Excuses?

The Apostle Paul, writing from prison to the Philippian Christians, made this statement:

Philippians 1:12-14 “Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole Praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.”

The Praetorian guard that Paul referred to was a unit of special soldiers, highly trained and experienced, who served as palace guards for Roman governors; and in this case, Nero Caesar himself. Paul was not wasting away in some dungeon, as we might be prone to think. Instead, as a Roman citizen, he had personal quarters where he could receive visitors. He was at all times, however, chained to a Roman Soldier. NO PRIVACY.

Now, what would a zealous, spirit-filled apostle do about his prayers, his doctrinal letter writing, his Bible teaching, his evangelism….with a Roman soldier (!) always at his side?

He prayed. He wrote and dictated letters to the churches, teaching the mystery doctrines of the Church age. He taught those who came to him the meaning of the Old Testament scriptures. He proclaimed the gospel message to all who would hear.

Result: Roman soldiers saved and equipped to carry the gospel wherever they served. Result: the timid brethren who had left the evangelism up to Paul now saw the necessity of speaking the word of God without fear. Result: GREATER PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL.

I Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

We human vessels tend to wait for God to arrange our circumstances in a certain comfortable order before we can effectively serve Him. If we wait for that, we will never serve. The key to effective service for Christ is in being prepared with the word of God, filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to do His will WHERE WE ARE.

You are what you think. Proverbs 23:7

You speak what you know. John 3:11

God’s word will not return empty. Isaiah 55:11

He that is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much. Luke 16:10
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Paul, imprisoned for preaching Christ, continued to present the gospel to all who would hear; in this case, the guards who kept him in chains. That's what a committed Christian does, no matter the circumstances, no matter the audience. We have the goods, brethren. We will be placed where the hearers are most needy and most ready for God's Truth. Seeing the courage of Paul, other believers were emboldened to speak the Truth in their own surroundings, further spreading the gospel where they had been planted. The faith and determination of other believers encourages you and me to continue the work we have been given for the Kingdom. No matter what.