How to pray for Christians Philippians 1:9 discussion

Notes from Grace Int'l Video Party

CNV5  Philippians 1:9 我所禱告的，是要你們的愛心，在充足的知識和各樣的見識上，多而又多，

ESV  Philippians 1:9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

BGT  Philippians 1:9 Καὶ τοῦτο προσεύχομαι, ἵνα ἡ ἀγάπη ὑμῶν ἔτι μᾶλλον καὶ μᾶλλον περισσεύῃ ἐν ἐπιγνώσει καὶ πάσῃ αἰσθήσει

Notice Paul who just presented himself as a bond-servant of God while identifying the believers in Philippi as 'saints'...just a few sentences later shows us how the great apostle prays for saints.
He assumes their lives have already been changed from darkness to light...from death to life....from doubt to faith, from loveless to loving...Paul does not ask God to give them new hearts or to forgive them for their sins.  He assumes this has already happened...and he asks God to cause the agape that the saints have to grow more and more.

What is agape?  

Some say it is unconditional love. Some say it is God's love.  Some say it is choosing the highest good for another.  But the word agape has some very unusual uses in the Bible. For the first appearance of the noun and verb form together we must go to 2 Samuel 13:15 where the Greek word is used in the LXX (Greek translation of the Hebrew OT).

How can agape be used in this story?

In 2 Samuel 13 we have the story of the rape of Tamar by Amnon. In this story he rapes her and then his desire for her is gone and he sends her away with a greater hatred than his previous 'agape' was for her.  If agape meant God's love primarily this would not make sense.  If agape meant choosing the highest good for someone, it was the wrong word there. Or if agape means unconditional love it doesn't fit there either.  But Ceslas Spicq, the French Theological Lexicographer has written a three volume study on Agape in the New Testament (3 Volume Set on Agape in the NT by Spicq. He defines agape as a demonstration of love or affection.  It can be God's demonstrated love....or it can be mans demonstrated love.  The emphasis is on love that puts itself on display.  And so in this context, Amnon had such a deep feeling for his half sister Tamar, that he could not contain himself.  In that sense then we have the distinctive nature of agape. It is the only word in Greek for love that specifically emphasizes the manifestation of love or a strong feeling for someone or something...or a demonstrated love. An important aside By the way, there are about 25 distinct words (about 8 groupings if clustered into similar words) in the New Testament used for various kinds of love. Eros is not one of them. My favorite word for love in the NT is the one Jesus had in John 11:33 where a deep feeling is mixed with a consternation. The word there is not agape, but embribraomai. Jesus had embribraomai. That's why 'Jesus wept'. It triggered a resurrection from the dead! My point is that a careful turning of the biblical spade can help us a lot when it comes to sharpening up our understanding of what Paul was saying in Philippians 1:9. Let's not assume the pop-teachings on agape are correct. Check these things out for yourself.

Agape means 'demonstrated love'

So in Philippians 1:9 Paul is saying that he is praying for the manifestations of love that the Philippians have in their lives to increase.

Furthermore, the term knowledge in that same verse implies experiential knowing.  So he prays for the Philippians to grow in manifestations of love while they experience Christ more and more....all mixed together with discernment in all situations.

It's a rich little verse and shows us how to pray for other believers.  Ask God to help them manifest love and experience Jesus while growing in discernment!

So Paul believes the Philippians are saints (holy ones).  He prays what God has put in them grows!  This is so powerful.  Let's pray this way for each other...with confidence in the finished work of the cross as we see each other in Christ! Looking at John 3:16 with this clearer definition in mind, it means...for God had so much agape for the world...for God manifested his love for the world so much that he gave his only son......puts a whole different spin on things doesn't it? The invisible God full of humility loves us so much that He could not hold it in...his love came out on display for us through Jesus whom he set forth as an atoning sacrifice for us so that we could reconnect with Him! Now that's amazingly good news.

