2019 February – Praying for love to abound
Praying for love to abound
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent,” (Phil 1:10)
1. The purpose of Paul’s prayer
a. The purpose of his prayer had to do with the kind of love that they already had
b. They had experienced the affection of Jesus Christ from Paul (Phil 1:8)
c. Love is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22)
2. Love to abound
a. His purpose in praying was for their love to “super abound, to be in excess”
b. From one level to another level
c. Love is something that should be increasing and super abounding
3. The sphere in which this love is to be applied
a. It is in the sphere of knowledge
b. It is in the sphere of discernment…to perceive things with wisdom
c. While we want to increase our love, it should be applied with deep understanding and wisdom in life and ministry
The result of praying for our love to abound
1. This is the result of praying for our love to increase in all knowledge and discernment
2. The results
a. It is to be able to approve things
b. We are meant to test and approve things wisely
c. To approve the things that are more excellent