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“Chains Have An Inspirational Nurturing Side! (C.H.A.I.N.S)”

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

SCRIPTURE:
“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really 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. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly." (Philippians 1:12-14, NIV)

Approach Question:
What example from your own life will help someone else speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly?

Observation:
I asked myself what do chains do in Paul's life?
I saw the chains accomplish 4 things in Paul's life:

1. The chains really served to advance the gospel!
2. It has become clear throughout the whole palace guard that Paul is in chains for Christ.
3. It has become clear to everyone else that Paul is in chains for Christ.
4. Because of Paul's endurance in chains for Christ, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly!

Interpretation:
I asked myself the significance of Paul writing, 'Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly!'

It is so significant to me because Paul is not banking on things being peachy in his life to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is not banking on what good things (based on world's standards of what good things are) Jesus does for Him so the Gospel can be advanced. His emphasis is not on having a good life but solely on Christ. He is making a point to the Philippians that they should not be upset that he is in chains, for it is those same chains that are helping him to advance the Gospel that he had set out to do with his preaching. That is amazing to see what we think of negative being used in a mighty way. That's how our Lord works. Lord is using the chains to advance the Gospel! Praise the Lord! Also, I believe Paul is making a point that when our love for Christ becomes so paramount, no matter what is happening to us, we will be able to live a life worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that will encourage others to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly too!

Implications:
I saw important implications for my life. Whatever chains I face in my life, when I take the approach of focusing on the Lord and finding my joy in Him, these chains actually help advance the Gospel by giving other brothers and sisters encouragement to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly because they see the power of the Gospel :)

don't have to think good things have to happen to me for me to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING C.H.A.I.N.S:
I had a tendency to think at times that when good things happen to me that can advance the Gospel because people will know that I am a Christian and they can see how the Lord helps Christians so they can come too. I wanted a life free of chains. But this approach is the prosperity Gospel that is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ never promises life to be peachy, void of trials and tribulations but Jesus does promise never to leave me nor forsake me! Praise the Lord!

I cannot discount the chains in my life thinking these chains will keep people away from Jesus Christ if these chains are a result of following Christ and can bring people to Christ. Whatever form or shape the chains come in whether they are figurative or literal, I realized when I am in chains for Christ, it will be a powerful witness to advance the Gospel because serving Christ amidst the chains becomes a powerful testimony more than 'preaching without persecution'! Wow! That does not mean I go looking for someone to chain me. No, I have to live my life trusting the Lord in all circumstances depending on Him and Him alone. Then, He will use circumstances in my life to encourage others to courageously and fearlessly speak the Word of God for the advancement of the Gospel! That can happen to you too!

I ask you now dear friends, what have the C.H.A.I.N.S.  done to you in your life?
Dear friend, to know what the chains have done to you in your life, you first have to know what the chains are that are captivating you. They can come in many forms and sizes. There are so many chains that can captivate people and even figuratively paralyze them. The chains can come in many forms such as addictions, unforgiving spirit, bitterness, hopelessness, persecution, etc.

Now how you handle those figurative or literal chains will determine your own joy and relationship with the Lord. When chains come in our lives, we can either take a negative approach and say, 'Woe is me, why me?' or can have the attitude of Paul knowing even chains can advance the Gospel. But you cannot do it on your own and need outside intervention. The Good News is there is outside intervention for you.

People who have had addictions, unforgiving spirit, bitterness, hopelessness, persecution, etc have been freed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and their freedom in Christ helps advance the Gospel to those who knew them before and after. Praise the Lord!

What you go through may seem so bad but take it from me that with the Lord Jesus Christ there is always hope in the direst of circumstances. Thank you Jesus. When you live your life for Christ no matter what is captivating you, asking the Lord Jesus for His help, He will help you. In His time, He will free you from your chains but you have to surrender your life to Christ and cannot try to break out of those chains on your own.

Yes, friend Jesus wants to help you! Yes, He does! Come to Jesus as you are. I do not know what you are facing and what is holding you in chains right now. It could be anything but there is Good News friend. Yes, there is! You do not have to face it alone. You can face it with Jesus Christ!

Jesus loves you so much and knows what you are going through. Come to the Lord as you are and  yield to Him. He wants you to come to Him as you are realizing your own shortcomings and lay them in the Hands of the Savior. Allow Him to work in your life. He will take care of the rest. Yes, He will my friend! This cannot happen unless you are willing to surrender your life to Him completely. There should not be any holding back. It will not always be easy but you will come through! Yes, you will! In His timing, He will lift you up! You are never out of His love and never out of His reach! Come as you are!

 Paul surrendered his life to Christ and even chains could not stop the joy he had or the advancement of the Gospel. In the same way, when we have Christ in our lives, whatever we maybe facing as Christians, we won't have to face it alone. His grace and mercy will be showered upon us!

If we are in chains for our sins and the wicked heart, we can never use those chains to advance the Gospel without Christ's intervention. The Good News is Christ wants to intercede on our behalf. We need to ask Jesus to be part of our lives so He can sanctify us by His grace and when others look at us, they can see the transformational power of Christ to change us by His grace! Praise the Lord!

Friend, you nor I can never be in chains for Christ unless we get rid of the chains for Satan. There is no middle ground. The world is chained for Satan being in bondage to sin and destruction. We too are if we do not acknowledge those chains in our life that captivate us with all kinds of weaknesses and bring them before the Father of Lights to work in us and through us. This work can only be done by acknowledging the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary.

