1 00:00:32,025 --> 00:00:36,305 Speaker 1: Hey friends, Jennifer Slattery here thanking you for a wonderful year. 2 00:00:36,625 --> 00:00:39,745 Speaker 1: Your support means the world to us. I also wanted 3 00:00:39,784 --> 00:00:41,425 Speaker 1: to let you know that my team and I will 4 00:00:41,465 --> 00:00:44,104 Speaker 1: be taking a two week break in January to regroup 5 00:00:44,144 --> 00:00:47,665 Speaker 1: and refuel spiritually. During that time, will we air some 6 00:00:47,784 --> 00:00:51,385 Speaker 1: of our most popular episodes if you've already listened to them. 7 00:00:51,545 --> 00:00:55,505 Speaker 1: Perhaps consider this an opportunity to prayerfully reflect on the 8 00:00:55,585 --> 00:00:59,785 Speaker 1: truce anew. May you encounter the Lord in a personal 9 00:01:00,025 --> 00:01:09,305 Speaker 1: and fulfilling way each time you listen God Bless Life Audio. 10 00:01:15,225 --> 00:01:18,184 Speaker 2: Hello, Thank you for listening to your Daily Bible Verse, 11 00:01:18,225 --> 00:01:21,105 Speaker 2: the podcast that examines one verse each day to learn 12 00:01:21,104 --> 00:01:23,705 Speaker 2: more about God and his will for us. I'm your host, 13 00:01:23,785 --> 00:01:26,905 Speaker 2: Shaka Hines, and after this short word from our sponsor, 14 00:01:26,985 --> 00:01:31,065 Speaker 2: will dive into today's Bible verses in Philippians one, versus 15 00:01:31,145 --> 00:01:46,865 Speaker 2: twelve and thirteen. Today's Bible verses are Philippians one, twelve 16 00:01:46,865 --> 00:01:50,905 Speaker 2: and thirteen. Now, I want you to know, brothers and sisters, 17 00:01:50,945 --> 00:01:54,065 Speaker 2: that what has happened to me has actually served to 18 00:01:54,145 --> 00:01:58,265 Speaker 2: advance the Gospel. As a result, it has become clear 19 00:01:58,305 --> 00:02:01,705 Speaker 2: throughout the whole Palace Guard and to everyone else that 20 00:02:01,865 --> 00:02:05,904 Speaker 2: I am in chains for Christ. From scripture, we know 21 00:02:05,985 --> 00:02:09,945 Speaker 2: that Paul was imprisoned often, and it's generally understood that 22 00:02:10,025 --> 00:02:13,984 Speaker 2: this was one of his imprisonments. Enrolled, he writes a 23 00:02:14,065 --> 00:02:17,625 Speaker 2: letter to the church in Philippi, which, according to Acts sixteen, 24 00:02:18,185 --> 00:02:22,465 Speaker 2: he helped found during his second missionary journey. Now, Philippi 25 00:02:22,705 --> 00:02:26,065 Speaker 2: was a Roman colony, and because of this they'd endured 26 00:02:26,145 --> 00:02:31,584 Speaker 2: persecution and hardships. But still they had been financially generous 27 00:02:31,585 --> 00:02:35,305 Speaker 2: towards Paul during his imprisonment. So Paul he writes this 28 00:02:35,425 --> 00:02:39,704 Speaker 2: letter to thank them, to inform them about Epaphroditis, who 29 00:02:39,825 --> 00:02:42,225 Speaker 2: delivered their gift to Paul, and to tell him that 30 00:02:42,345 --> 00:02:46,425 Speaker 2: Epaphroditis had recovered from his severe illness. And he also 31 00:02:46,465 --> 00:02:49,785 Speaker 2: wanted to encourage them to live lives worthy of Jesus. 32 00:02:50,505 --> 00:02:54,544 Speaker 2: Paul says, now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, 33 00:02:54,665 --> 00:02:57,985 Speaker 2: that what has happened to me has actually served to 34 00:02:58,105 --> 00:03:04,065 Speaker 2: advance the gospel. What has happened has served to advance 35 00:03:04,264 --> 00:03:08,785 Speaker 2: the gospel. Write this down in light of our mission 36 00:03:09,144 --> 00:03:12,105 Speaker 2: to advance the gospel, or in other words, to bring 37 00:03:12,144 --> 00:03:15,465 Speaker 2: the message of