Joy and Prayer
Notes
Transcript
Pray for the Unity of theChurch
Pray for the Unity of theChurch
Paul in his letter shows the healthy habit he has of prayer.
Paul and Timothy are slaves of Christ Jesus. Another way to understand Paul’s use of slave is to understand to be instruments for Christ as his servant to do his will. This attitude of service.
This attitude of surrendering of the will of God is the mind of Christ. In his introduction he address the church and her leadership and the blessing for the church to know the grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This inference of knowing the Good Good Father.
Knowing salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons. 2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
The unity of the Church through prayer.
The unity of the Church through prayer.
In Paul’s introduction he shows us the church is united with her leadership of the pastors or bishops and deacons. Let us again look at this prayer:
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Give Thanks
Give Thanks
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.
Paul gives thanks for the fellowship he has with them.
Pray with Joy
Pray with Joy
4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,
Always offering prayer with joy-
Always offering prayer with joy-
Prayer is focus conversation to God. Prayer to God should line up with God’s will. God’s desire for redemption should help as a guide to ones prayer life. Paul’s prayer for the Philippians does involve the joy of the partnership in preaching the gospel. Paul also understands that his prayer is for God doing only what God can do in supplying what is lacking. Prayer teaches us to depend on God to fulfill are real need that only he can fill.
Practice of intercessary prayer is to ask God to fille a need for another person. Paul is praying for a need for the Philippians. This need could be uniyt, humility, muctual concern, and etc. Paul continues to offer a pryaer for them. Looks like the Philippians are praying for Paul’s need to be released from prisoin (Phil 1:19) in their correspondence to Paul.
WIth Joy
WIth Joy
Paul offers his prayer with joy!
There are differnt causes for our joy. Joy from the effective work of Adonai as help in battle a reason for Israel to have great joy! The knowledge of the immediate pressence, nearnes and protection of Adonai in times of needs and distress. Adonai’s presence at any time brings joy (Psalm 21:6).
Past deliverance gives one hope for the future in God. The prophets often point to this (Is 40-66) also Zeph 3:14-17. But with the gift of salvation one will experience everlasting joy see Isaiah 51:11.
The NT is the expression of joy because
The NT is the expression of joy because
The gospels express us the purpose of our joy from the the incarnation of the Son of God (Luke 2:10-11).
Jesus shows us the Joy we should have even endure to sacrifice.
Jesus endures the cross for the joy of our salvation.
Therefore, Joy is experienced in suffering and even persecution (Matthew 5:11-12).
11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Let us in prayer find joy even while we are suffering.
Let us in prayer find joy even while we are suffering.
They rejoiced in suffering for the kingdom in Acts 5:41 (c.f. 1 Thess 1:6).
The early church rejoiced in suffering for the sake of the gospel.
Paul is encouraged to suffer for the gospel sake. He is in prison because of preaching the gospel. Will talk about the joy and power of this gospel in future sermons and lessons.
May we follow their lead and seek to find joy in the future.
Let us now in joy seek a better day to come through Jesus.
Let us now in joy seek a better day to come through Jesus.
We wait for the consumation of our joy in the second Advent of Jesus! THis will lead to a chorus of Halelujah! (Rev. 19:1,3,4,6,7).
“Joy is an understanding of existence that encompasses both elation and depression, that can accept with submission events that bring delight or dismay, because joy allows one to see beyond any particular event to the sovereign Lord who stands above all events and ultimately has control over them” (Gerald F. Hawthorne and Ralph P. Martin, Philippians, WBC 43; Accordance electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004),21.).