Paul’s Prayer for the Philippians
Introduction:
This is one of Paul’s prayers recorded in scripture.
Pray this prayer for others as well as for yourself.
Philippians 1:9-11 NLT
Paul’s Prayer
9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
Examine the scriptures:
Review Philippians 1:3-8 NLT
Paul’s Thanksgiving for the Philippians
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:9-11 NLT
Paul’s Prayer for the Philippians
9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more,
From the ESV
It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, …. (ESV)
The most important commandment.
36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
“And he (Jesus) said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:36-39 ESV)
- Love calls for action.
Love for God.
John 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.
Love for people.
1 John 3:18 NLT
18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
It is my prayer that you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
I pray that you also love the people around you.
- Love comes from God.
Romans 5:5 NLT
5 … For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
1 John 4:7 NLT
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God.
Genuine love requires growth and maturation.
1 Thessalonians 3:12 NLT
12 And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.
1 Thessalonians 4:10 NLT
10 Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 NLT
3 Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.
and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.
From God:
Colossians 1:9 NLT
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
From the Holy Spirit:
John 14:17 NLT
17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.
I pray that your love is not simply an emotional love,
but rather it is love that comes from embracing the truths found in scripture.
- Do what the scripture tells you to do. Embrace the truths found in scripture.
Example:
1 Peter 1:22 NLT
22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
10 For I want you to understand what really matters,
see the difference between what is important and what is not and choose what is important (ERV)
be able to discern what is best (NIV)
I pray that your growing love for God and others, as well as your love for Biblical truths, enables you, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to know right from wrong.
I pray that you will become better equipped to make right decisions and good choices.
Romans 12:2 NLT
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
- Become better equipped to make right decisions and good choices.
so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.
Be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
- Live wholesome lives.
Our goal:
Become more like Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT
And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
Luke 2:52 NLT
52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.
I pray that you have a right relationship with God.
I pray that you relate to others in such a way that you do not cause them to stumble.
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 NLT
12 And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT
10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
- Relate to others in such a way that you do not cause them to stumble.
11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—
the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—
May your lives will be filled with the truly good qualities which only Jesus Christ can produce. (GNT)
- Allow yourself to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.
(Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
I pray that your life is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
(1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
I pray that your life glorifies God.
John 15:8 NLT
8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
It is my prayer that you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
I pray that you also love the people around you.
I pray that your love is not simply an emotional love, but rather it is love that comes from embracing the truths found in scripture.
I pray that your growing love for God and others, as well as your love for Biblical truths, enables you, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to know right from wrong.
I pray that you will become better equipped to make right decisions and good choices.
I pray that you have a right relationship with God.
I pray that you relate to others in such a way that you do not cause them to stumble.
I pray that your life is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
I pray that your life glorifies God.
