Short Study of Paul's Prayer in Philippians 1:9-11

9And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;11having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which {comes} through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul prayed often in his letters, and this prayer is similar to others, but it isn't a "rubber stamp" prayer by any means. Let's take a closer look at Paul's prayer, but let's look back at verse six for a minute. In verse 6 remember, Paul told his friends, "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 has just expressed his confidence that God would finish the work He had begun in the lives of the Philippian believers. Put another way, Paul believed that they would continue to grow in their walk, because God would bring it to pass. But here, by praying for growth in their faith, Paul is praying for something he has already said he believes that God will do. Paul seemed certain, regarding the sanctification of these believers, but he did not let that become an excuse for failing to pray for that outcome.

Why should we pray for what God has promised? We pray for what God promises because He is the one and only one who will bring it to pass.We should also pray because we're instructed to pray. Because our prayers are also an expression of our total dependence on Him, and that glorifies Him.

Next, Paul prays that the Philippians' "love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment," In Hebrews 4:15 we're told to "practice the truth in love." Paul is praying here for the Philippians love to grow in "real knowledge and "all discernment." Love acts with wisdom, and makes choices that are based on sound discernment. When we love someone, we don't always do what the other person wants us to do. Because we love Christ, we don't always do what our cultures want us to do, or think we should do. Love "acts" wisely, and in the best interests of the one who is loved.
Paul wanted the believers there to be unified in their love, so that they would grow in there knowledge of Him and have deeper insight in all spiritual matters.

Next, Paul's prayer looks at things from a heavenly point of view. Paul doesn't pray that the Philippians will have a comfortable life. He doesn't pray for them to have plenty of horses, big houses and lots of money. Instead, he prays that they might be pleasing to our Savior, that they would bear fruit in Christ's name, glorifying Him. 1st Corinthians 10:31 says, "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God."

This whole prayer is very convicting for me, personally. Remember, Paul is a long way from these dear friends of his and he is not free to visit them. He is in chains, and in jail. But that doesn't keep Paul from ministering to his friends. Though Paul sent Epaphroditus and Timothy to them, he persistently and passionately prayed for the Philippian believers and for their growth himself.
Paul didn't have email at his fingertips, or a cell phone to stay in constant communication with them, but look at what was accomplished between them. We can't use absence as an excuse for not praying either. We can minister from a distance to those we love, just like Paul did, through prayer and even correspondence.

I think too, that we can learn a lot from Paul's joy. This was a solid relationship that he shared with these people.The relationship between Paul and his Philippian friends wasn't founded on happy feelings. It wasn't founded on the gifts that the Philippians had given to him for Paul's ministry either. Since we know Paul was in jail at this writing, we know his joy wasn't founded on "the good life." It was founded on the true joy they shared in what Christ had done for them all.

There is "joy" in our assurance of God's love, as opposed to the feelings of "happiness" that the things of the world brings. Paul's joy was shared with them in the salvation and the growth in Christ of lost sinners. Paul's joy and part of the "riches" of his faith, was in people. Paul was joyful about serving Christ, and the people who gained salvation from their sins and who were growing in their faith, their love and in their knowledge of their Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

Where does your joy come from? I'm asking myself the same question. I mean, is my "joy" centered on me, or is it centered on helping people know Jesus and know Him more? Do I enjoy serving others in a self-sacrificing way, or does there have to be something "in it for me"? Do I enjoy it when other people prosper in their faith and in their walk, or does that little tinge of jealousy poke at the edges of my heart?

The things that give us pleasure can tell us a great deal about ourselves. Paul had no problem giving himself to a life of ministering in the gospel to other people. I believe that he longed for every convert to surpass him in knowledge and wisdom in the love of Christ. Take note of another thing about the way Paul prayed. You can see it his other prayers. His prayers are made with praise and with petition. But look carefully at them and you'll see that the praise is focused on the gracious work of God in the lives of believers, and his petitions as well, are directed toward growing the saints in their walk with Jesus.

Look at verses 1 and 2 of Philippians 1;
1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

There's a relationship to be seen between these first two verses, and the rest we've come through so far. Paul calls himself and Timothy "slaves" of Jesus Christ. Slaves embrace the goals of their master. The slave seeks what the master seeks. The slave is to love what his master loves, and rejoices in what his master rejoices in. Paul's perspective was the same as his Master's. In other words, Paul has the same attitude toward and affection for the Church as his Master does.

He is trying to love people the way Jesus loves people. It's what we all should do.