PREACHING IN CHAINS

• DAY 346
• FAITH FILE: Apostle Paul
• SCRIPTURES: Ephesians 6:20

For the sake of this gospel I am an ambassador, though now I am in prison. Pray that I may be bold in speaking about the gospel as I should.

There are 14 (some scholars argue it’s 13) books attributed to Paul in the New Testament, and all are letters. Out of these 14 letters, some are called the Prison Epistles – Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. These were letters that Paul wrote while he was in prison. Not to mention that he also preached to the ruling governor at the time, and held a mini service with the Jewish elders in Rome, while on house arrest and this was after almost losing his life in a shipwreck and snake bite. 

“So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.” - Acts 28:23-24

I mean, talk about courage and faith. To be imprisoned for doing nothing but preaching the gospel, restricted and limited, almost stoned to death, and still sharing the gospel, requires a kind of faith that only the Holy Ghost can give. So in the midst of this, he requested that prayers be made on his behalf. Not that he may be released or vindicated, not that he may be unharmed, but that he may be bold to keep preaching in chains. It seems that chains were nothing to this man. The gospel flourished even more, He wrote letters that became books and they addressed issues that are still affecting our lives millenniums later. This courage may not have felt pleasant but i believe he exhibited it in joy.

I wonder what situations you may gotten into in life that you have let limit your potential, hinder your calling, and cause you to quit on faith or your cal. And you’re saying, “You know what? I’m done. I quit, I can’t do this anymore, it has caused me so much suffering.” Do not despair or be afraid. Let the life of Paul be an example for you that you can still be effective even though you are limited. Your confinement is not the end of your assignment. If you would take up courage, you could probably come up with your own prison letters. If you would take up courage, there are so many things that you can do. 

Pray and say, “Father, I pray that I would have the courage to continue to do that which you have sent me to do, even in uncomfortable situations.” And you’ll see how the courage and the strength of God will envelop you and will fill your heart. 

Shalom.