Philippians 1:19 NLT
[19] “For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.”

Philippians 1:25-26 NIV
[25] “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, [26] so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.”

Despite Paul’s longing to be with Jesus, he didn’t live his life with a death wish. There was work to be done and, as long as he was alive, he would do it faithfully with enthusiasm. For this reason, he needed to be delivered from prison.

His partnership in prayer with his fellow believers in Philippi was God’s way of getting him out of jail. As much as he was able to reach people in Caesar’s palace through his imprisonment, he had no desire to stay there. He wanted to be free to continue his mission to the Gentiles across the empire for as long as possible.

Paul knew that God could deliver him as He had done many times already. Paul was no stranger to the Father’s miraculous interventions. However, as always, he was subject to the Father’s will.

I think Paul knew that martyrdom was inevitable. He had already tasted the enemy’s hatred towards him in many ways. Hounded from one city to another by Jews and Gentiles, beaten and imprisoned more than once, accused and threatened with death for blasphemy, stoned, shipwrecked…you name it, Paul had survived many life-threatening situations, but he knew he faced a violent end. However, he was not daunted by the possibility.

Engaging in prayer meant engaging with God the Holy Spirit. Release from prison didn’t involve a jail break. It meant that God would intervene with a miracle that would legitimately set him free to go on his way. He was no stranger to God’s power through prayer.

And so it was! Before his arrest and final imprisonment in Rome ending in the martyrdom Paul had long anticipated, he was given more time to finish his task.

How do we know when our work is done? Only God knows because…

1. He has written our story before we ever lived it, to the last page.

Psalms 139:16 NLT
[16] “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”

1. He has chosen others to carry on His work. It’s not for us to be concerned but to be faithful in the work He has given us to do. He will see to it that all His plans are fulfilled.

2 Timothy 2:2 NLT
[2]” You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”

It’s easy for us, when we know we are near the end of life, to be either fatalistic…karma – what will be will be…or passive…waiting to die. Not Paul!

He mobilised his strength and the strength of others with him to continue with his task until his last breath. There was no lack of power, through the prayers of his partners and the Holy Spirit’s work for him, to sustain him to his last day.

Let us also resolve, like Paul, to continue, persevere, and be faithful as long as God gives us the strength to fulfil our calling. We know that He will raise up others after us because His work to establish His kingdom on earth will continue until Jesus comes.