Phil 1.12-14

1.12-14 Unpleasant Circumstances CAN PRODUCE Grand results. 1)Gospel Advanced; 2)chains for Xst well know 3)Xian confidence increase 4)Dare to proclaim gospel w/o fear

The unpleasant things in your life can become a great tool for God.

Intro

What if you were put in jail? Would that be something good for God?

Body

But we all have events in our lives that are awful.

• Lose a job unexpectedly
• People tell lies and destroy reputations
• Husband / wife leaves you and the kids

No one really WANTS to go to jail.

• Dangerous
  • Everything evil can be found there
  • And if you don’t get along with some inmate, you might be carried out in a body bag with a shank in your chest.

The Apostle Paul found himself in a Roman prison.

• He did not have a “oh, poor me” attitude
• He found how his imprisonment was making things better for spreading the gospel.
  • Philippians 1:12-14 ESV I want you to know, brothers, 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 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 without fear.
• Paul spent his time “infecting” others with Jesus
  • 1st, Paul’s bad situation led to “greater progress of the gospel”
    • Paul wrote 4 books of the Bible while he was stuck in prison
  • 2nd the cause for Christ had “infected” the whole imperial guard.
    • The soldiers who protect and care for the Emperor became Christians, even though Caesar did not trust Christians.
• 3rd, Some brethren were more confident than ever.
  • They could know that Paul was still alive even those he was a prisoner
  • They may have felt that the worst thing for them might be prison, too
  • So, they lived with much more confidence in God’s promises.
• 4th, Other brethren were speaking about Jesus more openly and with boldness.
  • Fear of extreme punishment was Gone.
  • They were more free to preach plainly.

The Bad things that happened to Paul were working out for the advancement of Christ.

God can take very bad things and turn them into something great!

• Ask the 3 Hebrews who walked from the fiery furnace
• Ask Daniel as he came out of a lion’s den
• Ask Lazarus after being dead 4 days.

Does this mean that God will

• Give you back your job?
• Or show that people were lie-ing about you and God will restore your reputation?
• Will God give you back your Husband / wife?
• Not necessarily.
• But it CAN mean that what is happening to you CAN be useful to God.
  • You 1st must have a relationship with him.
  • Satan brought on the bad circumstances, but God CAN, through your faithfulness to Him, use the ugly stuff for HIS purposes.
    • You will need to be looking for How he is going to use it.
  • This can give you comfort, endurance, patience,
  • It should give you purpose for going forward toward whatever God decides.

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