By Pastor Dan Hickling

In this passage, Paul makes a transition in his letter to the Philippian Church. He moves from his introduction and declaration of his love for the Philippians to expressing a very specific prayer for them. And as we will see, this prayer penned by Paul for the Philippians is also a prayer that reaches across the centuries to us, as well.

First, Paul prays the Philippian’s love would grow. By “love,” we aren’t talking about earthly affection. It’s not a “birds of a feather flock together” sort of situation. Instead, he’s praying for an increase in the supernatural “agape” type of love. This love is unconditional and comes to us directly from God, Himself. Notice how Paul puts this at the head of his prayer list, which reminds us that in the Christian life, nothing is more important than love. Love makes everything else fall into its proper place. And if we’re going to do anything well, we need to love well!

Paul then prays the Philippian’s knowledge would grow. As strong as the Philippians were in their understanding of the Lord and faith, there was still room to grow. In a wonderful way, the Christian is always a student. There’s always something new for us to learn about our eternal and infinite God. Ours is a lifestyle of discovery, and as we discover more and more about the Lord, we grow closer to Him.

Next, Paul prays the Philippian’s discernment would grow. This prayer has a logical progression because discernment is the practical application of spiritual knowledge. It’s taking spiritual information and truth and then putting it to use in real-world scenarios of life. We make our decisions about things based on what we discern about them. This is why some have a lot of knowledge, yet their lives are in shambles. They have the data but lack the discernment on how to use it to their advantage. Paul wanted something so much better for the Philippians, which is why he prays for an increase in discernment. This would allow them to approve of what was right and live sincerely and inoffensively in the eyes of God.

Lastly, Paul prays the Philippian’s fruitfulness would grow. The fruit he’s referring to is the Christ-like character that comes from being connected to Him. We can’t help but be reminded of Christ’s promise that all those who abide in Him will also be fruitful (John 15:5). Jesus is saying those who are in Him will also be like Him, and that’s the very outcome Paul is praying for here—that they would grow more and more like Jesus, which results in our main mission here on the earth which is to glorify God!

What Paul wanted for the Philippians, the Lord wants for us. He wants us to grow in love, knowledge, discernment, and fruitfulness. May we continue growing according to God’s will as He continues His good work in us!

Pause: What four areas of growth did Paul pray for the Philippians, and why are each important?

Practice: Look at your spiritual life and determine how you are growing and how you might change things to allow for greater growth in these areas.

Try this prayer: Father, You are so faithful to grow Your children. Help us to submit to the growth process You have for us. Help us to grow in the things that are good for our relationship with You and others, and may we live in a state of ongoing abundance. Amen.

How does faith work in relational conflicts? 

As the parent of five children, we had to teach our kids most everything. They did not come out of the womb knowing how to speak, feed themselves, or walk. We had to teach them these things. The one thing we did not have to teach any of our children was how to be selfish or have conflict with others.

We human beings don’t have to learn selfishness; it’s already a part of who we are, hard-wired into our sinful nature. Children quickly learn the word “mine” and know how to pull a toy from another’s hands without an example to go on. Though these self-focused behaviors are easy to spot in a toddler, if we’re honest, not much changes in adulthood. James 3:16 says, “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”

James says that our selfishness shows up in “quarrels” and “fights”:

• driven by our emotional “passions”
• driven by our “friendship with the world”,
• driven by our “pride” as we “speak evil” and “judge” others, which is all a fight with “God” and aligning with “the devil”.

Sometimes we think of spiritual warfare as incredible supernatural activity, but the truth is when we get jealous, angry, and selfish, Team Jesus is losing, and Team Satan is winning.

This passage gets right to the heart of love for self versus love for God and others. When we love only ourselves and put our own self-interests at the forefront of our lives, we are enemies of God and others.

Friendship with God is, in part, humbling ourselves, drawing near to God, and repenting of our sinful bent toward selfishness and having ourselves and not God at the center of our lives and others alongside of us as equally loved by God and needing grace. Humility before God changes the tone of our relationships with others—from fights and quarrels to peace, from judgment and criticism to love.

In chapter 3, James highlighted the good fruit of impartiality and peace. He now warns against the bad fruit of loving the world and seeking our own passions and lusts over living like Christ did.

Having been a senior pastor for half of my life, starting at the age of 25 when I was way too young to be in that position, one thing I can report is simply this. I’ve seen a lot of battles between the proud and the proud, a few beatings on the humble from the proud, but never seen a brutal war between the humble and the humble.

Two humble people tend to forgive one another, get over their issues, move on, try again, heal up, and enjoy their life in a way that proud people never can because they are stuck in the fight and so committed to winning that they never move on to worshipping.

You know that something is demonic when it’s a lose-lose and no one wins. You know that something is of the flesh when it’s a win-lose and one person wins at the expense of the other. You know that something is of the Spirit when it’s a win-win and both live under the grace of God in the newness of life. God is a Father who does not play favorites and seeks good for each of His children. Those who seek humility put themselves in the place where He can bless them and bless others through them so that everyone wins. As someone famously said, humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less so that you can think of God and others more.

What does God promise the humble (4:6, 10)? Honestly, do you fully believe this as an act of faith for the toughest parts of your own life?

Get the Bible app for your phone

Don’t get me wrong, I love my physical Bible – everyone should have one. But having the Bible app on my phone lets me be very disciplined in my reading. I now have no excuse for reading SOMETHING from God’s Word every day.

On top of that, it has different translations that you can switch between at will.

