SURPRISED BY JOYFUL CHAINS (2 OF 14)
by Steve Jones
Scripture: Philippians 1
This content is part of a series.
Surprised by Joyful Chains (2 of 14)
Series: Surprised by Joy
Steve Jones
Philippians 1
INTRODUCTION: Remember that old song, chain gang by Sam Cooke: ''Chain Gang?''
All day long they work so hard - 'Till the sun is going down
Workin on the highways and byways
- And wearing, wearing a frown
You hear them moanin' their lives away
- Then you hear somebody say
That's the sound of the men - workin' on the chain gang
That's the sound of the men workin' on the chain gang.
The lyrics in that song typify the way most of us would feel if we were chained up all the time. We would be ''wearing a frown'', ''moaning'' complaining ''my work is so hard'', and understandably so. Chains aren't fun. Chains aren't glamorous. Chains aren't free. Chains aren't good, chains are bad.
I know that none of us are literally in chains today. But I'm using chains to represent the negative circumstances that come into our lives. Those circumstances, issues and sometimes people that hurt us that weigh our hearts down, that depress and restrict us. There are health issues that can feel like chains. There are financial issues that feel like chains. There are relationship issues that feel like chains. There are marriage issues that can feel like chains. There are job issues that feel like chains and act as chains in our lives trapping us and limiting our freedom; but not for Paul.
Paul was attached to a LITERAL chain but Paul had a PERSPECTIVE that enabled him to reflect on his chains with hope and courage and, as we shall see, even joy. The perspective that adjusted Paul's attitude was a GOSPEL perspective. Paul's gospel perspective is one that we need to adopt. However, a gospel perspective is very challenging to adopt and then, once we have it, it's hard to maintain it. We need to be REMINDED to maintain a gospel perspective frequently. When we do succeed in gaining a gospel perspective, it changes the way we look at everything - even our chains.
Befor ...
Series: Surprised by Joy
Steve Jones
Philippians 1
INTRODUCTION: Remember that old song, chain gang by Sam Cooke: ''Chain Gang?''
All day long they work so hard - 'Till the sun is going down
Workin on the highways and byways
- And wearing, wearing a frown
You hear them moanin' their lives away
- Then you hear somebody say
That's the sound of the men - workin' on the chain gang
That's the sound of the men workin' on the chain gang.
The lyrics in that song typify the way most of us would feel if we were chained up all the time. We would be ''wearing a frown'', ''moaning'' complaining ''my work is so hard'', and understandably so. Chains aren't fun. Chains aren't glamorous. Chains aren't free. Chains aren't good, chains are bad.
I know that none of us are literally in chains today. But I'm using chains to represent the negative circumstances that come into our lives. Those circumstances, issues and sometimes people that hurt us that weigh our hearts down, that depress and restrict us. There are health issues that can feel like chains. There are financial issues that feel like chains. There are relationship issues that feel like chains. There are marriage issues that can feel like chains. There are job issues that feel like chains and act as chains in our lives trapping us and limiting our freedom; but not for Paul.
Paul was attached to a LITERAL chain but Paul had a PERSPECTIVE that enabled him to reflect on his chains with hope and courage and, as we shall see, even joy. The perspective that adjusted Paul's attitude was a GOSPEL perspective. Paul's gospel perspective is one that we need to adopt. However, a gospel perspective is very challenging to adopt and then, once we have it, it's hard to maintain it. We need to be REMINDED to maintain a gospel perspective frequently. When we do succeed in gaining a gospel perspective, it changes the way we look at everything - even our chains.
Befor ...
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