“For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ”
Question: What does “supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” mean?

What is the Spirit of Jesus Christ?

The Nicene Creed, as followed in the West, has ‘I believe in the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and the Son”. But in the Eastern Orthodox church, their creed only states, “who proceeds from the Father”, which would give a very different meaning to ‘the Spirit of Jesus Christ’.
But I take this verse as referring to the Holy Spirit or Counsellor promised by Jesus.

Eternal and Unchanging Existence of the Spirit

I have met some Christians who talk about the Holy Spirit as a new being provided by Jesus after his ascension, but that ignores the huge number of references to God’s spirit in the Old Testament. And as God is constant and unchanging, then the Holy Spirit is pre-existent with Jesus and the Father from before time.
Acts 7:51, “You are just like your ancestors: you too have always resisted the Holy Spirit!“
Matthew 22:43, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’”

Access to the Father and Spirit through Jesus

But there is a difference in the access we now have to the Holy Spirit through Jesus.

In Old Testament times, apart from some exceptions, the Holy Spirit generally spoke to the people through the prophets and only at certain times, between which there were large gaps, as large as 400 years before the birth of Jesus. (the same length of time as the gap between the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and II).
But through Jesus’ victory over sin and death on the cross, all who believe are brought into a new and restored relationship with God forever.

• The role of priests and inadequate animal sacrifices were replaced by the complete and everlastingly effective sacrifice of Jesus;
• Instead of the priests approaching God for the people, we each have direct access to God as our Abba Father, to pray continually;
• God now speaks to believers, not occasionally through prophets, but directly to each one of us through His Spirit who lives within us.

Bible description of the Holy Spirit

We learn from the bible that:

1. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit:
2. Jesus promised to give the Spirit to all believers:
3. The Holy Spirit is critical in receiving faith and forgiveness (unforgiveable sin):
4. Is freely and abundantly given to us:
5. Is essential for true worship and knowledge of God:
6. Gives understanding:
7. Was promised from of old:
8. Gives effective guidance where the Law could not:
9. Gives power for us to put to death the misdeeds of the body:
10. And gives us an inheritance of becoming children of God:

Role of the Holy Spirit

We don’t need to know how the Spirit is given in order to receive God’s wonderful gifts of faith and meaning, but we need to guard against how the Spirit may be rejected.

We live in an age of self-worship. I was told yesterday about a young girl’s T-shirt which read “It’s all about me”. We worship our own intellect, reason, and ideas, and we won’t believe in God if he doesn’t fit within our limited human thoughts. We cannot, by our own power, cease our worship of self.
But the Holy Spirit provides a bridge for us, to step away from our small island prison of self, onto the vast land of dependence on God’s unlimited provision and meaning.
To refuse to walk away from our prison, into reliance upon God, is to reject or “sin against” the Holy Spirit. It’s unforgiveable, not due to any Law of God, but because that is how we put ourselves beyond the reach of God’s loving care and forgiveness.

Paul’s Circumstances

Paul was in prison, and faced losing his life. So, the power of the Spirit to overcome fear and give life was likely in his thoughts, and Romans 8:15, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Personal Application

Self-reliance is a constant temptation for us, but I have learnt I can’t face life’s challenges in my own strength. I praise God for sending His Sprit, for he not only carries me through the ordeals of this life, but enables me to do all sorts of new things in His plan that are beyond my own strength. Praise God!