Now we turn to the preaching of God's Word.
Today we continue our series as we walk through the epistle of Philippians.
We're going to be in chapter 1, verses 9 through 11 today.
As we get going, though, there was a book that came out a couple years ago.
It was called Open, the Story of Human Progress.
And it focused on the progress that has been made over the course of the history of mankind.
Especially focusing on the last century where we have seen just incredible changes happen.
Where we see global hunger has been significantly reduced.
Child mortality, extreme poverty to levels that have plummeted.
And alongside that, achievements that have been happening.
Advancements in technology and in science that have brought unprecedented wealth and opportunity to the world.
But in the book it was talking about, even though despite we've seen this progress, there's still this tension that we experience.
Because man, as the author says, has this double nature.
This, we are both traitors and tribalists, the author said.
And so we have this desire for cooperation, but we also have this desire for belonging.
And the two can come in conflict.
And so as traitors, it says that we are curious and adventurous people.
We desire to communicate and work with one another for mutual benefit.
On the other hand, as tribalists, we are suspicious of one another.
And we can be hostile toward one another.
We are quick to divide the world into two camps of us versus them.
And so based on this analysis, he says that the greatest advancement that we have seen in human history comes from when societies act as traitors.
When there's this great openness in society.
Where we see cultures mixed and the movement of people, we see innovation skyrocket and liberty flourishes.
But on the other hand, when we act as tribalists, it usually leads to isolation.
Oftentimes to authoritarianism.
And when this happens, innovation is stifled and societies often suffer.
And so naturally, the author advocates for this continued openness, for a free flow of people and ideas and goods.
And he sees this as the basis for continued human progress.
Well, in this text today, we see Paul, he shares a similar desire for progress, but in a very different way.
He's not talking about economic progress.
He's not talking about political progress.
He's talking about progress in our lives as believers.
Progress as we move closer and closer as individuals and as a body toward Christ.
And so we see, we've looked over the last couple weeks of how Paul has been encouraged by the church at Philippi.
Both in their partnership in the gospel for the love that they have shown him and one another.
He highlights the work that God has done in their life that he's continuing to do, that he will bring to completion.
And so we see today, this prayer of thanksgiving turns into a prayer of petition.
He asks that God continue to work in the lives of the saints in Philippi.
Because he recognizes that it's God alone who empowers the church.
It is God alone who provides us with the desire and the ability to follow after him.
And so we're going to focus on this prayer today.
Philippians 1, verses 9 through 11.
It should be on the screen behind me.
Follow along as I read.
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.
This is the word of God.
Pray with me again.
Oh God, we come to you hungry and needy.
And so Lord, we ask that you fill us up.
That you reveal the truth of the gospel today.
In such a way that our understanding may be broadened and our faith may be deepened.
God, I ask that you use me as an empty vessel to effectively communicate your truth.
Lord, I ask that through our passage today.
That we may be convicted.
That we may be challenged and encouraged.
As we seek to live for you.
We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
So as I mentioned, this is our third week in the book of Philippians.
And we're finally getting to the end of Paul's introduction.
The last couple weeks we focused on Paul as he introduces himself to the church and addresses the church specifically.
We've talked about his thankfulness that he has for the church.
And how they provided for him and loved one another.
And he also highlights the work of God in their lives.
The work of God that happens at the point of conversion.
The work of God that's continuing to happen in their lives.
And looking forward to the completed work of Christ when he returns.
And so with an emphasis on the work of God, we may be tempted to think, well, if God's in control, then, you know, there's really not much more for us to do.
God is sovereign overall, so we can kind of just sit back and follow along.
But that's not the posture that Paul takes in these verses here.
He's prayed a prayer of thanksgiving.
Now it's a prayer of petition.
Asking that God continue to work.
Encouraging the church to continue to follow after him.
And so we're going to be focusing on this prayer today.
Specifically, three aspects of his prayer.
We're going to look at the request, the reason, and the result.
The request, the reason, and the result for this prayer.
So let's first look at verse 9 again at the request that is made.
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment.
So the very first thing that Paul prays for here when he's thinking about the church in Philippi is that they may increase in love.
And it may seem to you as a rather simple request that's made.
But the more and more I thought about this, the more and more I was convicted this week.
Because it's not how I pray for the church normally.
And maybe you struggle with this too.
When we think about praying for the church here at Becclew.
Or we think about praying for other churches in Edinburgh or Scotland or the global church around the world.
