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I dare say that Christians in our church today are here because of the work of Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. For someone who was not with Jesus Christ during His 3 years of public ministry and for someone who said that he only baptises a handful of people, that is some fruit indeed. What made Paul so fruitful and so powerfully used by God to spread the good news to people, not only in his time but, through all time until the return of Jesus? There are two clues to his fruitfulness in Philippians 1:3-18 – in his prayer for the saints at Philippi and now for us in BKC in a timeless way across geographic boundaries (Phil. 1:9-11) and his unwavering focus on Jesus alone (v18).
In his prayer, Paul asks God boldly for 3 outcomes for us. They are: (1) that our love may grow in knowledge and depth of insight, (2) that we may be able to discern what is best and be pure and blameless till we see Him again and (3) that we be fruitful for Christ Jesus. Knowing God and growing in knowledge of Him means loving God and obeying Him. This also includes loving people. This forms the foundation without which the other two outcomes are of no consequence. We serve a God of love and without love it comes to nothing. Our lives would be empty (meaningless) because we did not represent Christ fully giving ground for satan to raise doubts in our minds on whether Christ is in us. But, with Christ in us and our minds set to what the Holy Spirit desires, we will be able to discern between “from the Spirit” and “from the world”. We recognize what is from God the Father through training in godliness – diligent in spending time with Jesus, learning the Bible and applying it to our lives by the help of the Holy Spirit. That is the prerequisite needed for bearing the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.
Paul is aware that in sharing the gospel of Jesus we can be easily distracted. Minor matters can sidetrack us and impact the main ministry of sharing the gospel. Hence, Paul’s position: “What does it matter” (Phil. 1:18). As long as Christ is preached, as long as Christ is pre-eminent and as long as God is glorified, we rejoice – never mind what others say or think about us. Are we willing for Paul’s prayer for us to be fulfilled for the glory and praise of God?
