In the first eight verses of Philippians chapter 1, Paul gives us insight as to how he feels about those in the Philippian church. Now, in verses nine through eleven we see his desires for them. He wants them to know that he is praying for them and gives them the details of those prayers. We too should be praying for those God has placed on our hearts. However, if we want to encourage those we pray for, we should let them know we are praying for them. Having someone in your corner calling out your name to the King of Kings brings comfort and encouragement to the soul.
In Philippians verse nine Paul tells them he prays their love would abound more and more. He understands that love can be a driving force that will lead them to want to know more about Jesus and serve each other more. When we love enough to call out someone’s name often to God, we soon will find ourselves reaching out to them in other ways. That is what abounding love does, it spills over anywhere it sees an opportunity.
He also prays for them to have increased knowledge and judgment. The word judgment means discernment. He desires they use their increased knowledge with discernment. It is not enough to have knowledge you must know how to properly apply the knowledge you have. He wanted their love to be grounded on the truths of God. We are to test the things we hear and are taught against the word of God. If it doesn’t line up with what God says it is of no value and will be harmful to us. For instance, the Bible teaches us that God is love therefore, some have preached this in a way that leads others to think because of His love for us He overlooks sin. Nothing could be further from the truth. He is a holy God and because of His holiness sin cannot enter Heaven. Therefore, His love made a way for our sins to be forgiven. If we understand what it cost God to forgive us of our sins, we will abhor the sin in our lives and love Him even more, and that love will seek to please Him.
Our love for God can be an abounding love if we are sincere in our efforts to serve Him and others according to His word. The word sincere, in Greek means to be pure and to pass the test of being genuine. The Jews that rejected Jesus as the Messiah had a zeal for God, but it was not according to knowledge, their love for God was not sincere. Otherwise, they would have accepted Jesus when He came. Romans 10:2 relates this truth to us. Paul understood how easy it was to be passionate about God, but ignorant of who He truly was. He had lived that life before conversion.
He longed for them to be filled with the fruits of righteousness. They come only by knowing Jesus and they are to be used for the glory of God. When we abound in the love of Christ, we will have a fruitful life for Him. Some examples of the fruit that abounding love for Christ will produce are truth, honesty, kindness, meekness, and many other fruits that emulate the attributes of God.
Philippians 1:9-11 “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Romans 10:2 “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”
Now for the application. Is your love an abounding love? Some may say yes because they fulfill the fruit mentioned when dealing with their children, spouse, or best friend. However, that is not true evidence that we have abounding love. Abounding love comes from our love for God. It is the result of a life that loves Him more than anything else in this world. When our love for Him is preeminent, we will not only have the attributes of God for those closest to us, but we will love the things and people that God loves. We will desire everyone to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. John 3:16 tells us God loved the entire world! That abounding love will show kindness, meekness, and goodness, to everyone. It will exhibit honesty to everyone. So, sit now and think about it. Are you passing the test of abounding love?
Excellent