love abounding in knowledge philippians 1:9-11 by david turner

Love Abounding in Knowledge

Philippians 1:9-11

By David Turnerwww.BibleStudies-Online.com

Have you met someone with knowledge but lacking love?

• A college professor?– Knows the material but cares little for the student.

• A young pastor?– Knows the Bible, can expound the Scriptures, but

has little patience or love for his flock.• An employer?

– Knows how to make a buck, but cares little for his employees or the customer.

Some Christians, even churches have knowledge but lack love.

The Corinthians church was bless with all the gifts, including knowledge, but were

lacking in love.

Paul scorned the Corinthians for their lack of love.

Knowledge w/out love is vanity.

1 Corinthians 13:1–2 (ESV) 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels,

but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic

powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to

remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

But What about Love without knowledge?

Can someone have love, but be in danger because the love is not coupled with knowledge?

• The teacher that loves his students, but lacks knowledge in the subject matter, or how to conduct a class?

• The young couple in love, but lacks knowledge of each other: families, past, beliefs, running a household?

• The parent loves the child, but lacks knowledge on how to discipline?

But What about Love without knowledge?

• A doctor that love his patient but doesn’t know medicine.

• A lawyer that believes and cares for you, but whose knowledge of law is inadequate.

• A Pastor that loves his congregation, but lacks knowledge of the Bible.

A Christian, or church can have love w/out knowledge and discernment.

The Philippians had love, but needed knowledge.

Paul prayed for the Philippians, that they increase in love, but that it be coupled with

knowledge and discernment.

But love must be with knowledge

Philippians 1:9–11 (ESV) 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound

more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the

day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ,

to the glory and praise of God.

I. We need to increase in our ability to love.

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more“abound” – super abundance of, excessive.The Philippians gave in abundance.• Philippians 4:12,18 I know how to be brought low, and I know

how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

• 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

II. Our increased love must be coupled with knowledge and discernment.

love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

• Love without knowledge can make us susceptible to false teachers– Phil. 3:2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers,

look out for those who mutilate the flesh. – Phil. 3:18–19 18 For many, of whom I have often told you

and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.



• Love without knowledge may compromise the truth:– Gal. 2:11–14 11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to

his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”



• The love Paul speaks of is not:– Mystical knowledge gained by introspection.– Some deep spiritual knowledge reserved for

secrete societies.– Rational knowledge, practical knowledge, or

common sense.– Love based on subjectivity, or sentimentalism.



• The love Paul speaks of is:– Love grounded in objective Biblical truth, guided

by wisdom as revealed in Scripture.– Knowledge of biblical truth regarding the nature of

God, of man, of sin, of morality.



• Discernment is given through the study of God’s Word: Hebrews 5:11–14 11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

When our love is coupled with knowledge and discernment:

• We approve what is excellent.– 10 so that you may approve what is excellent,– To discern what is best.

• It’s not always about choosing right or wrong, good or bad, but the better of two goods.

• Many of our choices are not between moral good or moral evil, but between things of lesser or greater value.

Examples:

• Meeting a person on the street that obviously has needs. Love may motivate to help. Knowledge and discernment is needed to know how to help.

• Almost all programs in the church are designed to meet some objective good. Which ones are the best use of our resources and time? Knowledge and discernment is needed.

Story of VBS – good intentions


• We remain pure and blameless at the coming of Christ.– “and so be pure and blameless for the day of

Christ”– “Pure”- It is eilikrineis, which comes from the

words for “sun” and “to judge,” thus indicating purity that is tested by the light of the sun.

– “blameless” – not causing offense, not causing one to stumble.

The question

When we stand before the brilliant light of the righteousness of Christ:– Will the light reveal decisions motivated by self

interest and worldly knowledge?– Will the light reveal decisions motivated by love,

purified through knowledge and sensitivity of God’s Word?

– The first will cause others to stumble.– The second will lead others closer to Christ.


• We are filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.Galatians 5:22–26 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Love coupled with wisdom produces fruit

James 3:13–18 (ESV) 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be

false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where

jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of

righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.


• God receives glory and praise.– “to the glory and praise of God.”

It’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s not about us.

True Spiritual love, true spiritual knowledge, true spiritual fruit is not for bringing attention, praise, or glory to oneself or to the church. It

brings glory and praise to God.

love abounding in knowledge philippians 1:9-11 by david turner

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