Pandeming Preaching - The Gospel Is Preached
"Now I want you to know, believers, that what has happened to me [this imprisonment that was meant to stop me] has actually served to advance [the spread of] the good news [regarding salvation]." Philippians 1:12
When this new virus was deemed a pandemic and was starting to infect hundreds of thousands and killing thousands daily, health and government officials started mandating extreme measures to prevent the spread.
Governments locked down cities and whole countries, closed down establishments, ordered restrictions on churches and even put a stop to church services all together.
A lot of people got upset that for two thousand years, church services weren't ordered closed in this manner.
History Repeating Itself
But like in the first century when public officials imprisoned the apostle Paul to try to silence him and prevent him from preaching the truth about Jesus of Nazareth, the exact opposite took place.
It got to be known that Paul was imprisoned because of his faith in Jesus and that all those tasked to guard him day in and day out, became his captive audience and got to hear the gospel from their prisoner.
Opportunity to Preach
Other people then took up the baton and ran their own race. They started preaching like Paul did. Paul, locked up and in chains wrote letters to the different churches to instruct them and to strengthen their faith. These same letters now form a huge part of the New Testament bible and is still being used today to teach and spread God's Word.
What was meant for harm and to prevent the spread of the gospel thus had the reverse effect
Online Church
Today, we are seeing the same thing. Preachers being prevented from conducting services from their pulpits, have been recording themselves and going live on TV, radio, the internet and social media and is reaching far more than they could have if they weren't forced to lock down.
Remember God was in control in Paul's time as He still is in our time. Pandemic, lockdowns, restrictions... all these will work out for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.
Even Nero's Persecution of Christians Backfired and Instead Helped It Spread
They Can’t Imprison the Message
Philippians 1:13-18 (Paul writing to the early believers in Philippi)
"My imprisonment in [the cause of] Christ has become common knowledge throughout the whole praetorian (imperial) guard and to everyone else. Because of my chains [seeing that I am doing well and that God is accomplishing great things], most of the brothers have renewed confidence in the Lord, and have far more courage to speak the word of God [concerning salvation] without fear [of the consequences, seeing that God can work His good in all circumstances].
Some, it is true, are [actually] preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry [toward me—for no better reason than a competitive spirit or misguided ambition], but others out of goodwill and a loyal spirit [toward me]. The latter [preach Christ] out of love, because they know that I have been put here [by God on purpose] for the defense of the gospel; but the former preach Christ [insincerely] out of selfish ambition [just self-promotion], thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment.
What then [does it matter]? So long as in every way, whether in pretense [for self-promotion] or in all honesty [to spread the truth], Christ is being preached; and in this I rejoice."
Pandemic Preaching Series
When this new virus was deemed a pandemic and was starting to infect hundreds of thousands and killing thousands daily, health and government officials started mandating extreme measures to prevent the spread.
Governments locked down cities and whole countries, closed down establishments, ordered restrictions on churches and even put a stop to church services all together.
A lot of people got upset that for two thousand years, church services weren't ordered closed in this manner.
History Repeating Itself
But like in the first century when public officials imprisoned the apostle Paul to try to silence him and prevent him from preaching the truth about Jesus of Nazareth, the exact opposite took place.
It got to be known that Paul was imprisoned because of his faith in Jesus and that all those tasked to guard him day in and day out, became his captive audience and got to hear the gospel from their prisoner.
Opportunity to Preach
Other people then took up the baton and ran their own race. They started preaching like Paul did. Paul, locked up and in chains wrote letters to the different churches to instruct them and to strengthen their faith. These same letters now form a huge part of the New Testament bible and is still being used today to teach and spread God's Word.
What was meant for harm and to prevent the spread of the gospel thus had the reverse effect
Online Church
Today, we are seeing the same thing. Preachers being prevented from conducting services from their pulpits, have been recording themselves and going live on TV, radio, the internet and social media and is reaching far more than they could have if they weren't forced to lock down.
Remember God was in control in Paul's time as He still is in our time. Pandemic, lockdowns, restrictions... all these will work out for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.
Even Nero's Persecution of Christians Backfired and Instead Helped It Spread
They Can’t Imprison the Message
Philippians 1:13-18 (Paul writing to the early believers in Philippi)
"My imprisonment in [the cause of] Christ has become common knowledge throughout the whole praetorian (imperial) guard and to everyone else. Because of my chains [seeing that I am doing well and that God is accomplishing great things], most of the brothers have renewed confidence in the Lord, and have far more courage to speak the word of God [concerning salvation] without fear [of the consequences, seeing that God can work His good in all circumstances].
Some, it is true, are [actually] preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry [toward me—for no better reason than a competitive spirit or misguided ambition], but others out of goodwill and a loyal spirit [toward me]. The latter [preach Christ] out of love, because they know that I have been put here [by God on purpose] for the defense of the gospel; but the former preach Christ [insincerely] out of selfish ambition [just self-promotion], thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment.
What then [does it matter]? So long as in every way, whether in pretense [for self-promotion] or in all honesty [to spread the truth], Christ is being preached; and in this I rejoice."
Pandemic Preaching Series
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