A Prisoner of Jesus Christ

Ephesians 3:1, "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles..."

We often pray, "Lord bless me," or "Lord give me power and use me!" However, for God to really use us and bless us with his presence and power He must first "imprison us."

No man has ever been tested, tried, persecuted, and hated like the apostle Paul. Yet, no man has ever been used by God and blessed with the power of the Holy Spirit and the joy of the Lord as Paul was.

The church today would not be what it is if Paul had not lived, served, and yielded to the Lord as he did.

1. Notice Paul's Perspective on His Trials. Generally, prisoners are bitter and angry, but not the apostle Paul... - He was convinced of the ultimate sovereignty of God. This is a great principle from Scripture. We must always keep in mind when facing troubles and injustice, God is in ultimate control. Paul know that though he was a prisoner of Rome, he was ultimately in the hands of his good and sovereign God. He did not fear Nero's judgment, but trusted God's wisdom and purpose. God had the final and ultimate say on Paul's incarceration and freedom. Joseph had this same perspective (Genesis 50:20, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.") Solomon understood this (Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." - He was content in the perfect will of God. Paul viewed all of his experiences in light of the will of God without complaints, grumbles or moaning about things being "unfair." Act 21:13, "Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Philippians 4:11, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
   

2. Notice Paul's Passion for Others. Ephesians 3:1, "...for you Gentiles..." Paul was in prison because of his preaching of the Gospel. He was in prison because of his burden and commitment to reaching the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Act 22:21-22) "...And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live." - His passion was vicarious. In other words, he was willing to give up his freedom and even his standing with God to see others come to Christ. Romans 9:1-3, "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:" Much of modern Christianity is self-centered. Paul was willing to give of himself for the good of others and the salvation of the lost. - His passion was voluntary. Much of the suffering we experience in our lives is unavoidable, but Paul could have walked away from the persecution, injustices, and persecution if he would simply abandon his preaching of the Gospel and his passion for reaching the unsaved. The love of Christ constrained him. (1 Corinthians 9:12, "If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.") - His passion was virtuous. Paul was Christlike in his willingness to suffer for the good of others. We are never more like Christ than when we experience persecution and suffering for others and for the sake of other's salvation.
   

Ultimately, Paul’s life illustrates that God's power and blessing often come through personal surrender and suffering for the sake of others.