This sermon explores discerning God's direction, delighting in His righteousness, and displaying His glory as key aspects of our Christian walk, using Philippians 1:9-11 as a guide.
Good morning, beloved family of God. It is always a joy to gather with you in this sacred place where we come together to worship the One who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Today, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a profound spiritual truth, a truth that will guide us, shape us, and ultimately transform us into the image of Christ.
We turn our hearts and minds now to the book of Philippians, to a passage penned by the Apostle Paul while he was in chains, yet filled with a joy and a peace that surpasses all understanding. Let us hear now the words of Philippians 1:9-11:
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."
In this passage, Paul is not merely providing us with an eloquent prayer, but he is also revealing a blueprint for our Christian walk. He talks about discerning the divine direction, delighting in the divine righteousness, and displaying the divine glory. These are not just words on a page, but they are the rhythm of our faith, the heartbeat of our walk with Christ.
The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right." This discernment that Spurgeon speaks of, that Paul prays for, is the discernment that we need in our daily lives. It is the discernment that will guide us in making decisions that honor God, that reflect His righteousness, and that bring glory to His name.
But how do we delight in divine righteousness? How do we display divine glory? These are the questions we will answer today as we allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate the truths found in this passage.
Let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the privilege of gathering in Your name. We thank you for Your Word, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. As we study this passage today, we pray for discernment, for a deeper understanding of Your righteousness, and for a heart that seeks to bring glory to Your name. Speak to us, Lord, through Your Word. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
As we consider the words of Paul in Philippians, we see a call to discernment. This discernment is not a simple understanding of right and wrong, but a deeper, more profound comprehension of God's will and direction for our lives. It's about recognizing the path God has laid before us and choosing to walk in it. But how do we do this? How do we discern the divine direction?
Firstly, we must understand that discernment is a gift from God. It's not something we can achieve on our own or through our own wisdom. It's a divine gift that comes from the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 12:10, Paul lists discernment among the spiritual gifts given to believers. This means that as followers of Christ, we have access to this gift. We can ask for it, seek it, and cultivate it in our lives. But it's not a gift to be hoarded or used for our own benefit. It's a gift to be used for the edification of the body of Christ and for the glory of God.
Secondly, discernment is closely tied to knowledge and depth of insight. In his prayer, Paul asks that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. This means that as we grow in our love for God and for others, we should also be growing in our knowledge of God and our understanding of His ways. This knowledge and insight are not just about knowing facts about God or understanding theological concepts. They're about knowing God intimately, understanding His character, His love, His grace, and His mercy. They're about seeing the world through His eyes and understanding His heart for His people.
Thirdly, discernment requires a pure and blameless life. Paul prays that we may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. This doesn't mean that we have to be perfect or without sin. We know that's not possible this side of heaven. But it does mean that we should strive to live a life that is pleasing to God, a life that reflects His righteousness and holiness. When we live such a life, we are better able to discern God's will and direction because our hearts and minds are aligned with His.
Lastly, discernment leads to the fruit of righteousness. Paul concludes his prayer by saying that we should be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. This fruit is the evidence of our discernment. It's the tangible result of our understanding of God's will and direction. It's the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that we exhibit in our lives. It's the Christ-like character that we develop as we walk in the divine direction.
As we continue to navigate the spiritual terrain of this passage, we find ourselves drawn to the idea of delighting in divine righteousness ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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