Philippians 1:9-11 - Homiletics

St. Paul's prayer for the Philippians.

I. THAT THEIR LOVE ABOUND MORE AND MORE .

1 . God had begun in them the good work , the work of faith, faith that worketh by love. St. Paul recognizes the reality of their love; it was true and deep. But:

2 . There is always room for growth in love ; it is the noblest of Christian graces, the most precious of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Christian's desire for love is without limit. ἀκόρεστον ἀγαθὸν τοῦτο , says Chrysostom. "Owe no man anything," says the apostle, "but to love one another." Love is always owing; we can never love our brethren as we ought. Still less can we attain to that soul-absorbing love which we owe to God. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." The commandment is very deep and searching; we can never obey it perfectly; we shall be always in debt. But we may approach ever nearer and nearer to that fullness of perfect love. Therefore the Christian's prayer for love is unceasing, deepening in earnestness as he grows in the knowledge of Christ. The Christian life is a continual progress. "The path of the just is as the shining light, shining more and more" Love must be ever growing, or it will lose its freshness.

II. HE PRAYS FOR THEIR GROWTH IN KNOWLEDGE .

1 . Christian love is not indiscriminate , unintelligent ; it is informed and directed by spiritual knowledge. Love is informed by knowledge.

2 . Love increases knowledge. For it is not book knowledge of which St. Paul is speaking, but heart knowledge. The knowledge of Christian experience is the personal knowledge of God gained by communion with him. Only love can know him; for like is known by like. "He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love." And, on the other hand, "Every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." The religions sense, the tact which distinguishes good from evil, which approves among good things the best and holiest, flows out of love.

III. HE PRAYS FOR THEIR GROWTH IN PURITY . The word means singleness of mind, simplicity, sincerity, purity. "If thine eye be single, thy whole body is full of light." This sincerity, this singleness of purpose, springs from love. Holy love refines the whole nature; for it brings the Christian daily into nearer fellowship with Christ, who alone can cleanse the sinful heart. "If we walk in the light … the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin." That inward purity results in outward blamelessness, and prepares the soul against the day of Christ.

IV. HE PRAYS FOR THEIR GROWTH IN OBEDIENCE . Love must work; it cannot lie dormant in the soul. It must produce the fruit of righteousness. But that fruit of righteousness is:

1 . Through Jesus Christ. "The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine;" nor can the Christian bring forth the fruit of holy living, except he abide in Christ. The life of the vine lives in the branch; the life of Christ lives in the Christian soul, and bears the fruit of holiness.

2 . And to the glory and praise of God. The ultimate end of the righteousness of the saints is the glory of God. Therefore we are taught to pray "that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name." There can be no nobler ambition: to live for God; only to seek his glory; to love him, not for what he has to give us, but because he is so holy, so loving, so glorious; to be willing to live or to die; to do great things in the world, or to be unknown and obscure, if only he may be glorified;—this is the noblest aim of life, the highest theme of prayer.

Lessons.

1 . Pray much for others; cultivate the habit of intercessory prayer.

2 . Pray for the continual growth and diffusion of love, knowledge, righteousness.

3 . Seek above all things the glory of God.