Usually, at least for myself, love isn't the first request that comes to my mind.
I may pray for the effectiveness of certain ministries.
I may pray for people to have endurance in the midst of persecution.
We may pray for financial stability for churches.
But oftentimes, praying for love, even though it's such a basic request, is not something that we often think of.
But this is what Paul is praying for here.
This is where his focus lies when he's thinking about the progress within the church.
And it's interesting that he doesn't include an object for this love.
He doesn't say increase a love for God or love for one another.
He just says love that it may abound more and more.
And so he's speaking really of the virtue of love.
A characteristic that we as believers should have.
That should pervade our whole being.
And so he's not also speaking of a generic love.
A worldly love.
If you go out on the streets and ask someone what love is,
you're probably going to get a different answer from every person you ask.
But he's speaking very specifically here of the love of the Father.
And so if we look at Jesus, before he was arrested and crucified,
we have a recording of his high priestly prayer.
Where he prays for the saints.
He prays for you and me.
And he asks in that prayer, speaking to the Father,
he says that the love with which you have loved me may be in them.
And so Jesus desires that the love of the Father,
the same amount of love, the same quality of love,
that the Father loves the Son,
is the same love that is extended to us.
And so, of course, throughout the Bible,
we see this theme of love repeated.
Especially by Paul here,
if we think of many of his other letters to the New Testament church.
In 1 Corinthians 13, what's known as the love chapter,
faith, hope, and love remain, but the greatest of these is love.
In Galatians 5, where Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit,
the first fruit that he lists is love.
And so here, too, he's speaking of love,
not only that it exists, but that it abounds.
That we may experience the love of Christ,
the love that drew Christ to the cross,
to die for your sins and mine.
This is what he wants to abound in the church.
And so he uses this language, abound,
it's the same words that he uses in chapter 4,
when he's talking and recounting about the provision
that the church has provided for him.
This financial support,
how he's been well supplied by the church,
when no other church would.
He said it's this abundant supply of money and resources that he's received.
This is the same imagery that we see here.
And so before my family and I moved to Edinburgh,
we lived in the city of Greenville, South Carolina.
And Greenville is kind of known as,
to have this really beautiful city center.
It's not a huge city, but it's a growing city.
And in the city center, in the middle of downtown,
there's this waterfall.
And it used to be used to power textile mills back in the day.
But now it has been cleaned up.
It's now surrounded by this beautiful park.
And the water from this waterfall flows into a river.
And a little bit beyond downtown,
it went right by our neighborhood where we lived.
And so around that river, the park continued.
There were volleyball courts.
There were picnic pavilions.
There was a play park.
It was a great place to spend time and take the kids.
However, the problem with that park,
it was very low-lying in elevation.
And so when we got significant rainfall,
oftentimes the park would flood.
And a few times when we lived in that neighborhood,
the flood rose so much that not only did it pour over the banks,
but it rose to the level that it was above the nets of the volleyball court,
that the entire play park was covered in water.
And so let this be an imagery then of what Paul is talking about here,
that we're so filled up with God's love
that we have no room to store it,
that we can't contain it,
that it naturally flows from us abundantly and consistently to those around us.
Another thing happened when that river would flood
is it would attract attention from people.
Usually the local news stations would come and set up a camera
to see how extensive the flooding was in the park.
People from our neighborhood would walk down and snap pictures.
You could even walk across the bridge in the park.
And so the same here.
The love that we have for one another should be something that is attractive to the outside world,
something that is a curiosity to the outside world,
something that can't be replicated outside of Christ.
Because Jesus says this himself in John 13, 35.
He says,
By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.
So the love that Paul is talking about here,
the love that we receive from Christ,
should not only link us to one another as saints,
but it should also identify us with Christ.
But we see here that this love is not just an emotion or a sentimental feeling here.
It's grounded in truth.
And so that's why Paul continues that our love should abound more and more with knowledge and discernment.
Maybe you've heard people in the church before say something like,
you know, I don't really care much for theology.
I just try to love Jesus.
Or, you know, I don't spend a whole lot of time studying the Bible.
I just think it's important to love one another.
But it's important to remember this truth,
that if we remove our knowledge of God from our love for God,
then we are just worshiping a God of our imagination.
Martin Luther said this,
that I am not permitted to let my love be so merciful as to tolerate and endure false doctrine.
