THE PRISION EXPERIENCE SERIES

 

Evangelistic Deliverance Ministries Inc.

 

Proudly Presents

 

Bishop Jon C. Brown Sr.

The Prison Series

 

 

One of the conspicuous things about the Law of the Lord is the fact that God sanctioned no prisons among His people. When a person committed a crime in Israel, their punishment was to be swift and sure, and it was to be a punishment that fit their transgression. Yet, all through history, kings and other rulers have built prisons to restrain political enemies and lawbreakers. This is still true in our day.

Even though God did not order His people to build any prisons, He did allow some of his servants to spend time in the dungeons of their day. In fact, a few of God’s men met their deaths in prison cells. When God allowed one of his servants to go into prison, it wasn’t because they were criminals.

God sent each of those special prisoners to their prison because He wanted to teach them some lessons they could learn nowhere else. I believe that it is worth our time to consider these prison experiences, because they have much to teach us about our God. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the prison experiences of the bible.

THE PRISON OF HIS PROMOTIONS

Genesis 39:20-22; 41:14

Our text tells us that one of the greatest characters in the Old Testament had his own prison experience. Joseph, who pictures the Lord Jesus in at least 100 ways, pulled a long, hard stretch in Pharaoh’s prison.

The Context and why Joseph was in prison. (Why wasn’t he executed?) Joseph was there because Potiphar wanted to punish him. But, in reality, Joseph was there because God wanted to promote him. God used a time of confinement as a time of refinement in the life of Joseph. God prepared Joseph for leadership by sending him to the lockup.

Now, I am fascinated in Joseph’s prison experience, because I find that God will often do the same thing in your life and mine. He will have a plan to promote us to a greater level of service, but that path will frequently lead through some prison experience or the other. God’s path for us will lead us through a time when we are shut off; shut down; shut away and shut up.

It is in these prison experiences of life that God prepares us for greater service and dependability and accountability. Let’s take a few minutes to join Joseph in The Prison Of His Promotions. .

 

I. THE PROBLEMS OF THIS PRISON

I understand that prison is not a pleasant place to spend your time. It is a place of problems. Joseph’s prison is no different. In Joseph’s prison we see mirrored the problems we can expect when God sends us into a prison experience in our own lives.

A. This Is A Painful Prison – In verse 20, we are told that Joseph was “put” into prison. There is no mention of torture of abusive treatment. However, Gen. 40:3 tells us that Joseph was “bound” in this prison. Psalm 105:18 adds even more detail. When all this is considered, it becomes clear that this was a painful time in Joseph’s life.

Note: It is never easy when the Lord sends you into a prison experience in your life. Of course, God never promised His children that serving Him would be an unproblematic affair. Some of God’s most choice servants have been shaped on the harsh anvil of pain. Job – Job 1-2; Paul – 2 Cor. 12:7-10; David – He was hated and hounded by Saul without reason; Elijah – 1 Kings 17-19. It has been said that “those God would use greatly, He first’s hurts deeply.” So, we should not be astonished when we find ourselves locked away in one of the prisons of life. We are not the first ones to occupy the cell (s) of affliction, and we will not be the last.

B. This Is A Perplexing Prison Nowhere are we ever told that Joseph questioned anything that happened to him during his young life. But, surely there had to be questions in his mind. He must have wondered why his brothers hated him so. He must of wondered why he should end up as a slave in Egypt. He must have wondered why he was being punished for doing the right thing. Surely those questions and others must have mystified his mind.

Note: One of the problems of this prison is that it can be so perplexing in nature. I mean, you try to do your best and live your life for the Lord and still trouble comes your way. That is a disquieting truth for many people. And, some are blown off course by the trials they are forced to undergo. They throw up their hands and say, “What’s the use?” However this is the wrong attitude to take with the trials of life! We may not understand all that is happening, but we can be sure that our Lord is in control of the situation.

(There were some parents who lost their little boy in a tragic automobile accident. They both were very bitter at God. When the pastor came by to see them, the mother said, "Where was God when my son died?" The pastor said, "The same place he was when His Son died.")

When we take that attitude, we are mistaken. Even though the prisons of life are disturbing and distracting, they are part of a plan that we know nothing about. God is using the hard, harsh events of our lives to shape us and move us to where He wants us. We must trust the Lord, even when we can’t figure out what He is doing. We need to remember that He has a plan. It is a good plan; it is the best plan, Rom. 8:28. Our duty is to serve the Lord even when we don’t understand Him. Who would want a God they could figure out anyway? (Isa. 55:8-9)

Regardless of what life bring our way, we must submit to His will and trust Him to do right. That is what Joseph did. That is what Paul did, 2 Cor. 4:7-11. And this is what we are to do also.

 

C. This Is A Prolonged Prison – We do not know how long Joseph spent in his prison. It was at least two years, Gen. 41:1, but it may have been as long as 13 years, Gen. 41:46. We do know however that from the time Joseph was thrown into that pit by his brothers until the day he became the second ruler in Egypt, some 13 years passed by. For and extended period of this man’s life, his motto could have been “Nice guys finish last.”

 

Note: Sometimes our trials are over in a short time; at other times they may last for years. God may spend many years shaping your life for a relatively short period of service. He may send you into a prison experience in your life to prepare you for greater service.

It took at least 15 years from the time David was anointed king over Israel until he ruled over the land, 1 Sam. 16; 2 Sam. 5:4. Those 15 years were hard years; but they were years of maturity David was required to walk through some hard places, but God used that time in his life to develop David to sit on the throne of the land.

Regardless of how long or how short our prison experiences may be, our duty is to surrender to God and to his will for our lives.

 

(Peter Marshall once said, “It is a fact of Christian experience that life is a series of troughs and peaks. In his efforts to get permanent possession of the soul, God relies on the troughs more than the peaks, and some of his special favorites have gone through longer and deeper troughs than anyone else.”)

 

II. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PRISON

(This prison is a place of tribulations, but it also a place filled with God’s provisions. He may send us into a prison experience, but He never sends us there alone, or without the resources we will need to survive and thrive in that prison.)

A. The Provision Of God’s Presence We are told in Gen. 39:21 that “the Lord was with Joseph.” That young man went into a prison experience, but he did not go into it or through it alone! The God Who sent him there went with him into that awful place.

