Wisdom Excellence and Righteousness Philippians 1 1 -11

Wisdom, Excellence, and Righteousness Philippians 1: 1 -11 p. 1084

Introduction Last week Paul’s encouragement to the Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing” Today’s message Paul’s prayer for the Philippians: - Acquire Wisdom - Discern What is Best - Live Righteously before God

Introduction Stories of Transformation Prayer plays an important role in salvation Prayer plays an important role in shaping our lives Shaped by Prayer King David in his palace Jesus in the garden Paul in prison

The Egnatian Way

The Egnatian Way

The Egnatian Way

1. Wisdom And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, (v. 9) Love overflowing in knowledge and wisdom love is more than emotion and affection Paul prays for love ABOUNDING in wisdom

1. Wisdom Emanuel Swedenborg “love is the life of man” “thought is the first effect of life, sensation and action are the second” Acquiring Knowledge and Wisdom From God’s Spirit From God’s Word From One Another Through Prayer

1. Wisdom Jenny Experiencing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in relationship with my wife Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, and self-control The Bride of Christ A deeper knowledge of God begins when we are in relationship with Him We can experience the integrity of His character

1. Wisdom Unity How often do we argue with people when we know that they are right and we are wrong? Sometimes our love lacks knowledge Sometimes our knowledge lacks love

1. Wisdom Knowledge “knowledge is the fruit of sound instruction and full experience. ” ~ D. A. Carson Depth of Insight “moral perception across the entire gamut of life’s experiences” ~ D. A. Carson

1. Wisdom Proverbs 4: 1 -9 (The Message) Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice; sit up and take notice so you’ll know how to live. I’m giving you good counsel; don’t let it go in one ear and out the other. When I was a boy at my father’s knee, the pride and joy of my mother, He would sit me down and drill me: “Take this to heart. Do what I tell you—live!

1. Wisdom Proverbs 4: 1 -9 (The Message) Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding! Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch! Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life; love her—she keeps her eye on you. Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding! Throw your arms around her - believe me, you won’t regret it; never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious. She’ll garland your life with grace, she’ll festoon your days with beauty. ”

2. Excellence And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, SO THAT you may be able to discern what is best (vv. 9 -10 a) Discernment Not something easily achieved on our own Takes discipline and time

2. Excellence “Love, shaped and honed by knowledge and moral insight is the absolute requirement for testing and approving ‘what is best’, for developing ‘a sense of what is vital’ (Carson) Vital signs Airway Breathing Circulation

2. Excellence Discerning what is best God knows what is best for us, He could easily inform our thinking But often it requires an earnest and humble seeking on our part

2. Excellence Proverbs 2: 1 -6 (NIV) My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

2. Excellence Examples of what is best whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. (Philippians 4: 8)

2. Excellence Questions to consider Are you committed, in your use of time, to what is best? Is your reading and study of the Bible improving your knowledge of God so much that your wholehearted worship of the Almighty grows in spontaneity, devotion, and joy? To what extent do you pray for excellent things, things judged excellent in God’s eyes, both for yourself and for those around you

3. Righteousness And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and all of this so that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ (vv. 9 -11)

3. Righteousness Biblical translation Translators have to make decisions Scholars will often propose slight variations Today’s passage the Greek begins a new construction with the words “pure and blameless” The word ‘and’ (before pure and blameless) could have been translated ‘and all of this’

3. Righteousness NIV Translation Love + knowledge + depth of insight = discernment of what is best + purity + blamelessness + righteousness

3. Righteousness Minor Modification Love + knowledge + depth of insight = discernment of what is best = Purity + blamelessness + righteousness

3. Righteousness Summary What is best = purity, blamelessness, and righteousness

3. Righteousness Pure: are we pure in thought, word, and deed? Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. ” (Matthew 5: 8)

3. Righteousness Blameless: are we people with strong moral perception and integrity; are we people like Job? God says, “Have you considered my servant Job, there is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. ” (Job 1: 8)

3. Righteousness Righteous are we people who know what is right and do what is right? Are we like the parents of John the Baptists? “Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. ” (Luke 1: 6)

Conclusion And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and all of this so that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God. (vv. 9 -11)

Conclusion We do not search for wisdoms sake but for the glory and praise of God. We do not desire what is excellent for excellence sake but for the glory and praise of God. We do not bear the fruit of purity, blamelessness, or righteousness for fruit sake but for the glory and praise of God.

Conclusion Paul for Everyone By Tom Wright Includes the prison letters (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon) A good book, a great resource

Conclusion May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. (1 Thessalonians 3: 12 -13)