The love that we experience through Christ,
that we share to one another,
is not a license for naivete.
It's not this aimless emotion that just leads to general indifference or tolerance in our lives.
Love is to be directed.
We cannot love what we do not know.
And so if we think about a marriage relationship,
maybe if you're married,
you can think about maybe when you first started to get to know your spouse.
You were first introduced to them.
There might have been that initial attraction.
Maybe you had this growing infatuation for them.
But it wasn't until you actually started spending time with them,
until you actually started talking with them and getting to know them,
did that genuine and authentic love begin to develop.
And so knowledge is not the enemy of love.
Knowledge is a necessary requirement for its existence.
Authentic love for God is founded on a knowledge for God.
And so when Paul speaks of knowledge here,
love that must abound more and more with knowledge,
he's talking about a spiritual knowledge.
A knowledge that comes through knowing God,
the character of God,
being able to understand the depth of his love for us
and the truth of the gospel.
And so how do we develop this knowledge?
Is it just by showing up on a Sunday morning?
That's part of it through the preaching of God's word.
But is this something that we hunger after?
Is this a knowledge that we desire so much in our Christian lives,
as Paul does here?
In chapter 3, later on in Philippians, in verse 8, he says this,
I count everything a loss
because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord.
There is nothing more important in Paul's life than knowing Christ.
It is this knowledge that gives him purpose in his life.
It is this knowledge that propels him forward to be a servant and a saint of God.
But we see that this knowledge is not alone.
It's actually coupled with discernment.
And so this Greek word that's used for discernment here
is actually a term that would be used for testing materials,
or testing metals, rather,
to see their quality,
to figure out the ingredients within this metal.
And so when we think about discernment,
it's really this deep perceptiveness,
this insight and understanding that we have.
So not only does Paul want the church
to have a love that comes through knowledge of God,
but also a love that is discerning,
a love that can be applied
to others within the church.
And so if we think back again about a relationship with your spouse,
or maybe even a close friend of yours,
spending time with them,
you get to know them.
But the quality of your friendship
is not based on the amount of information
you know about that person.
A mark of a quality marriage
is not how many questions you can get right
on a trivia question,
a game show about your spouse.
We must have wisdom and understanding
not only in the love and knowledge we have,
but how to apply that love to one another.
So if you think of your spouse,
you should be the one who knows best
how to comfort your spouse when they're struggling,
how to encourage them when they're discouraged,
how to love them in such a way
that they can appreciate and receive well.
And so the same goes for the church.
Our love for Christ is not
just some mushy sentiment.
We can love each other well
because we know the gospel.
And we can love each other well
because we know how to apply the gospel
in our daily lives,
in individual relationships,
in the church at large,
in the global church.
And so that leads us then to our second point.
We looked at Paul's request,
now the reason for his request.
What is this reason that he says we need
for deserving love?
Why does Paul pray
that it may abound within the church?
Look at verse 10.
So that you may approve what is excellent
and so be pure and blameless
for the day of Christ.
And so we can split this up into two parts.
What first does it mean
to approve what is excellent?
One of my best friends
who I've known my entire life,
he works actually in the fashion industry.
He's someone who pays
very close attention to detail.
And this has benefited him well.
He works for a clothing company
in New York City
in their corporate office.
And his job is a chief merchandiser.
And I'm not going to pretend to know all
what that includes.
But basically,
part of his responsibility
is figuring out
what the line is going to be
for the next season.
What clothes and articles
are going to be included
included in the sale
for the fall, winter, spring,
seasons ahead.
And so part of that responsibility
is working with designers,
working with the financial side
to see what's going to sell,
what do we want to include,
looking not only into articles of clothing,
but how we're going to make
these clothing,
this clothing.
What materials are we going to use?
What dyes are we going to use?
What buttons are we going to put on a shirt?
Someone has to make those decisions.
And so he does this well
because of his attention to detail.
And this really is something
that I see throughout his life
that has really benefited me
because this applies to technology
and computers and audio equipment
and tools and household goods.
So he's really,
I use him as my personal shopper
that whenever I have
a big purchase to make,
I'm going to call him up and say,
hey, what do you think about
such and such?
Last year,
I wanted to get some new
Bluetooth headphones.
So I call him up and say,
hey, what do you think?
What are my options?
Without even doing research,
I mean, he could spit off,
well, these are the best ones
for exercise.
These ones are really good
waterproof ones.
These,
you should avoid these.