The Jewish Background of Philippians 1:11

It's interesting to see how the failure of Israel provokes the prophetic warning of impending judgment in Amos. In particular the pride and inability to produce the fruit of righteousness result in judgment hanging over the heads of Israel. The little phrase here in the Septuagint (LXX) is used in the Greek New Testament by Paul when he writes to the Philippians. There he mentions this concept as part of his regular prayer life for the saints in Philippi. Paul taught that righteousness was not earned, but that it was a gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ. And that condition of being right with God enables believers to bear fruit for God. In Philippians 1 Paul reveals that he prayed regularly for the fruit of righteousness to mature. This is contrast starkly to the prophet Amos' accusation that Israel failed to bear the fruit of righteousness in Amos 6:12. What is the difference? The difference according to Paul is that the law of Moses bore no power to enable people to do what was right. It simply pointed out what was right. But in the law of Christ, in the gospel, the transforming power of God grants us all righteousness when we see and believe in the message of the cross! So we are able to bear the fruit of righteousness simply because this is who now are! We are righteous in Christ. Like honeycrisp apples on an apple tree, it is simply normal for believers in Christ to bear the fruit of righteousness. And it is a good thing to pray for that fruit in peoples lives as well as to let them know you are praying for this in their lives as Paul did with the saints in Philippi. So pray for those you are discipling to bear the fruit of righteousness in Christ. Pray this often as you thank God for their faith as well. 3 O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence? 4 "Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, 5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, 6 who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! 7 Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away." 8 The Lord GOD has sworn by himself, declares the LORD, the God of hosts: "I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds, and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it." 9 And if ten men remain in one house, they shall die. 10 And when one's relative, the one who anoints him for burial, shall take him up to bring the bones out of the house, and shall say to him who is in the innermost parts of the house, "Is there still anyone with you?" he shall say, "No"; and he shall say, "Silence! We must not mention the name of the LORD." 11 For behold, the LORD commands, and the great house shall be struck down into fragments, and the little house into bits. 12 Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood-- 13 you who rejoice in Lo-debar, who say, "Have we not by our own strength captured Karnaim for ourselves?" 14 "For behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel," declares the LORD, the God of hosts; "and they shall oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah." (Amo 6:7-14 ESV) 7 因此，你們將是最先被擄去的人，宴樂享受的日子必要消逝。 8 主耶和華指著自己起誓說："我痛恨雅各所誇耀的，憎惡他的堡壘；我要把城市和城中的一切，都交給敵人。"這是耶和華萬軍的　神的宣告。 9 如果在一間房子裡剩下十個人，他們都必死亡。 10 死者的親屬和殮葬的人把屍體從房子抬走，並問那躲在屋內深處的人："還有人嗎？"那人回答："沒有，不要再說話，不可再提耶和華的名。" 11 看哪！耶和華下令，大樓就粉碎，小屋也要破裂。 12 馬能在懸崖奔馳嗎？人可在那裡用牛耙地嗎？但你使公正變為毒草，使公義的果子轉為苦堇。 13 你們以奪取羅底巴為誇耀，說："我們奪取加寧不是靠自己的力量嗎？" 14 "看哪！以色列家，我要興起一國攻擊你們，這國要欺壓你們，從哈馬關口直至亞拉巴河。"這是萬軍耶和華　神的宣告。

(Amo 6:7-14 CNV5) Paul in Philippians talks about this concept of the 'Fruit of Righteousness' (matches Amos 6:12 in the LXX perfectly and is the only perfect match to the OT for this phrase). 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Phi 1:7-11 ESV) 7 為你們眾人我有這樣的意念是很恰當的，因為你們常常在我的心裡，無論我是在捆鎖之中，或是在辯護和證實福音的時候，你們都和我一同分享　神的恩典。 8 我是怎樣以基督耶穌的心腸，切切地想念你們眾人，這是　神可以為我作證的。 9 我所禱告的，是要你們的愛心，在充足的知識和各樣的見識上，多而又多， 10 使你們可以辨別是非，成為真誠無可指摘的人，直到基督的日子， 11 靠著耶穌基督結滿了公義的果子，使　神得著榮耀和讚美。 (Phi 1:7-11 CNV5) Paul's teaching about righteousness from Jesus Christ reveals his core. In his thinking the 'indicative produces the imperative'. So he is calling the saints to bear fruit in keeping with who they already are in Christ. This is a natural by-product of a relationship with Jesus. Legalism comes when we reverse the order....and licentiousness comes when we omit the imperatives of scripture. Paul always couples the indicatives with the imperatives in his teaching.

Some of my books on Philippians arrived this week from Taipei!!

