PAUL'S PRAYER FOR THE PHILIPPIANS - PART 1

THURSDAY 25 MAY 2023

In this very article, I'm introducing this topic about Paul's heartfelt prayer for the Philippians contained in Philippians 1:3-11, and its my brief introduction to the direct expression of a profound delight or great pleasure, which he had in the Philippian saints, whom he considered as his joy and crown. In the context of his prayer, he thanked God for their rich and continued fellowship, sympathetic cooperation, immense contributions and unwavering partnership in advancing the good news (the Gospel) starting from the very first day they heard it.

Reference: Philippians 1:3-5 The Message (MSG) "Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present."

Here is the rest of Paul's complete prayer and thanksgiving for the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with their bishops (overseers) and deacons (assistants):

"I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonments and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are fellow partakers of my grace. For God is my witness, how I long after you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all discernment, that you may approve things that are excellent so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, being filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:6-11).

His opening blessing to the Philippian saints in this Chapter was - grace and peace from God, the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. And the significant remarks in his prayers hold a hearty acknowledgement of the saints, relating to the inspiring level of their spiritual development, plus fervency of their faith walk, which denotes the weight of the saints' love for the Lord.

More so, the enthusiasm with which Paul unfolded his thanksgiving and directed his prayer to God on their behalf is symbolic of his genuine love for the saints. Stay tuned for the rest of the successive parts, which contain an in depth analysis of Pauline prayer for the Philippians. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - 1 Timothy 2:1-4; Romans 1:9; 2 Timothy 2:1; 3 John 1:2.

Exuberant Declaration: My heartfelt prayer for the saints is quick and active, and its guided by the wisdom of the Spirit. It supplies the saints with all diligence, spiritual facilities, correctness and excellence, thereby empowering them to keep fulfilling the perfect will of God for their lives. Praise God!