June 5, 2023

Praying from the Heart

Preacher:
Passage: Philippians 1:1-11
Service Type:

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

How 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

What Paul prayed

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

Why Paul prayed

For God’s glory (v11)

A present manifestation: the fruits of righteousness

In your life right now
You are complete but praying for more and more fruit

A future manifestation: until the day of Christ (v10)

A long-term view
The Day of Christ – Paul references this multiple times – Phil 1:6, 10; 2:9-11,16, 3:20, 4:5

Do you know you are safe in this day?
Are you ready for this day?

Do we pray for our fellow believers to be ready for this day?

Pray for this

Closing Prayer