This morning we continue our series, “Maximizing 2015 by God’s GREAT GRACE” by continuing to teach on prayer. Yesterday we looked at a prayer Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus. Today we will look at a prayer he prayed for the believers in Philippi. In each prayer we will seek to highlight the grace of God.
Paul’s greeting: “I thank God every time I remember you. And I always pray for all of you with joy. I thank God for the help you gave me while I told people the Good News. You helped from the first day you believed until now. I am sure that the good work God began in you will continue until he completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again. I know I am right to think like this about all of you because you are so close to my heart. This is because you have all played such an important part in God’s grace to me—now, during this time that I am in prison, and whenever I am defending and proving the truth of the Good News. God knows that I want very much to see you. I love all of you with the love of Christ Jesus.”
Paul’s graced based prayer: “This is my prayer for you: that your love will grow more and more; that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love; that you will see the difference between what is important and what is not and choose what is important; that you will be pure and blameless for the coming of Christ; that your life will be full of the many good works that are produced by Jesus Christ to bring glory and praise to God.” (Philippians 1:3-11 ERV).
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Trust God for the grace to finish what He started in your life.
a) Paul said, “I am sure that the good work God began in you will continue until he completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again.”
b) God started the work in your life — by His grace, for His glory — and He will finish what He started. Not because you are so good, but because He is!
c) Think of God’s commitment to you and thank Him for it as you pray.
2. Thank God for the people He has placed in your life to be a part of His grace towards you.
a) To the believers in Philippi the Apostle Paul said, “You have all played such an important part in God’s grace to me.”
b) God places people in your life to help, develop, coach, teach, mentor, support and encourage you. These people become part of God’s grace towards you.
c) Think of the people God has anointed to assist you in your life’s journey and thank Him for those people as you pray.
3. Pray for growth and development in God’s love.
a) Paul prayed, “That your love will grow more and more.”
b) God is love. Love is not something God does, it is who He is. You cannot grow in God without growing in love.
c) As you pray, ask God to fill you with His love, and as you die to self you will become a conduit of God’s love. God’s love will flow TO you and then THROUGH you.
4. Pray for discernment and discipline.
a) Paul prayed, “That you will see the difference between what is important and what is not and choose what is important.”
b) Paul prayed for divine discernment to know the difference between the things that are truly important and those that are not.
c) Paul then prayed for the discipline to make the right choice.
5. Pray for God to produce much fruit through your life.
a) Paul prayed, “That your life will be full of the many good works that are produced by Jesus Christ to bring glory and praise to God.”
b) Good works are produced by God, through you, for His glory.
c) Pray for God to do all He planned to do, from the foundations of the world, through you, for His glory.
* Notice that Paul did not pray selfish prayers. Paul’s prayers were not focused on natural or worldly desires. Paul’s prayers were focused on God, His grace, and His will, so He could get the glory!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your Great Grace towards me. I also thank You for teaching me to pray from a position of grace. You made plans for me before the world began and I am now simply seeking to FIND, FOLLOW and FINISH those plans. You honor my decisions, so I thank You for giving me the grace to make good ones. You bless me to discern what is truly important and You have also graced me to be disciplined enough to choose only those things that are pleasing in Your sight. You started a great work IN me and I am confident You will finish what You started. The more I die to self, the more I grow in Your love, and the more I become a conduit of Your glory in the earth. I was born to make a difference. I am here for a reason. You brought me into the world to leave a mark that will not be erased. And I declare that I will leave that mark. Not by my strength, but by Your grace. Not for my fame, but for Your glory. Not by pursuing my will, but by pursuing Your purpose. I die to me, You live through me, and You produce much fruit through my life and living. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
