Young Adults' Group

A Prayer For Abounding Love

by Pastor Mark
September 18, 2025

The need for love to grow and abound

Love is a vital part of our lives and ministries. We thank God for the love that He has poured into our lives through His Spirit (Romans 5:5). It is with this love that we are able to love others. However, love is not something that should remain stagnant. It is meant to keep growing and abounding.

The Apostle Paul appreciated the love that the Philippian church had, especially in their relationship with him. However, he recognised that there were difficulties among them and needed their love to grow, especially for each other. Paul prayed a special prayer for their love to abound, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment” (Philippians 1:9). The word “abound” in Greek means to “super abound, to be over and above”. Paul’s prayer was for the love of the brethren to grow to a higher level and be overflowing.

Love in knowledge and all discernment

1. In knowledge

1. Love should not be practised in ignorance…lacking understanding.
2. It should be applied with a greater depth of knowledge.
3. When we have a deeper knowledge of God and His love, we would be able to love at a higher level.

2. In all discernment

1. Love should also be practised with all discernment.
2. It is to have a greater sense of perception to choose how we ought to love wisely.
3. Love should not be given blindly and foolishly.
4. The challenge is to grow a greater love in knowledge and all discernment.

Expressions of abounding love

1. To be able to approve the things that are excellent

“That you may approve the things that are excellent,” (Philippians 1:10)

1. As our love keeps abounding in knowledge and all discernment, we would express it.
2. We would be able to test and approve that which is not just good but excellent.
3. Our love would be expressed in a far more excellent manner.

2. To be sincere and without offence

“That you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,” (Philippians 1:10)

1. We would also be able to express love with sincerity…purity of heart.
2. We would not be offensive towards anyone but to be blameless in our love.
3. The challenge is to keep abounding in love till the Lord Jesus returns for us.

A prayer for us to abound more in love

We thank God that Bethany is a loving and caring church where love is expressed to one another and to the brethren in our overseas chapters. Much love and support have been given over the years to meet the needs of our brethren. Still, there is much more to be done.

Let us be challenged to love with greater depth of knowledge and discernment, and to express this abounding love by doing what is more excellent with purity of heart and without blame. Let us pray for our love to abound more and more so that we may be a blessing to many more.

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