1. There is a peculiar stigma attached to PRISON and PRISONERS of affliction, this need not be so. Man is no stranger to PRISON; we were incarcerated in the womb for nine months and came into this world as PRISONERS OF SIN. SIN is more than what you did or did not do; it is the condition of your MIND “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his SERVANTS YE ARE to WHOM YE OBEY; whether of SIN UNTO DEATH, or of OBEDIENCE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS?” [Romans 6:16] We are born with a SOUL caged in a BODY subject to the sentence of DEATH. The agony of a PRISONER on death row, the sorrow of a dysfunctional marriage and extreme distress of cruel poverty are the same; they are cries of SOULS incarcerated in a BODY governed by SIN. I have GOOD NEWS for YOU, there is HOPE for your famished SOUL in Jesus Christ “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS, THERE IS LIBERTY” [2 Corinthians 3:17] Our HOPE is infallible, the GUARANTOR is God; He became like us in Jesus Christ, “… that through death he might destroy him that had the POWER OF DEATH, THAT IS THE DEVIL; And deliver them who through FEAR OF DEATH were all their lifetime SUBJECT TO BONDAGE” [Hebrews 2:14-15]
2. In Jesus Christ, we are no longer PRISONERS OF SIN, but of HOPE; the power of DEATH is broken in the FLESH, fully assured “… ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD to them that LOVE God, to them who are the CALLED according to His PURPOSE” [Romans 8:28] Listen, whatever you presently count as TRIBULATION is accommodated in the PURPOSE of God to work for your good. Those who place their HOPE in God have no room for FEAR, GLOOM or SHAME, “… knowing that TRIBULATION worketh PATIENCE. And patience, EXPERIENCE; and experience, HOPE: And HOPE MAKETH NOT ASHAMED; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” [Romans 5:3-5] HOPE is made perfect in PATIENCE, allowing God to work out His PURPOSE in your life, “For YE HAVE NEED OF PATIENCE, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might RECEIVE THE PROMISE” [Hebrews 10:36] PATIENCE is not complacency but a spirited campaign to quell all doubts in God’s willingness and ability to do what is best for you. Godly PATIENCE produces in us invaluable EXPERIENCE of how God works and strengthens confidence in Him in the midst of grueling adversity, as it did in David and “David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, HE WILL DELIVER ME out of the hand of this Philistine.…” [1 Samuel 17:37] Wipe away your tears, put your TRUST in God, “REJOICING IN HOPE; PATIENT IN TRIBULATION; continuing instant in PRAYER” [Romans 12:12]
3. We became PRISONERS OF HOPE when we exchanged the chains of SIN for the YOKE of REST in Jesus Christ, as it is written: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST. TAKE MY YOKE upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall FIND REST UNTO YOUR SOULS” [Matthew 11:28-29] We are PRISONERS OF HOPE who TRUST in Christ beyond our present circumstances, for “If in this life only we have HOPE IN CHRIST, we are of all men most miserable” [1 Corinthians 15:19] Our HOPE in Him is anchored on God’s eternal PURPOSE to bring us to an EXPECTED END, as it is written: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, THOUGHTS OF PEACE, and NOT OF EVIL, to give you an EXPECTED END” [Jeremiah 29:11] The “END” God has for you transcend the misery of your PRISON cell, the pain of terminal cancer or the shame of abject poverty. In all these things and more, we are PRISONERS OF HOPE, dead to this world but alive to God’s promise of EXPECTED END, “For ye are dead, and YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST in God” [Colossians 3:3] In Him, we are delivered from FEAR of what men and demons may do to this BODY, we have His PEACE and our SOULS are secure in Him, therefore, “… FEAR NOT them which kill the body, but are NOT ABLE TO KILL THE SOUL: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” [Matthew 10:28]
4. As long as we are in this BODY, we are PRISONERS OF HOPE. We look forward with PATIENCE to the day when every PRISON wall of affliction shall be broken and we shall be delivered from this earthly BODY, “Beloved, now are we the SONS OF GOD, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; for we shall see him as he is” [1 John 3:2] In that day, it shall no longer matter what men did to this BODY or the shame of PRISON chains. In the twinkling of an eye, we shall be translated into celestial glory. Those who died in the Lord shall not be left out, “… the DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS” [ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18]
5. Friend, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today and be delivered from PRISON OF SIN to the LIBERTY and REST of SONS OF GOD, amename
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