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Welcome back to another one of our studies in Philippians and Colossians. This quarter, our theme is uniting heaven and earth. We're in lesson two, reasons for thanksgiving and prayer. This lesson is largely about intercessory prayer, and we'll study the contents of Paul's intercessory prayer.
But before we jump right into the lesson, I want to just pause for a moment and raise this question. If God already knows and God is already doing everything he can to save your son, your daughter, your husband, your wife, your friend, your neighbor, why pray?
Paul believed in intercessory prayer. He's isolated. He's alone, hundreds of miles away in a Roman prison. He believes that as he prays, his prayers go up to heaven and God sends angels down or the Holy Spirit down to touch the hearts and minds of the Philippians and the Colossians. One thing's for certain, Paul believed in intercessory prayer. Another thing's for certain, intercessory prayer is biblical.
Although we may not understand everything about the ministry of intercession, this we can understand that there is a conflict between good and evil, a conflict between Christ and Satan in the universe. There's a great controversy. And one of the ground rules of that great controversy is that God will not violate our freedom of choice. So therefore, God is doing everything he can to win that loved one that doesn't know Jesus. But God is limited. God sends his Holy Spirit to their mind. God brings deep conviction to their heart. God arranges circumstances in their life. God brings people into their life to influence them. But God is limited by their choice.
When we pray for somebody else, God can turn to Satan and say, "Look, although I respect that person's of freedom of choice not to respond, I respect Mark's pastor Mark's freedom of choice to pray. I respect John or Mary's freedom of choice or Alice or Peter's freedom of choice to pray. And as Alice and Peter and John and Mary pray, the Holy Spirit is poured out through them to touch the life in a more powerful way."
Ellen White makes this statement. She says in Great Controversy, page 525, "God will do an answer to the prayer of faith, that which he would not do we not thus pray." In a ministry of healing, page 509, it says, "Prayer and faith will accomplish what no power on earth will accomplish." So although intercessory prayer may not be fully understood in its depth by all of us or any of us, one thing we know, God respects our freedom of choice to pray for others and our prayers make a dramatic difference. The Apostle Paul believed that we jump right into Sunday's lesson.
Philippians 1:3-8 is the prayer of the Apostle Paul for the church at Philippi. And he says in Philippians 1:3, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy." So Paul, what what are you requesting? It says you make requests with joy. What are you requesting? He then says, "For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day till now, being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Paul was praying for them, and he believed that the Christ that began a good work in them would finish the work that Christ began. Isn't that good news? What Jesus has begun in you, what Jesus has started in you, Jesus is going to finish. Then it says, "Just as it is right," I'm reading verse 7, "For me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart in so much as both in my chains and in defense and confirmation of the gospel." He says then in verse 8, "For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you with all affection of Jesus Christ."
Paul says, "I'm in prison. I'm in the chains, but I'm longing for you." Paul note, under Sunday's lesson, Paul established the church in Philippi. Thus, we can see the warmth of Christian fellowship pervading his letter. Though separated by hundreds of miles, Paul chained and imprisoned, carries the church and its members on his heart. He longs for them. Can you He He carries them on his heart. He's burdened for them. He wants them not to be despondent, discouraged, or disappointed because he's in prison. He writes to them to tell them, "I'm okay, and I'm praying for you. You're on my heart."
Can you think of any other experience or expression in the Bible that talks about being on your heart? That's right. The high priest, the high priest of Israel had the 12 stones representing these 12 precious gems, different gems, of course, on his breastplate. They represented Israel. Every stone was the name of a different tribe of Israel. He bore them on his heart. Jesus bears us on his heart. Jesus intercedes for us in heaven. Jesus is our great high priest and because he is we can intercede for others. We join Christ in his intercession and as he carries his people on his heart we carry God's people on our heart. This is what Paul is saying in Philippians chapter 1. He's saying bear you one another's burdens. Galatians 6:2. And he's saying here in Philippians one, bear one another on your heart. Be concerned about one another, care for one another, love one another, pray for one another. Bearing one another on our heart means we're burdened enough about the salvation of others, about the trials of others, about the difficulty of others to carry them on our heart.
