“…for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance” – Philippians 1:19
At times everyone gets physically tired and mentally exhausted. However, you and I have known some believers who, regardless of how strenuous their workload is, they seem to keep going strong, even when everyone else has given up or too tired to do much more. I’m sure you, like me, wonder “How in the world do they keep on going?”
Could it be that this person has learned how to plug into a supernatural source of power? Well, that inexhaustible power is available to you. In the verse above, Paul talks about this kind of power – “God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ”.
The word “provision” is a very interesting choice by Paul. It literally means on behalf of the choir. Strange! As you can imagine there is a story behind the word, which will help us to understand why Paul uses it here. Thousands of years ago in classical Greece, a huge choral and dramatic company practiced endlessly for a large, important theatrical performance. After they had put in a great amount of time, effort, and practice, it was finally time for the show to go on the road. But there was one major problem – they ran out of money. These people had given their lives to this production. They had committed all their resources to making sure the performance succeeded. Yet, no money, meant the show was over – finished!. They were washed up before the show ever officially started. From all appearances, it was the end of the road for them and their dream.
At that exact moment, a wealthy man heard of their crisis, stepped into the middle of their situation, and made a huge financial contribution on behalf of the choir. This contribution “provided” all they needed to get back in business again! In fact, the gift the man gave was so enormous that it was more than they needed or knew how to spend. [Sparkling Gems From the Greek by Rick Renner, Teach All Nations, 2003, p.4]
This is where we get the word “provision” in Philippians 1:19 that now describes the enormous contribution of the Spirit of Jesus Christ that God gives to each person who repents and receives Jesus as Lord and Savior through faith. So we could rewrite the verse this way: “I am certain that this situation will ultimately turn around for my deliverance. I’m sure of it – first, because you are praying for me; and second, because of the special contribution of the Spirit that Jesus Christ is donating for my present cause”
This means when you’ve run out of steam; when you’ve given your best effort and you don’t feel like you have another ounce of energy left to give; when it looks like your resources are drained and you are unable to take one more step unless someone steps in to help you – that is exactly the moment when Jesus Christ becomes your personal Benefactor! Like the wealthy man in Greece, Jesus steps into your life at that moment to donate a massive, overwhelming, generous contribution of the Spirit’s grace and power for your cause.
Jesus says to us “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened…” [Matthew 11:28]. Paul reminds us, “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength” [Philippians 4:13]. As you enter the New Year, as a Christian, who have the Spirit of Jesus Christ within you – assuring you that whatever God asks you to do – whatever you face – the Spirit will enable you to do and overcome. Just remember that “The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it” [1 Thessalonians 5:24].
So when your natural human will is too tired to keep going and you’ve exhausted all your resources, let Jesus reinforce you with a new provision of the Spirit’s power and strength. And make sure you are praying for that to happen in the lives of your fellow believers as well. When Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians he was in prison. The believer’s prayers for Him and God’s donation of the Spirit’s power were keeping him going and would turn his situation into something that would bring God glory. We each need the prayers of others to stay on our feet. Will you be there, on your knees, for me and your other fellow believers?
In Need of God’s Donation,
Pastor Steve