Philippians - A Prayer of Deliverance

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

What are the means of Paul's deliverance?

According to Paul, his deliverance was contingent upon the prayers of the Philippian church and the Spirit of Jesus Christ. This implies an intimacy between the Philippian church and Paul. They were partners with him in the gospel (v5) and partakers with him of grace (v7). Because of this relationship, Paul depended upon them for the success of his ministry. I believe that their prayers were the means by which the Spirit of Christ would act on behalf of Paul.

So how is my prayer life? Who has not been delivered as a result of my failure to pray? Lord, may I prayer for my brothers and sisters that they may be delivered.

What is the deliverance Paul speaks of?

Is the deliverance Paul speaks of a liberation from suffering or death? No, for he goes on to explain that whether in life or death, Christ would be honored. Therefore, the type of deliverance Paul must mean is a sustaining grace in the midst of suffering. Paul hopes that he will be courageous in the face of his trials and not abandon his faith. Thus, deliverance may take the form of death, so that Paul's faith remains intact (for if he had lived he would have given up). Or it may take the form of life, so that Paul's faith may be strengthened.

So what form of deliverance do I long for most: deliverance from suffering or deliverance through suffering, whether it ends in life or death?

Philippians - A Painful Grace

In the opening prayer of Philippians, Paul is thanking God for the partnership (v5) of the church in the work of the gospel. He then goes on to explain that his affection for them is due to the fact that they are "all partakers with [him] of grace, both in [his] imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel" (v7). What can be easily overlooked is how Paul defines the grace. This is not the general "unmerited favor" flavor of grace. No, Paul tells the Philippians that this grace is expressed in two ways: they are sharing 1) in his imprisonment and 2) in defending and confirming the gospel. This is a painful grace.

To put it another way, I believe this is the type of grace that is given to those who suffer for Christ's sake. The Philippian church had been granted faith! And Paul wanted them to see that they were also "graced" with the honor to suffer for Christ (v29). Paul has affections toward them, because this is the heart of Christ, to be near to those who suffer for his sake.

Lord, may I fear no man, but trust that when suffering comes as a result of following you that you will grant me this grace, so that whether by life or by death you will be honored (v20). For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (v21).