Read Philippians 1:9-11.

Introduction⤒🔗

Elizabeth Prentiss was the wife of a Presbyterian minister. She was described by her many friends as “a very bright-eyed little woman...who cared more to shine in her own happy household than in a wide circle of society.”

But there came a time in the life of this “bright-eyed little woman,” when she met with a great deal of personal sorrow: the loss of two of her children within a short span of time. For weeks, Elizabeth was inconsolable. In her dairy she wrote, “Empty hands, a worn-out exhausted body, and unutterable longing to flee from a world that has so many sharp experiences.”

During this period of grief, Elizabeth began meditating upon the Old Testament account of Jacob. She noted how the Lord met him in a very special way during his moments of sorrow and need. She prayed earnestly that the Lord would do the same for her.

While she was meditating and praying one evening, these words came to her mind:

More love to Thee, O Christ,
More love to Thee!
Hear, Thou, the prayer I make
On bended knee.
This is my earnest plea,
More love, O Christ, to Thee.

Once earthly joy I craved,
Sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek,
Give what is best.
This all my prayer shall be:
More love, O Christ, to Thee.¹

That is a worthy prayer. That is also the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the church. May it also be our prayer: “More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee.”

God’s desire is that our love for Christ should increase to an ever-greater degree. In order that God’s purpose for our lives may be realized, let us pray that our love for Christ would increase in accordance with the apostle’s prayer.

Pray that Your Love for Christ Would Increase in Fervency←⤒🔗

Paul informs these Philippian Christians, people in whom God is very evidently working, that he is praying for them.

We pray for the conversion of the lost; we pray for fellow believers in times of special need; but we tend to discount or even omit a continued ministry of prayer for healthy, vibrant Christians, (like these Philippians). We often tend to view prayer as a rescue operation, rather than seeing it as a means for the sustaining and developing of the spiritual life in Christ. Prayer is not an occasional vitamin supplement; it is rather a part of a regular balanced diet of daily spiritual nourishment.

Then, too, we tend to lose sight of Christ’s desire and purpose for His people. His purpose is not to “freeze dry” converts only to be “thawed out” on the day of His return. His desire is not only to reclaim Christians who wander away, returning them to the fold of God. His desire and purpose is to see the seeds of faith that have been planted by His Holy Spirit grow into a beautiful and fruitful garden for the glory of God His Father. This is why we find the Apostle Paul praying for this spiritually healthy body of Christians, and this is why we should pray likewise for one another, as well as for ourselves.

More specifically, the Apostle Paul informs these Philippian Christians that he is praying that “your love may abound more and more.” The love of which the apostle speaks is a broad, all-encompassing Christian love; it is love for Christ’s kingdom, love for Christ’s people, and above all, it is love for Christ Himself. Christ is the supreme object of our love; and as our love for Him increases, that love will be extended to His people, and it will also embrace His cause; after all, what is dear to the beloved will become dear to the lover.

The heart, the root, the capstone of this love is love for Christ Himself. This is the love the Lord Jesus sought to solicit from Peter when He asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” (Jn. 21:17) Our love for the Lord Jesus must be the number one love of our lives; Jesus Himself declares, “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:37).

The love to which Paul refers in this passage is the kind of love the LORD attributes to Israel at the time of the Exodus, when they followed Him out of Egypt. Israel is compared to a bride who follows her husband to an unknown and desolate place out of love and devotion to him, as the LORD reminds Israel through the prophet Jeremiah, “I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness” (Jer. 2:2).

It is the love that was exhibited in the life of the Apostle Thomas. When Jesus set out for the village of Bethany, which was a suburb of Jerusalem, the disciples, out of fear of the Jews, hesitated to follow Him. But Thomas urged them, “Let us also go, so that we may die with him” (Jn. 11:16). This is the love David expresses for the LORD in Psalm 63:1, “O God, you are my God; earnestly will I seek you. My soul thirsts for you; my flesh longs for you.”

This is the love the Lord commands of us: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deut. 6:5). This is the love the Lord demands of us; addressing the church in Ephesus, our Lord rebukes them with the words:

²I know your works, your labor and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles, but are not, and have found them to be false. ³You have persevered and endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. ⁴But I have this against you: you have left your first love. Rev. 2:2-4

This is the love the Holy Spirit creates in the Christian’s heart and which the apostle prays would “abound more and more” in our lives as Christians. This is the great need of the hour; namely, that our love for Christ would increase in fervency: that we would let go of the world and embrace Christ with both arms; that we would follow the Lamb wherever He leads; that we would join the apostle in saying with all our heart, “for me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Pray that your love for Christ would increase in fervency; and be sure to follow up your prayers with the action the Lord desires. Where necessary, heed our Lord’s counsel, which He found necessary to issue to the church at Ephesus: “You have left your first love. ⁵Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the works you did at the beginning” (Rev. 2:4b-5a).

