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 (NIV)
The Bible teaches us that the fervent prayer of a righteous man has great effect (James 5:16). In this passage, James explains to us all that prayer can accomplish, whether for a person or on nature. According to his teaching, it is important to consider the situation of others in order to intercede for them in times of difficulty. We have several examples of Old Testament prophets who interceded with God for the deliverance of Israel.
Paul took the same approach as James, but with the assurance that the prayer of the Philippians would make the chains in which he was bound serve as a testimony to encourage his brothers in the faith and also as a means to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. For Paul, it is the result that this will bring in the lives of others that is his deliverance. Not because he does not want to be delivered from the chains, but rather that the glory of God is manifested in his situation through their prayer.
There is no doubt that God will provide for our needs in Jesus Christ, but the prayer we offer for one another in the midst of our circumstances can not only bring us the answers we need from God, but it can also strengthen us and help us keep our faith. Sometimes, even in the midst of your difficulties, it is more important to pray for others, because God will not fail to meet your needs because He sees your concern for your brother in the faith.
May the grace and peace of God be with you all.
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