We’ve been following a preaching theme in church recently of “Know God – Be Strong – Do Great” (taken from Daniel 11:32). As part of that I preached yesterday in our West Congregation on “Unchained Ministry: Doing great when life ain’t great“. (If you missed it you can get it from our download browser or podcast)
It’s interesting how many reasons we have for not doing great things for God. Often we seem to think the reasons we’re not fruitful are all to do with things external to us. Our current situation, where we live, our job, people around us, people who lead us, financial pressures, family. Sometimes we think we’re chained – and life is on hold until the right circumstances appear.
The Bible, on the other hand, shows the reasons why we don’t do great things are always internal. Looking at the life of Paul in particular it seems he was often in situations which were uncomfortable, inconvenient, and seemed to rob him of opportunities to do what he’d been called to do.
However, instead of moaning about the things which were keeping him in chains, he embraced his chains as gifts from God to be used for His gospel. The very things which would appear to constrain him were the very opportunities for the gospel to be preached (Philippians 1:12-14) and led him to declare at the end of his life:
This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. – 2 Timothy 2:9
Where did this ability come from? To know that God is in charge of every situation, to overlook his own circumstance, and to be used by God for great things no matter how tough or hopeless his situation appeared to be?
It came from having a personal encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. In that encounter he had a revelation of Christ’s glory, and he received Christ’s grace.
The glory of Jesus Christ – the living word – who could not be chained by death, but was enthroned over all. And the grace of Jesus Christ – who would choose to save and to use Paul: A sinner, and the man most committed to crushing those who followed Christ. And because of that encounter he was forever changed.
A great message Dan and delivered with heart-felt passion given the sad news you’d received yesterday morning. The sign of a real pro when you can still deliver even in the most difficult of times.
This was one of your better ones, if not your best yet….A real challenge to those of us who are always waiting for the “right time” or for God to give us the perfect opportunity (I’m definitely guilty of this one).
Dan,
Good Day. You are such a blessing. I totally agree with you, whether we accept it or not, there are bad things that happened in our life, but, God can use that bad experience to strengthen us and to strengthen others and it could be an open door for the gospel.
What had happened to me was a very difficult, but the Gospel of Jesus can not be chained, we can not put the Holy Spirit in a box, no matter what happened,if we will allow God, He is going to accomplish His purpose in us, all we need to do is to trust God.