What did Paul pray for when he prayed for the church at Philippi? Philippians chapter 1 verse 9-11, we read it this I pray. Okay, this what he's praying. He's telling you that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and discernment. So he's praying that they'll be filled with the love of God and the love of God will be so impactful on other lives that they too will see Jesus. It says in verse 9, "This I pray that your love will abound still more and more your knowledge and all discernment." He's praying that they would grow in a knowledge of the word of God, that they would continue to grow in their faith. He's praying also that they'd have discernment. If we ever needed discern minutes today, to discern between truth and error, to be discerning between right and wrong, to discern between what the Bible says in human tradition, God give us discernment. It is written that the track of truth and the track of error lie so closely together that they will not be discernible except by minds worked by the Holy Spirit. Let's pray for others that they'll be filled with God's love. Let's pray for others, our brothers, our sisters in the church, that they too would be filled with the knowledge of God and that they'd have discernment. And let's ask them to pray for us that we have love and knowledge and discernment.
But this is not the end of Paul's prayer. He says that you may approve all things that are excellent. What does it mean that you may approve all things that are excellent in the Greek language? That word simply means uh be very sincere. In other words, uh be transparent, be open, be honest. Don't have a hypocritical life. Don't say one thing and do another thing, but approve those things that are excellent. Live a life in harmony with the will of God that is pleasing to God. Then it goes on to say that you may be sincere without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. Can you think about what the fruits of righteousness are? love, joy, peace, longsuffering, temperance. So here Paul is praying that the fruits of the spirit be manifest in the lives of the Philippians.
If I can summarize his prayer, I would summarize his prayer this way. Paul prays that the Philippians will be filled with the love of God. That they would have the knowledge of God's word. That they would have discerning faith that could tell the difference between truth and error. and that their lives would be filled with the fruits of the Holy Spirit. We can pray that prayer for our husband, our wife, our son, our daughter, our children, our neighbors. Paul's prayer really becomes a model prayer for us.
Now, how do you apply this uh spiritual discernment? Um we look at this in Tuesday's lesson, the paragraph that introduces the question. The Philippians were understandably distressed when they heard of Paul's imprisonment. Now, his work was severely limited. He could not travel. He could not preach. He could not visit the synagogues and teach people about Jesus as the Messiah. He could no longer raise up churches. The Philippians sent Ephraditis to ascertain the apostles condition to encourage him, to ensure that his physical needs were being met. So, here Ephroditis comes, he travels those hundreds of miles. That's what you do for a friend. That's what you do for a brother in Christ. The Philippians said, "We have to check this out. We have to help Paul. We have to assist Paul in any way that we can."
And then Paul wants to make it clear to the Philippians how he understands his imprisonment. So, Philippians chapter 1 and we're looking in Philippians 1 12-18. But I want you to know, brothers, he said, "Don't don't get discouraged. I want you to know this that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel." I'm in prison. He turns out to the furtherance of the gospel. How does that happen? So that it has become evident to the whole palace guard. That's the ptorium. That's the Roman soldiers and to all the rest that my chains are in Christ. Paul says this is my assignment. I've always wanted to come to Rome, but this is my assignment to witness to the Roman soldiers, to witness to the household of Caesar. And most of the brethren in the Lord have become confident in my chains. In other words, this had a double blessing. First, I could witness in Rome to the highest authorities and to the Roman soldiers. But second, seeing me in prison that I'm not preaching. God has raised up others who, seeing my faithfulness in prison, have been faithful to go out to preach the word of God. It's like it was said years ago by Tertillian, one of the early Christians. He said, "The more you try to destroy us, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the gospel." Yes, God uses imprisonment and at times the brutality of martyrdom to raise up other others who will seize the moment and go out and preach the gospel.
