Overflowing Love

Overflowing Love

(Philippians 1:3-11)

Yearly Theme:  “Kindness is… Appreciative”

Series Title:  “Thankful Kindness”

November 19^th, 2023

Something to think about:

A story is told of a selfish person who inherited a rice field in India.  The first season the irrigation water covered his property, making it very fruitful, and it also overflowed onto his neighbors' fields, bringing a great harvest to them as well.  The next season he decided that he was too generous in sharing his wealth by letting this water escape to others so he stopped the water with a specially made dam.  However, in doing so he spoiled his own crop.  The irrigation water brought blessing when it flowed, but when it became stagnant, it turned the field into an unfruitful marsh.[1]

Overflowing love should be the clear marker and evidence of the Church.  Sadly, however, this isn’t always the case.  Now love, it must be noted, though not accepting of all things, is always loving in all things.  No matter the situation, no matter the person, and no matter the time, love should be the marker of every believer in Christ.

We come to another passage of Scripture from one of Paul’s letters in the New Testament.  The circumstances surrounding this letter are not great for Paul; he is writing from prison.  However, in this short letter to the Church at Philippi, Paul encourages the believers to stay committed to Christ and overflow with love more and more as they continue to learn and grow in Him.  Let’s take a closer look this morning:

Philippians 1:3-11 (NLT)

³ Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.  ⁴ Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, ⁵ for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.  ⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

⁷ So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart.  You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.  ⁸ God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.  ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.  ¹¹ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Here’s the point…

Key Point:  “Overflowing love comes from a heart of thankfulness.”

What does Paul pray for the Philippian church?  Let’s take a closer look:

•  will  .

Philippians 1:9a (NLT), I pray that your love will overflow more and more…

•  and  will  .

Philippians 1:9b (NLT),  …that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

• Will be  with the  of  .

Philippians 1:11 (NLT), May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Something to take home:

1. Stanley Mooneyham said, “Love talked about can be easily turned aside, but love demonstrated is irresistible.”

The church is called to a demonstrable love and active love, a love that never withers or fades, but presses into the darkness and conquers the hellish tortures of this world.  As believers in Christ mature in their faith, the expression of GOD’s love through them becomes palpable and expansive. 

If the defining characteristic of GOD is love, then the reflection of that characteristic should be so evident within the body of Christ that the world would not be able to deny who we are and what we stand for. 

Jesus loved people into the Kingdom of GOD.  Shouldn’t our love for GOD and others also love people into the Kingdom of GOD in relationship with the Father through faith in Christ Jesus?  We love because He first loved us, and out of a thankful heart our love for others reflects the glory of GOD.

Key Point:  “Overflowing love comes from a heart of thankfulness.”

[1] Source Unknown.