 

Note: Regardless of the nature of the prison experiences you may face in life, remember that God will go with you through them all, Heb. 13:5; Isa. 43:2, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

When it came time for Noah to enter the ark, God did not say “Go into the ark”; He said “Come into the ark”, Gen. 7:1. When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, they found the Lord was already there, Dan. 3:24-25.

 

B. The Provision Of God’s Peace We are told that God “showed him mercy”, Gen. 39:20. This word is translated “loving-kindness” in other places in the Old Testament. It carries the same idea as the New Testament word “Grace”. In other words, God gave Joseph the power and strength he required to bear the prison that was mandatory for his advancement.

 

Note: He will do the same for you! Our Lord’s promise to Paul – 2 Cor. 12:9. Paul’s “thorn” is not named! There will be grace, peace and power sufficient for the trials you are called upon to face in life. Isa. 40:29-31; Isa. 41:13; Deut. 33:25-27

 

C. The Provision Of God’s Promotion – Gen. 39:21-41:14 tell us that even in prison, God was busy using Joseph for His glory. In that horrible dungeon; locked away with the vilest criminals in Egypt; Joseph shine like the star that he was. Because Joseph submitted to God’s will in the prison experience of his life; God elevated him and used him for His glory.

 

Note: God does not send us into the prison to bury us there. He sends us to prepare us for even greater things in His work. When he allows you to suffer a time of being shut up; shut off and shut out; He does it to cultivate you so that His image can be more evidently seen in your life.

How gold is refined – This is what God is doing in your life through your prison experiences – 1 Pet. 1:6-8. “How Firm A Foundation.” – “When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply; The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”

God sends you into His furnace so that He might use you more greatly for His glory.

 

III. THE PRIVILEGES OF THIS PRISON

The dilemma makes the prison difficult. The provision makes them manageable. But, it is the privileges we find in the prisons of life that cause them to become places of growth and blessings.

A. The Privilege Of God’s Plan – What kept Joseph going through the dark days of betrayal; deceit and suffering? It was the sure knowledge that God was working out a wonderful plan on Joseph’s behalf. Gen. 37:5-11- Many years before God had told Joseph that he was going to come out on top. During the broken hearted days when he was betrayed and sold in to slavery by his brothers; Joseph was looking for that plan to be fulfilled. During the hard days when he labored for Potiphar and fought off the advances of Potiphar’s wife; Joseph was waiting for God to do what he said he would do. Then, during the years he languished in that dark, dreary prison; Joseph kept on believing and kept on waiting. He knew his God had made him a promise and that God would keep that promise.

Than the day came! They called him out of prison and brought him before Pharaoh, Gen. 41:14. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, 41:15-36, and was made the second ruler in the kingdom, 41:37-43. Joseph had suffered greatly while God worked out His plan; but he stayed the course of faithfulness and he saw God’s plan fulfilled in his life.

 

Note: We may not understand this, but when God puts us through a prison experience in our lives, He has honored us. It is an honor to be counted part of God’s plan. To know that I, as insignificant and as meaningless as I am, would be chosen as a part of God’s plans is an amazing truth. To think that He would take the time to develop me so that He might use me for his glory is a truth too breathtaking for expressions. This is one of the things that formulate His grace so amazing. He did not just save me to keep us out of Hell. He saved me to make me, because I am a part of His eternal plan. He saves us because He intends to use us for His glory, Eph. 2:10.

The fact that we are saved today tells us that we are important to God. He loves us and He has a plan for our life. So, when our path becomes difficult, it is because He is working out that plan in us and through us. Our sole duty is to submit to him.

 

B. The Privilege Of God’s Praise - Joseph is careful to give all the glory to the Lord, 40:8; 41:16, 25. Joseph knows that God has been working in his life so that God could get glory to His name. God did the things He did in Joseph’s life so that He might develop Joseph and so that He might use Joseph to show others the greatness and glory of the God of Heaven. (Pharaoh and his nation were introduced to the God of Israel, all because Joseph was submissive to the Lord.)

 

(Note: That is what the Lord is doing in our lives when He sends us into a prison experience. He is growing us, but He is also using us to bring more glory to His name. Since that is true, and since our heart’s desire ought to be for His glory, 1 Cor. 10:31, there is no greater thing that we can do in life than to submit to His will for our lives, even when we don’t understand what the Lord is doing.)

 

C. The Privilege Of God’s Providence – In the end, Joseph saw every promise of the Lord fulfilled and he came to understand that all the pain he was forced to endure served to glorify God, grow Joseph and that it all worked out for good in his life, Gen. 50:20, and in the lives of others. Because of Joseph’s obedience and submission, God was able to save the nation of Egypt and the family of Joseph. Joseph’s brothers had sold him into slavery to get rid of him; God had orchestrated everything to save the bloodline of the Messiah, Gen. 45:5; Psa. 105:17.

 

Note: In our lives, God is going to send us into some places when faith is going to have to swim where explanations cannot even wade. During those times, we are going to have to trust God. You see, when all Joseph could see was the pit, Potiphar’s house and the prison; God saw the palace!

He knows what He is doing in your life. He knows where He is taking you. He knows all about the plans He has for you. He knows what He is preparing you for in this life. I do not!

Sometimes all I can see is the prison; during those times, I must trust that He sees the palace. Let me give you two great “Prison Promises”. These two verses will sustain us when all we can see is the prison.

1. Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

2. Psalm 138:8, “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”

 

Conc.: Many years ago, Martin Luther made this statement, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my little apple tree and pay my debts.” That simple statement says a lot about Luther. He was saying, “No matter what comes my way, I am going to do the right things and keep on serving the Lord.”

You see, those who won’t serve God in the prisons of life are not fit to serve Him the palaces of life either.

Does this message find you looking at some kind of a prison experience in your life? What are you doing in that prison? Are you rebelling against it, or submitting to it? God has you there for one reason: He is using that prison as a tool of preparation for a future promotion.

THE PRISON OF HIS PURIFICATIONS

Judges 16:16-30

 

One of the realities of the Christian life is the matter of chastisement. We don’t like to think about it, but chastisement is a fact nonetheless, Heb. 12:5-13.  When chastisement comes our way, we often will try to rise up against it, but the right attitude is one of humble submission and repentance, Job 5:17; Pro. 15:32. Chastisement is painful to undergo, but it is absolute verification of His love for us, Pro. 3:11-12.

