A prison is a place or condition of forcible restraint or captivity - a place where one can get worn out or get reformed. Prisons need not always be a physical location – anger, fear, regret, bitterness, bondage – these are prisons as well. In this message, we take a look at how to make that journey from prison to praise!
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Prison – a
place or
condition of forcible restraint or captivity.
- It is a place where one is lawfully (in most cases) detained, for committing unlawful (in most cases) acts.
- It is a place where the prisoner is kept to prevent causing further harm/danger to others or to self.
- It is a place to bring about reform in the prisoner before being released.
-In a prison, there are restrictions. Freedom is curtailed.
-A prison is not always a comfortable place.
-Most people in prison are held captive against their will.
-It is possible for one to be worn out physically and emotionally while in prison.
-Solitary confinement – very difficult to bear.
-Nobody wants to stay a prisoner…indefinitely. Everyone wants to be free.
Types of prisons
- A prison in a physical, geographic location.
- A prison with walls of circumstances – a no-win situation, a dead-end street.
- A prison in our mind – anger, fear, regret, bitterness, bondage, - faulty thought patterns and attitudes.
Reasons for imprisonment
- Imprisoned for righteousness’ sake i.e., for doing the right thing.
- Imprisoned by the enemy through temptation, accusation and deception.
- Imprisoned by our own wrong choices.
Prisoners in the Bible & the lessons we can learn1) Joseph – charges framed and falsely accusedGenesis 39:21-23
21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.
-The Lord was with Joseph… in the prison.
-The Lord showed mercy and gave favour
-Joseph excelled in what he did… in the prison
-No evidence that he murmured, complained or blamed God / people.
Genesis 40:6-8
6 And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”
8 And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.”
So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”
-He ministered to the fellow prisoners and gave the glory/the credit to God
-He is again forgotten for 2 years before arriving at the land of praise.
-He remains humble Gen 41:16
Genesis 41:39-41
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
2) Jeremiah – Imprisoned for speaking the prophetic Word
Jer 37:11
-Unflinching in the face of danger – continued to speak the uncompromised Word of the Lord.
-He did not compromise the integrity of the message, his assignment.
3) Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego)
Daniel 3:16-18
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
-No blaming God for the situation
-steadfast in faith even in the face of imminent death in the furnace
4) Paul & Silas – imprisoned for ministering deliverance and preaching the gospel
Acts 16:23-25, 30-32
23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
-They praised God in the prison
ConclusionIn the prison,
-do not lose hope
-do not get discouraged or weary
Galatians 6:99 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Let praise begin in the prison.
Let the praise that began in the prison continue as you journey out of it as well.
For you will move from prison to praise.
Luke 4:1818 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
Our Lord Jesus is our liberator.
He has given us the freedom on the Cross.
Let us walk free… Today!