Then it says most of the brethren in the Lord having become confident in my chains are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Then he says some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife. Some also from good will. The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not s sincerely supposeding to add affliction to my chains, but the latter out of love, knowing that I'm appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached. Verse 18, and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
What's Paul saying? He's saying, look, because I'm in prison, some have been raised up. They've seen my difficulty. They've seen my challenge. and they have preached the gospel. They've had courage. They're not having fear anymore. But others from selfish motives. Maybe they've even been a little bit glad that I'm in prison. Maybe they want the honor. Maybe their hearts are filled with pride. Maybe they want the prestige that can come from being recognized. And then Paul makes this incredible statement. Not one word of criticism comes out of his mouth. He said, "However Christ is preached, I'm thankful to God for that." Paul has real spiritual discernment. He's discerning that being in prison is not a trial that's going to overwhelm him, but it's an assignment that God has given him. He's discerning that his imprisonment is going to cause others to go out to preach the gospel. The Apostle Paul, a man of courage, of faith, of love, of grace, and of discernment. And Paul recognizes that even in his trials, he'll get some gospel fruit.
Paul's relationship with the Colossians was different from his relationship with those in Philippi. Why? And how? He knew the Philippians. He had been there. He had walked their streets. He had entered their shops. He had fellowshipped in their homes. He had eaten at their tables. They were his brothers, his sisters in Christ. But he had never visited Colossia. He had met Anessimus, the runaway slave, one of the Colossians, who told him about Phileiman, and told him about the faith of Colossia. He knew that the Colossians were committed believers, but he had a different relationship with them. He included them among those who have not seen my face in the flesh. Colossians 2:1. Nevertheless, Paul assures them as he did the Philippians that he thanks God for them that he's always praying for them.
So, let's look at Paul's prayer for the Colossians in Colossians chapter 1 verse 3-8. And let's see how that is similar to his prayer for the Philippians. Colossians 1 verse 3-8. "We give thanks to the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you." Paul was a man of intercession. Paul believed in intercession. Paul saturated his life with intercession in praying for others. "Since we heard of your faith in Jesus and of your love for all the saints, because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of truth, and of the gospel, which is come to you as it has to all the world."
Now Paul says the gospel is going out to the world. What does Paul mean by that? He's in prison yet he's preached to various cities throughout Asia Minor. They have then hearing Paul's preaching and having been converted go out to the rest of Asia Minor, go out through Europe, go out through the far east preaching the gospel. So also he has written letters to them. I would never think that Philippians simply was written in one letter and sent to the church at Philippi. When the church of Philippi got it, what did they do with it? Well, they wanted to circulate it, right? and they wanted to circulate these divine truths. So the apostle Paul is using his influence to influence as many people as possible. Then he says this which has come to you as it has verse six in all the world and is bringing forth fruit as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God. As you also learn from Epherus, our dear fellow servant who is faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love for in the spirit.
So what Paul is saying is look, I'm praying for you. I am praying that you're going to be faithful to the gospel. I'm praying that as you've heard the word of God, you're going to take it and share it with others. What a prayer. What a prayer. Paul praying to a church that he's never met, to people he's never met. Paul praying that those who've been touched by the spirit, those who have been charmed by love, those who have been redeemed by grace would be mighty witnesses for him. And he says, what does he say about fruit in the gospel? He says which has come to you. That's the gospel has come to you as it also in all the world and is bringing fruit. What does it mean is bringing fruit in your life? You are being transformed by grace and you are sharing that with others. God indeed moves powerfully when we embibe the gospel. We have to share the fruit with others.
Prayer power Thursday's lesson. Colossians 1 9-12. What does Paul want for them? "For this reason," Colossians 1 verse 9, "For this reason we also since the day we heard it don't cease to pray for you to ask that you be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that you may walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing to him being fruitful in every good work increasing in the knowledge of God strengthened with all might according to his glorious power for all patience and longsuffering with joy giving thanks to the Father who's qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."