      When a child of God walks away from the Lord and from God’s will for his life, he can expect that God will reach out to draw him home, Rev. 3:19. This truth is seen in these verses in the life of Samson. Samson was a man with great possibility, but he never quite reached that level of life he was capable of living.  His name means “Distinguished and strong”, but he was anything but!  The Spirit of the Lord came upon him from time to time, but he failed to walk in the power of the Spirit day by day.

      Because of his rebellion and his sin, Samson found himself in a prison house of chastisement.  I would like to take us there so that we can see what happens to believers who go astray from the path God saved them to walk.  I want to preach for the few remaining moments that I have on the thought, The Prison Of His Purifications.

 

  I.                              THE ROAD TO THIS PRISON

(The road to Samson’s prison was a road that never had to be traveled.  God had given him power and position in Israel, and Samson had wasted it all just to gratify the lusts of his flesh.  He wanted to live his life on his own terms and he paid a high price for his rebellion.)

A.  It Was A Road Of Disobedience – When Samson’s birth was announced, his parents were told that he was to be a Nazarite, Judges 13:1-23.  The “Law of the Nazarite” is found in Num. 6:1-21.  Basically, a Nazarite was to be a person set apart for the Lord. 1.) Nazarenes were not to cut their hair.  2.) They were to refrain from drinking wine or strong drink, or from eating anything that grew upon a vine.  3.) They were to avoid all contact with dead bodies.

      We have no record of Samson cutting his own hair; Delilah took care of that for him. We have no record that Samson ever partook of “the fruit of the vine”.  But, there is plenty of evidence that Samson violated his Nazarite vow by contact with dead bodies, Judges 14:6, 8-9.  Samson refused to keep the letter of Law and it cost him his life and his ministry.

B.  It Was A Road Of Disappointments – Just reading through the life of Samson; it becomes quickly apparent that he was a spoiled brat.  He wanted what he wanted and he wanted it right then, Judges 14:1-3.  He failed to tell his parents when he gave them honey he had taken out of the carcass of a dead lion, 14:9.  Samson enjoyed riddles, 14:12-14; 16:1-17.  He was not above carrying out some destructive misbehavior either, 15:3-5.

      Samson had much potential as a judge, but he failed to live up to that potential because he was so selfish and self-centered.  He was a disappointment because he never became all that he could have.

C.  It Was A Road Of Depravity – One of Samson’s main problems was a bad case of “female trouble”.  He liked the ladies and that is what did him in. Samson married outside of the nation of Israel, Judges 14:1-3; He even sought out a harlot, Judges 16:1.

            In the end, it was his trouble with women that caused Samson to be destroyed.  His passions overcame his reason and he fell. Samson was incredibly strong. He killed 5,000 men at one time.  He carried away the gates of a city.  He overcame his captors.  He broke bonds and did many amazing thing.  But, in spite of his physical prowess, Samson was powerless against his flesh.  He was not deceived; he sinned with his eyes open!

D.  It Was A Road Of Death – Samson left the landscape of his life littered with the dead bodies of his enemies.  True, he was killing the Philistines, but most of the time, he killed not to free Israel, but to promote Samson. One time, he killed 30 men just to settle a debt, 14:19.  He left a pile of dead bodies in his wake.

E.  It Was A Road Of Disasters – Samson’s life was one disaster after another. I could envision his parents were broken hearted.  His family was disgraced. His wife was given to another man. The name of God and the testimony of Israel were damaged in the eyes of the heathen.  Samson suffered what he did in the end because of how he lived his life.

 

Note: I hope no one in this room is living a life like that of Samson. If you are, and you are saved, you need to understand the danger you are in. I think we need to be reminded that how living carries a soaring price tag. When we fail to live up to what God saves us to be, He will take the necessary steps to get our attention and call us back to Him.

      Some of us may see the signs of a Samson style life in our own walk. I would recommend that you make things right with the Lord before He sends you into the prison of His purifications.

 

II.                         THE REALITIES OF THIS PRISON

A. 16:4-20 It Was A Place Of Losing – Samson threw everything away to please a woman and to please himself.

1.  He Forfeited His Fellowship – v. 20-21 - With God and His people. He fell from his position, his power and his purpose. Note: Sin will take away everything you cherish!  It will take your innocence, your family, your future, your testimony, your power and your tender heart.  Sin will rob you and leave you broken, battered and beaten, Just ask David, 2 Sam. 11-12; Psa. 51.

2.  He Forfeited His Faculties – v. 21 - He lost his vision.  Not just his physical sight, but his spiritual sight too. How long had Samson been blinded by his sinful condition before his eyes were destroyed, V. 20?  How long did Samson grind before his mind turned back to God?  Note: Sin will destroy your spiritual vision.  You will lose your vision for the Lord.

3.  He Forfeited His Freedom – v. 21 - He was bound in his new condition. He became the object of mockery and degradation.  The people identified Samson's God with Samson!  Thus, they mocked Samson and they mocked the Lord because of Samson. His testimony was forfeit and he was bound in the aftermath of his sins. 

Note: The believer has wonderful liberty in the Lord Jesus. This is not liberty to sin, but it is liberty to follow the Lord and His will for our lives. When sin dominates our lives, it will bind us and take away the liberty He gave us.  Sin will dominate your life and hold you bondage in its iron grip. 

B.  It Was A Place Of Laboring - The prison is a place of blinding, binding and grinding!) Grinding was considered to be woman’s work, this added to Samson’s humiliation.  Samson was born to be a liberator.  He was raised up by God to lead the people of God out of bondage.  He was given power so that he might use his strength for the glory of the Lord.  But, here is the mighty judge of Israel, blinded, bound and grinding corn for the enemies of God.  Note: Such is the power of sin!  It will rob you of your vitality and leave you with nothing with which to serve God. There will be no time, no energy and no interest in the things of God. Your life will be dominated by the grinding power of sin.

