"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."-Philippians 2:13

Today as Pastor Drew continues his sermon series on Philippians, we come to chapter 1:9-11. Last week he focused on 1:7, 8 in which he explored what Scripture has to say about our fellowship and our love for one another. We saw that our relationship with one another is based on our relationship with Christ. That relationship with Christ, in turn, is based on His great love for us. 

Today we see what Paul prays for the Philippians. He prays that the deep love of Christ might abound in them "more and more" and that they might be "filled with all knowledge and discernment" (v. 9). The purpose of his prayer is that the Philippians might "approve what is excellent" and be found "pure and blameless" (v. 10). But the proof of their sanctification is that their lives would be "filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ" (v. 11). This involves the process of sanctification. 

So often the fruits of righteousness are not readily apparent in our lives, and we may pray a prayer like this: "Lord, I know that You have accepted me not because of who I am, not because of what I’ve done, not because of what You saw that I would do. I know that You’ve accepted me not because of me, but because of Jesus. I know that You’ve forgiven me. I know You’ve justified me. I know You’ve adopted me. But, Lord, there are sins in me that have a hold on me that make me wonder whether I really love You and trust in You." 

That’s where Philippians 2:13 is so encouraging. Paul says God himself is at work in us already, so that we will want work in order to bear spiritual fruit, and so that we will do it for His good pleasure in us. The Apostle Paul doesn’t say keep on obeying, keep on pursuing Christian maturity in humble service to others because you’ve already been changed; he says because God is at work in you now to change you. The sovereignty of God in our salvation and in our sanctification is not permission for us to be passive; it is a reason for hope. It’s not dependent on our strength but on God’s! 

We close today’s service with Elisabeth Prentiss’ prayerful hymn, More Love to Thee, O Christ. Prentiss was the wife of a Presbyterian minister who suffered great personal loss when two of her children died within days of each other. In her intense grief she began meditating on the story of Jacob. She noted how God had come to Jacob during his moments of sorrow and need. She prayed that she might have a similar experience, and in her meditation and prayer came the four stanzas of her hymn that have since become a universal prayer for devout believers all over the world. As we seek to grow in our sanctification and love of Christ, let’s sing her hymn of prayer: 

"This is my earnest plea, more love, O Christ, to Thee, more love to Thee!