I Can!
I Can!
Paul, in his prayer for the Philippians, asks that their "love may abound in knowledge and all discernment" and that they may "discern things which are excellent" (Php 1:9-10). An alternative translation instead of "all discernment" is "depth of insight", hence the title for this lesson.
This discernment or insight given us by the Lord is not meagre. It is a whole lot of insight, a whole lot of discernment, as the word "all" in "all discernment" indicates. It is to have "the eyes of your understanding enlightened" (Eph 1:18). so that you become "filled with the fruits of righteousness" (Php 1:10-11). So we are talking not about glimmers of insight and enlightenment, but a fulness of it.
In this lesson we are looking at how we can have this depth of insight. We draw five points from Philippians as follows...
Php 2:4,21
Self centredness and self interest is a very common attitude. "Everyone looks out for his own interests" says Paul (Php 2:21). But he tells us, "Do not look only to your own interests, but look also to the interests of others" (Php 2:4).
In the relationships between Paul, the Philippians, and Paul's companions Timothy and Epaphroditus, we observe this focus on the interests of others rather than of self (Php 2:19-20,25-26).
By looking out for the interests of others, you have to think about experiences different to your own, and examine how the word of God applies to circumstances other than your own. Mind you, we are not encouraging you to be a busybody or a humbug. Indeed, as a portion of learning to look out for the interests of others, we need to gain insight into how we may be supportive and helpful without being inquisitive, intrusive, or manipulative.
Selfish and self-centered thoughts are shallow thoughts. When you are at the centre of your thoughts and interestes, then the circle around that centre will be very small —too small to develop any depth of insight. We might state our first point in the form of a don't —don't be wrapped up in your own affairs.
Php 2:16
Your insight into spiritual things, and into life itself, will only be as deep as your Bible knowledge. Did you note how Paul joined knowledge and insight together in our opening text when he spoke of "knowledge and all discernment" (Php 1:9)?
Later Paul speaks of "holding forth the word of life" (Php 2:16) You cannot hold forth the word of life if you are not studying it and thinking about it constantly.
The Psalmist says, "Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day!" And what is the result? "I have more understanding than all my teachers... I understand more than the ancients... through your precepts I get understanding" (Psa 119:97-104). If the law could do that for the Psalmist, how much more can the gospel do for us?
Paul’s whole aim in life was "to know Christ and the power of his resurrection" (Php 3:10). He regarded this knowledge as transcending all other wisdom. He called it "the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Php 3:8). He got that knowledge and depth of insight from the same source as anyone else gets it, namely in "the faith of the gospel" (Php 1:27). We need to immerse ourselves in the gospel and know it throroughly —more than we know anything else. We might state our second point in the form of a don't —don't leave your Bible on the shelf.
Lesson continues