Read: PHILIPPIANS 1
Philippians is a letter of encouragement that the apostle Paul wrote to the church of Philippi. Paul traveled all over the known world sharing the gospel and starting new churches. The message of Jesus as our Savior was extremely controversial and repeatedly got Paul into trouble. While teaching people about Jesus in Jerusalem, Paul was arrested by religious and political leaders and sent to Rome for imprisonment. The Philippians were saddened by the news of his arrest and disappointed that more people may not hear about Jesus as a result. Paul reassured his dear friends through this letter, which he wrote while under Roman house arrest.
Philippians 1:12-14 “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”
Jesus changed the purpose of Paul’s chains.
The chains bounding Paul to the confinements of a Roman house were meant to stop his ministry, but God gave Paul a captive audience of Roman guards to share the gospel with 24/7.
The chains were meant to show Paul was broken, weak, and defeated. However, everyone in the whole palace saw Paul was strong, determined, and on a mission for Jesus.
The chains were meant to discredit Paul’s God, yet Paul’s demonstration of faith during captivity gave everyone more confidence in the Lord than ever before.
Jesus can change the purpose of your chains, too. You cannot be kept down, held back, weakened, or defeated when you are living for Christ. He has a purpose for you that gives you freedom and fulfillment regardless of your circumstances. When the world seems to be against you, remember that God is in control and there is a purpose in your pain. This creates a chain effect. God can bring the good out of every situation.