The quality is not best.
These are the ones
that have the best sound quality.
And so when we look
at what Paul's saying here,
this is really what he's talking about.
Being able to approve
what is excellent
means being able to see
and decide
what is superior
in our lives.
Not just to distinguish
between good and evil.
That is oftentimes easy to do.
But be able to distinguish
between what is good
and what is best.
What is permissible
and what is preferable.
Paul wants the saints
at Philippi
to determine
what really matters
within the church.
What is of primary importance
and what is of secondary nature.
What has eternal value
and what is just temporal
in nature.
And so I think
we can oftentimes
get wrapped up
in things that are
secondary in nature
if we think of society
in general.
Maybe it's politics
for you.
Maybe it's social issues.
Maybe it's your job.
Maybe it's your family.
Not to say any of these things
are bad.
But are these things
what are supposed to be
of primary importance
in our lives.
The trouble is
when we spend so much time
and attention
on these secondary issues
that we can elevate them
in status
that they become
gods in our life.
And we can lose track
of what is most excellent.
We can see this
within the church as well.
It's very easy
to cling to secondary issues
within the church, right?
We may have a preference
on how ministries are run.
How the church service
should be conducted.
What changes we should make
to the sanctuary.
It's okay to have opinions.
There's nothing wrong with them.
But when we elevate
the importance
of those opinions
to primary
in our lives
that's when we forsake
the gospel.
If we look through
the history of the church
it's a history
filled with divisions.
And not to say
some of those divisions
weren't necessary
and essential
for the preservation
of the gospel.
Some were.
But if we think
especially in modern times
when there are arguments
within the church
when there are splits
and divisions
within the church
what's the reason
for that happening?
Is it because of a lack
of discerning love
for one another?
Is it because we've made
secondary issues
primary issues?
That's a problem
that we need to avoid.
My pastor back in the States
he'd always used to say
whenever he was asked
to give an opinion
or would offer his opinion
on a secondary issue
related to the church
he'd always end his comment
by saying
well that's not
that is not a hill
I'm willing to die on.
And so that's something
I think is important
to remember
when we're talking
about secondary issues
or opinions
that we have
it's perfectly fine
to have those opinions
but if they're on
secondary issues
it shouldn't be
a hill
that we're willing
to die on.
We should not be willing
to risk
what is most excellent
in our lives
the unity of the church
the love among the saints
the centrality
of the gospel
simply so we can get
our own way.
So let's look further
then at verse 10
we looked at
seeing what is most excellent
choosing what is most excellent
but it also says
so that we may be pure
and blameless
for the day of Christ.
And so what does it mean
to be pure
and blameless?
A few weeks ago
we talked about
why Paul calls
the church saints
because that's
our identity
in Christ
Christ has given us
his righteousness
that we are holy
and set apart.
But I don't think
that's quite what Paul
is getting at here
this is a prayer
for action
so yes
although we identify
in Christ
we are also called
to holiness
as well
and so that's
I think what he's
referring to here
is our own
sanctification
our calling
to pursue holiness
as Christ
as is at work
in our lives
so we should desire
to be more
and more like him.
And so this doesn't mean
that we reach
a point of perfection
in our life
that's not what Paul
is saying here.
In fact he makes
that point himself
later on in the letter
in chapter 3
verse 12
he says
not that I've
already attained this
referring to being
like Christ
or I am already
perfect
but I press on
to make it my own
because Christ
Jesus has made me
his own.
And so
since we are in Christ
we are motivated
to be pure.
Some places
the same Greek word
is translated
as sincere.
Are we inwardly pure?
do we live lives
of sincerity
as saints?
We're also called
to be blameless.
And this word
really has a dual meaning.
It means
to personally avoid
tripping over obstacles
but also prevent others
from tripping over obstacles
that we've created.
And so Paul is saying
that our conduct
should not cause offense
to those around us.
And so when we combine
these ideas together
purity
and blamelessness.
We see that Paul is
talking about this
inward character
that we should have
but also this
outward conduct
that should be evident.
Inwardly our minds
and our hearts
should be pure.
Paul says in Colossians
to set our mind
on things above.
Outwardly
we need to live lives
that are above reproach.
Our actions
should be evidence
of the work
that God is doing
in our lives.
This is a comprehensive
holiness
inside out.
That Christ alone
can see inside our hearts
and that others
can see around us.
And so Paul says
we live this way
for the day
of Christ.
