Chains Can't Bind Everything

Bible Bites

www.heaven4sure

Chains Can't Bind Everything

Some tried but they failed. Had they been successful we wouldn't have one on our desk or beside our bed. Over the centuries, evil powers have focused on wiping it off the face of the earth. Dark but sophisticated strategies have been employed to erase it from the minds and hearts of people. But the continuing dominance of the Bible as the world's #1 best-selling book is current evidence that it always comes out on top, and it always will!

The Apostle Paul was feeling the isolation of imprisonment when he wrote 2Timothy. He had been arrested for preaching the Gospel in the cities of the ancient world. He was considered a menace to society - an evil doer, guilty of crimes against humanity. We might think he'd be singing the blues and wallowing in self-pity.

Is this what Paul wrote to his fellow-laborer Timothy?

 "Why is this bad thing happening to me.is God not good? Has God lost control of the agenda - it doesn't make sense to me that I am locked up in this dark prison when I was honoring the Lord and serving Him so faithfully and especially when I was doing such an important work. Why this?"

Paul never wrote such words. Here's what he wrote:

Remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead, the offspring of David

As preached in my gospel

For which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal.

But the Word of God is not bound!

2 Timothy 2:8-9

From the cold, damp prison cell Paul wrote Timothy one last letter to encourage him to stay focused on Jesus Christ. "Yes, Timothy, men may bind you with chains and throw you into a dungeon; but they cannot chain or bind your spirit if you stay focused on Christ. Remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead! Just as Christ arose mightily from the grave, so a Christian's spirit can leap over the walls of a prison trial when their thoughts are focused on the Lord Jesus."

"But.but..but.."

"But what, dear Paul? What are you going to say next? What's behind the huge smile of victory on your face? Why did you just throw your fist into the air triumphantly?"

"Why? Because they can bind me with their strongest chains and restrict me - but there are two things they can never stop:

1. they can't stop me from thinking about Christ; and
2. they can't stop the Word of God from spreading. It can't be bound. It will triumph every time."

Remember those two things throughout 2010 each time when...

• when you pass out a fridge magnet with a Bible verse on it; or
• leave a Seed Sower in a door; or,
• leave a Gospel or personal story tract on the seat you vacate; or
• give a New Testament to a friend; or
• share a Gospel CD with someone; or
• build a website to promote the truth of the Scriptures; or
• mount a little Bible verse at your work station; or
• pass out a pen with a verse on it; or
• include a Bible verse in your automatic signature or as a part of your profile; or
• tweet or text a Gospel verse electronically; etc.

When you do any of the above in 2010, never underestimate the power of the Word of God and what it will accomplish!  The Word of God can NOT be bound. It is the Living Word and it is powerful and sharp - even if we are desperately dull at times. (Hebrews 4:12) The Word of God is just as mighty and just as powerful as God is Himself - it has no limitations!

What are the two things that cannot be bound or crushed in 2010? The spirit of a Christian focused on Jesus Christ and the Word of God. Let's kick-off 2010 on that triumphant note!

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today and throughout 2010.

Warmly in Christ

Peter Ramsay

peter@heaven4sure.com