Philippians 1:12-18:
Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel
“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”
BarbTalk
Most people who read this have not experienced incarceration, or imprisonment for what they have done. Perhaps some have. It seems that Hollywood has glamorized prison and prisoners. We do not like it when a small freedom we think we deserve is taken from us. We shout no fair! We harbor resentment towards those who take from us. We wake up angry and go to sleep angry. It seems like we cannot think of the person who ‘stole’ from us without remembering and reliving the ‘crime’.
For some, chronic illness equals imprisonment. Our freedom is gone; we cannot do what we want. The ‘why me’ and ‘no fair’ statements fly about. Perhaps we cannot sleep. Insomnia is like a prison from which we cannot flee. Grief is also imprisoning. We are locked in by what we hide behind. Maybe we have habit that we cannot stop. We feel isolated. Equally, an attitude, disrespectful thoughts, and even disillusionment can box us in. Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:1, Amplified Bible: “In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].” Sounds easy, it is not.
A deep understanding that we are not imprisoned any more leads to more freedom. Isolation is a tool of the enemy to ‘divide and conquer’. Hiding out and having no accountability can bring a fruit-bearing believer to think that they have lost faith, forgotten love and don’t think they belong in the family of God any more.
Many things that happen to us make us feel internally dead. Traumas, betrayals, deaths of loved ones or pets, loss of jobs and relationships, disability and sickness, can all lead us to the path of hopelessness. How can we live out the freedom Christ bought for us at so great a price? What can we do when depression presses us so hard we cannot breathe? When negative thoughts and hopelessness fill our minds bringing us to despair, is there an answer?
Paul found himself frustrated when trying to live God’s way: Romans 7:18b-19: “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”
This is his conclusion: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Paul did not hide, he told the world of his difficulties. He reminded all those who could hear him that he was not perfect, he made mistakes, he did horrible things in his past (called himself the chief of all sinners), and the only hope he had was in Christ. When he found himself in prison, because he was not ashamed to preach the gospel no matter what happened to him. There, his eyes were opened to a new opportunity. He may have been in a physical prison, but he was free. No longer imprisoned by his feelings of inadequacy, he could tell everyone around him of the freedom he had experienced. Not only that, he had great joy and was recorded to be singing at night while chained! (Acts 16:25-28). How I pray that we can see ourselves as God’s ambassadors no matter where we are, no matter what is happening and no matter what others say or do.
Disability has opened more doors than I could ever imagine. We who walk with canes, walkers and use wheel chairs (I call them all trip extenders, except for my walker, who is affectionately called Luke, for Luke Sky-Walker), have a bond. We look at each other, and understand. We know walking through a door is so hard, or up an incline. Exhaustion is an unpleasant fact. We are not victims; we are capable of deciding how will we present ourselves to the world around us. When I became ill, I had an opportunity to make a choice. Was I going to be a crabby sick person, or a joyful one? I chose joy.
I have learned that everything in life is temporary. Everything! Pain is temporary, so is illness, and so is life. What are we going to do with what we have? What does this year hold for me and for you? How can we affect the future by our words and actions? Paul said, “What does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”
Paul did not go around winning popularity contests. Hated by many, he changed the course of history by sitting in a prison and refusing to be quiet about his newfound faith. Eternity is filled with the souls of those who dared to believe with him that Jesus is the Answer.
Filled with hope, each day brings a new start. Each moment, an opportunity; each glance, a gift of kindness. Will you dare to believe with me that in Jesus, we are free? Will you join me in choosing joy? Will you decide today to walk with God, and open up an eternity of possibilities? No one is option less. No one is in a prison that God cannot penetrate. One look, one prayer, one moment. When we say, yes to God, we are liberated.