C.  It Was A Place Of Lingering – v. 22 – Samson served in the prison house of the Philistines long enough for his hair to grow back out.  Hair grows at a rate of about 1/8” per week.  How many months did Samson spend in his darkness, bondage and humiliation?  Note: Again, we can see the comparison to sin and its power in our lives.  When we fall into its grip, it has the power to hold far longer than we could ever have imagined. No one walks off into sin expecting to stay.  They turn aside for a moment of pleasure, and wind up wasting months and even years of their lives. What a tragedy!

 

III.                        THE RESTORATION IN THIS PRISON

A.  The Path To His Restoration - Samson called on the Lord.  This reveals that his heart had at last turned back to God after being away so long.  He called God “LORD” - This is His covenant name.  He called Him "Lord God"; this is the name “Adonai Jehovah”.  He called Him “God”; this is the name “Elohim”. Samson called on the God of the covenant, the God of grace; the God of power and the God Who saves.  He did exactly what he needed to do to find restoration for his soul. Note: The only door that leads out of the prison of His purifications is the door of repentance.  When we come to Him confessing our sins and casting ourselves on His mercy, He will forgive us and He will restore us, 1 John 1:9; (David - Psa. 32:1-5; Psa. 51:1-12.)

B.  The Proof Of His Restoration – The fact that God answered proved that Samson had made things right with the Lord!  The fact that the last act of his life was the only selfless act of his life proved that his heart had changed. 

C.  The Pain Of His Restoration - His restoration was only partial. He got his vengeance on the Philistines for how they had treated him, but he still died, blinded, bound and broken. No amount of repentance could make things like they were; nor could it bring back the things that were lost forever. Note: Some have gone out into the world and they have been brought back by the Lord. But, they have left their loved ones out there in sin. They have left a testimony that can never be recovered. They have left more than they expected when they stepped out into sin. Don’t let that happen to you!

Conc: Samson will always be remembered as the “weak strong man”. He was strong in his physique, but weak in his morals and it cost him abundance.

THE PRISON OF HIS PERSUASIONS

Matthew 11:1-22

I would like to draw your concentration to the experience of John the Baptist as he languished in his prison. By way of introduction, let’s find out why he was here and what he was facing.

John was cast into this prison because of his preaching. It seems that Herod, who was king of a fourth part of the Roman province of Palestine, had taken his brother’s wife, a woman by the name of Herodias, and had married her. John had preached publicly against this vile and unlawful relationship and he had been arrested and thrown into prison by the king, Luke 3:19-20; Matt. 14:3-4. In fact, Herod would have executed John, Matt. 14:5, but he feared the public backlash, because all the people accepted John the Baptist as a prophet sent from the Lord.

While in this prison, John began to have some doubts and concerns about Who Jesus was and what He was doing. John’s doubts worked against his faith and caused him to question the person and work of Jesus. I want to join John in this prison, because I believe that many of God’s children pass through it as well.

There are times when we all experience doubts and fears. There are times when we wonder about our salvation and about our faith. During those times of doubt and fear, we ask ourselves some pretty deep questions. “Am I really saved? Am I really secure? What if I made a mistake? What if Jesus isn’t really the way to Heaven? What if the Muslims, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Mormons, the whoever’s are right and I am wrong? What if the Bible is not really the Word of God? What if God can’t really take care of mee and meet my needs?”

Now, most of us wouldn’t admit it out loud, but we have found ourselves assaulted by questions like these. We have wondered about our faith. When we have allowed the questions to rise in our hearts, we probably found ourselves locked in the same prison in which John found himself. Let’s join him there and consider what he did and what he experienced in The Prison Of His Persuasions.

That’s where John was, and Jesus sent John just what he needed to persuade him of the truth. That may be where you are today. If so, or if you happen to find yourself in this prison in the future, the truths taught in these verses should serve to help you find your way out. Let’s notice those truths as I talk about The Prison Of His Persuasions.

I. v. 2-3 THE DECEPTIONS OF THIS PRISON

A. What John Doubted In This Prison – “are thou He that should come, or do we look for another?” In his prison, John had come to doubt the very person of Jesus. This is the same John who was so audacious in his preaching pertaining to Jesus. Notice these verses: Matt. 3:11-15; John 1:27-36; John 3:25-36. There was a time when there was no doubt in John’s mind, but when he was thrown into the prison, he began to doubt.

B. What John Discovered In This Prison – He discovered that absence does not make the heart grow fonder. Verse 2 says, “Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ…” John is locked up and he can no longer see the Lord Jesus as He heals and ministers. He can no longer hear the Lord’s voice as He preaches and teaches. John is removed from the sights and sounds of the ministry of Jesus and his heart has become clouded with doubts and questions.

C. What John Did In This Prison – When doubts arose in John’s heart, he did the right thing, he turned to Jesus for the answers he needed. Instead of wondering and worrying there in that prison, John turned his efforts toward getting an answer from the Lord. That is where help will be found in a time of doubt!

 

Note: Why did John find himself locked in this prison of doubt? I think there are many reasons, but there are three that I want to point out.

1. Discouragement – John was a man used to the wide open spaces of the desert; now he finds himself locked away in a dungeon. John was used to his liberty, now he finds himself bound in chains and fetters. This confinement in a situation he could not change caused him to entertain doubts that normally would not have received a welcome in his mind.

 

(Note: How many times have we found ourselves here? We find ourselves in a situation we cannot change. We find ourselves with a problem we cannot solve. We find ourselves in a prison from which we cannot escape. When that happens, we sometimes begin to doubt as well. Beware of discouragement; it can devastate your life. Discouragement can cause you to doubt everything you know and believe!)

 

2. Disappointment – Surely John imagined that Jesus would come and set him at liberty. After all, Jesus was the Messiah! Jesus could do anything; surely He could have set John free. When Jesus didn’t rescue John, perhaps he became depressed and began to doubt. After all, wasn’t that one of the ministries of the Messiah? - Isa. 61:1; Luke 4:18

 

(Note: Again, we probably wouldn’t admit it, but when the Lord does not do what we think he will do, or what we ask Him to do, there is a inclination for us to become disappointed with Him. Have you ever entertained this thought: “The Lord did this for so and so; I don’t understand why He won’t do it for me!”? This disappointment can lead us to doubt Him, if we are not careful.)