The “works” of which the Lord speaks, are the works of faith and labors of love; the very works for which He commends the Thessalonian church in 1 Thessalonians 1:3. Remember your initial love for Christ, the love you felt the day you first met the Savior, or remember the high point in your Christian experience, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, rekindle that love. Repent of any secret sins, or ungodly patterns of living, that block your communion with Christ and threaten to quench your love for Him or usurp the place of devotion in your heart that must be reserved for Him alone. Imitate the example of Mary who gave her undivided attention to Jesus, in contrast to Martha, who allowed the necessities of living to distract her from the one necessary thing:

Mary...sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he said. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her, therefore, to help me! ⁴¹Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴²but only one things is necessary. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. Lk. 10:39­-42

Pray that Your Love for Christ Will Increase in Knowledge and Insight←⤒🔗

The Apostle Paul’s prayer is not only that our love for Christ would increase in our hearts, but also that it would involve our intellect; as the Lord Himself commands, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). So it is that the apostle informs the church: I pray that your love may abound “in knowledge and all discernment.”

The knowledge of which the apostle hear speaks is first and foremost knowledge of God Himself, as Paul exhorts the Colossian Christians, “walk in a way that is worthy of the Lord...bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10). The knowledge of God involves a deeper understanding of His attributes, His character, and the way He works for the sake of His kingdom and for the perfecting of His saints in Christ Jesus.

Furthermore, this knowledge is the knowledge of the truth of God, (i.e. biblical doctrine), as Paul writes to Timothy, “God our Savior...desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3-4). This knowledge is a knowledge that has intellectual content, (as opposed to mere emotionalism), and a life-changing purpose: it is “the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness” (Titus 1:1). The “discernment,” or, insight, of which Paul speaks, is the ability to apply biblical knowledge to the situations and decisions of life. It is also the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, truth and error, good and evil, on the basis of biblical knowledge.

Paul further explains that the purpose of our growth in (biblical) knowledge and discernment is in order that we may “distinguish the things that are worthy.” The Greek word (δοκιμαζω) translated, “distinguish,” has first the meaning of putting something to the test and thereby causing its true quality and identity to be revealed, so that it may be discerned or made known. That usage of the word can be found in 1 Corinthians 3:13, “[let it be known that] each man’s work will be revealed. The [Judgment] Day will make it evident, because it will be revealed with fire; the fire will test [δοκιμαζω] [and thereby make known] the quality of each man’s work.” The second meaning of the word is to accept that which has passed the test and thereby has shown itself to be approved. This usage can be found in 1 Corinthians 16:3, “when I arrive, I will send the men whom you approve [δοκιμαζω], along with letters of introduction, to deliver your gift to Jerusalem.” Paul is recommending that the Corinthian church appoint men who have shown themselves to have passed the test of integrity and are thus approved to accompany the apostle to Jerusalem with the church’s offering for the needy.

The phrase translated, “the things that are worthy,” literally reads, “the things that are different;” derived from the Greek verb, διαφEρω. Paul is speaking here of the things that stand out as spiritually and morally good, right, superior; the things that are worthy of applause, acceptance and imitation; he will elaborate on this towards the end of the epistle:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable; if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, reflect on these things. Phil. 4:8

The means of acquiring this biblical knowledge and discernment is the study of the Scriptures. In Romans 2:18, Paul reminds the Jews, “[you] know [God's] will, and discern the things that are worthy, because you are instructed by the Law.” In this case, Paul is referring to the entire Old Testament.

Pray that your love for Christ would increase in knowledge and discernment, and be sure to follow up your prayers with the work the Lord requires. Approach the Word of God in personal study and at public preaching and teaching as a disciple who wants to learn how better to serve and please the Lord and Savior whom he loves.

Pray that Your Love for Christ Will Increase in Fruitfulness←⤒🔗

The objective of the apostle’s prayer, first stated in negative terms, is that you may be “pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” To be “pure” is to be unmixed, (devoid of any alloys, purged of all foreign elements), and undiluted, (not “watered down” with sub-Christian thought or practice, but found to be at full potency in Christ-like living).

To be “blameless” is to be uncharge-able; not subject to the words, “I have this against you.” On the contrary, it is to be worthy to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” The way to be blameless, the way to stay clear of great transgressions, the way to stay on course spiritually, is to always consciously live in the presence of God, to “walk before God.” In Genesis 17:1 the LORD charges Abram, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.”

