Philippians 1:12-18

Captivated, gripped, controlled not by Chains but by Christ. Paul is not in Jail…he is in Christ. He is not under house arrest…he is under Christ arrest. He is not chained to a Roman guard…he is chained to Christ. Even though Christ knocked him off his horse on the way to Damascus, even though he was caught up into the 3rd heaven, even though he recieved the gospel by divine revelation direct from God He had not arrived…His knowlege of God in Christ was incomplete, in fact he says in Romans 11 who can know the mind of God? And so his target, his aim, his goal in life was to know Christ and experience the same sufferings as Christ, have the mind of Christ and be conformed to His death.

How did Paul have joy in jail?

By the grace of God I have never served a day in jail. I have visited a family member in jail and I have watched a few movies that depicted jails or prisons. When I was a kid I watched a lot of westerns on TV that depicted jails. None of the images I have in my head of jail or being jailed are pleasant or joyous. I would never purposely spend my vacation for rest and relaxation in jail.

It is estimated that the apostle Paul spent a c5-6 yeaars of his life in costody either in a prison cell or under house arrest where he’d He may have been chained to his guard

English Standard Version Chapter 26

29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

(Acts 28:20),20 For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 28:20.

English Standard Version Chapter 6

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains

English Standard Version Chapter 21

33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done.

HOW DO WE GO FROM THE THEORETICAL, THE THEOLOGICAL, TO THE PRACTICLE AND EXPERIENCIAL.

FINALLY…MICHELLE AND I FIRST MET ON A WEBSITE CALLED “CHRISTIAN MATCHMAKER” . WE EITHER BROKE THE SITE OR THEY SIMPLY DECIDED IT WASN’T WORKING BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER OUT THERE ON THE CLOUD.

WHEN YOU SIGN UP YOU GET TO REVEIW PROFILES OF POTENTIAL MATCHES BY LOOKING AT THE FACTS THEY POST ABOUT THEMSELVES. DEPENDING ON HOW ELABORATE AND HONEST THE PERSON WRITES, YOU GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY LIKE AND DON’T LIKE, THEIR AGE, HAIR COLOR, HISTORY, EDUCATION, WHERE THEY LIVE ETC. ALL FACTS THAT HELP YOU DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO PERSUE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM OUT OF WHICH YOU WILL EXPEREINTIALLY KNOW THEM. AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO MARRY THEM YOU GAIN EVEN MORE EXPEREINTAIL KNOWLEGE OF THEM. AND THAT EXPEREINTIAL KNOWLEGE WILL LIKLEY ACCUMULATE OVER AN ENTIRE LIFE TIME OF YUR RELATIONSHIP. ISO IT WAS WITH PAUL AND HIS RELATIONOSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.

INITIALLY WHEN HE MET JESUS HE SIMPLY SAID “WHO ARE YOU”…SIMILAR TO THE QUESTION MANY OTHERS ASKED, NICHODEMAS, PETER, JAMES AND JOHN.

YOU SEE, GETTING TO KNOW THE INFINITE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS WILL LAST INTO ETERNITTY FOR AS PAUL WRITES IN ROMANS…WHO HAS KNOWN...