Approving What is Excellent
Phippians 1:1-30
May 24, 1992

INTRODUCTION

A. Paul's "Joy and Crown" (4:1)
B. Heart of the letter is their "partnership in the Gospel"

1. Seen in: Confidence (1:6), Excellence (1:10), Servanthood (2), Knowing Christ (3:10)
2. Philippians unwavering support of Paul through all the accusations (from 1st day...)

C. Paul's introduction

1. Privilege: "To all the Saints in Christ Jesus..." (1:1)

a. "Incorporated in Christ Jesus" NEB
b. New status, life and community

2. Partnership in the gospel from the first day until now (1:3,4)
3. Promise: a continued work (1:6)
4. Prayer: a continued growth (1:9-11)

I. PRAYER FOR LOVE

A. "That your love" (Christian love) as opposed to the world's

1. Eros, Phileo, Stergos
2. Agape: a new word for a new experience (John 3:16)
3. "Love one another as I have loved you"

B. Christian love is abounding love

1. Covers a multitude of sins
2. "Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled" (Titus 1:15).

II. PRAYER FOR LIGHT

A. Christian Love is not blind

1. Love does not grow in the dark (void of knowledge)

a. Love calls for knowing more: e.g. dating, spouses, God, friends
b. The world's love is in jeopardy with more knowledge

2. Love is not love that cannot withstand the light

a. Prov. 16:28 "A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends"
b. Prov 17:9 "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends"
c. Prov. 6:16-19
d. Matt 18:15-20 Offenses/Binding/Agreeing

B. Love leads to "depth of insight"

1. Used only here; a form of it in Hebrews 5:14 "`distinguish' between good and evil"
2. A spiritual discernment: spiritual gift

a. What is done with it is not in opposition to love

III. PRAYER FOR LIFE: LIVING THE BEST, PURE, BLAMELESS, AND FRUITFUL (10-11)

A. All that God has done "in" us must be seen "through" us

B. What does this kind of love look like??

1. Discerns what is best/Approves what is excellent

a. Personal decisions come from who you are more than what you know
b. Personal behavior: approval or disapproval

(1) Doesn't take a brain surgeon to find what seems to be wrong
(2) Heavenly quality of love over looks a fault (love covers a multitude Pr 10:12)

c. Lack of discernment believes accusations without regard for the telltale sign of bitterness and unforgiveness

2. Pure, sincere, sun-tested (i.e. without wax - the heat of the day to find out)
3. Blameless
4. Filled with the fruit of righteous

a. Spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control