 

3. Disillusionment – John “heard the works of Christ”. As the reports filtered into the prison, of the miracles and the preaching of Jesus, John was waiting for the big news. He was waiting for the day when one would come and say, “John, Jesus is the Messiah! He not only heals the sick, raises the dead and causes the blind to see, but now He is about to attack Rome and set us free!” That is the news John and all Israel were waiting for. (Matt. 3:12; Mal. 3:2; 4:1)

 

Hear me well, John found himself locked in this prison of doubt because he listened to his own doubts and fears. When you listen to what you think; what you feel; what you see; or to what your heart tells you, you are in trouble!

You cannot trust your eyes; they don’t see everything. You cannot trust what you feel; because we are called to walk by faith not by feelings. You certainly cannot trust your heart; it is a liar, Jer. 17:9.

We must come to the place where we simply trust the Lord, even when we cannot trace what he is doing. Often, during the trials of our lives, we will not see the Lord do the things we think He should be doing.

Our problem is similar to John’s; we fail to see the big picture. John did not understand that Jesus had to die and rise again and that at least 2,000 years would elapse before He would establish His kingdom.

Often, we do not see everything that God is doing. He knows more than we ever will about the situation, we must trust him, or disillusionment will occur.

 

Note: I praise the Lord that God does not sugar coat the lives of his saints. I am thankful that He lets us see them, warts and all. In fact, there are many instances of doubt in the lives of the people of God.

• Think of Abram who had left everything he had known and loved to follow God to live as a pilgrim in a strange land, going down to Egypt and fearing that the Egyptians would take his life, Gen. 12:11-13.

• Think of Elijah who had stood alone on Mt. Carmel, faced down a king, a false god and a nation and, who had prayed down fire from Heaven; crawling under that Juniper and asking God to let him die, 1 Kings 19:4.

• Think of Thomas who had been prepared to die with Jesus, John 11:16, but who would not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead, John 20:24-25.

Know, when doubts arise, you are not alone my friend! In fact, you are in good company. However, that is not an excuse to allow the doubts to continue. They must be addressed and they must be eliminated, or you will find yourself in a horrible prison of doubt.

 

(Note: Have you ever found yourself in the prison of doubt? Are you there now? Is Satan or the flesh attempting to turn your heart away from what the Lord had told you or promised to you? If that is your situation, then let me encourage you to do what John did. Don’t close the door to Jesus, but run to Him and take your doubts with you. He is not afraid of your doubts, but He is more than willing to hear them, answer them and deliver you from them.

 

II. v. 4-6 THE DEMONSTRATIONS OF THIS PRISON

A. v. 4 How Jesus Answered John – When Jesus hears the disciples of John and their questions; He does not send back a stinging word of rebuke. Jesus could have said, “Who does John think He is to question me? He saw the Spirit descending on Me. He knows that I am the Savior. He knows and he has preached it! He has no right or room to doubt me! Go back and tell John to get his heart right with God!”

That is not what Jesus does! When he hears the doubts that have gripped John’s heart, Jesus responds with tolerance, grace and love. Look at His response: “Go and show John again” Jesus is willing to help John as he works through his problem. Many would have reacted in anger; Jesus reacted in love.

(Note: I wish we never doubted, but sometimes we do! Have you ever found yourself in a place of discouragement and depression like Elijah? Have you ever come to the place where you are depressed, defeated, discouraged and disillusioned? Notice how tenderly and with what grace the Lord ministered to Elijah, 1 Kings 19:1-16.

• The Lord did not rebuke Elijah; He ministered to him, v. 5-8!

• God did not write him off; He reaffirmed his call, v. 9, 13.

• God did not yell at him; He spoke tenderly to him, v. 5, 7, 9, 12.

• God did not give his ministry to another; He gave him a fresh assignment, v. 15-17.

• God did not allow his doubts to continue; He set the record straight with a pointed word of encouragement, v. 18.

What is the point? He will exhibit that same tenderness to us when we find ourselves locked in the prison of perplexity.

• He will come to us and minister to us there, Heb. 13:5; Matt. 20:28.

• He will dispense grace in sufficient measure for our need, 2 Cor. 12:9.

• He will stand by us and enable us to go on for His glory, Rom. 8:27; 2 Cor. 2:14; 1 Cor .15:57.

• He will speak peace to our troubles hearts, John 14:27; Phil. 4:7.

• He will deal with our doubts in His time and in His way. Thank God that we serve a patient God of love, mercy and grace!

 

B. v. 4-5 How Jesus Assured John – Jesus merely pointed John back to the Word of God! Jesus reported all the things He was doing and seemed to be saying, “Just go back and tell John to read his Bible and he will understand.” (Here are some of the verses Jesus may have had in mind: Isa. 35:3-6; Isa. 61:1-2. Jesus seems to be saying, “Tell John that I am the Messiah. I am doing everything the prophets said I would do. I am fulfilling the Word of my Father in part now; I will fulfill the rest when the appointed time comes. Tell John to study the Book and he will see.”)

 

(Note: The Bible is the absolute cure for our doubts! If we can but read the Word and take on faith that God will do everything He has promised, and that He will stand by His Word no matter what, we can see our doubts fall apart before our eyes.

You can count on the Word of God! He will stand by it, Psa. 138:2; Matt. 5:18; 24:35; 2 Cor. 1:20. Everything he has promised, he will do! Let the Bible put your doubts to death! Bring your questions, lay them against the Word of God, and watch Him give you the answers you seek.)

 

C. v. 6 How Jesus Admonished John – This is the same admonition Jesus gave to Thomas when he questioned the resurrection, John 20:27. The Lord wants John to know that he does not have to have all the answers. He wants John to believe in spite of the mysteries of life. He wants John’s faith to be in Jesus in spite of what the eyes see, the heart feels, or the mind thinks. He wants John to believe in him and to simply trust him by faith.

 

Note: That is what Jesus wants from us as well! I realize this world is filled with many mysteries.

• Why do good people suffer?

• Why do babies get sick, suffer and die?

• Why do good people seem to have more than their share of problems and trials?

• Why does it seem like serving God doesn’t always pay off in this world.

• Why is this world filled with sickness, suffering, sorrow and death?

We will never have the answers to all those questions. If we allow our hearts and minds to dwell on them, we can find out faith shipwrecked on the jagged rocks of doubt. We may become like Asaph did in Psalm 73.

