By Pastor Josiah
“Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.”
Romans 5:1-5 The Amplified Bible
Brethren, when apostle Paul found himself in prison for his faith and ministry. He wrote this: “Now I want you to know and continue to rest assured, brethren, that what [has happened] to me [this imprisonment] has actually only served to advance and give a renewed impetus to the [spreading of the] good news (the Gospel). So much is this a fact that throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest [here] my imprisonment has become generally known to be in Christ [that I am a prisoner in His service and for Him]. And [also] most of the brethren have derived fresh confidence in the Lord because of my chains and are much more bold to speak and publish fearlessly the Word of God [acting with more freedom and indifference to the consequences].”
Philippians 1:12-14 The Amplified Bible
Here was apostle Paul in a Roman prison, literally bound by chains and yet, he appears to boast of them. Not only do his chains not hinder the gospel, they have advanced them. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39 KJV
The point that apostle Paul is making is that nothing can stop the purposes of God, not even chains. In fact, they will actually be used to bring all these things to their fruition. Bound by chains and prison walls, apostle Paul could not preach to the tens or hundreds that he preached to in the marketplaces, and squares, and synagogues. Instead, he committed his word to parchment and would reach millions, even billions of souls, even us, to this day.
It was prison walls, and chains that unleashed the gospel, and unchained the Word of God to reach the world, and every age.
This is how apostle Paul dealt with everything. His life was filled with obstacles, hindrances, problems, and adversities, yet he did not complain about them, he did not confess them away, and he never blamed them for preventing things. He always looked for, and found a way to fulfill the calling he had been given.
If we look at our present circumstances, it is easy to feel hindered, bound, prevented, intimidated, limited, unable to do what we need to do, unable to advance God’s purposes, unable to fulfill our calling. All the more we must take, and apply apostle Paul’s secret and strategy.
No circumstance, problem, adversity, or hindrance can stop you from fulfilling the calling of God. They are nothing more than chains. Do not bemoan your chains, your situation, your obstacles, rather use them all for the glory of God.
Beloved, If a door closes, another will open. If the other door closes, God will open a window. Do not ever stop, but find the way, glorify God, fulfill your calling, and use the chains to bring forth the unstoppable purposes of God. Shalom.
I pray that the Lord will strengthens you in the Holy Ghost and empower you to use obstacles on your way as ladder to overwhelming victory in Jesus name Amen.
Every chain, binding, rope of darkness, and padlock powers assigned against your destiny, I pray that such limitations be broken by the power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name Amen.
* Pastor Josiah KGS. GPPM
+234-805-551-6088
pastorjosiahkehinde@gmail.com