Could You Use a Little Extra Strength to Make It Through Your Day?

Scripture

For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:19

Observation

At times everyone gets physically tired and mentally exhausted. However, some believers, regardless of how long or how hard they work, seem to have the knack, fortitude, determination, and will to keep going strong, even when everyone else can barely take one more step.

Have you ever met someone like this? Have you wondered, How in the world can that person keep going the way he does?

Could it be that this person has learned how to tap into a supernatural Source of power? In Philippians 1:19 , Paul talked about this kind of power: For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

I especially want you to notice the word supply in this verse. It is the Greek word epichoregeo. The word epichoregeo is an old word that literally means on behalf of the choir. Let me explain where this word came from and why Paul uses it here.

Thousands of years ago in classical Greece, a huge choral and dramatic company practiced endlessly for a huge, important theatrical performance. After they put in a great amount of time, effort, energy, 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. But because they ran out of financing, it meant the show was over finished! They were washed up before the show ever officially got 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 supplied 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! This man's contribution was excessively large, abundant, overflowing, and overwhelming.

This is where we get the word supply in Philippians 1:19 that now describes the enormous contribution of the Spirit that Jesus Christ wants to give to us!

Application

In light of this, Philippians 1:19 could be taken to mean:

I am certain that this situation will ultimately turn around and result in 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 the story above, 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 is your wealthy Benefactor. He has more strength and power to give you than you'll ever be able to use! If you are weak, He has precisely what you need to get up, get recharged, and get going again!

But often times, it takes others praying for you to bring into your life this supernatural supply. Last night the Church Council met for prayer and I was so blessed when in closing, the members of the Council surrounded me to pray for the pastors of the church. I knew there and then that a supernatural, overwhelming supply of God’s Spirit was being ushered into our souls so that we, the pastors of the church, will have more than enough to get us on our feet and back on the road again, however broken, however beaten.

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 supply of the Spirit that will give you all the strength you will ever need. And get others to pray for you so that He can fill you with a supply of power so large, you could never even begin to use it all!

Prayer

Lord, I realize I don't have enough strength by myself to do what You have asked me to do. Today I'm asking You to donate a new supply of Your Spirit into my life. Right now, I open my heart and ask You to fill every nook and cranny of my life with the power of the Holy Spirit so I can get back on my feet again and fulfill what You have told me to do!