Ephesians 6:18b-20
Introduction: Illustration “The Apology”
I. Paul was called by God to go to prison.
A. He was sent to prison to protect Paul from those who would kill him. (vs. 23:10-13)
1. Sometimes the place God puts us may not be what we expected.
2. The circumstances we serve in may not be what we expected.
B. He was sent to prison that he should share the gospel.
1. Whatever it is we can know at the front of it that His purposes are to glorify Him.
2. Do you ask yourself what should I do in trials and tough times?
II. Paul was protected by God along the way.
A. Though the enemy would slay Paul, God said to be encouraged.
1. In other words do not let your circumstances get you down, make you afraid, or discourage you.
2. His desire and prayer was in line with God’s purposes
3. Paul’s desire and prayer was being answered at God’s appointed time.
4. God would protect Paul along the way.
B. Circumstances may be unending
1. Paul was ship wrecked
2. Paul’s life was threatened by Roman soldiers
3. Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake.
C. Our difficult circumstances give us opportunities to share the gospel and glorify God. (Acts 28:1-9)
III. When we are where God puts us His work will be accomplished with boldness and without hindrance. (Acts 28:31)
A. The end purpose of the battle is the gospel.
B. God uses the weak, the weary, the uneducated, the simple things, and the difficult circumstances.
C. Our encouragement and the power to move forward comes from God.
D. Paul asked the church in Ephesus to pray with Him to be bold and to speak the necessary things of God.
E. Paul lived what he taught Timothy to do “preach the word when it is convenient and when it is not convenient.”
F. Paul told the church to be bold and find its might in the Lord.
G. Paul asked the church to pray with him for these things.
