By: Dr. Paul Kingsbury
Philippians 1:9-11, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”
Prayer is most powerful and accomplishes much for God’s glory when it is specifically offered in faith. The apostle Paul prayed with joy for the church at Philippi, and he believed that God would answer these prayers. He also prayed with intelligence for some specific things they were in need of. He offered detailed requests based on personal needs, and God was delighted to answer these prayers. From a cold cell Paul prayed for those he loved, and he prayed intelligently for each of them. How important it is that we pray for one another! But even more important it is that we pray intelligently and specifically for one another! What should I say when I pray for_________? You fill in the blank. Outlined beautifully in Philippians chapter one is a lesson on praying that includes three specific requests we ought to offer for one another.
Pray for an abounding love. The Christian life will consistently get tougher and not easier. Our Christian experience should grow in proportion to the challenges we face. When Abraham was given a promise that his seed would be comparable to the stars, God brought his faith up to speed with the promise by testing him at Mount Moriah. Our faith must grow in proportion to the challenges, obstacles, and trials we encounter. Our love also must continually be expanding and broadening to meet the growing challenges of the Christian life. You cannot face adult-like trials with a child-like love in any marriage, relationship, or responsibility in the Christian life.
How does our passion for the Lord and compassion for others grow to meet new challenges and responsibilities? Love grows by a hands-on knowledge. Possessing a head-knowledge of Biblical truth will not increase our love, because “knowledge puffeth up” (I Corinthians 8:1). The more you know about the Bible the more susceptible you are to spiritual pride. Biblical love is developed in an environment of personal involvement. As you get involved serving God by serving others, your awareness of people’s needs will grow. In turn, your compassion will increase, and your love will have a chance to expand. Will you pray that others will develop an abounding love by hands-on ministry to hurting people? Will you commit to pray for hurting people and allow your love for them to abound?
Pray for an approval of excellent things. There are so many ‘things’ in life that call for our attention and capture our focus. The Bible instructs us not to approve the things that are temporal but to approve the things that are eternal. To approve something means “to document it as genuine.” Things that are excellent are things “of the highest value.” We should be filling our lives with the best things, which are the eternal things. Never allow the devil to substitute the best things with good things. He is a master of stealing things that are precious and eternal. He will offer something that is beneficial or profitable in place of that which is eternally profitable. Many people are going to have nothing in eternity to show for their life here on earth. Our responsibility to each other calls for a prayer for others to approve things that are excellent, things of the highest value. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).
Pray for an attitude of sincerity and genuineness. We should show an attitude of sincerity toward others and exhibit a genuine conduct in our lives. People are not attracted to phoniness or fakeness. Insincerity is a stumbling block to others when it becomes unmasked. Before we can demonstrate sincerity and genuineness, we must possess them. You cannot give that which you do not possess. How do you become sincere or genuine? It starts with being real with God. “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts” (Psalm 51:6). The way you treat God is reflected in the way you treat others. Lay open before God all your desires, your temptations, your struggles, your joys, and your sorrows. Be completely honest with Him about the way you are feeling, and it will be easier to be sincere before others. If we will hide nothing from God and be transparent before Him, we can enjoy an intimate friendship and fellowship with Him. “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:7). If we will be sincere and genuine, then our prayers for others to develop those qualities will be heard.
What was the result of this prayer being answered? “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:11). Fruits can be seen in our lives and the lives of others if we will pray these requests specifically. The apostle Paul prayed for them, and he witnessed abundant fruit in their lives. We must continue to pray for people, because fruit is not grown overnight. Fruits are what God blesses us with as we plant, water, and wait. The fruits of righteousness are reserved for those who develop these characteristics, and wait for them to be developed in others.
One reason we should pray for one another is because we never know when a disaster or trial is just around the corner. Peter seemed to be doing well, but was on the verge of a great trial in his life when our Lord Jesus Christ stated, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:32). Though Peter fell temporarily, he did not fail permanently. Why? Because of the intercessory prayers of Jesus! Who needs your prayers in order to keep from falling? Of course all pressures, pains, and problems are sent our way to mature us and strengthen us, but whether we are in the midst of trial or heading towards one, we need the intelligent prayers of one another.
To learn more about the ministries of Dr. Paul Kingsbury and Reformers Unanimous, please visit northlove.org or reformu.com.
