Certain things happened to Paul in his lifetime. In fact, he was in a jail when he wrote Philippians. People were saying things about him. People were distorting his message.
But his attitude was, "Regardless of what is happening to me, I am telling you what the end result of it is going to be. It is going to wind up turning around and furthering the gospel."
Now he is talking about an attitude here. And regardless of what you are going through, this is what the end result is going to be.
You may have a financial problem, or you may have a relational problem. It really doesn't matter. Why? Because if you do the right things and have the right attitude about everything, there is going to be some increase that is going to come to you. But it is going to start off with having the right attitude.
Paul said, "Now I know that what I am going through is going to turn because of your prayer." So he is talking about people praying for him.
Now prayer is necessary for the body of Christ. Every success is a prayer success first. Every failure is a prayer failure first. Paul said, "I know this shall turn to my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus—the anointed One and His anointing."
Now, the world has a knee-jerk reaction to prayer. They may not pay any attention to God at all until something terrible happens.
But to be honest with you, in the church prayer has become somewhat of a knee-jerk reaction, too. It is something we do religiously, you know. We just sort of go through the motions thinking maybe it will work, and maybe it won't.
Paul said, "Now I know things are going to change. I am going to have my deliverance because of your prayer and the supply of the anointing. When you pray, the anointing of God is going to manifest for me."
If only every single believer would pray like that. Is that possible? Yes, because everybody has the ability to pray.
"Well," Paul said, "I will be changed. This situation will turn around because of your prayer for me." Guess what? You will be changed because of our prayers for each other.
So let's spend a little bit more time praying for each other.
Scripture Reference: Ephesians 6:18-20; James 5:16
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).