We must come to the place where we simply cast our doubts aside and trust God for the things we cannot see, feel or understand. We must come to the place of obedient faith in Him, His power and His purposes for our lives. Let me remind you of two important truths:

• Our God is a God of Power – Isa. 40:12; Ex. 3:14; Luke 1:37; Job 42:2.

• Our God is a God of Purpose – Rom. 8:28; Isa. 46:10; Eph. 1:11.

We can trust Him, and that is the truth He wants us to understand when we enter the prison of his persuasions!

 

 

 

III. v.7-11 THE DECLARATIONS OF THIS PRISON

A. v. 7 Some Things Helped John In His Prison – When the disciples of John left Jesus, they returned to John and told him what they had seen and heard. Evidently, these things helped John overcome his doubts and fears. We never hear of him expressing doubt again. Also, consider the fact that John went to his death, a willing martyr for the glory of the Lord, Matt. 14:6-12.

 

(Note: We can be sure that when we are allowed to enter the prison of doubt, the Lord will have a word of hope, encouragement and blessing. He will have exactly what we need, when we need it, to get us through that prison. Again, let me appeal to you to look into His Word for the help you need. Instead of walking in worry, fear and doubt, you can walk in peace, confidence and joy if you can but learn to take the Lord at His Word.)

 

B. Some Things Were Hidden From John In This Prison – After John’s disciples leave Jesus begins to talk about the greatness of John. Notice how Jesus describes John the Baptist.

• v. 7 - He was not a “reed shaken by the wind” – John was not blown about by the changing winds of political and religious favor. He was not like a flimsy reed; he was as steady as a rock.

• v. 8 - He was not “a man clothed in soft raiment” – John was looking for an easy time. He did not come to rule, but he came as a servant. He came as one who prepares the way for the coming King, Matt. 3:3-4.

• v. 9-10 – He was “a prophet” and he was even more than that; he was the literal fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, Mal. 3:1.

• v. 11 – He was the “greatest” of those “born of women”. This refers to the greatness of his character and of his privileges. He was a true man of God; the last of the Old Testament prophets; and the forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was somebody real special.

(Note: The statement “notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” This does not refer to character. Many Christians have a character that is nowhere near that which possessed by John. But, our privileges far exceed his! He was merely among “the friends of the Bridegroom”, John 3:29. We are the “Bride” of Christ, 2 Cor. 11:2. Those who are part of the church are in a greater state of privilege.)

(Note: Why did Jesus wait until the disciples of John were gone before He talked about the greatness of John? Perhaps Jesus did not want to add the temptation of pride to the burdens already born by John.)

 

(Note: Heaven has some secrets it doesn’t feel the need to share with us. Like John, we often find ourselves in a place of doubt and fear. During those times, we have no idea what Heaven is doing. God has a plan and a purpose that you and I can never comprehend, Isa. 55:8-9.

Sometimes God conceals His plans from us, but He still desires that we trust Him anyway. You see, like John, you never know what Heaven has planned for your life. God may be about to use you in a powerful, wonderful way. But, before He can use you for that purpose, He may just have to keep a few secrets from you. Are you willing to trust Him anyway?

In fact, you might live your entire life and still never know what the Lord is doing in your life. Are you willing to trust Him anyway?

While you are in that prison of doubt and bewilderment, you may wonder what the Lord is doing in your life. Heaven may not tell; but if the Lord sees fit to allow you to go into that prison, He does so because He sees in your character the kind of metal that can endure the furnace of doubt and be purified.

When we want to say good things about people, we say them to their faces so that they will think good of us. We save the bad things for behind their backs. Heaven is not that way! Jesus says His best things about us behind our backs. (Look at Job)

 

Conc.: Heaven may seem to be hiding some things from you. Your heart and your mind may be filled with doubts and fears. Let me encourage you to bring those doubts, fears and problems to the throne of grace. The Lord may just give you the answers you need today, or he may dispense grace in abundant measure for you today. Whatever he does or does not do. You must know that, He is the creator of all creations, and he is not slack of his promises!

THE PRISON OF HIS PERSEVERANCE

Jonah 1:1-17

It was said during the awful, bloody days of World War I, there was a British soldier who became so distraught with the war, the suffering and the death that he deserted. He tried to find his way to the coast so he could catch a boat and make his way back secretly to his homeland in England.

In the darkness of the night he lost his way. After a while, he stumbled upon a road sign. It was pitch black and he was terribly lost. He had no idea where he was or what the sign said. He decided to climb the pole to see if he could read the sign and figure out which way he needed to go. When he got to the crossbeam, he held on to read the sign. Taking out a match, he lit it, and looked directly in the face of Jesus Christ. He had climbed an outdoor crucifix!

Stunned by what he saw, he realized the shame of his life. He was looking into the face of the One who had endured it all and had never turned back. The next morning the soldier was back in the trenches.

God has an amazing was of getting our attention! He will call us to a task in His kingdom work and we will draw back from Him and seek to go our own way. When that happens, the Lord will come after us and pursue us until he brings us back to Him and to His plan for our lives. When the Lord has an assignment for you, He is determined that you carry it out. He will not just allow you to walk away while He does nothing. He will persistently and patiently work in your life until He brings you to the place where He can use you for the task He has in mind. He will do whatever He needs to do to get your attention and bring you to the place where you are willing to do what He tells you.

This is one of the lessons taught here in the book of Jonah. God called the prophet to a task he did not want to do and he ran from the Lord. But, God persevered and sent Jonah into a prison experience to get his attention and gain his cooperation.

This prison wasn’t constructed of brick, mortar and metal bars. It was a prison built of flesh and blood, with bars of ivory. Yet, it was in this strange prison that Jonah was convinced that god’s plan was the right plan.

I want to join Jonah in his prison and deal with the truths that we find there. I want to show you that you can run from God and from His will for your life, but you can never hide. If necessary, He will send you into a prison experience to get your attention and gain your cooperation. Let’s look together at The Prison Of His Perseverance.

 

I. THE ROAD TO THIS PRISON

A. 1:1-3 It Is A Road Of Disobedience – God had called Jonah to a specific task. He was told to go and warn the city of Nineveh that judgment was coming to their town. God wanted to extend His grace to a lost and needy people, and Jonah wanted no part of it! God wanted to save the heathen people of Nineveh, 4:1. Jonah, on the other hand, hated them and could have cared less if they had died and went to Hell!