forgiveness, freedom and life to the full 38 00:03:15,505 --> 00:03:19,385 Speaker 2: with the indwelling Holy Spirit to everyone we can. This 39 00:03:19,544 --> 00:03:23,945 Speaker 2: statement is central to how followers of Jesus should think 40 00:03:23,984 --> 00:03:29,545 Speaker 2: about every hardship. Every single hardship has the potential to 41 00:03:29,625 --> 00:03:33,744 Speaker 2: advance the Gospel. I got to be honest, I am 42 00:03:33,825 --> 00:03:37,905 Speaker 2: not super excited to be recording this podcast today. My 43 00:03:37,985 --> 00:03:42,225 Speaker 2: heart is heavy. Honestly, these last two days I'm tempted 44 00:03:42,265 --> 00:03:44,705 Speaker 2: to hide in my bed and gorge myself on sweet 45 00:03:44,745 --> 00:03:48,745 Speaker 2: and salty snacks. Two days ago, one of our twelve 46 00:03:48,825 --> 00:03:51,865 Speaker 2: year old dogs suffered heart failure and died as my 47 00:03:51,985 --> 00:03:55,425 Speaker 2: son desperately performed chest compressions on him in our kitchen. 48 00:03:56,345 --> 00:03:59,345 Speaker 2: It was traumatic. I was snatched to a time seven 49 00:03:59,425 --> 00:04:02,265 Speaker 2: years earlier, to the bedroom of our eleven year old 50 00:04:02,345 --> 00:04:05,505 Speaker 2: four days shy of his twelfth birthday, as I watched 51 00:04:05,505 --> 00:04:10,545 Speaker 2: paramedics work desperately to restore his heartbeat. So today I'm 52 00:04:10,625 --> 00:04:14,945 Speaker 2: recording from a place of fresh grief. But my friends, 53 00:04:15,465 --> 00:04:17,625 Speaker 2: I have a five year old son looking to me 54 00:04:17,745 --> 00:04:21,425 Speaker 2: to make sense of the great sadness he's experiencing for 55 00:04:21,465 --> 00:04:25,265 Speaker 2: the first time in his life. Yesterday I watched as 56 00:04:25,305 --> 00:04:28,425 Speaker 2: he began to grasp the permanence of the loss of 57 00:04:28,425 --> 00:04:33,065 Speaker 2: our dog. Oloft it was seriously heartbreaking to see. As 58 00:04:33,105 --> 00:04:35,825 Speaker 2: I laid next to him in bed and prayed, I 59 00:04:35,905 --> 00:04:38,985 Speaker 2: pointed him though to the faithful God who is always 60 00:04:39,025 --> 00:04:41,745 Speaker 2: with us. As I hugged him close while he cried, 61 00:04:41,865 --> 00:04:44,865 Speaker 2: I conveyed to him the comfort of Jesus as he 62 00:04:44,945 --> 00:04:48,464 Speaker 2: holds us in our greatest sorrows. As I answered what 63 00:04:48,625 --> 00:04:51,104 Speaker 2: questions I could about life and death, I shared with 64 00:04:51,224 --> 00:04:54,105 Speaker 2: him some truth I knew from the Bible about our 65 00:04:54,185 --> 00:04:57,464 Speaker 2: lives and our deaths. As I continue to walk the 66 00:04:57,545 --> 00:05:01,625 Speaker 2: line where faith meets sorrow, I model what it looks 67 00:05:01,705 --> 00:05:05,224 Speaker 2: like to mourn and process with God as our faithful friend. 68 00:05:05,985 --> 00:05:10,145 Speaker 2: This horrible thing that has happened has served to advance 69 00:05:10,305 --> 00:05:15,344 Speaker 2: the Gospel. For Paul. His imprisonment advanced the Gospel, he 70 00:05:15,385 --> 00:05:18,305 Speaker 2: says in verse thirteen. As a result, it has become 71 00:05:18,385 --> 00:05:22,304 Speaker 2: clear throughout the whole Palace Guard and to everyone else, 72 00:05:22,344 --> 00:05:26,265 Speaker 2: that I am in Chaine for Christ. Because of his hardship. 73 00:05:26,505 --> 00:05:29,225 Speaker 2: Everyone in the Palace Guard knew Paul was in prison 74 00:05:29,305 --> 00:05:32,424 Speaker 2: for his faith in Jesus. The goodnes the news of 75 00:05:32,505 --> 00:05:36,425 Speaker 2: freedom in Christ was made available to everyone around Paul 76 00:05:36,505 --> 00:05:41,305 Speaker 2: because of what he was going through. Friend, what hardships 77 00:05:41,344 --> 00:05:47,865 Speaker 2: are you walking through right now but lost disappointment, grief, illness, failure. 