Can Our Suffering Advance The Gospel?

As a Pastor, I have watched a few men and women go through life limiting and terminal illnesses in the past five years.  Their faith and resolve in the midst of suffering has further enhanced my faith in God. Barrie Taylor, a man in his 80s is a spiritual father, mentor and friend. About five years ago, Barrie successfully went through cancer treatment. Instead of focusing on his sickness, he had tracts printed with a simple and clear Gospel message. He gave this to everyone he met in hospital, including patients, nurses and doctors. Whilst receiving treatment for cancer, top on Barrie's mind was sharing the Good News of Jesus with everyone he met in hospital. He was so confident in God's power to heal that he kept confessing that "there is nothing that can afflict my body, without being filtered through the body of Christ." (my paraphrase). Looking back now, the thing I remember about his experience was not his sickness, but how he dealt with it. He used his suffering to advance the Gospel.

There are a number of sisters, whose name I won't mention, but their story though still unfolding, is well known and inspiring many to trust God in difficult times. One of these ladies was told she had few months to live. That was four years ago. In those four years, though in and out of hospital, going through very invasive and experimental procedures, she has led more than fifteen people to the Lord, and started a house Church in her birth country, Mauritius. She leads a small group in the church, she is personally responsible for inviting about twenty people to community events we hold in church, and continues to serve in various ways in the church. She has not the let cancer treatment, which is still ongoing, stop her from advancing the Gospel. I could go on and on about other ladies in a similar situation, who have not stopped serving, encouraging others, and even pushing through pain barriers to help others. 

It is helpful to know that we don't only have heroes of faith on the pages of scripture, they are all around us and their stories should inspire us. Turning now to a biblical example. We see Paul in his letter to the Philippians saying, "Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear." (Phil. 1:12-14, NIV) 

Paul was in chains in prison in Rome when he penned this letter. He did not do the conventional thing of seeing his chains as a restriction to his mission, rather he saw the chains as advancing it. The confinement of the prison cell was for Paul an open door to preach the gospel to the guards and soldiers, who otherwise may not hear the gospel. It takes a crucified man, who counts his life as sold out for God to reason like Paul did. He could have focused on the injustice of his imprisonment, but he didn't. This is not a point about not seeking justice for wrong doings, we should. It is about Paul's motivation. The impact of imprisonment on him personally is not as important as the effect of it - the opportunity to reach prisoners, guards and soldiers for Christ. 

It is said that Caesar had about 9,000 elite soldiers at the time. Many of them were very influential and powerful men, to the point that they were often responsible for dethroning and enthroning Caesars. They heard the gospel, and many of them, with their families believed in Jesus. It is not the first time that Paul's ministry will lead to guards, jailers and prisoners coming to know the Lord Jesus. In Acts 16, through the sufferings of Paul and Silas, the jailer and his household believed in Jesus and were baptised. When life and circumstances place a restrain on us, we should not be overwhelmed by the effect on us, but look for the opportunities God might be creating in those moments.

The result of Paul's wrongful imprisonment was not only the salvation of many, but also the inspiration it gave to other Christians. "And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear." Paul's story served to inspire many to be bold and to dare to preach in spite of their personal circumstances. They became confident in the Lord. 

Are your personal circumstances preventing you from serving the Lord? Are you more concerned about your plight, to the point you are not seeing the unique opportunities they create to share your faith? We have many examples to learn from. The story of Barrie, my sisters in church and Paul should inspire us to know that God can and does use our sufferings to serve his purpose. Who knows whether you are going through whatever it is you are going through so that someone would encounter Jesus. Your suffering can and should advance the gospel.