Title: Are You Telling the Story of What God Has Done for You?
Text:
Philippians 1:12-14 (KJV)
12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Observation:
Today my attention is focused on another aspect of this passage. Last week we focused on the circumstances that we face in our walk. Today, my focus is on the gospel of Christ.
It is clear from verse twelve that the Apostle Paul's priority was the furtherance of the gospel of Christ. What is the gospel of Christ? Well, Paul answers that question in another letter.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (KJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
This is the basic message that Paul delivered (vv. 3-4) everywhere he went. This is the message that we are called to share everywhere we go.
Acts 1:8 (KJV)
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The lyrics to "I Am Redeemed" by Jessy Dixon is speaking to me.
"I am redeemed, bought with a price,
Jesus has changed my whole life.
If anybody asks you, just who I am,
tell them I am redeemed."
This verse records Jessy's response to the Lord.
"I'll tell of His favor, I'll tell of His love,
I'll tell of His goodness to me.
He purchased my redemption with His own precious blood,
and from sin I've been set free."
O, may each of our response be like the people that Paul wrote to in the church at Philippi, and of Jessy Dixon in the excerpts from his song.
Philippians 1:14 (NLT)
14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear.
Prayer:
Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, give us the confidence and courage to boldly tell others of Your goodness to us by providing the means for our redemption by the blood of your darling son, Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:
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