Chained
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12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
What do you do when something bad happens?
What do you do when something bad happens?
We say things like
++I’m so sorry
++Poor thing
++I feel bad for you
++How can I help?
Everyone faces difficult times
Everyone faces difficult times
Difficult times make come
++Because of our actions
++In spite of our actions
++Because of the actions of another
1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
There’s a story about a man who wanted to bake a cake for his wife’s birthday. He followed the recipe perfectly but got distracted watching his favorite show. He pulled the cake out 10 minutes early, and instead of a light, fluffy cake, he ended up with a gooey mess. Just like baking, in life, timing is crucial! Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, 'There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.'
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
God has
++made everything beautiful
++Put eternity in their hearts
God knows the big picture
God knows the big picture
God is at work
++From the beginning
++To the end
Paul was a good person
Paul was a good person
4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Paul’s credentials
++Under the Covenant
++A Hebrew of Hebrews
++A Pharisee concerning the Law
++He would do anything for God
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
One thing was more valuable than
++His status
++His accomplishments
++His position or rank
The things that gave him notoriety
++Made him unique
++Made him known
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
I count it all loss
++For the knowledge of Christ
++To suffer with Christ
++To gain Christ
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
Why is this good man in prison?
Why is this good man in prison?
This is not the first time
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city;
21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”
24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
They were called
++Trouble makers
++False teachers
There were
++Charged
++Imprisoned
++Chained
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
They were place in prison
++To stop the message
++To punish the messenger
++To restrained them
God had another plan
God had another plan
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
The Message
++Did not belong to them
++Came from the mouth of God
++Will not be voided
++Cannot be cancelled
His word was on a mission
++To reveal his presence
++To show his power
++To give them a testimony
++For the furtherance of the Gospel
13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
What happen in the prison
++was the source of the testimony
++Was the challenge of faith
++The prelude to joy
Everybody would know that
++Nothing was keeping them there
++They were in prison..prison wasn’t in them
++They were only bound in Christ
We are not limited
We are not limited
Even in hard times
Even in hard times
The Word works
++In solitary confinement
++In chains an shackles
++In the innermost prison
14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
How we handle the difficult times
++Helps each other
++Brings confidence
++Builds boldness
++Overcomes fear
15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:
What will we do for the furtherance of the Gospel?
What will we do for the furtherance of the Gospel?
The furtherance of the Gospel
++Sacrifice
++Investment
++Endurance
++Trust
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
I rejoice
I rejoice
Christ is preached
++in pretense
++In truth
++In faith
++in pride
If God can work in my prison he can work in their pride
I will keep on rejoicing
I will keep on rejoicing
