Philippians 1:9-11
Preached Wednesday March 20, 2013

Introduction:

Selfishness and the “Poochie Lip” often attack us as we slog through this sin cursed world. Our study through this Epistle written by Paul while he was in a roman prison helps us to readjust our thinking.

? Joy is mentioned 4 times
? Rejoice mentioned 8 times
? Glad mentioned 3 times

The key to finding this joy is found by having a Christ-like mindset.

Chapter 1 – The Single Mind
Chapter 2 – The Submissive Mind
Chapter 3 – The Spiritual Mind
Chapter 4 – The Secure Mind

Chapter 1 tells us that we should have a single mind focused on the Gospel. If we are preoccupied with both the blessings of and the spreading of the Gospel, it would make sense that inner joy would be a natural result of that kind of mindset. The first thirteen verses of this chapter center around the “Fellowship of the Gospel”. The term fellowship means a joint participation in a common interest and activity. So to fellowship with believers should be more than just having food… it is action shared to reach a common goal. The beginning of this chapter shows us that as we are single minded toward the gospel, we should be sharing together in common interest and activity of the gospel. We first discovered that both the servants, those involved in vocational ministry, and the saints, have the same fellowship. They are united to help each other serve God and spread the Gospel through the local assembly. The path to Christian joy is found through a single mind focused on the Gospel. The best way to accomplish that is to have joint participation, fellowship, shared action around the common activity of the gospel within the local church. There are three facets of this single minded fellowship of the Gospel that we have been examining are these:

• The fellowship of Praise – Philippians 1:3-6
• The fellowship of Grace – Philippians 1:7-7, 12-13
• The fellowship of Prayer – Philippians 1:9-11

Tonight we will discover that Christian joy can be experienced as we share a single mind focused on the fellowship of intercessory prayer.

I. Pray that love may abound.

Philippians 1:9 (AV)
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

A. The Love that God produced.

1 John 4:16 (AV)
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

B. More and more = running over like a cup that can no longer contain

C. Love based on experiential knowledge of Jesus. Something that can only grow through spending time getting the experience Jesus.

Romans 5:5 (AV)
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

D. In Judgment = sensitive moral perception – insight

Ephesians 5:17 (AV)
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

E. All of this will enable you to love others more.

II. Pray that believers will approve excellent things.

Philippians 1:10 (AV)
10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

A. Approve = discern what is best = from the Greek – testing

Romans 12:2 (AV)
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

B. Excellent = spiritual concepts and actions which involve delicate and keen distinctions.

III. Pray that believers would reflect praise back to God with their lives.

Philippians 1:10–11 (AV)
… that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

A. Sincere = distinct, unmixed, pure – nothing distracting or polluting your commitment to Jesus.

B. No Offence = not cut against/ not stumbled upon.

Romans 16:17 (AV)
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

C. Endurance – Paul prays for this kind of stability and commitment to last till the day of Christ.

D. Filled with the fruits of righteousness

Colossians 1:5–6 (AV)
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Galatians 5:22–23 (AV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

1. This fruit came through Jesus

2. This fruit will praise Him.

Matthew 5:16 (AV)
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.