A Model for Prayer (Part 3)

On Monday and Wednesday, we began to consider Paul’s prayers on behalf of the believers at Philippi. He started with a foundation of thankfulness to God and for them. To that foundation he added a pattern of consistency and a heart of confidence in God as he prayed on their behalf. In the final section, he now adds two more pieces to his model for prayer:

IV. Love (vv.7-8)
It is absolutely appropriate for him to feel this way about all of them. Why?

• I have you in my heart (as one teacher said, in my heart—not on my nerves!)
• You are fellow-partakers with me of grace- this is critical. Notice that this is true in spite of Paul’s imprisonment or his ministry adventures—because circumstances don’t change grace. Why does he have such love for them? Because of their faithful support and cooperation with him in the “defense and confirmation” of the Gospel! Since circumstances don’t change grace, it should not (and did not) affect their support and partnership with him. What is defense? Apologia (Gk.)—the reasoned understanding of why the truth is true. What is confirmation? The changed life that demonstrates the truthfulness of the truth of God
• God is witness how greatly I long after you all with the affection (bowels?) of Jesus Christ- what are “bowels?” They are tender feelings of mercy (Col.3:12), which the ancients linked to the stomach (like we would call “a gut feeling in the pit of my stomach”). What this describes is something that is definitely NOT a run-of-the-mill relationship. It is an intense love! Like that depth of love for his flock in the heart of the pastor that wrote the song, “Blest Be The Tie That Binds.” Question: who, in the Body of Christ, do you love like that? In this very self-protective culture? Who draws that kind of concern and passion from you?

V. Requests (vv.9-11)

It all adds up to one major, overriding request on their behalf, for which Paul is continually praying (see v.4). What is it? Spiritual maturity. What are the tools of maturity?

• Word of God- 2 Timothy 3:16
• Teaching- Ephesians 4:11-13
• Trials- Romans 5:1-7;  James 1:3-6
• Spirit- 1 Corinthians 2-3

What is the mark of maturity? for love to abound more and more! He doesn’t tell them to start, but to swell (Heb.13:1; 1 Thess.4:9)

What is the wisdom of maturity? Though marked by abounding love, spiritual maturity is not silly, naive, or gullible. It (and our love to others) is to be tempered by…

• Knowledge- the facts. The head must embrace the heart, and the mind must work in harmony with the emotions. Real love doesn’t blind your mind, but works in harmony with it to see wisdom.
• Judgment- wisdom and discernment which evaluates the facts and makes wise choices. (1 Thess.5:21-22; Heb.5:14; Luke 9:45). This is particularly needed in areas like counseling and benevolence ministries.

What is the result of maturity?

• Approve excellent things- this is what we must seek. Not just seeking what is good, better, or best—seeking excellent things! It is the opposite of the world, that touches the base things. What is the difference between good and best? Hebrews 6:1.
• Be sincere- genuine, without alloy. No facade, no phony actions—be real, be transparent. We must (Eph.5:8) be genuine and sincere in all we do.
• Be without offense- James 3:2, 1 Timothy 3. It speaks of being blameless (James 4:17), so as to not become a stumbling block to others (Gal.2:11, 2 Cor. 6:3, Ephesians 1:4). If we fail to do right that is bad enough, but if we influence others to not do right- that is a huge responsibility for which we will give account to the Lord.
• Be filled with righteousness- notice Gal. 5:22-23, Eph. 5:18, John 15:4-5, etc.
• Be glorifying God in your life! That is why we are here (Eph.3:20-21)!

Conclusion
The challenge before us is to pray like we mean it, and pray like it matters. In fact, it does matter—not only to us, but to those for whom we pray and to the God to whom we pray. Paul’s model gives us a good pattern that we can follow and implement in this vital area of our ministry.

What models for prayer have you personally felt helpful? What models have you shared with those you serve?