Father God, I do pray for those who are reading this. I pray that their eyes would be opened to see the freedom that You offer. I pray that in the darkest part of each one’s heart, that Your light will shine and bring healing and deliverance. Bring us all into Your Truth, Lord. We choose to believe today that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And we believe that no one can approach God without Him. Help us today to know You and trust You just a little bit more. I thank You God, that You sent Jesus to open the doors of Paradise for us, so that we can come into speak with You in His Name. Amen
Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel
“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”
BarbTalk
Most people who read this have not experienced incarceration, or imprisonment for what they have done. Perhaps some have. It seems that Hollywood has glamorized prison and prisoners. We do not like it when a small freedom we think we deserve is taken from us. We shout no fair! We harbor resentment towards those who take from us. We wake up angry and go to sleep angry. It seems like we cannot think of the person who ‘stole’ from us without remembering and reliving the ‘crime’.
For some, chronic illness equals imprisonment. Our freedom is gone; we cannot do what we want. The ‘why me’ and ‘no fair’ statements fly about. Perhaps we cannot sleep. Insomnia is like a prison from which we cannot flee. Grief is also imprisoning. We are locked in by what we hide behind. Maybe we have habit that we cannot stop. We feel isolated. Equally, an attitude, disrespectful thoughts, and even disillusionment can box us in. Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:1, Amplified Bible: “In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].” Sounds easy, it is not.
A deep understanding that we are not imprisoned any more leads to more freedom. Isolation is a tool of the enemy to ‘divide and conquer’. Hiding out and having no accountability can bring a fruit-bearing believer to think that they have lost faith, forgotten love and don’t think they belong in the family of God any more.
Many things that happen to us make us feel internally dead. Traumas, betrayals, deaths of loved ones or pets, loss of jobs and relationships, disability and sickness, can all lead us to the path of hopelessness. How can we live out the freedom Christ bought for us at so great a price? What can we do when depression presses us so hard we cannot breathe? When negative thoughts and hopelessness fill our minds bringing us to despair, is there an answer?
Paul found himself frustrated when trying to live God’s way: Romans 7:18b-19: “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”
This is his conclusion: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Paul did not hide, he told the world of his difficulties. He reminded all those who could hear him that he was not perfect, he made mistakes, he did horrible things in his past (called himself the chief of all sinners), and the only hope he had was in Christ. When he found himself in prison, because he was not ashamed to preach the gospel no matter what happened to him. There, his eyes were opened to a new opportunity. He may have been in a physical prison, but he was free. No longer imprisoned by his feelings of inadequacy, he could tell everyone around him of the freedom he had experienced. Not only that, he had great joy and was recorded to be singing at night while chained! (Acts 16:25-28). How I pray that we can see ourselves as God’s ambassadors no matter where we are, no matter what is happening and no matter what others say or do.
Disability has opened more doors than I could ever imagine. We who walk with canes, walkers and use wheel chairs (I call them all trip extenders, except for my walker, who is affectionately called Luke, for Luke Sky-Walker), have a bond. We look at each other, and understand. We know walking through a door is so hard, or up an incline. Exhaustion is an unpleasant fact. We are not victims; we are capable of deciding how will we present ourselves to the world around us. When I became ill, I had an opportunity to make a choice. Was I going to be a crabby sick person, or a joyful one? I chose joy.
I have learned that everything in life is temporary. Everything! Pain is temporary, so is illness, and so is life. What are we going to do with what we have? What does this year hold for me and for you? How can we affect the future by our words and actions? Paul said, “What does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”
Paul did not go around winning popularity contests. Hated by many, he changed the course of history by sitting in a prison and refusing to be quiet about his newfound faith. Eternity is filled with the souls of those who dared to believe with him that Jesus is the Answer.
Filled with hope, each day brings a new start. Each moment, an opportunity; each glance, a gift of kindness. Will you dare to believe with me that in Jesus, we are free? Will you join me in choosing joy? Will you decide today to walk with God, and open up an eternity of possibilities? No one is option less. No one is in a prison that God cannot penetrate. One look, one prayer, one moment. When we say, yes to God, we are liberated.
Father God, I do pray for those who are reading this. I pray that their eyes would be opened to see the freedom that You offer. I pray that in the darkest part of each one’s heart, that Your light will shine and bring healing and deliverance. Bring us all into Your Truth, Lord. We choose to believe today that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And we believe that no one can approach God without Him. Help us today to know You and trust You just a little bit more. I thank You God, that You sent Jesus to open the doors of Paradise for us, so that we can come into speak with You in His Name. Amen
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