Philippians 1:3-11
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Being confident of this: that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you since I have you in my heart, and whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may 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."
In this passage, Paul writes a heartfelt letter to the church in Philippi. The book of Philippians is, in fact, a letter written by Paul to the believers in Philippi. During this time, Paul was imprisoned, likely in Rome, and awaiting trial. Despite being in chains, Paul wrote to encourage the church to continue in prayer, regardless of their struggles.
He begins by expressing gratitude: “I thank my God every time I remember you.” Paul’s prayer is always filled with joy. So, how do we pray with joy, especially during difficult times?
I recently came across an email from a church member who shared a story about prayer. This individual had a negative experience in their church, and after talking to the pastor, nothing much changed. He considered leaving the church, but as he prayed about it, God led him to stay and continue teaching Sunday school, a task God had given him. He felt God also prompting him to pray for those who had hurt him. However, he admitted that was the last thing he wanted to do. He wanted to retaliate, not pray for them. But, trusting in God’s Spirit, he began praying for them. Yet, every time he prayed, there was bitterness in his heart, and his prayers lacked joy. He struggled because of the deep hurt they had caused.
Paul, writing this letter from prison, was in chains, awaiting a trial that could lead to his death. Despite knowing this, Paul’s prayers were always filled with joy for others. This challenged me as I prepared for this message: How much joy do I have when I pray?
Oftentimes, we approach prayer burdened by our troubles. We tell God about our back pain, financial struggles, family issues, and everything weighing us down. It’s difficult to feel joyful when you’re facing such challenges. We are human, after all, and we feel pain and suffering. Yet, we can still find joy in prayer because we have a God who listens to every word we say.
This joy doesn’t come from our circumstances; it comes from the knowledge that God hears us. No need or request is too small or insignificant for Him. While we may rate our needs as “big” or “small,” God sees each one as important because we are His children. And because He knows what is best for us, we can find joy in trusting that He will provide exactly what we need, when we need it.
We also need to learn to be thankful when we pray for others, even those who have hurt us. We can be grateful that it wasn’t us who caused the hurt. For example, there was a pastor who was robbed on the street. Naturally, the congregation was angry and wanted action taken. However, the pastor said, “Let us pray for the community and for those who robbed me. I’m thankful that I wasn’t the one who did the robbing.”
We may experience suffering, but God sees the bigger picture, one we often cannot. Our sufferings—whether physical pain, emotional distress, or life’s other trials—are part of God’s greater plan. He can bring all things together for good, even if we don’t see it in the moment.
Prayer connects us to the Creator who knows our every need. The Bible speaks of prayer as a “sacrifice” like the offerings made in the Jewish tradition, where the aroma of burning incense rose to God as a pleasing fragrance. Similarly, in Revelation, we read that the prayers of the saints rise before God like sweet incense. This shows how valuable our prayers are to Him. When we pray, the world around us experiences the aroma of our faith and devotion.
The aroma of worship and the aroma of prayer are closely related. In Revelation, we see that the prayers of the saints rise to God like a sweet fragrance. In Revelation 5:8, it says that the prayers of the saints are presented before God as incense. And who are the saints? According to Scripture, we are—the believers in Jesus Christ. Our prayers ascend to God like the aroma of a sacrificial offering, a pleasing fragrance that reaches Him.
When we start praying, the world around us can "smell" that aroma. This is the beauty of Christian prayer—it has the power to transform a bad situation into one of hope. Through prayer, others can see a new perspective, something better in their own lives and the lives of those around them. Prayer helps shift the focus from frustrations and failures to hope and faith in God.
Prayer is a two-way communication. When we go to God in prayer, we should be joyful, not only because we are talking to Him, but because God is speaking to us as well. How often do we fail to let God speak to us? We are often so busy listing all of our concerns that we forget to listen. We must take time to be still, to listen to God, because He will speak to us. He will show us the direction we need to go. As we sang a couple of Sundays ago, “God Will Make a Way.” When we pray, God knows our situation. He knows our struggles, and He will make a way when there seems to be no way.
Prayer is a two-way conversation. Not only do we speak to God, but He also speaks to us. Yet, how often do we fail to listen? We’re often so busy with our requests that we don’t take time to hear His voice. But if we pause to listen, God will speak to us, showing us the way, guiding us just as we sang in the song, “God Will Make a Way.” Even when the path seems unclear, God can make a way where there seems to be no way.
Prayer also connects us with one another. Paul tells the Philippians, “I remember you all in my prayers.” As a pastor, I make it a point to pray for each of you every day. This connects us, reminding me of those I pray for and ensuring that I don’t forget them. As believers, we should pray for each other, even if we don’t know someone personally. We all have needs—whether physical, financial, or emotional—and through prayer, we can bring joy to each other by lifting one another up.
I remember a time when I was laid off unexpectedly. During that difficult period, I asked many people to pray for me. I also posted a request on a global prayer board. Surprisingly, a year later, someone from Vietnam reached out to ask if I had found a job. Though I didn’t know this person, they had been praying for me all along. That is the beauty of joyful prayer—caring for someone else’s needs, even when you don’t know them personally.
Prayer is also powerful in uniting families. As family bonds weaken in today’s society, prayer can bring families back together. A family that prays together stays together. Prayer is crucial for maintaining unity in both our families and our church.
It costs us nothing to pray. It requires no great effort, yet it is a privilege God has given us to intercede for others. Every prayer has the potential to bring change—whether in the person we are praying for or within ourselves. When Job prayed for his friends, God blessed him. When we pray for others, God works in us and through us. Sometimes, the situation doesn’t change, but God changes our perspective, allowing us to trust in His goodness and timing.
Finally, prayer unites us as the body of Christ. A praying church is a strong church. When we come together in prayer, nothing can stand against us. As we continue to grow as a church, let us also grow as a praying community. Together, we will experience the joy, strength, and unity that come from a life of prayer.
Comments
Post a Comment