A Rejoicing Life Prays With Joy

We continue with our text as we listen to Paul speak on paper, to the Philippian believers, the Philippian church. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy. Philippians 1: 4.

It is clear that Paul is happy that their doors are open and that they are living in obedience to God. He knows that the Lord God does not want these temple doors shut. He knows that God has accepted and is accepting the offerings of their hands and hearts. He knows in himself, in his spirit, because the Holy Spirit who indwells him, gives him response.

Here’s a little background into what is happening at the moment with Paul. He is communicating with the church in Philippi, by letter, because he is in prison and cannot physically visit them. However, he is not a bitter man, not an angry man because of what has befallen him. His words to the brothers and sisters in Christ are words of hope and rejoicing. He acknowledges, in the service of Jesus Christ, the rivalry and envy which he faces by many who claim to be servants of Jesus. He speaks of those who are against him in this way. He speaks of these enemies as those, who preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. Philippians 1: 17. This matters not to Paul, because he sees the important thing as the Gospel of the Lord being preached, whether by false or true motives.

This causes him to rejoice and even though he is locked up, chained up in prison, he continues to rejoice because he knows that the church at Philippi is praying for him. Listen to what he writes and how he expresses his joy.  Yes, I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. Philippians 1: 18b – 19. Paul is a servant of Jesus whose life is one of rejoicing and utter, daily thankfulness so that it is obvious and natural to pray in such a manner of deep heart joy.  

Paul’s praying for them, with joy is for every single time he prays for them. There are two striking points to which we must hold fast.

The first deals with the prayer itself - In all my prayers.

Doesn’t this mean that no prayer is omitted or not conducive to praying with joy? In other words, whether Paul is praying for their deliverance, their healing, their work in mission or for their daily bread he prays with joy. Regardless of the prayer, in any kind of weather, he prays with joy, when he is praying for them.

The second deals with the people for whom he prays. For all of you.

Doesn’t this mean that no person, no believer, no one who is in service for the Lord is omitted or excluded for any reason? In other words, when Paul prays for these brothers and sisters in Philippi, he is praying for all of them collectively. He is praying for them all, as one heart, one mind, and one mission. Regardless of the work of service being rendered by a person, regardless of whether some are seen and others are unseen and regardless of where one fits into the body of believers, Paul’s prayer includes them all, in his praying with joy.

Many questions stop me in my tracks. How about you?

We’ll look at some of them tomorrow.