Reading a verse that is not very clear? Simply switch to another translation and you might get some valuable insight.

Also, a big thing, you can find daily devotionals that will help you get through any struggles in life – or even help you read the entire Bible.

Just click this link to add the app to your phone.

Open the app and head to the Plans.

Search by title or on topics of interest to you.

Here are some of my favorites

• Bible in a Year 2022
• Walk to Freedom – Living a Lust Free Lifestyle
• Philippians – Whatever Happens
• Faith Works: a Study in James
• Professional Football Players on Humility and Surrender
• Professional Football and the Bible
• Tear Down These Walls
• Thru the Bible – Romans

Search for this complete devotional (Faith Works: a Study in James)

How does faith work when you want to speak your mind? 

“Loose lips sink ships.” During World War II, this slogan appeared on propaganda posters created and distributed by a major American distiller. The slogan advised servicemen and other American citizens to avoid careless talk about secure military information. Speaking openly about knowledge of a ship’s course might allow the enemy to intercept and destroy American naval ships.

Consider for a moment that, in the day that James warned us to consider our communication, there was no electricity, printing press, or internet. How much more ominous are his words in our day of cell phones, emails, texts, social media, platforms, comments sections, phone calls, videos, and the innumerable other ways we can curse others with our communication?

The Word of God is more timely than ever and careless and uncontrolled speech can bring much destruction unlike any other time in human history.

• How many truths are twisted?
• How many lies are told?
• How many facts are buried?
• How many news stories are fake?
• How many classroom lectures are indoctrination?
• How many ads are false claims?
• How many juicy gossip stories are myths?
• How many social media platforms are throttling good and promoting evil?
• How many politicians know they are spinning facts rather than serving the Father?
• How many lawyers generate income by doing what Paul called suppressing the truth?
• How many PR firms are violating the commands against lying and false witness in favor of building and defending a narrative?

In our world of click-bait and ad revenue cashing in on the emotions of anger and fear, loving God with all our tongue is like fighting gravity.

James’ point is that the communication that comes out of us starts deep in us.  Like a bullet that is fired, or fire that is started, once a word is spoken, we can’t take it back. While we may not attack someone with our fists, our words can still cause major damage even from far away. Our tongue can speak blessing and cursing, life and death. Jesus tells us our mouth speaks about what ultimately fills our heart (Luke 6:45). A haughty heart speaks evil, a holy heart speaks life. Like water that comes from a spring, Jesus was clear that the words we communicate flow from our hearts and expose our deepest selves.

For our words to change, our heart must first change. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to change who we are and what we communicate. Things are so bad it will take a miracle to accomplish these twin tasks. Thankfully, our God specializes in miracles.

In my own failures in this area, one thing I have noticed is that my first response when I am angry, hurt, frustrated, tired, or offended is in the flesh. If I respond quickly, that response is often not the most godly. If I wait, pray, process, journal, go for a walk, and invite the Holy Spirit to change what’s going on inside of me, I find that something very different comes out of me.

Recall a recent instance where your tongue was not tamed. How did it corrupt your whole body and the course of your life (James 3:6)? After reading this section of James, how do you better understand the importance of your tongue and the words you use? Who can you apologize to, own your failures, and invite the Holy Spirit to change how you speak to or about them?

Walking and Growing Daily

I cannot put into words how one’s life will change if you discipline yourself to study the Bible consistently.

I say consistently, not perfectly.

I have tried numerous ways to be consistent with my reading. And for a long time I was frustrated because I wanted to be consistent but couldn’t find the right “formula”. I DID NOT GIVE UP though – I kept trying until I found something that works for me.

I encourage you to keep trying until you find something that works for YOU.

For me it is the Bible App for my phone. Don’t get me wrong, I love my physical Bible, LOVE it. To supplement that, and what helps me be consistent, I found daily devotionals on the Bible App. Using this tool helps me be consistent.

This page represents a collection of devotionals that really hit home for me – come back often to see what’s new!

Find a “formula” that helps you build consistency and don’t stop looking until you do!

A word about this material

I have to give credit to one of the pastors of my Church (Victory Family Church) – Pastor Sean Moore.

In a recent sermon, Sean gave a perspective on supplemental Bible reading. Here it is in a nutshell:

Many Christians have a disciplined devotional life – meaning they are consistent

If you seek God, He meets you and if you are seeking wisdom…He gives it FREELY

When someone puts in the work to study the Bible and writes down the wisdom God gives them, it is the HARVEST for their work

In that harvest, are seeds from God’s word and when we put in the work to study that material, those seeds will become OUR harvest!

AMAZING PERSPECTIVE – thanks Pastor Sean!

Where do you turn when all seems lost? 

Here is an ever growing collection of my “go to scriptures“.

They cover a variety of life’s curve balls – I hope you find help through these just as I have over the years.

I am changing from the inside: Rom 12: 2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

God protects me: Ps 91:11

For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.

God strengthens me: Phil 4:11-14
Not that I speak in respect of want:

For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

God gives me peace: Phil 4:7

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God supplies for my need: Phil 4:19

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus

I am righteous because of Jesus: Rom 3:20-23
For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

God wants more for me: Eph 3:20
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Fervent prayer has much power: Jam 5:16

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The Holy Spirit advocates for me: John 14:16-17
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

The Holy Spirit gave me my own prayer language: Acts 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance

The Holy Spirit helps me know what to pray: Rom 8:26

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

How to handle constructive criticism: Prv 25:11-12

Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket. To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.

Trials: James 1:2, 4-5
[2] My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
[4] But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.