Find Purpose In Your Prison

Philippians 1:12-14
“I want you to know, dear ones, what has happened to me has not hindered, but helped my ministry of preaching the gospel, causing it to expand and spread to many people. For now the elite Roman guards and government officials overseeing my imprisonment have plainly recognized that I am here because of my love for the anointed One. And what I’m going through has actually caused many believers to become even more courageous in the Lord and to be bold and passionate to preach the Word of God all because of my chains.”

Paul is locked up in prison for his passion for Christ! That passion resulted in him preaching the message of the Gospel with boldness and conviction! Because of his boldness he found himself offending government and religious leaders. That caused Paul to be put in prison for his convictions.

Your convictions will place you in chains. Today we call people that have been in prison “convicts”, they’ve been convicted of their wrong. Paul was unashamedly convicted for the truth! Paul has given us a perspective about prison that most people aren’t able to spiritually see. When you set yourself on fire you will eventually catch others on fire that are close to you. Paul shows us how to find purpose in our prison and that will lead to the ability to set others on fire.

Paul told the church in Philippi that what happened to him has not hindered but helped his ministry of preaching the Gospel. Paul was saying, what has happened to me has not hindered my mission but helped my mission. His mission of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Spreading the Good News! The good news that it is no longer the law that gives us access to salvation but it is now Jesus Christ that gives us access to salvation and grafts us into the family of God. Paul was saying the Roman guards and government officials who are now in my presence are able to see why I am burning! Paul’s life was his sermon so anyone who encountered him – encountered Jesus. Paul’s persecution brought him joy because he knew if he was in prison people were going to encounter Jesus that normally wouldn’t have had that opportunity.

Paul was burning with purpose.

The other perspective that is birthed from Paul’s chains is one that is so interesting. In Philippians 1:14 Paul said – what I am going through is causing many believers to become even more courageous, bold and passionate! Paul is saying no matter your circumstances, if you stay on fire and continue to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, your boldness will cause other believers to wake up! This is such an encouraging message! While we are in a time of history where quite frankly the church establishment is entertaining Christians right to sleep. Paul is saying those of you who are in chains for preaching the truth – if you stay the course, hold on to your purpose, and have the right perspective you will live out the mission of spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s life showed us you don’t need perfect conditions to live out your calling. The only way to reach people is not just from a pulpit in a church. You can spread the gospel while chained up in prison!