What does Paul pray? He prays this for them. He prays that they would have a knowledge of the word. That the word of God would fill their hearts, fill their lives, that the word of God would give them direction and guidance. Now notice scripture says, "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." How is it that we receive guidance when we face perplexing decisions? Paul's prayer gives us some clues here, doesn't it? It says that you may walk a life fully pleasing to God. And it says you might know the knowledge of God's will. Well, how do you know the knowledge of God's will? You only know the knowledge of God's will if you're willing to live a life pleasing to God. Those two things are connected. Jesus says in John 7:17, "If any man will do his will, he'll know of the doctrine." So to know a knowledge of God's will, you have to be willing to do God's will.
Are you faced with some decisions that you need to make? Are you faced with some challenges? Does the future of time look a little foggy? Here are four criteria to find God's will. First, ask yourself, what does divine inspiration say about the topic that I have a decision to make on the subject? I have a decision to make. What does divine inspiration say? First, consult the Bible and consult the modern gift of prophecy that often will give us direction on what to say or do. 7th Day Adventists believe that the Bible is a source of inspiration and gives us direction. We also believe that God blessed Ellen White with visions and dreams and her counsel is valid for today and as we study that counsel, we will get wisdom and direction. So first study the divine sources.
Second watch the providences of God. God gu guides us through the providences. What are providences? They're divine supernatural happening. God opens doors. God opens opportunities. I was talking to somebody this week about guidance. And I said to them, let's pray that God will open a door for you in this particular field and it will be so obvious to you that you'll know exactly what God wants you to do. So the first thing we do is dedicate our hearts to God. Once we've done that and we tell God we're willing to do whatever he wants us to do in this decision. Once we've done that, we look at four criteria. One, divine inspiration, the Bible, the writings veil and white. Secondly, we look for the providences of God, the opening providences of God. Thirdly, we study the convictions of our own heart. We pray that God will give us conviction so we know actually what we ought to do. I've had people say to me, "Should I accept this new opportunity for a job?" And I've said, "Did you believe God led you where you are?" Yes, I do. If you believe God led you where you are, you need more reasons to move than you do to stay. Pray about this. Watch the way God convicts your heart. Watch the way God weighs heavily on your heart and soul what you ought to do. Don't act on a whim, a fancy, an emotion.
What's the difference between an impression and a conviction? What's the difference between those two? What's the difference between a feeling and a conviction? A feeling is here today, gone tomorrow. A conviction is a growing constant awareness that we cannot shake that God wants us to do something. We may get an impression boom today just flash into our head. Be careful about operating on and acting on those kind of impressions. Act on conviction. What is conviction? It is the growing constant awareness that I can't shake that God wants me to do something.
So how am I guided? How am I guided? I'm guided by the Holy Spirit that enables me to look in the Bible in the Rainsville and white. I'm guided by the providences of God as God opens doors of opportunity. I'm guided by the convictions God puts in my heart. And the last thing is at times God uses other people. The Bible says there's wisdom and a multitude of counselors. If you follow those four principles and you're honest with God, play honest with God, he will guide you.
So, what is our takeaway from today's lesson? Our takeaway is this. Paul prayed for the church at Philippi. He prayed for the church at Colossia. He prayed that they would be faithful to God. He prayed that they would have wills that were fully pleasing and lives fully pleasing to God. Here's our takeaway. One takeaway I want you to take away today. Dedicate your life to be fully pleasing to God. Ask God to give you an undivided heart. And tell God, "Whatever you want me to do, Lord, I want to do it."
Let's pray. Father in heaven, we thank you with all of our hearts for the opportunity to serve Jesus. We thank you that we can be faithful to you in every circumstance of life. We praise you. We love you. We want to serve you today and always. Help us to to be praying for those loved ones that may not know you that they would have a knowledge of your will and live lives fully pleasing to you in Christ's name. Amen.