Leaving Prison
Towards the end of summer of 2023, God called me into prison ministries. The man who leads these services has been doing so for over 22 years. Now I have the pleasure of being his mentee as we visit two different prisons on Thursday and Friday evenings each week. Being a part of this has been one of the most humbling experiences I have ever had.
God has used this ministry to break me out of prison in ways I did not even know I was bound, the prison of my mind. As ironic as it is, I had to go to a physical prison to be freed from the mental one that I have been entrapped in. This is also the same prison that the entire human race has been held captive by ever since Adam and Eve committed the first sin in the garden of Eden – the prison of the mind (Genesis 3).
For this reason, our Savior Jesus Christ came to the world in first place, to free us (humanity) from prison. This is proven in Luke chapter 4:18-19 that says, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” This is where Jesus Himself declares He is the fulfillment of this prophecy that was written approximately 700 years before He came.
Another verse that proves this is John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” I know this verse is quoted quite often, but please hear what is being said...His love compelled Him to break us out of prison by bearing the wrath of God for us. He does not want any of us to be prisoners any longer, He paid the price to break us out. So, if we truly are in Christ the question then becomes, why am I still imprisoned if He has set me free?
To answer this question, we need to go to 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1 which states 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty. 1Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”.
From the moment Christ dwells in us, we're transformed. We're released from prison and are no longer bound by our former captor (sin & death). Therefore, we must "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Did you catch that? We are the ones now responsible for our cleansing, being empowered by Christ who is now residing within us. Even though the restraints are gone, and the cell doors stand open, we must choose to walk out of our prison. We must change our mindset and the way we fight against our flesh. We no longer have the right to say, "I can’t stop my pornography addiction"; or "I can’t stop my drinking problem." We must no longer succumb to sin and the darkness that easily ensnares us, but rather we run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). We can, through Jesus, overcome any addiction or sin; we have His power to stand victorious over them. Listen! There's no other way out of prison! Christ paid the price, the doors are open, the bonds are released but we must choose to walk out in His victory.
I would like to end by sharing Paul’s words of encouragement in a letter he wrote to Timothy.
12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He regarded me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. 16 Yet for this reason I was shown mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate all His patience as an example for those who are going to believe upon Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:12-17
