“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so 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.” (Philippians 1:9-11)
Paul wrote to the church in Philippi to thank the Lord for their support of him while He was in prison. They were faithful brethren who embraced the truth of the gospel He had preached to them and were, in turn, preaching that gospel to others while resisting and exposing the lies of false teachers. The Philippian believers supported him with prayer, finances and hospitality all of which endeared them to his heart. He prayed that the Lord would continue to sanctify them, that they would grow in faith. Their growth enabled him to continue his ministry despite the obstacles he faced, especially his present imprisonment.
Paul’s words served to encourage the Philippians to remain steadfast in righteousness and grow in faith. They encourage us to do the same in our own world which is quite like the first century Roman Empire, filled with hatred, violence, and a host of false religions and humanistic philosophies that compete for the hearts and minds of our fellow human beings. When we see the wicked prosper, when we see these false teachings infiltrate the Church, when we face obstacles and problems that seem to hinder the work of the ministry we tend to get upset and aggravated. Rather than respond in this way, Paul encourages us to see these tribulations as opportunities, not as a reason to shrink back from preaching or from living a life pleasing to God. Rather, with the strength and wisdom imparted to us by the indwelling Holy Spirit, such obstacles can be overcome and nullified. With God’s help those false teachings become opportunities to spread the truth of the gospel of faith in Jesus.