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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 asked myself what are the 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 can 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 :) I 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:
There have been many times that I have felt that I am financially chained because of the job that I chose to do. But what gives me joy is the opportunity to advance the Gospel for Jesus Christ in the place that I am at. It is through this job, I encounter a lot of students who I befriend and then have opportunities to share Christ directly or indirectly. I praise the Lord for that. If that opportunity did not exist anymore then I know the Lord wants me to move on to other places where His Gospel can be advanced. Right now though financially feeling chained, I know my joy is found in the Lord and He provides all things. Even though I feel financially strained, I know Jehovah Jireh is my Provider and will provide for all my needs. Thank you Jesus.

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!

They have been advanced especially in the summer times when I served the Pennsylvania Governor's School of International Studies (PGSIS) students. I had the opportunity to share poems, with a Gospel message for 8 years, advancing the Gospel in the lives of almost 100 students each year. Now, whether they have come to the Lord Jesus is the work of the Holy Spirit. But, what I know is the Lord used me in my job to let others know about Him.

It gave me joy to know that years later one of the students that I served is advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ even to this day for His honor and glory. Even though she went to Harvard and got her degree, she decided to work for Campus Crusade for Christ to share the Gospel with students. I praise the Lord for Faith Sadar and how the Lord is using her in the Massachusetts area.

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! Sometimes the chains become a choice we make but even through those choices if the chains are for the sake of the Kingdom of God, we will find blessings and joy in the Lord. Thank you Jesus.

I ask you now dear friends, what have your C.H.A.I.N.S.  done to others in  life?
Dear friend, your chains can actually bring deliverance to others in life, if your chains are chains for the advancement of the Gospel. That is so exciting to know! Now how you handle those figurative or literal chains will determine whether the Gospel is advanced because of your chains or whether your chains keep people from coming to the Lord. Paul's chains actually helped advance the Gospel by making the brothers and sisters speak courageously and fearlessly about Jesus Christ when they realized what Paul was going through and yet how he was able to write with joy because Jesus Christ was being made known.

Whatever chains you feel you are faced with, with the Lord you will never be alone. You can have the Lord by your side to help you endure through these chains. When the chains are chains of persecution for the Gospel, your life becomes a fragrant offering to the Lord and can draw people to Him.

If your chains are chains of slavery to sin, when you hand those sins to the Lord such as addictions, unforgiving spirit, bitterness, hopelessness, pride, etc, the Lord Jesus will free you in His timing. When you are free people will look at your life and realize the change in you is because of Christ and they too can come to experience the power of His love. I speak from experience.

So when you feel chained regardless of the reasons, don't see those chains as captivating you forever but see them as an opening for the Gospel to be advanced through you friend! As you surrender your life to the One who loves you so much and gave His life for you, you will have a new perspective on life.

Yes, friend  you will because 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! Your changed life will change others too.

Name the chain/s that are captivating you right now and bring it to the Lord for His help. He will use your circumstances to bless others when those chains are seen and handled in light of the cross. Thank you Jesus. Though your situation maybe rough, by seeing others blessed, you will find joy in the Lord. In His timing, He will bring deliverance in your life. Thank you Jesus!

 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! Then, the Gospel will be advanced.

Friend, you nor I can never be in chains for Christ unless we get rid of being  chained to Satan. There is no middle ground. The world is chained to 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 bondages! We need to bring those chains 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! Jesus being chained to the cross because of His love for us is what helped advance the Gospel to the Nations.

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! He will use you friend and bring you to a place of joy. 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 your C.H.A.I.N.S done to others in 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

2012 DEVOTIONALS:

 Philippians 1:12:  "How can you feel so S.P.E.C.I.A.L when things are going so wrong in your life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 18, 12, 8:20 a.m.)

Philippians 1:9-11: "What is your L.O.V.I.N.G response in life based on?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 18, 12, 8:20 a.m.)

Philippians 1:8:   "How can your A.F.F.E.C.T.I.O.N grow towards others in life?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 17, 12, 6:32 a.m.)

Philippians 1:7: "Why cannot you be saved by G.R.A.C.E. alone?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 16, 12, 9:55 a.m.)

Philippians 1:6: "Where are you C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T in?"By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 15, 12, 10:54 a.m.)

Philippians 1:3-6: "How can you attain a P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S.H.I.P in the Gospel?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 14, 12, 08:38 a.m.)

Philippians 1:3: "How will others R.E.A.C.T towards God when they remember you?" (May 11, 12, 09:53 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1-2: "When do you B.L.E.S.S others in life?" (May 09, 12, 7:30 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 10, 12, 9:01 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 08, 12, 8:05 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Philippians 1:1: Who will you be a S.L.A.V.E to in life? (May 07, 12, 7:06 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy