I posed the following question to close the previous segment. "What happened to change God's delivering power in the Apostle Paul's life?" We need to understand what it may mean to be "delivered" in regard to our difficult situations of life today, as we live during "the dispensation of the grace of God."

One kind "deliverance" is for us to be delivered "from" our situation; that is to have us taken from the situation, or to have our situation taken away from us. It is quite another thing to be "delivered while within" our situation by having a supernatural ability to endure, cope and overcome, even while suffering within a situation.

"Deliver" in Scripture may be transliterated from two (2) differing Greek words. Deliver does not always mean to "remove from us" or "remove us from" a suffering.

1) "Deliver," as in "removing one from the suffering situation"

Hebrews 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. "Deliver" here in this verse does mean to deliver or remove one "from" suffering," the "fear of death." The Greek word used here for "deliver" is "apallasso", defined as follows.

Greek 525, Strong's ap-al-las'-so; from Greek 575 (apo) and Greek 236 (allasso); to change away, i.e. release, (reflexive) remove: - deliver, depart. This Greek word is to be used by the New Testament writers if the writer wants to express "deliverance" as being "removal from" a problem.

2) "Deliver," as in "supplying one the strength to endure while remaining within a suffering"

The Greek word "rhuomai," translated "deliver," is used by the Apostle Paul in several verses. It is defined as we see below in Louw & Nida's Greek Lexicon.

"Deliver"- rhuomai, Greek 4506, Strong's rhuomai, rhoo'-om-ahee; middle of an obsolete verb, akin to Greek 4482 (rheo) (through the idea of a current; compare Greek 4511 (rhusis)); to rush or draw (for oneself), i.e. rescue: - deliver (-er).

"Deliver" here is as a "current." "Current" sometimes refers to the flow of electricity or water. I believe the current Paul writes of is the flow of Christ's energizing resurrection life-supply - coming to believers as a RUSH OF CURRENT to supply them with the ability to endure and overcome in the midst of a suffering.

Consider that all life has a flow of life within. All mammals have blood flowing within; trees have sap flowing within; all of which is evidence of the life-flow within. Every Christian has the life-flow of "the spirit of life in Christ Jesus" within. Here Jesus spoke of such a life-supply of Christ's Spirit that would one day come to the believers of Israel after the indwelling Spirit would be given. John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) This flow or current is the meaning of "delivered" used in the following verse. 2 Tim. 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions (Gk pathema, sufferings), which came unto me (Paul) at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Here Paul was delivered by that is flow as "current" to lift Paul above "all" his sufferings. Christ flowed His rich supply as a "current" or flow of His supernatural overcoming resurrection peace-filled life to Paul in the midst of Paul's "sufferings," such that Paul could then "endure" until he was outwardly delivered.

This verse speaks of such a current or flow of "the Spirit of Jesus Christ" as "the supply" that brought deliverance to Paul. Philip. 1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.