Young People's Group

Your Love May Abound Still More and More (I)

by Mitchell Tan
July 04, 2018

PRAYING WITH PURPOSE

Prayer should never be just a mundane routine. It should be a time where we would commune with God with purpose, love and joy.

This was how Paul prayed. He applied these principles with reference to the Philippians. There was a deep sense of gratitude for the work that the Lord was doing in their hearts and lives. Paul loved them with the affections of the Lord Jesus. As he thought of the Philippians, he also saw the need for them to grow further in faith and love. Thus, he prayed with a deep sense of purpose in his heart for them. When we pray, do we also pray with purpose? Are we driven with a sense of purpose to pray? We should.

PRAYING FOR A BIGGER AND WISER HEART OF LOVE

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment …”
Philippians 1:9

Paul prayed with purpose for the Philippians because he knew that they needed to have a bigger heart of love. Their love should abound more and more. The idea being brought across is that love cannot be stagnant.

1. IN KNOWLEDGE

The word “knowledge” in Greek is a deep and practical knowledge. It is something that goes beyond just a general understanding. There is a depth to it. The knowledge and truths of the word of God must guide how we should show love to others.

2. IN ALL DISCERNMENT

There was also the need for discernment in how the Philippians related to people at all levels. The reason for such discernment was that they could be gullible and naïve in their approach in loving people. One of the problems that the Philippians had was that there were those who were preaching Christ for the wrong reasons. They were trying to take advantage of Paul’s predicament in prison. They preached the gospel out of envy, strife and for selfish ambition (Philippians 1:14-15). They disdained Paul’s ministry and they wanted to improve their own position within the Church. It was vital that the Philippian Church grew in discernment as they sought to increase in love for people. Young people, we too need to learn to love with all discernment.

SOME RESULTS OF HAVING A BIGGER AND WISER HEART OF LOVE

1. EXCELLENCE

“… That you may approve the things that are excellent …”
Philippians 1:10

When we have knowledge and discernment, then we would have a heightened awareness of wisdom. The Philippians needed to test out what was truly excellent and what was not. This was no longer just about choosing between good and bad. It was choosing between good and excellent. We too must have the faith and love to choose that which is truly excellent.

2. BLAMELESSNESS

“… That you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ”
Philippians 1:10

When we chose that which is excellent, the result would be blamelessness. We would be pure and without fault before the Lord and His people. On the one hand, our part is to love with discernment that we may choose that which is excellent and be blameless. On the other hand, there is also the Lord working within us and completing the work that He had started. When the Lord comes for us, let’s pray that we may be blameless before Him and that He may be pleased with us.

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