On March 10, 2020 a state of emergency was ordered by the governor of NC in response of Covid-19. I remember on March 14, 2020 my wife and I were out at a restaurant and my phone went crazy. The governor had put restrictions on public gatherings. How would this affect our fellowship gatherings? As things progressed the governor on March 27, 2020 would go further and put into place Executive order 121 (Stay at Home order). This order would be extended on April 23, 2020 and is set to expire on May 8, 2020. The restrictions will not end on May 8th. It is likely they will continue in some form for months to come. States have varying forms of these same type orders. These political officials are responding to what has been called a crisis. In my opinion (and keep in mind that is all it is) the crisis is their response. They have taken a virus and turned it into a political tool. I have had some ask why do you think the politicians are doing this? They never respond quickly to anything. Think about it for a minuet…This is an election year! I have said before I don’t write political pieces and generally do not comment on political topics. So, before this turns into a political post I will move on.
The church I pastor had its last “traditional service” on March 15th. We are praying that within the next 30 days we will be able to gather again. There is of course no guarantee. This church has not stopped pushing the gospel out to the world as much as we can.
The question I am asking to you today is: What is confining you?
Maybe you say: nothing, this “stay at home” order, or maybe it is a physical limitation, or a chronic illness of some kind. These are reasonable responses normally, but I think for a Christian those responses are invalid.
Here is why: Matthew 28:16-20
As a born again believer in Jesus Christ I am called to make disciples who make disciples. This includesteaching all of scripture.
What is confining you? What is keeping you from doing the very thing Jesus called believers to do?
We are going to look at Philippians 1:12-13. Paul was under house arrest. He was literally chained to members of the praetorian guard. Paul had desired to go to Rome, but in chains was not how he had thought it would happen.
You might look at Paul and it might seem like a bleak situation. I mean this guy is locked in a house physically chained to these guards. How in the world could he fulfill the great commission?
Let’s look at the scripture.
Philippians 1:12-13 KJV
“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places ;”
During Paul’s house arrest he wrote Philippians, Ephesians, and Colossians. He was actively witnessing to the guards also. The guards began to get converted and they would take the gospel and share it in the palaces of Rome. This is how the gospel was furthered during this time. Paul says what has happened to me has happened for the furthering of the gospel. Wow!
Now let’s look at our situation today. Could it be that what has happened in our country has taken place for the furthering of the gospel? No, we cannot meet like we were. Some have lost jobs. Some are out of school. Sports have been canceled. The list goes on. These are real life situations that affect real people! I am not trying to down play that at all. I am trying to “up play” the gospel if anything. Stay with me!
We get upset with the restrictions- yes! Have we slowed down enough to ask how this could benefit the gospel? Let’s be clear, spreading the gospel is the calling of every believer!
If you profess to be a believer (and it’s likely you do). If you are called to further the gospel (and you definitely are). Then what is confining you?
What was confining your Christianity to the Sunday morning church service before this happened? What is currently confining your Christianity to your house or from the looks of things to Lowe’s or Wal-Mart or the local ice cream shop.
Paul didn’t let chains, arrest, or the most elite guards in Rome stop him. He continued to share the gospel. Nothing confined him and better yet nothing confined the gospel!
Today we long for the day we can return to our sanctuaries. The issue is that we can not afford to go back into our beautiful buildings and continue to confine the gospel within those walls! If we do that we are NOT the church Jesus died for! If we don’t work for the furthering of the gospel we are not disciples making disciples and therefore we are a social club at best and backsliders, an apostate church, or simply lost at worst.
Yes, this pastor longs for the day he can worship with his congregation. Yes, this pastor desires faces looking back at him instead of empty pews. Yes, this pastor desires to hear the sound of the choir singing again!
BUT
More than that this pastor desires to see a church on fire and fanning the gospel flames into such an inferno that this country church, community, county, state, and beyond can not contain it! I don’t think we will ever see it if when the restrictions are lifted we run back into our beautiful sanctuaries and place the gospel under confinement again! We can not place the gospel back in it’s pretty embellished box and come in once or twice a week to look at it and say how great it is then go back into the world and ignore it as the source of power and LIFE!
What is confining you?
What is keeping you from spreading the gospel? Paul was chained, held in a house. He knew that God is sovereign and had placed him in that situation for a gospel opportunity! He was so gospel focused that he recognized when a door opened. Maybe you could pick up the phone, write a letter, send a card, or speak to your neighbor. Maybe giving to mission offerings, or volunteering some time to do something’s around the church house. There is no doubt that there is a way you can further the gospel.
We see in these verses that Paul continued to further the gospel and others saw him doing it. This helped to encourage them. Paul was able to minister in the palaces of Rome even while he was physically chained. Wow!! Look at all the gospel teaching that has come from Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. Teaching from the writings of a prisoner! Paul didn’t allow his confinement to hinder the gospel!
So, what is confining you?
Be The Man!
Be The Man 