Scripture
12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear. 15 It's true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that doesn't matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.
Observation
- Paul had the right perspective
- He used his prison as a pulpit
- Always people with wrong motives
- Paul made relational connections
- Some served out of selfishness
- The point is getting the message out
- Paul rejoiced in "The Message" not the messenger
- Consistent rejoicing
- He depended on prayers
Applications
- Use every problem as a pulpit
- Concentrate on the message not he motive of people
- Don't judge motive
- In all rejoice! – what is the other option?
- Know that people are praying for me
Prayer
Only You can give me a Paul perspective! I ask that you empower me today to use every situation as a pulpit to preach the GOOD NEWS. Forgive me for not listening to people's message because I'm judging their motive. May the GOOD NEWS be my priority today!
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