Praying from the Heart

June 5, 2023

Preacher: John Woolley

Series: Visiting Preachers

Passage: Philippians 1:1-11

Service Type: Sunday Evening

Introduction

Reading v8-11
Has a fellow Christian said they are 'praying for you'
- Have you been asked 'how can I pray for you?'
To spend some time this evening focusing on prayer
Paul's letters come from his prayerful ministry
- Paul had a towering intellect and spoke many languages
- Paul was such an incredible teacher
  - Yet his life and ministry was drenched in prayer
- Paul asks for people's prayer
- Paul knew the power and need of prayer
There is a wider generality of this letter
- Not just a clear topic like Romans or Galatians
- Paul is writing by and large to a happy church
Yet Paul starts by telling the Philippians he is praying for them
- He is likely in prison - praying from prison
- This shows the sufficiency of time in every place and circumstance
- It is an example of the power of prayer
- It is about perseverance in prayer
He is praying for the purpose of the Philippians to be strong/mature believers
Overview:
- How Paul prayed
- What Paul prayed
- Why Paul prayed

With sincere heart's desire
- With great joy (v3)
- With deep affection (v8)
  - From my bowels - from the centre of my being / the depths of my emotions
  - Example
Why is this important?
- He is praying for the Philippians as he knows that God cares for him
  - The "tender mercies of God" in the Gospel of Luke - Elizabeth and Zacharias (1:78)
- Paul has the same concern for the Philippians
  - It is not automatic for Christians to show such empathy towards fellow believers
  - Do not restrict your affections towards believers - 1 John 3:17, 2 Cor 6
- You are in my heart (v7)
  - Is there any believer that you do not have in your heart?
    - Pray for them - from the heart
  - 2 Tim 2:22 - call on the Lord from a pure heart

We are often good at praying for a need
What should we pray for fellow believers?
- Paul prays for spiritual maturity
  - Paul is praying Jesus high priestly prayer (from John 17)
- You are partakers of grace (v7) - grow in grace
  - There is no growth without prayer
- Not to be immersed in theology or spiritual gifts - but love (v9)
  - We are called to love one another
  - Love is not static but needs to grow - so Paul prays for this
- Not just love, but in knowledge and insight
  - An experimental because of what it knows and has known
  - It grows as our experience and knowledge of God grows
  - Love + knowledge = essential for Christian living
  - Paul prays that both would increase
  - Christian love is for all people but yet discerns and sees things are they really are
- Not just love, but in discernment
  - To test what is good, right, helpful and proper
  - To approve the things that are excellent
We need to show love with knowledge and discernment all the more in today's society
- Paul prays this for believers - because he knows this is what we need