That the Communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. (Philemon 1:6)

The above scripture, is one I pray for myself frequently (almost daily) since the past 4 years. I recommend you to also pray it. It’s called the Pauline Prayers, found in Eph. 1: 15 – 23, 3: 14 – 21, Col. 1: 9 – 18, Phil. 1: 9 – 11, 1 Thess. 3: 11 – 13, 2 Thess. 1: 11 – 12, Philemon 1: 4 – 6, Hebrews 13: 20 – 21. They are prayers of spiritual growth. But today, we will focus on Philemon 1:6.

If we ever desire to get better in the communication (sharing and putting into action) of our faith with believers and un-believers alike the above scripture tells us what to do. It says we have to acknowledge (come to the accurate knowledge) of every good thing which in us in Christ Jesus. I like how the AMP Bible puts it;

I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ. (Philemon 1:6 AMP)

The next question to ask is, what are those good things in us in Christ? Going back to the beginning, gives us a little insight into this. We know that after the fall, the bible describing Man says,

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was ONLY EVIL continually. (Gen. 6:5) Emphasis Mine

Notice that, ONLY EVIL. There was no good thing in Man, why? His heart was DESPERATELY WICKED (Jer. 17: 9). Jesus Speaking (before Man was saved) saying …none is good, save one, that is God (Luke 18:19). Yes, that was the state we were, there was nothing good to be acknowledged in us. Paul speaking said

“For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness – my sinful capacity]” (Romans 7:18)

First, we notice from Philemon 1:5 that the book of Philemon was written a believer and largely to believers. Philemon 1:6, makes us understand that those good things we must come into accurate knowledge of are found in us in CHRIST JESUS, not just in OURSELVES but US in CHRIST JESUS. They are the things that were wrought in us at Salvation. They are the things that are in us, because of the presence of the Spirit of the good one (God) in us.

“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15)

These good things are the product of His good work in every believer. This good things are not our making. They are the making of the continuous working of His power in us. In-fact we know that every good and perfect gift comes from Him.

For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is at work in you, both to will and to work[that is strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfil your purpose]  for His good pleasure. Phil. 2:13

What then should be our response? We are to acknowledge the Holy-Spirit work in us. Acknowledge his working of Love, Peace, Hope, Joy and every godly virtue in us. Everything that can be found in God dwells in us, we only must acknowledge them for them to gain expression in us. You know one way, I have learnt recently to acknowledge this things is by confession. You know we make confessions for 2 reasons either they are our present reality, or we want them to be our reality.

When you pray say to yourself: the Wisdom of the ages is in me, faith dwells in me, I love the brethren, I have a Sound mind 2 Tim. 1:7, I am not troubled, I rejoice, I am patient with everyone today, I am a man/woman of grace, I speak grace through the words of my mouth, I am a blessing to many, I am humble, my hope doesn’t make me ashamed (Romans 5:5), I walk in the spirit, I am led by God’s spirit in me and you will begin to see them. And as they gain expression through you, the communication (sharing, acting out) of your Faith (what you have believed) gets better (improves). As this things get expressed through us, we express Christ the More. Christ is revealed in us and through us. We becomes a more visible image of the Father. Our Faith (Salvation) is made more known. We become shinning lights.

There is a power at work in every believer …according to the power that works in us (Eph. 3:20). Power signifies ability. There is an ability in us. That’s the ability we have to acknowledge! This are the things that have been freely given to us of God. (1 Cor. 2:12). And if the scriptures says it’s in us, then it’s in us, even if we haven’t been experiencing them.

Brethren, the work of Salvation has wrought in us a lot of godly virtues, we are a new creature with a wealthy load of all good things available in Christ Jesus in us and we have to learn to acknowledge them i.e. bring ourselves into an accurate knowledge of them and as we do that the profession of our faith gets better and better.

I Call You Blessed.