When Bad is Good!

Good Morning! Philip 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. Paul was writing this while he was in Prison. Now how could being in Prison help to spread the Gospel? In Vs 13 he tells us, As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Now I want to ask you, has there ever been any bad in your life that has helped to further the gospel in your life? Was there a dark time in your life that God brought you out of? But because it was a dark time or maybe you did some things you were ashamed of, you don't share it with anyone. Its funny I was just talking to someone yesterday, and they said they could just not picture me as being a Crack Head! But I was! And I was an Alcoholic and a Thief and a Liar and Yes! I even spent time in Jail and Prison! And believe me these were very dark times in my life. Times I wish I wouldn't have had to go through, or put others in my life through that. But they happened! So today I have 2 choices, I can put them aside and act as if they never happened, (Because I no longer live that way) or I can take those dark places I have been, to try and further the Gospel. One thing I have always stressed in my Recovery and my Walk. Is that it is not by my power I do these things, but by Christ! It was not until I asked Him for His help that I was able to rise up out of the pit and change my life. But now that I've done that, What Next? Do I just go on and act like none of that stuff happened in my life? In 2Corinth 1:4 it tells us, Jesus, comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. So you see, even though these were dark places in our lives we cannot cover them up. We cannot try and hide our pasts. Because you never know when someone is going through the same dark spot in their life that you may have already gone through. I am so Thankful today that Jesus changed my heart and my life. But if I don't share that with anyone how will they know the power of Jesus Christ and His Word? So today look at those dark places in your life, look at those Bad Times! Then look and see if there is someone around you having the same type problems. Jesus brought you out, so you can help bring them out. And that my friends is furthering the Gospel. So you see, Good things can come from the Bad things in your life. That's how God works. I know its kind of backwards, but hey! Who are we to try and understand God. So today share your Hurts, Habits and Hangups with someone else, you just never know, you might get some good out of it! HABD!