Jesus was chained to the cross for you and me so that by the BLOOD HE SHED to ransom us, we would be freed of our own chains that He took for us. That is so wonderful to know! None of us can fight the chains of slavery to sin without Christ's help so we need to come to Christ.

Friend, come to Christ as you are and allow Him to take away the chains that captivate you that are not the chains for Christ. Then, with Paul you can have joy amidst chains when those chains are for Christ. These kind of chains are not the bondage to sin chains but chains for Christ for the advancement of the Gospel which is Good News for the world! Praise the Lord!

May you know the purpose of today's devotional is to understand that when we are in chains for Christ, the Gospel will be advanced encouraging others to speak the Word of God boldly and fearlessly! Amen!

"Chains Have An Inspirational Nurturing Side!" (C.H.A.I.N.S)/"What have the C.H.A.I.N.S done to you in your life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I love you so much. Thanks for loving me. You Oh Lord know the chains that have captivated us. Many of those chains are chains that hinder the Gospel from going forth. Forgive us Oh Lord and please do help us. Thank you Lord there are chains for Christ that people endure that are for the advancement for the Gospel. Help me never to turn away from those chains if it is for the advancement of your Kingdom. I need your strength for I am weak many times and only your strength can get me through. Help me Jesus. Thanks so much Jesus! You alone have the pathway to life. Thank you Lord, anytime we mess up and confess our sins to you, you are faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I thank you Lord that we do not have to be perfect to come to you. We do not have to have all the answers. Even as the worst sinners we can come and you will start your transformation in our lives and finish the work you begin in us. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Help us Jesus! Thank you for living in me and I will live for you and I will serve you, the rest of the days of my life. I thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Personal Savior. I thank you Lord for hearing my prayer and answering me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

May the Lord Jesus guide you in His love leading you! Amen!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turniLOVINGg them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help by His grace alone!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

2011 DEVOTIONALS:

Philippians 1:12: "How can you feel S.P.E.C.I.A.L when things are going so wrong in your life?" (June 01, 11, 9:26 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:9-11: "What is your L.O.V.I.N.G response be based on?" (May 31, 11, 9:01 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

John 12:24: "Why should M.E.M.O.R.I.A.L day not be limited to a Picnic/BBQ Holiday?" (May 30, 11, 7:47 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:8: "Why cannot you be in a loving R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P in life?" (May 28, 11, 12:34 aPm.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:7: "Why cannot you be saved by G.R.A.C.E alone?" (May 27, 11, 9:23 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:6: "Where are you C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T in?" (May 26, 11, 1:03 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:3-5: "How can you attain a P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S.H.I.P in the Gospel?" (May 25, 11, 10:15 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:3: "How will others R.E.A.C.T towards God when they remember you?" (May 24, 11, 10:50 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1-2: "What do you do to B.L.E.S.S others in life?" (May 20, 11, 9:18 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1: "Why bother to let others T.R.A.I.N you when you are already a leader?" (May 19, 11, 10:42 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1: "Why should you believe you are H.O.L.Y instead of being a sinner?" (May 18, 11, 8:31 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1: Who will you be a S.L.A.V.E to in life? (May 17, 11, 7:21 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 2:8: "Why bother with the C.R.O.S.S. when you are living in the 21st century?" (April 23, 11, 1:32 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

2010 DEVOTIONALS:

John 12: "Will you be the offspring of the S.E.E.D cultivated?" (Mon, March 29, 10, 10:09 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

John 12:3: "What costly S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E will you make for Jesus remembering His stinky/dirty feet?" (Sat, March 27, 10, 11:06 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Proverbs 23: "What  has  A.L.C.O.H.O.L done to you in life?" (March 20, 10, 9:17 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "What do you do with an I.N.T.E.R.R.U.P.T.I.O.N in life?" (March 13, 10, 11:40 p.m.)

Mark 10:13: "Why S.H.A.R.E Jesus with others in life?" (March 09, 10, 4:59 a.m) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10:13: "Why B.R.I.N.G Doggy Poo to Jesus?" (March 08, 10, 9:01 a.m) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "When have you become an A.D.U.L.T.E.R.E.R in life and what now?" (Feb 24, 10, 9:31 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "Why D.I.V.O.R.C.E the one you marry in life?" (Feb 22, 10, 12:15 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "What do you do with what is P.E.R.M.I.T.T.E.D in your life?" (Feb 20, 10, 10:08 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

1 Corinthians 13: "How will you be someone's V.A.L.E.N.T.I.N.E using 16?" (Feb 13, 10,  12:16 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "Who do you become an A.T.T.R.A.C.T.I.O.N to and why?" (Feb 05, 10, 9:43 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "How can you be a S.A.L.T in someone's life today?" (Feb 04, 10, 11:27 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "What do you help your friends E.S.C.A.P.E from?" (Feb 03, 10, 12:30 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "Why bother with H.E.L.L in life?" (Feb 02, 10, 2:39 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "When are you planning to cut your hand, foot, or eye to escape Hell?"" (Feb 01, 10, 1:41 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

 Mark 9: "Why heed Jesus' W.A.R.N.I.N.G in your life?" (Jan 30, 10, 12:41 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy