Old Llantrisant Hill
- Looking at v9-11 in the context of the earlier verses which are an introduction
- Paul will go to to explain the effects of his imprisonment
- Paul is writing joyfully
- It is a different letter to some of the others
- It is a very happy letter
- Timothy is present (visiting Paul)
- He was present when the Philippian church was established (Acts 16)
- He stayed in Macedonia when Paul went on to Athens
- Paul is remembering them in prayer (v9-11)
- He wants them to continue on/continue building
- To abound in love, knowledge and discernment
- Paul and Timothy see their works and take heart at this
- Last week
- Good fellowship builds the wider church
- Paul is encouraged by the Philippian’s fellowship in the Gospel (v5)
- Do you have times when you feel alone?
- Paul may have felt ‘why prison’
- Older people may be constrained by their health
- Yet there was a greater ministry for Paul to accomplish from Prison
- Example of Writing the book of Philippians
- We are not alone in the gospel – there is a worldwide Church
- What is fellowship?
- Something shared, in common, together
- A common interest in the health and the work of the Gospel
- It is in Jesus Christ
- There is no confidence in human agency
- But Paul can have confidence in Jesus Christ (v6)
- It is the work of a loving God
- It is the plan of a loving God
- It is the fulfilled work of God – who does not break His promises
- The actions of the Philippians encourages Paul
- Are you aware that your actions can encourage other believers?
- He knows they support him in prayer
- It is right to commend Christians who are walking well
- We can come alongside and encourage/counsel
- We can commend
- Paul’s prayer (v9)
- Remembering these things – we come to the content of Paul’s prayer
- We pray for those whom we love
- It is a privilege and duty to pray for absent friends
- He does not ask for riches, fame, influence
- He has spiritual desires
- Love may abound
- Love to God, absent Christians, to one another, to the world
- Not to love ourselves
- Knowledge
- Intellectual – knowledge based on truth
- Revelation
- Discernment
- To judge things – example
- The Application (v10)
- To approve things
- Especially things that are excellent
- To tell between right and wrong
- Be sincere
- To be ready for anything that might come in the future
- To develop love for one another
- Being filled with fruit (v11)
- To be a fruitful tree
- To grow in maturity, our love for Christ, in discernment
- They are produced by Christ’s work in us
- To the glory of God the Father
- The activity of our lives being devoted to Him
- Pray that we may abound in love more and more