My husband and I had the privilege of being in the company of several Spirit-filled inmates at the Tyger River Correctional Institution in Clinton, South Carolina. We went with the expectation of ministering to the men behind bars for various crimes. Within moments of being in their presence, we realized it was they who were ministering to us.
While I sit here in retrospect, two passages of scripture comes to mind. The first is from Luke 7, in the healing of the centurion's servant. "I have not found so great a faith, no, not in Israel." Jesus is recognised by the soldier for what He is-the authority over anything demonic. He himself had a superior to answer to, while having men under him that answered to him. He understood Jesus' position perfectly. I saw the same thing in those men last night. While it might look like-and in a physical aspect it is true-they must answer to the authority in the prison system, the true authority they answer to is Jesus Christ. And that authority gives them freedom within their spirit that overshadows the confines of their physical bodies.
The second is the account in Acts of Paul on the Damascus road. The man that took pleasure and pride in killing Christians was handpicked by Jesus to preach His word, and to suffer for His sake. How much more then are the men we met last night, appropriated by God to be a beacon for Him, just like Paul?
We have met a lot of people in the last two years being out there in 'the highways and hedges' that are in prison. Oh, but please don't misunderstand~their physical bodies might be freely able to go where they want, but their hearts and minds are entrapped by the worldly system that can give them no peace. But, last night, we have seen true freedom at it's finest. These men might not be to come and go in the same manner as those of us who live on the outside of that razor-wire fence, but they definitely know that freedom is in their soul.
I don't know, at this point, if the Lord will open up the opportunity to go back to visit this prison or not. Only He knows that for sure. The one thing we know is that they have truly inspired us to keep on with the work that has been given to us to do. If these men can hold their Jesus banner up inside a prison where there is no escape from negative influences, ridicule, and violence, then who are we on the outside to box Jesus up and never share Him with anyone? I have yet to find an example in scripture where God left His people in prison. They were always delivered one way or another.
The people who claim freedom in Jesus on the outside, but don't live it, could take a lesson from those who are living Jesus on the inside. True freedom comes in Jesus, no matter the location or circumstance.
If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36
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