One of my favorite books on Philippians is a very simple exposition of Philippians by Dr. Carson

Outline Adapted From Basics For Believers An Exposition of Philippians (short commentary by D.A. Carson

Five sermon ideas from Philippians by D.A.Carson Sermon Idea #1 Title: Put the gospel first vv. 1:1-26 A)Fellowship with believers around the gospel 1:3-8 B)Prioritize your prayers with the gospel 1:9-11 C)Aspire to advance the gospel 1:12-18a D)Put your gospel converts needs above yourself 1:19-26 http://www.amazon.com/review/R2S17XSG4BJ2PD/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=080105494X&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=

Receiving grace and peace; putting the gospel first; anchoring our hope in our sure future (discussion from English & Chinese group called Grace Int'l LifeGroup

CNV5 Philippians 1:2 願恩惠平安從我們的父　神和主耶穌基督臨到你們。 3 我每逢想到你們，就感謝我的　神； 4 每次為你們大家祈求的時候，總是歡歡喜喜地祈求。 5 為了你們從頭一天直到現在都在福音的事工上有分，我就感謝我的　神。 6 我深信那在你們中間開始了美好工作的，到了基督耶穌的日子，必成全這工作。 ESV Philippians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. BGT Philippians 1:2 χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. 3 Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ θεῷ μου ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ μνείᾳ ὑμῶν 4 πάντοτε ἐν πάσῃ δεήσει μου ὑπὲρ πάντων ὑμῶν, μετὰ χαρᾶς τὴν δέησιν ποιούμενος, 5 ἐπὶ τῇ κοινωνίᾳ ὑμῶν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης ἡμέρας ἄχρι τοῦ νῦν, 6 πεποιθὼς αὐτὸ τοῦτο, ὅτι ὁ ἐναρξάμενος ἐν ὑμῖν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἐπιτελέσει ἄχρι ἡμέρας Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ· A few key terms to consider here: Grace-this means favor or kindness. It is not a word reflection action here. In general the term usually means kindness or favor in the NT and falls under the category (semantical domain) of kindness/harshness words (not behavior words). In some cases it means unmerited favor, but probably only in Romans 5. Here it means simply favor or kindness. The idea is something being given to us by Paul or wished up on us by Paul as he writes. Peace-A sense of wholeness and well being. More than the absence of conflict, this means all is well with God. Jesus embodies grace and truth. We will receive Him (see vs. 6) but we have already received grace and peace (see vs. 5) so the sense here is probably inclusive of both ideas. For sure it is a prayer for grace and peace to enter us! Thank (Εὐχαριστῶ) This word is related to the word for Eucharist-or in contemporary churches 'communion'. The idea is that communion is a celebration and thanksgiving for what Christ has done for us on the cross. Linking this to vs six is interesting because Paul knows Christ will complete what He began in us because of the finished work of the cross. Very interesting indeed to meditate on that! Prayer Powerful apostolic prayer is wrapped with tidings of gratefulness for what God has and is doing in others as well as where they are going. This breathes great life into people. Partnership Paul was a missionary who had only one church that helped him-Philippi. His project was failing because he was thrown into prison for a long time. Yet the Philippians continued to support him. They put the gospel first. Their partnership was not in Paul only. Their partnership was also in the gospel! They supported a man who was a bearer of the good news from heaven! Partnerships can still be a valuable way to share the gospel. Just because a missionaries stated goals do not pan out, it does not mean God is not using him. The apostle Paul wrote some of the Bible while he was 'stuck in prison'. This was because Paul walked in the way of the Lord through faith and was empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit to do amazing things while in chains. This reminds me of the idea that when we are weak, God is strong. Gospel This references the work that resulted in joy to the whole world. Jesus died with the sin of mankind borne in his body. Therefore we are forgiven! It's done!! "Day of Jesus Christ" This is the day when Christ comes back to raise the dead in Christ first and to give us all our eternal bodies. Faith in the return of Jesus and what He is going to do for and to us then is essential! Paul's paragraphs typically have an 'eschatological' pull. Eschatological means future coming end of the world or 'last days of the world' pull. Paul writes with the hope that Jesus Christ will bring His kindgom to overthrow completely every kingdom of this world at the very end. Justice will prevail. Martyrs will receive justice and even if we die in the midst of an unjust world, we will ultimately see truth and victory when He comes back to the earth.

