Intercessory Prayer–Philippians 1:4

Mike Leake
“…always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy…”

It has been said of Richard Baxter that”he stained his study walls with praying breath”[1] I have been told a similar but somewhat different story of Baxter: I had heard that today you can still see where he stained the walls in his prayer closet with his tears. Either way, Baxter prayed as he preached, “As a dying man to dying men”. What Baxter was doing, and the Apostle Paul before him, is called intercessory prayer–coming before God and pleading on behalf of other men.

This is precisely what we see Paul doing in Philippians 1:4. It was Jewish custom in Paul’s day to pray at specific times. Perhaps, Paul had a specific time where he would pray specifically for the Philippians. Or Paul could be saying that whenever he prays he never forgets to pray for the Philippians. Either way Paul prays for them with with joy.

Not only does Paul pray with joy but he prays for ALL of the Philippians. It is not by accident that Paul includes the word “all”. Even upon a cursory reading of his letter to the Philippians you can detect that they are struggling with disunity. Throughout the letter Paul is going to be encouraging the Philippians in their advancement of the gospel to do so in unity. Paul is saying that he comes before God daily to intercede on their behalf (every believer at Philippi).

I could preach an entire year on prayer and still not exhaust it’s importance. What I want you to catch in this brief devotional is that Paul prayed passionately with joy for the Philippians, and he prayed for all of them. In our ministry here at New London, I can testify to you that God moves through the prayers of His people.
I have a list in my office of people that show no evidence of spiritual fruit, I pray for them frequently. I pray for your families. I pray for you. I also keep a personal list of each of your names. On one side of the paper are the names of those of you who show evidence of spiritual fruit. I pray for you that God might continue to grow you and produce in you spiritual fruit (that He might make you worthy of the gospel). In the middle I have names of some of you that make professions of faith but it is not obvious whether you follow Christ or the world. For you I pray that God might make known to you, and to us, where you stand. If you do not know the Lord, I pray that he draws you to himself. If you do know the Lord, I pray that you might be given a passion for His glory and that you might be completely sold-out to Christ. Lastly, on the left-hand column is a list of those of you who do not show evidence of spiritual fruit. I consistently pray for your souls. I plead with God to do a mighty work in your life and to save you! Let me tell you, there are few greater joys in my life than moving a name from the left or middle to the far-right! There is nothing better than experiencing God! What a joy to see prayer answered in your lives.

Upon the topic of prayer, ask yourself these questions:

  • Do I pray?
  • Do I pray more for others or for myself?
  • Do I see answers to my prayers? (If not, you are in trouble at the heart of your relationship with God).
  • Am I able to pray with joy?

[1] E.M. Bounds, “Purpose in Prayer”, http://www.oldlandmarks.com/embpurp.htm

Philippians series begins

Mike Leake

Our series on Philippians has begun. If all goes as planned the series should last 13 weeks. The primary theme of Philippians is ADVANCE THE GOSPEL! Throughout the series we will have daily devotionals–so check the webpage every day for updates. The goal of these daily devotionals is to introduce you to the letter to the Philippians, but more than that, to introduce you to the living God. You can use these devotionals to assist in your daily time alone with God. I would suggest throughout this week to read Philippians 1:1-8 each morning along with the devotional. Think about the questions that are asked of you from this text. Also, try to answer on your own the question, “Where is the grace of God in this passage”. Be certain to spend your day consistently with God–and not only in these 5-10 minute devotionals! God is good and is worthy of our every second. Do not rip yourself off–spend every moment with the Living God!

We also have the sermon from Wednesday, “Live like it is precious” at the following address:
http://uncutsermons.blogspot.com/2007/03/live-like-its-precious-philippians-127.html

Do not forget to read every devotion careful. On Wednesday March 7th there will be a giveaway for the one who can answer the most questions about Philippians 1:1-8. Prizes will be awarded!!

