Philippians 1:12-18 English Standard Version
The Advance of the Gospel
12 I want you to know, brothers,[a] that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard[b] and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word[c] without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
As we read through our bibles, do we notice how our God uses the most absurd equipment, seemingly inappropriate, barely noticeable objects, circumstances as the catalyst to spread the gospel of Christ in the most unexpected places?
Just as He used Abraham’s tent, the Walls of Jericho, David’s sling, Gideon’s pots, Balaam’s donkey, and the staff of Moses, God used the chains that bound Paul and his imprisonment in Rome as the most effective tool to spread the good news of the death and Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ to many Roman guards. Paul’s witness even invaded the household of Caesar himself.
God is able to bring down every stronghold, rebuild any wall, open any prison door as well as anyone else’s heart when a man or woman is ready and willing and committed to becoming a prisoner in chains for Jesus Christ and become a living sacrifice, ready and willing to witness to the truth of the gospel of God.
One benefit of the various imprisonments to which Paul was subjected were the numbers and varieties of people with whom he was able to share the good news of salvation (Roman guards and soldiers, every day to day ordinary citizens).
And of course, the various ‘prison’ epistles he wrote during his detentions, are all profitable for our own instruction, reproof, doctrine, correction, discipline, godly obedience, discipleship, training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:10-17).
But one amazing and exciting by-product of Paul’s imprisonment was the effect that it had on most of his Christian brothers and sisters.
Rather than causing them to become shy, timid, fearful and faint-hearted, they were inspired, empowered, gathered themselves together, courage and began to speak out boldly about their faith in Christ. They started to live increasingly confident, as they fearlessly and confidently shared the message of God’s grace.
Certainly, in these contemporary technology driven times, we each live in increasingly changeable , discouraging and distressing and war like times and none of us know what life tomorrow may bring to our home or to our country,
However, never should we forget that the Triune God is in ultimate control and can use the most absurd equipment and seemingly inappropriate circumstances as catalyst to spread wide the gospel of Christ in His most unexpected places.
Let us be ready to board that unstoppable Gospel Train, willing to be a prisoner in chains for Christ and become a living sacrifice, to the glory of God the Father.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 91 Complete Jewish Bible
91 You who live in the shelter of ‘Elyon,
who spend your nights in the shadow of Shaddai,
2 who say to Adonai, “My refuge! My fortress!
My God, in whom I trust!” —
3 he will rescue you from the trap of the hunter
and from the plague of calamities;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his truth is a shield and protection.
5 You will not fear the terrors of night
or the arrow that flies by day,
6 or the plague that roams in the dark,
or the scourge that wreaks havoc at noon.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand;
but it won’t come near you.
8 Only keep your eyes open,
and you will see how the wicked are punished.
9 For you have made Adonai, the Most High,
who is my refuge, your dwelling-place.
10 No disaster will happen to you,
no calamity will come near your tent;
11 for he will order his angels to care for you
and guard you wherever you go.
12 They will carry you in their hands,
so that you won’t trip on a stone.
13 You will tread down lions and snakes,
young lions and serpents you will trample underfoot.
14 “Because he loves me, I will rescue him;
because he knows my name, I will protect him.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him.
I will be with him when he is in trouble.
I will extricate him and bring him honor.
16 I will satisfy him with long life
and show him my salvation.”
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 