Crucial Leadership Lessons from Philippians 1:1

Written by Paul and Timothy to the church in ancient Philippi (see the northeast coast of Greece), we see directly into Paul's view of not only himself but those he ministers to. He doesn't look down on them. He sees them as 'saints' or 'holy ones'. Holy has two connotations here: 1) Separated for the use of someone or something. 2) Radiating with divine love. The apostle sees the believers and leaders in Philippi as separated for Jesus' use and radiating with divine love. The negative and positive elements of holiness blended together. He also casts himself and his cohort Timothy as servants. This idea is based on his calling. He knows Jesus not only has qualified him, but that Jesus loves him. He knows that so well that he is able to function as a bond-servant of Jesus without hesitation. He sees himself as a servant who kneels down to remove the sandals of others and wash their feet. Paul takes a lower position. He is not 'lording it over' those he ministers to. He instead leads from the place of a 'kneeling Christian' as in a servant. Soon we will see the kneeling idea carries on into a continual prayer life for the Philippians. What a model for leadership Paul reveals to us! Like an appliance devoted to grinding beans, or to storing coffee beans, or to making coffee, so Paul sees himself set apart to serve Jesus. And in serving Jesus he ministers to the 'saints' in Philippi.

The root theological perspective behind this is the cross. Identification with the cross enables a mature leader to address even the newest believers as saints. This is because the blood of the cross is enough to qualify anyone who puts their trust in the work of Christ on the cross! Rich concepts indeed! What a rich book Philippians is. And this is just the greeting in verse one! Cross references: CNV5 Matthew 20:25 耶穌把他們叫過來，說："你們知道各國都有元首統治他們，也有官長管轄他們。 26 但你們中間卻不要這樣；誰想在你們中間成為大的，就要作你們的僕役； ESV Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, Paul saw himself as a servant, not as the boss. He saw himself as lower than others, not as higher. He also presented Timothy this way.

Learning To Suffer Well

Learning to suffer well There are times when we do not escape the pains of life circumstances. When we command healing or resurrection into a body and nothing happens. What do we think when healing doesn’t happen, or when our situation does not change? My 2002 through 2006 story: 5 minutes Two kinds of suffering we are discussing 1) Suffering from a variety of health problems including death of loved ones or total loss of property (like a business closing or a home burning). 2) Suffering for being a witness of the gospel Have you ever suffered like this? Where did you draw strength from in the Bible? Where would you direct people for answers? What if healing or change doesn’t happen? Two sources in the Bible I draw from. 1) Job...Job lost his children and wealth. He suffered intensely. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually. 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "From where have you come?" Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." 8 And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" 9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." 12 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. 13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you. (Job 1:1 ESV) 2) Paul suffered the loss of his freedom and personal comfort. He was in prison for preaching Christ crucified. See Philippians 1 (latter half of the chapter). Also praying for one another is crucial. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. (Phi 1:1 ESV) What are the crucial elements in Job and Paul’s two stories to help us face suffering? Two responses 1) Refuse to entertain the idea that God is bad. He is good through and through. Reject the idea that you are being punished. Reconvene your devotional time at the foot of the cross and see yourself as crucified with Christ! 2) Remember there is a spiritual world with many facets to it that intersect in our lives. This spiritual world has evil spirits who may be involved in our causing pain for us. Being very sure of this enables us to trust God is good even when our circumstances don’t change. It enables us to have a faith that endures to the very end. He who stands firm in His faith to the end will be saved. My Grandma’s home burned. Still effects her to this day even 93 years later. She is now approaching 101 years of age and always finds something good to focus on. She can recount tragedies, but always comes back to what is good in people around her. I'd like to share a little bit from a book that helped us when we were in Memphis five years ago. It's a book called 'Learning To Suffer Well' by Peter Fitch. Commenting on the comfort of the Holy Spirit that scripture teaches, Peter says this on pg 24 This is the secret (Paul's). When suffering comes to the children of God, so does the Holy Spirit. He flows to the deepest places of our pain. He comes to release grace: the sweetnesss and beauty and strength of His unmerited presence. He develops fruit, and we suffer well as we bear up under difficulties. He grants gifts, and we suffer well as we fight against the sources of our pain. He forms in us the character of Jesus, and we suffer well.