Why did Jonah possess such a deep hatred for the people of Nineveh? There are several reasons, let me suggest a few.

• Nineveh was the capital city of the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrians were a fierce, warlike people.

• The Ninevites were idol worshipers.

• The Ninevites were not Jewish. Jonah was probably a racist.

• The Ninevites were known for their cruelty to the people they attacked and defeated. For instance, they were know to skin their victims alive and then impale their bodies on sharpened stakes and leave them there to die. They often forced parents to watch their children being burned alive, just before the parents themselves were killed. The Ninevites were also known to bury their victims up to their necks in the sand and leave them to die of hunger, thirst or wild animal attack. Whole cities had been known to commit suicide rather than fall into the hands of the Ninevites.

• The Ninevites had focused their attention on Israel. It was common knowledge that the Assyrians were coming and that they intended to destroy the people of God.

So, when Jonah hears the call to go and evangelize the city of Nineveh, he makes a decision to go to Tarshish. Tarshish was located on the western coast of Spain, some 3,000 miles in the opposite direction. It was far as Jonah could go in his effort to get away from God.

Jonah seemed to think that he could escape from God’s plans and God’s gaze by running away. He didn’t want to do what the Lord was telling him to do, so he fled from God. Apparently, Jonah held to small of a view of God. He seems to think that God is a local God. He seems to believe that if he can run far enough away, God will not be able to find him. Jonah holds to a faulty theology. Psalm 139:7-10 lets us know what God can see and where He operates!

While he has a small view of God, Jonah seems to have a large view of self. Jonah thinks he is smarter than God. He thinks he can run away and hide from God. Apparently, Jonah thinks he can serve God when it is suitable to Jonah; but when hard times comes and an unpleasant assignment comes, he thinks that he is free to abandon God and to walk away from God’s call on his life.

 

(Note: Let’s not be too hard on Jonah. Do we not think the same way from time to time? We do not mind serving the Lord when it is convenient. But, when He tells us to do something we do not want to do, we rebel and we disobey Him.

We may not go to Tarshish, but we do go away from the Lord! We think we know more than He does. We think we are in control. We think we can call the shots and do as we please.

Let me just remind you that when the Lord saved you, He took total ownership of your life. He owns you, body and soul, 1 Cor 6:19-20. He alone has the right to tell you what to do; where to go; and how to live your life. And, when He comes along with an assignment for you to fulfill, all He wants to hear from your mouth is what He heard from Isaiah, Isa. 6:8. Anything less is disobedience and rebellion and that attitude will not go unchallenged by the Lord, Rev. 3:19. It is not a badge of honor to say that you refused to do what the Lord told you to do!

Has God been speaking to your heart about something He wants you to do? Are you obeying His voice? Or, are you doing as you please, going on your way and going against God’s will for your life?)

 

B. 1:3-12 It Is A Road Of Disappointments – When Jonah hits the road, things go well at first. He finds a ship heading to the right place. Such a ship probably didn’t come along but once every six months or so. He was able to pay the fare, board the ship and lay down for a little rest. He thinks that he is going to have a soothing cruise and then start a new life in a new location. Jonah has it all planned out!

The disappointments begin right away.

• Did you notice that Jonah is on a downward path, v. 4-5? If Jonah had followed God’s plan for his life, he would have been used of God is a powerful way. His road would have led him upward and not downward.

• Did you notice that Jonah had to pay his own expenses, v. 3? If Jonah had stayed with the Lord, God would have paid his bills for him.

• Did you notice that the captain and the crew soon found out who he was and are amazed at the condition of Jonah’s heart and life, v. 6-10? If Jonah’s heart had been right with the Lord, he would not have lost his witness and damaged his testimony before these pagan sailors.

• Did you notice that Jonah ended up in a place he never imagined himself being, v. 15-17? If he had stayed with God’s plan, Jonah would have been in Nineveh preaching and enjoying a great revival, instead of fighting for his life in a storm and having to go to through a whale of a prison experience.

• Nothing worked out like Jonah planned it!

 

(Note: The same scenario will play itself out in the lives of all those who choose their own path over God’s plan. They will experience trials, tribulations, disappointments and hardships that could have been avoided. The Bible reminds us in Pro. 13:15b, “…the way of transgressors is hard.” The Bible also gives us this word, “7.) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8.) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9.) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not,” Galatians 6:7-9.

If the Lord has been calling you to follow a certain pathway, and choose to go in another direction, do not be surprised when troubles and disappointments come your way!

 

C. 1:4-17 It Is A Road Of Disasters – Jonah made his decision and set his plan in motion. He boarded his ship and set out for Tarshish. His goal was to “flee from the presence of the Lord”, v. 3. Did you notice the first word of verse 5 – “But”? Jonah had his plan, but God had the final say!

God first sent a storm to get Jonah’s attention. This must have been a very severe storm because the sailors were terrified. They had weathered other storms on the Mediterranean Sea; but they had never seen a storm as ferocious as this. Jonah slept right through the storm, v. 5-6. Apparently, the sailors have concluded that God is behind the storm and they cast lots to discover who the vile sinner is and Jonah is selected. He is forced to confess his rebellion to a bunch of men who do not know the Lord. Jonah suggests that they throw him overboard, because he is the cause of the storm. Those pagan sailors have more compassion that he does, because they try to save the ship and Jonah, v. 13. When this doesn’t work, they are forced to pick Jonah up and to throw him into the sea. When they do, the storm is gone in an instant, v. 15. God used this event to bring about the conversion of those pagan sailors, v. 16. (When you get the backsliders out of your midst, you can have revival!) Then, Jonah finds himself swallowed alive by a special fish, prepared just for him. He is imprisoned there for three days.

 

(Note) For years, infidels and skeptics have mocked the Bible for this account of a man being swallowed by a giant fish and living to tell the tale. They claim that it is an absolute impossibility.

History has recorded in 1891, off the coast of the Falkland Islands, a man on a whaling vessel named James Bartlett fell overboard. As he bobbed in the ocean, he was swallowed whole by a huge whale.

