"Help Advance The Gospel..."

What is going on in your life right now?  I know.  This is may seem like a loaded question.  We could probably talk all day over coffee or diet Pepsi and still not exhaust the subject.  Do you know what was going on with the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:12?  If not, let me clue you in.

Paul was in prison, literally.  There is some debate as to where he was in prison.  More than likely, it was in Rome.  Paul was thrown in jail for spreading the gospel.  He was put in prison for preaching Christ crucified, risen, and coming again.  That is what was going on in Paul's life. 

What do we do when life doesn't go "our way"?  I guarantee that most of the time we don't do things that help advance the gospel.  Sounds crazy doesn't it?  Well, that is what happened with Paul and his life circumstances.  Paul's imprisonment served to advance the gospel.  How did this happen?  I am glad you asked.

Despite the fact that Paul was under lock and key, he made sure that everybody who he encountered knew why.  Listen to what verse 13 of Philippians 1 says.  "...it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ."  All of the people who were of the special guard of the emperor of Rome knew about why Paul was there.  HE WAS THERE BECAUSE OF CHRIST.

When life circumstances catch up with us we don't usually use it as a platform to help advance the gospel and when I say we that includes me.  Instead, we complain, go into denial, blame others, etc.  The very faith that we proclaim when life circumstance ares good seems to disappear. When others look at our lives when life stinks would see no trace of Christ.  However, this is exactly the opposite of what happened when others viewed Paul's life. 

"...most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, ARE MUCH MORE BOLD TO SPEAK THE WORD WITHOUT FEAR."--Philippians 1:14

Did you catch it?  The example of Paul, when faced with a life threatening situation, actually made speaking up for the cause of Christ easier.  I don't know about you, but telling others about Christ and what He has done on their behalf is scary sometimes.  Can you imagine doing it knowing that it could cost you your life?  Most of us wouldn't do it.  We would stay quiet.  We would run away and hide.  Not Paul.  When the Christians in Rome saw Paul's boldness, his example inspired them to be more courageous.  Paul's stance actually caused them to be much more bold in proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. 

There are two different groups of people represented in this section of scripture that we can learn from. 
First of all, Paul.  Here is a simple fact that we must ask God to help us with.  Whether life's circumstances are good or bad, we must speak the good new of Jesus Christ to others. 
Second, the Christians watching Paul.  We must ask God to help us become more courageous and bold for Him.  He might chose to do this by helping us be more aware of people who are speaking for Christ in every situation of their lives. 

HERE IS MY PRAYER:

God do something in my life, whether good or bad, that will help advance the gospel.  God help me to be aware of those people around me who are living for Christ in all circumstances of life and use them to inspire me to boldness for you.  

Blessings!

Ephesians 2...

I am currently doing to study on the book of Ephesians that was put together by John Stott. In today's study I was taken to Ephesians 2:1-10.

Verses 1-3 of Ephesians 2 gives one a clear picture of what we were like before Christ.  We were:

• Dead in trespasses and sins
• Followed the course of this world
• Followed the prince of the power of the air
• The spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience
• Among who we all once lived in the passions of our flesh
• Carrying out the desires of the body and the mind
• Children of wrath like the rest of mankind

This is not a pretty picture.  It is actually very depressing.  There is no hope for anyone apart from Jesus Christ.  However, the passage does not end there.  AMEN!!!

Verses 4-10 of Ephesians 2 speaks for itself as does the rest of scripture.  Read the words of Paul as he tells us what God did to remedy this hopeless situation we found ourselves in.  ENJOY!!!

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing:  IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.--Ephesians 2:4-10 (ESV)

May we continually live in the light of verse 4-10.  May we never forget what we once were.  May we never forget what God has done.

Blessings!

5 Words on The Word...

I am beginning the process of preparing for two youth camps that I will be speaking at this summer.  When one is given the opportunity to speak, in my opinion, it is hard to narrow down what needs to be said.  

Today in my office I was thinking to myself, "What are some things that as a teen I wish I would have known that I know now?"  That is a very good question and I think that I have come up with at least one good answer.   

I wish I would have known how important the Word of God is.  

Someone probably told me, but I didn't listen.  

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) says this, For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Let's break it down using a mathematical equation that I think makes sense.

THE WORD OF THE LORD 

= (IS)

#1--LIVING

#2--ACTIVE

#3--SHARP

(than any two-edged sword)

#4--PIERCING

(to the dividing of soul and of spirit)

(to the dividing of joints and of marrow)

#5--DISCERNING  

(the thoughts and intentions of the heart)

I think now we can see why the word of God is so important.  Look for this message to be spoken LOUDLY at a youth camp near you this summer.  Today's teens need to hear this and we need to tell them.  

Blessings!