My prayer is that our fellowship with you as believers will bring about a deeper understanding of every blessing which we have in our life in union with Christ.
Philemon 1:6 GNT
Observe here the expectation of the believer’s fellowship. That as we maintain a friendly relationship with people of the same faith and joint interest, it is meant to result in a deeper understanding. “Understanding of every blessing which we have in our union with Christ”. The kind of understanding that will unleash our effectiveness.
The communication of our faith as the King James Version calls it, actually means sharing. It means expression or fellowship. The faith refers to our Christian life. Our walk with God. He said that this walk with God is only effective based on right and precise knowledge.
Knowledge of what?
It is actually the knowledge of the things that are in us because of our union with Christ. This means that there are “good” things in us that we need to have right information about. This knowledge is not cerebral. It is supernatural understanding of the realities of the new man.
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Ephesians 1:17 NIV
A man that doesn’t know that there are good things in him wouldn’t work in them. Therefore, he will become effective and efficient in what he does not use. Effectiveness is the end product of this knowledge. It is developed when we utilise what we have according to the right knowledge. We become more effective Christians as we exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we know we possess. Effectiveness in the communication of our faith. Effectiveness in the expression of the life of God at work in us.
It is impossible to get maximum result of something we do not have an adequate understanding about. Therefore, the product of our faith is by the depth and accuracy of our knowledge and understanding in Christ Jesus. Not just what we ‘know about Him’ but based on what He has revealed to us about who He really is and what He is saying concerning us.
This understanding can only come through consistent and prayerfully studying and doing of God’s word. We must understand that we cannot function above the level of our knowledge and understanding. Therefore, we must learn to be a student and doers of God’s word.
