This is my prayer

Philippians 1:1-11

Key Verse 1:9

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

Philippians is one of the Apostle Paul's prison epistles which he wrote while he was incarcerated in prison in Rome. 

In this passage we can learn Paul's prayer topic for the saints in the church of Philippi. Nowhere in his epistles does Paul pour out what is at the bottom of his heart (namely deepest love for Christ) more fully than here in the epistle to the Philippians, because among other churches he pioneered, he found the Philippians as the dearest and certainly the most favorite (for they were indeed the most spiritual of all the congregations Paul came to know in Christ.) as well as mature enough to be worthy of sharing his uttermost for Christ.

        

1. Read vs. 1-2. Paul calls the brothers and sisters in Philipp "saints". On what basis do you think Paul calls them "saints" (2,6,11)? What can we learn from Paul about the way for us to see brothers and sisters in the Lord (1Pe 1:18-19; Rev 5:9; Mat 18:10)? 

** Two reasons: first is past transaction and second is the future transaction. First, in the past, what Christ had already done (i.e., purchasing them with Jesus' blood sacrifice), and second, in the future what Christ would continue to do in and through them. 

** Instead of looking at them just in terms of who they are, we need to see them in terms of who they will be. In other words we need to see them based on what Jesus did in the past and what Jesus is going to do in the future, for in Jesus' eyes, they are bound to be saints (Eph 2:6).

2. Read vs. 3-4. What do the following words show us about Paul's life of prayer: 1) I remember you; 2) In all my prayers for all of you; and 3) I always pray with joy? Why is it important for us to pray not just for ourselves but also for others as well?

** It reminds us of Paul as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, for in Exo 28:29 a high priest in Israel was supposed to wear a priestly garment with a breastpiece on which were mounted twelve gem stones each of which bears the name of the twelve tribes of Israel representing all the members of the church in the Lord. 

** This prayer is the key for the salvation of many.  

3. Read vs. 3-8. What does this passage tell us about: 1) the spiritual level of the Philippians (5, 7, Phi 4:14-16); 2) the basis of Paul's confidence about them; and 3) the reasons for Paul's special thanks, joy, and "affection" for them? What can we learn from the Philippians? 

** They were mature in two ways: 1) they offered "partnership" for the gospel of Jesus; and 2) they supplied for Paul with whatever Paul needed. Partners are on an equal level with fellow partners. They were no longer sheep, for sheep normally ask shepherds to give them this or that all the time, but in their case they instead gave what Paul needed. 

** His intelligent faith in the Lord Jesus who works in them. Paul was confident of their salvation, for he saw that the sacrificial love they had demonstrated so far was from Jesus Christ: through Jesus' help they could bear such good fruit. So Paul was confident of the Lord to bring the good work he had begun to completion in them. 

** They demonstrated their friendship by providing Paul with practical help Paul needed especially as he was going through rough times for the sake of the gospel. 

** From them we learn that we must graduate from a sheep's level to a shepherd’s (or partner's) level, by taking deep root in Jesus' love. 

4. Memorize vs. 9-10 and describe: 1) the means to discern "what is best"; and 2) the contents of that which is best. What can we learn from Paul as a shepherd for the flock of God (2Co 13:11)? 

** Love (of God found in Jesus Christ) that is backed up by the knowledge and depth of insight. 

** It is to secure Jesus Christ inside of us as the dearest and the only true Lord and Savior for us, for no one or nothing is greater a gift than the Lord Jesus himself. Plus, Jesus is altogether pure and righteous. 

** We should all expect from our flock God's maximum; so we must pray that all of our flock (together with us) should go for perfection. Mat 5:48.

5. Read v. 11. What does the word "righteousness" suggest to us about the source of (good) fruit one can bear in the Lord? What does this passage indicate about the way to fulfill the purpose of our life (Gen 1:26-28; Isa 43:7)?

** Maintaining a right relationship with God through our Lord Jesus is the key to bearing good fruit. 

** The purpose of our life is to glorify God's name, causing God's name to be honored and praised through our good deeds. The end. 

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