The Book of Philippians Pt. 4 Knowing Christ & Being Filled with God's Love

Paul yearned for all believers to know Christ deeply. 

Philippians 1:8  For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 

In our last post we looked at many of the reasons why Paul loved the believers at Philippi. The words "long after" mean that Paul was pursuing them with Christian love and desiring to see them again. 

The word translated "bowels" has a few different meanings but in this context the meaning is clear. The Hebrews believed that the word "bowels" was the seat of all of our tender affections, benevolence, compassion or tender mercies. 

The mutual love shared by Paul and the Philippians was based upon their relationship in Jesus Christ. The next thing Paul spoke of was three specific things he prayed for the Philippians to achieve as a church and as individual believers in Christ. 

Paul continues using the little word "all" to remind them (and us today) that he included every single believer at Philippi. In the next few  verses below, the apostle emphasized the primary fruit of the Spirit which is love. 

This emphasis is placed here because he wrote to all believers in this church and some were not exercising Christian love toward each other. It is clear from Philippians 4:2 that at least two women in the church were not filled with the love that Paul is pointing them to. We will learn about them later on in this series of lessons. 

Paul prayed for all believers to be filled up with the love of God. 

Philippians 1:9  And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 

First, Paul prayed for them. The word "pray" means to pray to God and to worship. It is a word that tells us much of Paul's heart in prayer for other churches. He knew God. He met the One, True God of Heaven and earth on the Damascus Road. He was brought from the darkness of Judaism into the glorious light of the gospel of Christ. Paul worshiped God for all His works at the same time he prayed. 

Paul prayed that the Philippians love would abound. The word "love" refers to the fruit of the Spirit. It refers to the unconditional love God has toward repentant sinners who turn to Christ in faith. The believer's first love should always be God. 

It is an overflowing love of God.

Romans 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

But where and how can anyone find such wonderful love as that expressed by Paul? It is imparted to us when the Spirit of God regenerates our hearts and indwells the believer. It is a product flowing from the new birth. The words "shed abroad" mean that there has been a copious outpouring, or a large distribution of the love of God. 

You see, we are not capable of producing such love in our heart any more than we have the ability to save ourselves from hell and eternal condemnation. Salvation is all of God and all about God and is available to "all" who will call upon His name. Paul prayed that this special "agape" love would abound in these believers.

The words "may abound" means an overflowing or perpetual flow of love that is abundant and overwhelming. The ancients understood the Greek words to refer to so much water from excessive rains that a river had overflown all its banks. The water was going everywhere. You can see how this connects to the love of God poured out by the Spirit of God in the heart of man. 

It is love shaped by the Word of God.

Paul wanted us to know that knowledge and judgment are to be guiding this outpouring love from God.  Both knowledge and judgment are found in the word of God. "Knowledge" in this case refers to doctrinal truth, truth that is immutable and unchanging. Truth that is absolute because God gave it to us in His Word and the practical living out of such truth by a believer. "Judgment" in this text refers to being spiritually perceptive. We do have some spiritual senses to compliment our five physical senses.

We have spiritual eyes to "see" the beautiful things of God (Acts 26:16-18). We have spiritual "ears" to hear and heed the gospel (Romans 10:17). We have spiritual "taste buds" to taste and savor the good things from God (1 Peter 2:3). We have spiritual "minds" to be used for the glory of God (Romans 8:5-8). Our spiritual energies must be an overflow from the abundant love of God poured into us and they must be built upon the foundation of God's truth.  

It is a love that "tries the spirits."

1 John 4:1-3  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 

John told us that there are many spirits in the world but many of them are not of God. False prophets and false spirits do not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. They are the spirit of antichrist. The Spirit of God will always glorify Jesus Christ, the Son of God in the flesh. 

This is how knowledge and judgment work together to help us be living channels flowing with the grace and love of God. 

A discerning mind that seeks the excellent things of God. 

Philippians 1:10  That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 

Paul wanted the very best in spiritual blessings and spiritual growth for these dear people. The word "approve" has to do with determining the purity of precious metals like gold or silver. It is the idea of testing something in order to accept that which is morally good and reject that which is evil or corrupt. The purpose of proving what is excellent is to impart purity to a believer. 

The word "excellent" means to carry something across or through to a better state. It is the idea of bettering our situation, improving our walk with God, growing in Christlikeness. It means seeking to be separated from the things of the world more each day. It means pursuing holiness more each day. 

Proverbs 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 

The excellent things are summed up for us by King Solomon. A "just" man or woman, is one who has been born again and is now rightly related to God through Christ. The path of life for a "just" man or woman is like a shining light that shines a bit brighter each day, until we reach the end of life's journey. 

Be encouraged because Jesus Christ will come again!

Paul's reference to the "day of Christ" is one of many references he made to the second coming of Jesus Christ.  It is a real event that will happen and every believer will stand before Christ to give an account of what we have done in our service for Him. It is a day where our hopes will be realized and our faith becomes sight!

Thoughts to Ponder...

The day of Christ ought to be a day of joyous anticipation for the born again believer. Imagine seeing our Lord and Savior face to face! Jesus Christ will be the substance of all that we have hoped for and He will be the evidence of the unseen things that we have believed, from God's Word. 

Our works will be judged at that day to determine our motivation and some will receive a reward while others may lose their reward. Why" Because sometimes we truly serve Jesus Christ and our love for Him is strong, but sometimes we may serve Him in the energies of our flesh or because we seek the praise of man instead of praise from God (John 12:43).

How does our love for God and others measure up to the beautiful love of God that Paul is telling us about? I suspect that we all need to spend time in prayer asking the Lord to purge out our pride and to pour out more of His love, that we might be revived to serve the Lord of Glory with fresh passion and fresh love.

May the Spirit of God have His way in our hearts today!

Bob