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What is my Spiritual Tool?

for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance.
Philippians 1:19

Dr. David Jeremiah in his devotional book Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God quotes Charles Swindoll's definition of wisdom - "the God given ability to see life with rare objectivity and to handle life with rare stability. Charles further states, "When we operate in the sphere of the wisdom of God.....we look at life through lenses of perception, and we respond to it in calm confidence. There's a remarkable absence of fear...We can either lose our jobs or we can be promoted in our work, and neither will derail us... because we see it with God-given objectivity, and we handle it in His wisdom."

The verse we are meditating today says, For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ. I just hope we could notice the tone in Paul's voice. Even if I try I am sure I will not reach the depth that Paul had. For I know. Paul is sure about something. He didn't say, well I think, I hope or I suppose. It is a strong word of certainty. I know.

Warren Wiersbe in his commentary on 1 Peter titled Be Hopeful says, our outlook is determined by our uplook. And Paul is looking out and up from that prison, and he sees not only the stars, he sees the God who made the stars. And he goes, I am confident, I know. This is a man of faith. He is filled with faith. Yesterday we saw that joy is an act of the will. If so, then confidence is a statement of faith.

Now, why is Paul so confident? The verse does tell us something. What is he confident is going to happen? Paul says, I know this will turn out for my what? It says deliverance. He says that he knows that he is going to be delivered. Now what does that mean?

Some commentators are of the opinion that Paul is saying, "I know that I'm going to be sprung out of jail. I'm going to be set free." But I don't think that is what Paul is saying for in verse 20 he says, "whether by life or by death." which means he could live or he could die. I would like to see it in another way. When Paul says that it is going to be for his deliverance he is simply saying that he is going to be just fine. Deliverance could be translated perhaps as my well-being. Things are going to turn out for the best. This is Paul's way of restating what he said in Romans 8:28 - For we know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.

This is the same truth stated in a different manner. Paul is in prison. He's not sure how God's going to deliver him, if he's going to deliver him from the trial or through the trial. He doesn't know if he's going to live or die. But he goes, I'm just fine. I know I'm going to be delivered. Paul is confident that in future things will turn out for his deliverance.

Now what is the means of Paul's confidence? Well, we can that it's twofold. Through the prayers of God's people and through the provision of God's spirit. In simple terms this is what Paul is saying, "As you keep praying, and as God keeps providing, I'm going to be fine. I face my future with confidence."

We often marginalize prayer. We doubt that prayer will even work, quite frankly. Because if we really thought prayer had the power to change things, to change us, to change people, we'd be doing it a lot. Paul is so sure that as long as the Philippians are praying for him, he can be joyful and he can be confident in the future.

Leonard Ravenhill (an English Christan evangelist and author. His main focus was on the subjects of prayer and revival. He is also best known for challenging western evangelicalism to compare itself to the early Christian Church as chronicles in the Book of Acts) said this: The church has many organizers but few agonizers, many who pay but few who pray, many wresters but few wrestlers, many who are enterprising, few who are interceding. A worldly Christian will stop praying, and a praying Christian will stop worldliness. Tithes may build a church, but tears will give it life.

Dear Friends, spiritual work always requires spiritual tools. One of the most frustrating endeavors is to try to do a work of the spirit in the energy of your flesh. You are doomed for failure. For Paul, the spiritual tool is prayer and his confidence is that others are praying for him? With their prayers he is sure of getting the lavish supply of the Spirit of God. How sis our own belief in prayer and how much are we praying for others?

God Bless you
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Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

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