Thankfulness for the Work of God

Mike Leake
Philippians 1:3
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you…”
A story is told of a pastor on a short-term mission trip that was leading worship in a leper colony. A woman who had been facing away from the pulpit turned around. “It was the most hideous face I had ever seen”, said the pastor. “The woman’s nose and ears were entirely gone. She lifted a fingerless hand in the air and asked, “Can we sing “Count Your Many Blessings”?” Overcome with emotion the pastor had to leave the service. He was followed by a team member who said, “I guess you’ll never be able to sing that song again.” “Yes I will,” he replied, “but I’ll never sing it the same way.”
You will not pick up the marvelous words of Paul in Philippians unless you understand his situation as he is writing this. More than likely as Paul is writing he is either shackled to a Roman guard or one who is close by, restricting Paul’s movement. Even though Paul is in prison he still “thanks God”. We find later that he is not only thanking God but also thanking Him with joy.

What causes prisoner Paul to bust out into joyous thanksgiving? The first thing you need to know about Paul, and if you do not catch this then nothing else will make sense, is that when Paul calls himself (and Timothy) a servant of Jesus Christ, he means it. He really does mean that his will is completely given over to another. He is consumed and captivated by Jesus Christ. Paul has one passion, and that is for Christ to be honored (or to put that another way for God to be glorified). Paul’s passion in life is that he personally might know God and to be used by Him to spread His glory to the nations. If you miss this then you are going to miss everything else.

It is because Paul is seeing his passion fulfilled, and living with the knowledge that his desire (that God be glorified) will never be thwarted. Furthermore, Paul is filled with joy because he loves the Philippians and is seeing fruit of the work of God in their lives. He loves Christ and His kingdom and is seeing it advance in the lives of the Philippians. Therefore, he is thanking God for His work in advancing the gospel. As Paul is remembering the work of God in the lives of the Philippians, he breaks forth in praise to God!

  • Does the work of God in the lives of other believers cause you to burst with joy and thanksgiving? (If not you should be concerned for your soul).
  • Are you as passionate about the glory of God as Paul was: so that, in all circumstances you can praise God because His glory is being spread?

What is a “doulos” and why do you need to be one?

Mike Leake 1 Comment
“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus…”

Philippians 1:1

We treasure freedom. Each person longs to be truly free. Perhaps this is a desire that God has for us as well. We know from Scripture that if Christ has set us free, then we are free indeed (John 8:36), and that “it is for freedom that we have been set free” (Galatians 5:1). However, in the same vain, the Bible also teaches that we are slaves: either to God (Romans 6:22) or to sin, self, and Satan (John 8:34, 2 Peter 2:19, Ephesians 2:1-3). Romans 6:16 sums this point up beautifully, “Do you know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness”. The simple truth is that we are all slaves (in that we are held captive by our desires-either good or bad).

In Philippians 1:1, Paul employs the Greek word doulos (douloi plural), which is often translated “servant” or “bond-servant” (sometimes even “slave”). In the Greco-Roman culture doulos referred to “a class of people who were at the bottom of the social order. They became slaves, for example, through war, debt, capital convictions, and simply being born from a slave mother. In any case there were slave dealers who acquired them and sold them as property. Slaves had no rights, privileges, or freedoms in any sphere of society outside the family to which they belonged, though some of them, including doctors and accountants, were more educated than their owners.” [1] 
A doulos is one who has given his will up completely to that of his master. Paul and Timothy (like contemporary believers) have been bought by Christ Jesus. They (like we who have been redeemed) have been bought by Him and are therefore His servants; they had completely given up their own wills to that of their master-Jesus. The question to ask yourself today (and everyday) is not “will I be a servant” or “will I be a slave”. The question to ask is this, “whom will I be a servant of” or “whom will I be a slave to”.
  • Does your life model a doulos (slave) of Christ Jesus or of self, sin, and Satan?
  • Today, ask yourself this question, “What would my life look like if I were a doulos of Christ”?

For Further study I would like to refer you to the following websites: Samuel Bolton’s True Christian Freedom can be found at http://www.the-highway.com/truefreedom_Bolton.html and for further information on the utter inconsistency of a Libertarian Freedom of the Will check out http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/libertarian.html