A Prayer For an Abundant Life Philippians 1:9-11 Presented by Bob DeWaay October 3, 2004

Paul’s Prayer of Petition ►Philippians 1: 9, 10 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

Paul’s Prayer of Petition ►Philippians 1: 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Prayer Shows What He Meant by the Perfected “Good Work” ►Philippians 1:6 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.

Seven Elements of Paul’s Prayer 1)That their love abound more and more 2)That they increase in knowledge and discernment 3)That they approve those things that really matter 4)That they be unsullied and blameless when Christ returns 5)They are filled with the fruit of righteousness 6)This righteousness comes through Christ 7)That this would all be to the glory and praise of God

1) That their love abound more and more ►Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

1) That their love abound more and more ►Philippians 2:2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Christian Love is Defined by God’s Action ►1John 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

2) That they increase in knowledge and discernment Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

“Knowledge” is epiginosis “full intimate knowledge” ►Colossians 1:10 so that you may 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; ►Titus 1:1b... the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

2) That they increase in knowledge and discernment Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

Discernment is “moral insight” ►Jeremiah 15:19 Therefore, thus says the Lord, ‘If you return, then I will restore you-- Before Me you will stand; And if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman. They for their part may turn to you, But as for you, you must not turn to them.’

3) That they approve those things that really matter ►Philippians 1:10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

“Approve” Means “Put to the Test” ►1Thessalonians 5:21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;

“Excellent” Means “Essential or Superior” ►Romans 2:17, 18 But if you bear the name “Jew,” and rely upon the Law, and boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,

4) That they be unsullied and blameless when Christ returns ►Philippians 1:10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

4) That they be unsullied and blameless when Christ returns ►Ephesians 5:27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.

5) They are filled with the fruit of righteousness ►Philippians 1:11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. ►Ephesians 5:9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

6) This righteousness comes through Christ ►Philippians 1:11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

6) This righteousness comes through Christ ►Philippians 3:9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

7) That this would all be to the glory and praise of God ►Philippians 1:11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. ►Ephesians 1:14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Application Availing Ourselves of the Means of Grace ►Acts 2:42 And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.