Phililippians 1:9-10a "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent..."
In Philippians 1:4 Paul said that he was always “offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all...” Here in Philippians 1:9-11 he tells us what he is praying for. This is a prayer for maturity. Paul is praying for their spiritual growth. And there are three things Paul is specifically praying for:
1. The depth of their love.
We won’t go far in the Christian life without love. He is praying for their love to abound. It is not that they don’t have love, it’s that he prays it will grow. He is asking God to deepen their love. How? Well, not in emotion, not in feeling, but in real knowledge.
Paul used the Greek word 'epignosis,' meaning real, full, or advanced knowledge. Far from uncontrolled emotion, divine love is regulated by a knowledge of God’s Word. Love controlled by God’s Word is deep, anchored in convictions that are based on the truth.
As Christians we can love to the highest degree when we are controlled by the truth.
2. All discernment.
Paul used the Greek word 'aisthesis' from which we get the English word 'aesthetic.' It speaks of: moral perception, insight, and the practical application of knowledge.
Love is controlled by theology and theology must be applied to life with insight. Real love is not blind. Biblical love seeks to know right from wrong, and false from true. It seeks to make the right application of truth at the proper moments in life.
In Philippians 1:4 Paul said that he was always “offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all...” Here in Philippians 1:9-11 he tells us what he is praying for. This is a prayer for maturity. Paul is praying for their spiritual growth. And there are three things Paul is specifically praying for:
1. The depth of their love.
We won’t go far in the Christian life without love. He is praying for their love to abound. It is not that they don’t have love, it’s that he prays it will grow. He is asking God to deepen their love. How? Well, not in emotion, not in feeling, but in real knowledge.
Paul used the Greek word 'epignosis,' meaning real, full, or advanced knowledge. Far from uncontrolled emotion, divine love is regulated by a knowledge of God’s Word. Love controlled by God’s Word is deep, anchored in convictions that are based on the truth.
As Christians we can love to the highest degree when we are controlled by the truth.
2. All discernment.
Paul used the Greek word 'aisthesis' from which we get the English word 'aesthetic.' It speaks of: moral perception, insight, and the practical application of knowledge.
Love is controlled by theology and theology must be applied to life with insight. Real love is not blind. Biblical love seeks to know right from wrong, and false from true. It seeks to make the right application of truth at the proper moments in life.
