“That” indicates the purpose or aim of his thanks. This is the focus of his prayers. “Communication” is koinōnia, fellowship, an unreserved involvement, a full sharing holding nothing back, a full partnership. “Of thy faith” is a genitive of character. It indicates the quality or character of the fellowship. Our fellowship with the Lord Jesus grows, deepens, or develops as we believe more and more of the truth of God’s Word and Christ’s accomplished work on our behalf.

  You could say the fellowship that is characterized or distinguished by your believing. Do you believe God loves you? Do you believe that God wants the best for you? Do you believe that God wants you to prosper and be in health? Do you believe that God works within you to will and to do of His good pleasure?

  Don’t you see how what we believe affects the quality of our fellowship? If you believed God was an ogre and mean and vindictive, do you think it would affect your fellowship with Him? Of course it would.

  “Effectual” is the Greek word energēs, energized. It produces results, and not just any result, but desired results. “Effective” means producing a result or effect. However, “effectual” means producing the desired result, what you want to see happen. The Aramaic uses the words meaning, “yield fruit in works.” It is significant that the fellowship that is characterized by your believing bears fruit. When we get to the place that we fully share or express our believing in the Lord Jesus we will have real fruit.

  Paul prays that the full sharing of Philemon’s faith becomes effectual. This makes me aware that it is possible for it to not be effectual. It could get quenched. Paul deliberately prayed for this purpose. He wanted the communication of their faith to be effectual, powerful, and his prayer was a vital part of that becoming a reality.

  “Acknowledging” is the Greek word epignosis. That’s a full, precise, complete knowledge. The full expression of our believing bears fruit as we acknowledge, completely and precisely, all that we have in Christ Jesus. What is yours in Christ?

  Have you acknowledged that you have peace with God? Have you acknowledged that you are a fellowlaborer with Him? Have you acknowledged the great mystery of God in Christ in you? Have you acknowledged that the things that Christ did you can do also?

  The full expression of our believing bears fruit as we acknowledge, completely and precisely, all that we have in Christ Jesus. As we do we will be able to fully express those great truths as we live and move and have our being in Him.

  Next look at the phrase “every good thing that is in you.” Most critical texts have “in us” instead of “in you.” If I say it is “in us,” of course in it “in you.” Indeed it is Christ in you as Colossians 1:27 says. However, it is also Christ in us — that’s the mystery. We all have Christ in us. It’s a together thing. That’s one reason the full expression of our faith bears fruit unto good works. We see it in each other, and we encourage one another as we manifest it in our own lives. If I can do it, so can you, and vice versa. That’s where many people get tripped up. They don’t see it in each other. We can’t afford to look at our flesh—that’s nothing but disappointment—we must look at the Christ in each other.

  Notice it says “every good thing.” There must be more than one good thing that is in you if you are in Christ. It says every or all, and we should acknowledge everything, all of it. That might be quite an adventure! Well, when do you want to get started on it? How long do you need to do it? How about the rest of your life?

  “In Christ Jesus” relates to our identification with Him. Everything that is in Christ is in us. We should identify fully with Him. God has placed us in Christ. It is a position of privilege and responsibility. We were created in Christ Jesus according to Ephesians 2:10. God placed us in Christ; we are seated in the heavenlies with him at God’s right hand.

  As we acknowledge what God has done for us on the inside we can manifest it on the outside. That’s our prayer and believing for one another. For our faith to become effectual we need to acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ Jesus.

  We are to make continuous, repetitive, and habitual prayer for one another. It will endear us to each other. It will make necessary intercession and facilitate deliverance. It will build longing to see one another in person.
Let’s start our morning in prayer and praise. Then let’s add in the evening and then add in every time in between when we think of one another. Will you pray for us? We pray for you, and are ever so grateful for your prayer on our behalf. God has called us to a wonderful family. Let’s hedge our days and our care for one another by making intercession for one another according to the will of God.