Lesson Notes:  Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV based)

READ:  Philippians 1:9-11, with vv.3-8 for context

v.9
Specifically, what is being prayed for the Philippian saints in v.9, and what are some corresponding implications for each aspect being prayed for?
- - to "abound" in "love"; implies their love is to abound: for others; for God; for righteousness; for serving; in forbearance during suffering; in speech; in conduct; in attitude; in authority; without limit. 
- - to gain "knowledge"; implies spiritual knowledge of: the will of God; the Word of God; how to live a life pleasing to God; how to serve God.
- - to gain a "depth of insight"; implies knowledge about spiritual things may be insufficient to motivate believers into responding appropriately; depth of insight is additionally necessary to supply the extra motivation needed to enact implementation of the gained spiritual knowledge.

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v.10
What reason is given for praying for this abounding love cited in v.9?
- - for enhanced discernment to realize "what is best" - what will prove to be most beneficial for one's life, especially in relation to one's accountability to God;
- - for enhanced discernment to perceive and to grasp the significance of possessing abounding love;
- - for enhanced "discernment" to maximize one's conduct throughout life to please God;
- - for "purity" - living righteously before God for one's entire life; 
- - for "blamelessness" - being found and judged to be without fault.

Do we take this long-term perspective of accountability to God?
- Are we maintaining this perspective, all the way "until the day of Christ"?

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v.11
Essentially, what is added in v.11?
- - an additional description that the result of abounding love should be the producing of righteousness in fullness.

Why does being "filled with the fruit of righteousness" "come through Jesus Christ'?
- - This gaining of righteousness in our life has Jesus Christ as its source of origin.
- - This gaining of righteousness in our life is dependent on Jesus Christ to provide it.
- - This gaining of righteousness in our life is dependent on Jesus Christ to increase the establishing of it in our life.
- - Because this gaining of righteousness in our life is comprehensively dependent upon the grace or the giving of undeserved favor to us from Jesus Christ, then He is the one who should receive "the glory and praise" for this.

What does "filled" imply on a practical level about our gaining of righteousness in our life?
- - implies no gaps or failures of the righteousness in our life;
- - implies no relapses into sinfulness - no venting of sinfulness, no indulging in sinfulness;
- - instead there is to be consistency, continuity, steadfastness, unwavering, strong faith, faithfulness.

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vv.9-11
In general summary, what is Paul praying for the Philippian saints in vv.9-11?
- - their spiritual growth;
- - their spiritual maturity;
- - their learning of Bible doctrines;
- - development of their character;
- - development of their conduct;
- - change in their lives - towards godliness;
- - their producing of fruit in correlation to the righteousness they gain.

Would the things being prayed for here be relative to and customized to only the Philippians, or is there some other application that can be made from this?

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MAIN POINT:  What would you say is the main point in these verses?

IMPORTANT SUB-POINTS:  What are some other important points God is making here in these verses?

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APPLICATIONS:  What applications can you think of for how we should respond to the concepts in these verses? 

PERSONALIZED APPLICATIONS:  From these verses, what do you think God wants you to learn, or know, or remember, or put into effect in your life?  How are you going to do that?

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Works Cited:
Bible. “The Holy Bible: New International Version.” The Bible Library CD-ROM. Oklahoma City, OK: Ellis Enterprises, 1988.
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Copyrights:
Scriptures taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
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Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Copyright © 2014 Mel W. Coddington, and permission is hereby granted that this document may be used, copied, and distributed non-commercially to non-profit organizations, individuals, churches, ministries, and schools worldwide, provided the copies are distributed at no charge and retain this sources documentation as supplied herein. This document is not for sale, resale, or for use as a gift or premium to be offered in connection with solicitations or contributions.
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File name: Philippians1_9-11-LessonNotes.___ (.htm, .doc, .pdf)
Translation used: NIV, quoted or referred to in various places within this document
Source: www.BelieverAssist.com
Updated: December 3, 2016