We are to be pure and blameless “for (or, "with regard to," the Greek preposition, Eιs, in the accusative) the day of Christ;” i.e. in anticipation of and in preparation for the day of Christ’s return in glory. We are to live our present lives in the light of that great future day on which we shall give an account before the judgment throne of Christ:

...we make it our goal, whether at home [in the body] or absent [from the body], to be well-pleasing to [Christ]; ¹⁰because all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ; so that each one may receive the just reward for the deeds done [while living] in [this earthly] body. [Each one will be repaid] for what he has done, according to whether it was good or bad. 2 Cor. 5:9-10

We are to prepare in this present life for that great future day, as the Apostle John exhorts us:

Beloved, now we are children of God, and what we shall be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³Everyone that has this hope set on him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 Jn. 3:2-3

The objective of the apostle’s prayer stated in positive terms is that you may be “filled with the fruit of righteousness.” “The fruit of righteousness” is the fruit that results from coming into living contact and union with the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. It may be said to be the radical alternative to what the Apostle Paul warns against in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Bad companions corrupt good morals.”

The fruit of righteousness is the fruit that consists of those qualities God defines as righteous and pleasing in His sight, those attributes that are a reflection of His own moral character and that are produced in the Christian by the Holy Spirit: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23meekness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).

The fruit of righteousness is “through Jesus Christ.” It is not something that is self-produced; on the contrary, as indicated above, it is produced by the Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit as the Christian yields his will to the Lord and dwells in the life of Christ his Savior. Jesus declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who abides in me and I in him, he is the one who bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5).

The fruit of righteousness is “to the glory and praise of God.” God is glorified as His righteous character radiates from the lives of His redeemed children in Christ. God is praised as His character is reproduced in former rebels who were once at enmity against God and against His righteous loving character.

Pray that your love for Christ will increase in fruitfulness, bearing in mind and taking to heart the words of Jesus: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15). Again, in John 15:10-11a, the Lord Jesus declares, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you.” We, as Christians, in our obedience to Christ our Savior, become a source of joy to our Savior, we bring joy to Him; this is what the Lord Jesus means when He says, “so that my joy may be in you.”

Conclusion←⤒🔗

"More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!" A love that grows in fervency, and in knowledge and discernment, and in fruitfulness; this is a worthy prayer. This is the Apostle Paul’s divinely inspired prayer for the church of Christ, and may it be our heartfelt prayer, too.

Discussion Questions←⤒🔗

1. What, does the Apostle Paul inform the Philippians, is his prayer on their behalf (cf. Phil. 1:9a)? Who must first and foremost be the primary object of our love? See Deut. 6:5. But to whom else must that love be extended? See 1 Jn. 5:1. Do you love the Lord Jesus; are you seeking to also love those who are fellow members of His spiritual body, the church?

I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment... Phil. 1:9

...you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.Deut. 6:5

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 1 Jn. 5:1

2. In what way does Paul prayerfully desire that our love for Christ and fellow believers would grow abundantly (cf. Phil. 1:9b)? First and foremost, our love for Christ should be a deeply intimate and emotional love: we are to love the LORD “with all [our] heart,” but with what other aspect of our being must our love for Christ grow? See Matt. 22:37. What is inadequate about merely an emotional love for the Lord; do our emotions fluctuate? Are we not more than merely emotional beings whose lives are controlled only by impulse and feeling? Is not our Lord Jesus worthy of the devotion of our minds? In what ways can we and must we love the Lord Jesus with our minds? Note 2 Cor. 10:5,

I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment... Phil. 1:9

Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'Matt. 22:37

...casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ... 2 Cor. 10:5

3. What is the purpose of developing the intellectual aspect of our love for Christ, which will cause our love for Him to abound in “knowledge and all discernment” (cf. Phil. 1:10a)? How do we develop our ability to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil? How was the O.T. covenant community able to lead discerning lives? See Rom. 2:18. What spiritual resource do we as Christians have? See 2 Tim. 3:16-17,

I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰so that you may distinguish the things that are worthy, in order that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ... Phil. 1:9-10

...[you] know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the Law... (Rom. 2:18)

¹⁶All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17

4. How are we able to deepen our understanding of the meaning and the application of the Scriptures? Note Psl. 119:99-100. Is it sufficient to merely increase our intellectual knowledge of the Word and the will of God? Note Jas. 1:22. Is there not present here a spiritual dynamic: The more we believe and obey what we know, the more we increase our capacity to attain broader and deeper knowledge of the Word and the will of God?

⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers, because your testimonies are my meditation. ¹⁰⁰I understand more than the ancients, because I keep your precepts. Psl. 119:99-100

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Jas. 1:22

5. What does Paul tell us is the purpose of this spiritual dynamic (cf. Phil. 1:10b-11)? What is described here is the process of sanctification, a process not to be fully realized until “the day of Christ;” upon whom must we rely in this process of sanctification? See Phil. 1:11; note, also, Jn. 15:5. What shall be the final result of our sanctification, however imperceptible it may appear to us at present (cf. Phil. 1:11c)? Note 1 Pet. 2:9.

I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰so that you may distinguish the things that are worthy, in order that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹being filled with the fruit of righteousness, which is through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. Phil. 1:9-11

I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me and I in him, he is the one who bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing. Jn. 15:5

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people appointed to be [God’s] own possession, so that you might display the virtues of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Pet. 2:9