78 00:05:48,825 --> 00:05:52,984 Speaker 2: Don't miss this. Even in your pain, God can use 79 00:05:53,025 --> 00:05:56,544 Speaker 2: your story to bring hope to others and glory to himself. 80 00:05:57,344 --> 00:06:02,825 Speaker 2: Paul's imprisonment pointed people to Jesus. Your hardship can too. 81 00:06:03,665 --> 00:06:07,585 Speaker 2: No suffering is wasted that advances the gospel of freedom 82 00:06:07,585 --> 00:06:11,425 Speaker 2: in Christ. But this kind of perspective Paul has it 83 00:06:11,464 --> 00:06:15,385 Speaker 2: can't be had without the help of Jesus Christ himself. 84 00:06:16,265 --> 00:06:20,185 Speaker 2: If you've never put your faith in Jesus, today can 85 00:06:20,224 --> 00:06:24,505 Speaker 2: be the day he offers forgiveness, freedom and comfort in 86 00:06:24,625 --> 00:06:27,344 Speaker 2: every sorrow. And I invite you to pray with me, 87 00:06:27,985 --> 00:06:30,784 Speaker 2: And if you do, be sure to share your decision 88 00:06:30,865 --> 00:06:34,224 Speaker 2: with someone and connect with the local church. If you're 89 00:06:34,305 --> 00:06:39,705 Speaker 2: already walking with Jesus but feeling overwhelmed, ask him how 90 00:06:39,745 --> 00:06:44,585 Speaker 2: he wants to use your situation. Turn a scripture. Philippians 91 00:06:44,745 --> 00:06:48,185 Speaker 2: is a great book to read and then actively connect 92 00:06:48,385 --> 00:06:56,265 Speaker 2: to your local church community. Let's pray. Father Paul shows 93 00:06:56,305 --> 00:06:59,664 Speaker 2: us that it is possible to face extreme adversity in 94 00:06:59,745 --> 00:07:04,145 Speaker 2: such a way that even our greatest difficulties become an 95 00:07:04,185 --> 00:07:07,705 Speaker 2: opportunity to make the Gospel of Jesus known to others. 96 00:07:08,625 --> 00:07:11,744 Speaker 2: There's some listening right now who are ready to accept 97 00:07:11,785 --> 00:07:14,465 Speaker 2: the truth that Jesus came to the world as a baby, 98 00:07:15,265 --> 00:07:18,625 Speaker 2: lived a sinless life as a man, and allowed himself 99 00:07:18,665 --> 00:07:21,785 Speaker 2: to be crucified in order to take on their sin 100 00:07:21,865 --> 00:07:26,025 Speaker 2: and punishment, and then was resurrected on the third day. 101 00:07:27,065 --> 00:07:30,225 Speaker 2: I ask you to accept their profession of faith as 102 00:07:30,265 --> 00:07:33,465 Speaker 2: they make Jesus their lord and surrender their lives to 103 00:07:33,545 --> 00:07:38,745 Speaker 2: his authority. Lead them Lord in their next steps. Now 104 00:07:38,745 --> 00:07:42,304 Speaker 2: there are others listening, Father, who are suffering in very real, 105 00:07:42,505 --> 00:07:45,985 Speaker 2: very painful ways, and they can't see how their situation 106 00:07:46,145 --> 00:07:51,425 Speaker 2: could possibly glorify you and advance the gospel. Father, would 107 00:07:51,465 --> 00:07:54,225 Speaker 2: you help them to see their situation through the eyes 108 00:07:54,265 --> 00:07:57,745 Speaker 2: of faith. Would you give them ears to hear, where 109 00:07:57,745 --> 00:08:00,864 Speaker 2: they might shine the light of truth into the dark 110 00:08:00,905 --> 00:08:05,185 Speaker 2: places around them. God, we ask for your help to 111 00:08:05,305 --> 00:08:09,625 Speaker 2: glorify you in all that we do, and say we 112 00:08:09,705 --> 00:08:12,745 Speaker 2: love you, King Jesus, and we ask these things in 113 00:08:12,825 --> 00:08:14,624 Speaker 2: your name. Amen.