Now this is the second time
in just a couple verses
that Paul has talked
about the day of Christ
just in his introduction.
And so what is the importance
of the day of Christ?
What does it mean?
We talked about this
last week
where the day of Christ
is a time
where Christ
will come again
where the nations
will be judged
where the people
of God
will receive salvation
and vindication.
And so this is a good thing
if we are saints
if we are brothers
and sisters
in Christ
to await
the day
of the Lord.
But not only
wait for that day
but also to prepare
for that day.
The day of the Lord
provides us
with direction.
It provides us
for motivation
in our lives.
What if we knew
that Christ
was coming again
tomorrow?
How would that
change our lives?
How would that
change our priorities?
In our relationships
certainly we'd be
more merciful
toward others.
More willing to forgive
and extend forgiveness
to those around us.
Certainly we'd have
a desire
to share the love
of Christ
with those
that don't know him.
To see the gospel
expand.
That we may personally
be prepared
for his return.
Jesus gives us
a couple parables
related to his return
and one of those
is the parable
of the ten virgins
who are awaiting
the arrival
of the bridegroom.
Five of them
are wise
and five of them
are unwise.
The unwise ones
forget to bring
extra oil
for their lamps
as they wait
in the night
for the arrival
of the bridegroom.
And so they hurry
out to go
buy more oil.
Of course a bridegroom
comes in their absence
and they're left
out of the wedding.
Jesus says
at the end
of that parable
he says that
we do not know
the day
nor the hour
of his return.
And so even though
we don't have
that information
we should nonetheless
be ready
and eager
and prepared
for his return.
And so that brings us
then to that final
R
the result.
What is the result
of Paul's request?
Look in verse 11.
He says
we are to abound
in discerning love
in order to be pure
and blameless
as a result
filled with the fruit
of righteousness
that comes through
Jesus Christ
to the glory
and praise
of God.
So in my back garden
we have an apple tree
that we've enjoyed
for the past couple years.
It's been really nice
when we first arrived
it was just
heavy laid with apples.
So many apples
that we can't possibly
eat them all.
We actually bought
a juicer
to try to juice
some of the apples.
We've made pies
that we've given
away to people.
And last year
I noticed
that some of these
branches were
kind of struggling.
Some of the apples
weren't really that good
so I decided
I need to figure out
how to prune this tree.
I never pruned
an apple tree before
and didn't know
how to do it.
A little internet
research says
that the apple tree
it should be trimmed
like a goblet.
So the growth
should happen
on the outside.
There shouldn't be
any inward growth
any apples or branches
inside the interior
of the tree.
And so I did my best
to do that
and now seeing
the fruits of that labor
we see more fruit
being growing
even apples
the size of probably
golf balls
right now in the tree
looking forward
to when they will
be ripe
before the harvest
in a few months.
We all know
basically how
this fruit
is grown.
This is something
we learn in primary school
how the roots
suck up the water
and the nutrients
from the ground.
The trunk
spreads out
these nutrients
to the branches.
It's the leaves
that collect
the sunlight
that's necessary
for growth.
And so we see here
this is true
of the life
of the saints
as well.
Paul is explaining
this process
that we receive
the love of God
we show this love
to others
we grow in holiness
and as a result
we see fruit.
So as we undergo
sanctification
as we grow
more and more
like Christ
fruit should be
a necessary result.
Conduct
in our lives
where we see
and desire
the advancement
of the gospel
where others
are benefited
and ultimately
God is pleased.
But it's important
to note
that this righteous
fruit also needs
a righteous root.
As Paul says
the righteousness
comes through
Jesus Christ.
Our fruitfulness
is not self-generated.
It's not based
on our own efforts.
The harvest
of our good deeds
is a product
of Jesus Christ
himself.
And so if we
think back
to the passage
that we read
earlier from John 15
where Jesus refers
to himself
as the vine.
In verse 5
he says
I am the vine
you are the branches
whoever abides in me
and I in him
will bear much fruit
apart from me
you can do nothing.
And so our fruitfulness
is wholly dependent
on Christ's work
in our lives.
And so that should be
reassuring to us
because it's not based
on our own efforts
it's not about
how hard we try
or how good we are
that we may see fruit.
It is the work
of Christ
in our lives.
It is God's work
in us
that allows
good works
to flow from us.
This is what Christ
desires to see
in his church.
