, pray thankfully and pray joyfully A Thankful Prayer A Joyful Prayer #3 A FAITHFUL PRAYER Philippians 1:9-11 Now we actually get to the specifics of the prayer. • I get it that we are supposed to be thankful… • I get it that we are supposed to rejoice… BUT WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO PRAY FOR IN THEIR REGARD? Well, here it is. Now first I want you to notice the faithful nature of Paul’s prayer. “And this I pray” • He doesn’t promise to pray… • He doesn’t intend to pray… • He doesn’t hope to pray… • HE PRAYS In verses 3 and 4 he said: “in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer…” The implication is that every time I remember you, I pray for you. Paul was faithful to pray for the Philippians. WHAT DID HE PRAY? “that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,” What is he talking about? • He is talking about their love for Christ. • He knows they are real. • He knows they’ve received grace. • He knows they love Christ. But he wants their love to “abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment” What does that mean? Let’s see if we can illustrate this a little. • I love my wife. • And I want to love my wife in such a way that she knows I love her. So what do I do? FIRST I NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT MAKES HER FEEL LOVED (Read a good book called “the Five Love Languages”) Gifts Service Words of Affirmation Physical Touch Time If I really want to show love to her, I had better find out how she feels loved. I HAD BETTER GET TO KNOW HER My love has to “abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment” I have to learn what was pleasing to her. That is what Paul is praying for the Philippians. I want you to love Christ, but I want you to love Him in knowledge. I want you to strive to know what pleases Him. To the Colossians Paul said it like this: Colossians 1:9-10 “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” Paul was praying that the Colossians would get knowledge So they would know how to love. That is what he is praying for the Philippians. So Paul wanted their love to “abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment” WHY? “so that you may approve the things that are excellent,” In other words, I want you to know Christ better So that you will have a better grasp on what is pleasing. Let’s go back to the illustration of our spouse again. I got to know her better so I could have a handle on how she feels loved. Now Carrie’s love language is service. But let’s say it’s “gifts” just to make an easier illustration. So I learn that I need to give Carrie a gift. WHICH GIFT? Well, that is why I got to know her. I talked to her, I walked with her, I listen to her So that when I come across a potential gift I will be able to either approve it as something she will like, Or disregard it as something she won’t like. (And she will tell you – just 4 months early) So it is with Christ. I spend time with Him, finding out the things He desires. So that in this life when faced with decisions I will be able to “approve the things that are excellent” Well, Paul says here, I want you to pay attention So that you will know how to live a life that pleases Christ. WHY? “in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ.” Now you understand this too. • Guys you didn’t pay attention, so you didn’t get the right gift. • Instead you brought home the “slap chop” you bought on TV and the moment arrives, you give the gift…. And you can see it on your wife’s face. That is not what she wanted. Oh she said she liked it, but you know better. On that day, you were not blameless. You messed up and you knew it. • Your love didn’t abound in real knowledge… • So you weren’t able to approve what was excellent… • And now you aren’t found blameless when you stand before her… Well, as humans we do this a lot, and that’s part of being human. But what Paul is hoping for is that when we stand before Christ We won’t have any of those moments. He is praying that we will know what Christ likes So that we can approve what Christ wants, And having done it to stand before Him blameless. And he even explains what blameless is (11) “having been filled with the fruit of righteousness [good works] which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Paul wants the Philippians to stand before Jesus blameless, Having pleased Him, full of good works which He enjoys, And fully glorifying to God. Now there is a way to pray for your fellow believers. • Pray faithfully for them every time you remember them. • Rejoicing in the common grace they share with you. • Thanking God for saving them and continuing to work on them. And since this is God’s desire, Pray that they will get to know Christ better, And will thus be able to live a pleasing life, So that they can stand before Christ blameless, full of good works, Having glorified the Father. So we don’t have to know specific needs to be faithful in prayer. We are given an example of how to pray for each other. Philippians 1:3-6 “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
