CHILD-FRIENDLY IN CHAINS FOR CHRIST!

Philippians 1:12-26 GNT

I want you to know, my friends, that the things that have happened to me have really helped the progress of the gospel. [13] As a result, the whole palace guard and all the others here know that I am in prison because I am a servant of Christ. [14] And my being in prison has given most of the believers more confidence in the Lord, so that they grow bolder all the time to preach the message fearlessly. [15] Of course some of them preach Christ because they are jealous and quarrelsome, but others from genuine good will. [16] These do so from love, because they know that God has given me the work of defending the gospel. [17] The others do not proclaim Christ sincerely, but from a spirit of selfish ambition; they think that they will make more trouble for me while I am in prison. [18] It does not matter! I am happy about it-just so Christ is preached in every way possible, whether from wrong or right motives. And I will continue to be happy, [19] because I know that by means of your prayers and the help which comes from the Spirit of Jesus Christ I shall be set free. [20] My deep desire and hope is that I shall never fail in my duty, but that at all times, and especially right now, I shall be full of courage, so that with my whole being I shall bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. [21] For what is life? To me, it is Christ. Death, then, will bring more. [22] But if by continuing to live I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose. [23] I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing; [24] but for your sake it is much more important that I remain alive. [25] I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and joy in the faith, [26] so that when I am with you again, you will have even more reason to be proud of me in your life in union with Christ Jesus.

 

Some people today get into trouble just because they stand up for Jesus. Pastor Clive Johnston was arrested simply for praying and speaking up. This shows that the world is becoming less friendly to people who follow Christ. 

So what does it mean to be “in chains for Christ”? Does it mean we are real prisoners? Paul said in Ephesians 4:1 that he was a “prisoner for the Lord,” meaning he was fully committed to Jesus no matter what happened.

Commitment is shown by actions. It is seen in how we obey God, how we handle problems, and how we trust Him even when life feels hard. But many Christians today want to follow God only when everything is easy. They want blessings without challenges, sunshine without rain, and answers without waiting.

Some people are also chained by fear, sin, or wrong habits — like the man in Mark 5:4 — and only Jesus can set them free.

So, we must ask ourselves: What is holding me back? Am I in chains for Christ or for something else? 

Hard times test our commitment. Do we give up, or do we keep going?

God often uses difficult moments to bring us closer to Him and to help others see His love. Paul’s time in prison helped many people, including guards and their families, believe in Jesus.

Paul and Silas were also chained in Acts 16, but instead of complaining, they prayed and worshipped. Even when Paul was beaten and tied with two chains in Acts 21, he did not try to escape because he was committed to Christ.

God promises in Zechariah 9:12 that He will restore double blessings to those who stay faithful, even in hard times.

So, the question is: Are you willing to stand for Jesus, even when it is hard?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS*

•     How am I showing commitment to Jesus when it is difficult 

•     What things pull me away from God, and what must I surrender 

•     If I faced trouble for my faith, would I still trust and worship God like Paul

PRAYER: Lord, help me follow You even when it is hard. Give me strength to stay committed and trust You in every situation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We invite you to prayerfully consider partnering with us to continue sharing the gospel and changing lives. You can support this ministry in two simple ways: 

✅ Share this message on your platforms and with your contacts to help spread the word. 

✅ Sow a seed to help us carry on the work of the ministry and reach more people for Christ. 

Follow the Fresh Manna channel on Telegram: https://t.me/freshmdevo 

Follow the Fresh Manna channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029va8y5tqajpxp6kzdox1j 

FRESH MANNA/blogger.com 

Email: teewomenoflight@outlook.com 

Your partnership makes a difference! Together, we can impact lives for God’s kingdom. We truly appreciate your generosity and support. 

💳 Bank Details for Contributions 

Bank Name: Barclays Bank 

Account Name: B. Okoh 

Sort Code: 20-10-71 

Account Number: 53178420 

PayPal: prodbyjayt1@gmail.com 

Shalom  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START AGAIN!

Job 17:10-11 GW   "But now, all of you, come and try again! I won’t find one wise man among you.  My days are passing by. My plans are broken. My dreams are shattered."[10]   Life may require us to start again—and it’s never too late to start over. One of life’s certainties is that everyone will experience failure at something at some point. Life is never an unbroken series of victories. Setbacks, losses, and sometimes defeat will happen and may overwhelm us. Defeat may be thrust upon us by circumstance or by others, or we may defeat ourselves by our own thoughts and actions. When this happens, some give up, some persist until they succeed, and others are willing to start over again. Luke 7:11-15 gives the account of the widow of Nain, on her way to bury her only son, crying, distraught after losing another close family member. On the way, Jesus saw her, had compassion, and acted.  The woman must have thought, "Is He kidding? Does He know what I've been t...
Read more

DIVINE VISION!

Jeremiah 1:1-11 NASB The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, [2] to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. [3] It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month. [4] Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, [5] “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” [6] Then I said, “Oh, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.” [7] But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. [8] “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to save you,” declares the Lord. [9] Then the Lord stretch...
Read more

RESISTANCE FROM STEPPING INTO PURPOSE!

John 16:33 AMPC I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]   Stepping into your God-given purpose is one of the most powerful decisions you will ever make. But it is also one of the most resisted. The Bible makes it clear that whenever God calls a person, opposition rises—externally, internally, and spiritually. Jesus Himself tells us that trials will come, but His victory gives us courage and peace. Every believer must understand this: resistance is not a sign that you’re in the wrong place; it is often proof that you’re stepping into the right one. Everyone called by God faces resistance! Throughout Scripture, the moment people stepped into divine purpose, they faced pushback. ...
Read more