To see great fruit
happen as a result
of his work
in our lives.
In Titus 2.14
talking about Jesus
Paul says this
says he who gave
himself for us
to redeem us
from all lawlessness
and to purify
for himself
a people
of his own possession
who are zealous
for good works.
So Jesus died
to redeem
a people
who are passionate
about good works.
Who are passionate
about seeing fruit.
Notice this logical progression
then in Paul's prayer.
he prays
for loving hearts.
He prays
for discerning minds.
He prays
for this inward purity
this outward
blamelessness
that results
in the fruit
of righteousness.
And so we should
live in such a way
our hearts and minds
should be so transformed
by the gospel
that this is just
a natural outcome
of God's work
in our lives.
But ultimately
this isn't the end
of the verse.
It doesn't end here.
Paul's prayer
doesn't end
with just our fruitfulness.
Our fruitfulness
is not the ultimate goal.
We are filled
with the fruit
of righteousness
that comes
through Jesus Christ
to the glory
and praise
of God.
And so we bear fruit
not so we can
look good
or that we can
receive the credit.
We bear fruit
so that God
receives the glory.
This is our ultimate aim.
This is our greatest ambition.
And so if we go back
to John 15 again
where Jesus calls
himself the vine
in verse 8
he says
by this my father
is glorified
that you bear
much fruit
and so prove
to be my disciples.
So our fruitfulness
it points
to the greatness
of God.
It points
to the beauty
and the excellence
of God.
It is he
who we praise
with our actions.
It is he
that we exalt
with our lives.
If we think back
to the book
that I mentioned
at the very beginning
this book
on the history
of human progress
the author states
he says
openness
has been
the greatest blessing
of mankind
and will continue
to provide us
with new sources
of wealth
and technology.
And so in the mind
of this author
human progress
is the ultimate end.
And so that's why
it's an imperative
that he gives
that we need to create
political and economic
systems that are open
that we act
as traitors
in such a way
that we can attain
more wealth
and more technology
and ultimately
more comfort.
That's the exact opposite
of what Paul
advocates for
when he talks
about progress
in these verses.
Our sanctification
our fruitfulness
our holiness
is not the end goal
of our Christian life.
Instead it is
the means
by which we
glorify God.
God is the ultimate ends
in our life.
The Westminster Catechism
very first question
sums it up so well.
What is the chief end of man
to glorify God
and to enjoy Him
forever?
This should be the reason
for doing everything.
The reason we come here
to worship.
The reason the Word
is preached.
The reason we gather
as community groups
that we're involved
in ministry.
The reason we work
and have families
and go to school.
All for the glory
of God.
Paul sums it up well
in Romans 11.
He says,
For from Him
and through Him
and to Him
are all things.
To Him
be glory
forever.
And so when we
take a step back
we've looked at this prayer
in three parts.
But if we consider
the prayer as a whole
yes,
Paul is praying
for the church
that they may
show progress
in their faith
that they may be holy
and blameless
and pure
that they may bear fruit.
But if we boil it down
to what Paul
is really asking
He is asking God
to glorify Himself.
His prayer
for our progress
is ultimately
a prayer
for God
to be praised.
And so that needs
to be our prayer
as well.
When we think about
progress in the Christian life
it's not about
how good we are
or how hard we try.
It's not about
proving ourselves
to God
or to others.
may it be our prayer
that God
deepen our love
so that He
may receive the glory.
That He give us discernment
that He be praised
that we can have fruit
in our lives
that ultimately
God
can be exalted.
That's our prayer
as believers.
That our fruit
is not for our own benefit.
We have already received
the benefit
of salvation
through the love
of Christ.
So let that love
embody us.
may be something
that we desire
to share
with one another
that ultimately
God
receives the glory
and the praise.
Let's pray.
God we thank You
for the example
of Paul's prayer.
How he desires
that love
abound within the church.
Love that is grounded
in the love
of the Father.
The love
that the Son
has demonstrated
to us
through His
sacrificial death
that we may
have life.
God may we be
a church
that is characterized
by love
that is coupled
with knowledge
and discernment.
God we desire
fruitfulness
in our own lives
not that we receive
the praise
but that God
receives all the glory.
May that be
our heart's
desire.
we pray
in Jesus'
name.
Amen.
Now if you'll
stand for our
final hymn
the deep
deep love
of Jesus.
heaven.
If you'll come up
and then
larger
through the
peace
is
where
you