A day and a half later, the crew on his boat caught a large whale and when they began the process of disemboweling the animal, they saw movement in the whale’s stomach. They cut it open and found James Bartlett in there. His skin had been bleached white and his hair eaten off by the gastric juices of the whale, and he was unconscious, but he was alive.

He revived and was able to talk of his experience. What happened to that whaler proves that what the Bible says is accurate.

 

Note: One thing after another went wrong until Jonah found himself in a place of utter vulnerability. He thought he could do battle with God, but he found out that his arms were too short to box with God. By the way, so are yours and mine! God knows how to bring us to our knees! He knows how to take the “but” out of you, v. 3! (Moses – Ex. 3:11, 13; 4:1, 10 – God answered every objection Moses offered. He will do the same for you!)

Regardless of what He wants you to do, do it! If you rebel, you will find that you pathway will be filled with disappointments and disasters. He will not let you get away, but He will pursue you and He will do whatever it takes to get you in a place of absolute submission!

Is God trying to get you to do something? Is He calling you to a new ministry; to a deeper walk with Him; to a new kind of work? If he is, my advice to you is this: to not run from Him, but run to Him and yield to His will. He will not change his mind he will change yours. Rom. 11:29.

II. THE REHABILITATION IN THIS PRISON

(This prison had the desired effect in Job’s life. After he was placed there, the Lord began to affect the changes that were needed to rehabilitate Jonah.)

A. 2:1, 4, 7-9 Jonah’s Acknowledgement Before The Lord – Out of that whale’s belly, Jonah prays and calls on God, v. 2. He turns his eyes and his heart in God’s direction once again, v. 4. He comes back to God and praises the Lord for Who God is and for how he works, v. 7-9. Verse 8 seems to be a confession of his sin and foolishness.

B. 2:9b Jonah’s Agreement With The Lord – He says “I will pay that I have vowed”. In other words, Jonah is saying, “Lord, I am through running now! You called me to be a prophet and I will deliver your message when and where you tell me too. Wherever you lead I will follow!

C. 2:2, 10; 3:1-2 Jonah’s Acceptance By The Lord – We know that Jonah made things right with the Lord because God heard his prayers, v. 2. God delivered him from his prison, v. 10. God renewed His call on Jonah’s life and gave him a second chance to carry out God’s will, 3:1-2.

 

Note: Jonah paid a high price for his rebellion. He suffered greatly and damaged his testimony because he refused to walk in the will of the Lord. But, when God got his attention, Jonah repented and made things right with God and the Lord forgave him and restored him!

I praise the Lord that God always stands ready to receive His wayward child back again. When the rebellious child of God comes to himself and comes clean with the Lord, God will forgive his failures. All He is looking for a heart willing to tell the truth, I John 1:9. Psa. 32:5. When He finds that heart, He will forgive that person and put them back in right standing with Himself.

I praise the Lord that we serve the God of the Second Chance! He doesn’t write His people off when they mess up, but He forgives them, restores them and uses them again for His glory. Just look at Moses, he was a murderer, Ex. 2:12. Consider Mark, he abandoned Paul and Barnabas on a mission trip, Acts 15:38; but God restored him and used him in a great way, 2 Tim. 4:11. Look at David, he messed up in some mighty big ways, but God still used his and his life for His glory. Then there is Peter; he denied the Lord three times, but Jesus forgave him and used him as a mighty preacher of the Word of God.

 

(Note: There are times when we can fail the Lord and lose our right to hold certain offices. There are times when our influence with men is so devastated that it can never be fully repaired. But, there will never be a time when the Lord will refuse to forgive His repenting child and to restore them to a place of fellowship! It is possible that you might not be able to do what you once did, but there is a place of service for all those who will repent and call out to the Lord once again!)

 

III. THE RESULTS OF THIS PRISON

(When Jonah comes out of this prison, he is a different man. God sent Jonah into that fish to bring about some desired changes in Jonah’s life. Let’s look at the results of Jonah’s prison experience in his life.)

A. 3:3 God’s Man Is Changed – This time Jonah is not running from the Lord; he is running with the Lord! Jonah picks up his Gospel trumpet and heads off to Nineveh.

 

(How he must have looked as he entered that city and began to preach his message of judgment. His skin bleached with by the gastric juices in the whale’s stomach; his hair dissolved off his body. He was a changed man physically, but more importantly, he was changed spiritually. Jonah is on the Lord’s team now!)

 

B. 3:4 God’s Message Is Communicated – Jonah enters Nineveh and preaches the message God sent him to proclaim. The people of Nineveh hear that the judgment of God is headed their way. They are evangelized.

C. 3:5-10 God’s Mission Is Accomplished – When the people of Nineveh hear the message of Jonah, they repent of their sins and seek the face of the Lord. The greatest revival in history breaks out and an entire town is converted to the Lord! At least 120,000 children are saved, 4:11. It is estimated that Nineveh had a population of nearly 600,000 at this time. This event is a great demonstration of the power and grace of God in saving sinners.

All this came about because Jonah was changed in his prison experience and he began to go with God instead of against Him.

 

(Note: When we get in a place where the Lord can use us, He will use us! After all, that is why He saved us from our sins! He saved us to be vessels of honor for His glory, 2 Tim. 2:20-21. He saved us from our sins to use us for His glory. He saved us to go to work for Him in this world, Eph. 2:10.

God is looking for people He can clean up and use in a powerful way. Look at our Lord’s disciples; He took them and in spite of their weaknesses, their failures, their pasts, and He used them for His glory. Right here in this room, there are people who have failed the Lord and you may think your ability to serve Him has been forfeited forever. You are wrong! The Lord can restore you, bless you and use you, if you will yield to Him and go with His plan for your life!)

 

(Note: We know that Jonah’s heart was not made totally right. He is still mad that the Ninevites got off the hook. He is angry and discouraged. He should have been praising the Lord for what God has done, but Jonah is upset.The book closes with him still in that condition. How sad!)

 

 

Conc: The prison of His perseverance can be a hard place to live. But, it can be a blessing in some ways too.

• This prison reminds us that God loves us, Heb. 12:6-12.

• This prison helps prepare us for greater service.

• This prison can focus our affections and set our hearts on God’s plan for our lives.

A father had a rather strong-willed son. On the way to the store he kept telling the child, “Sit down and buckle the seat belt.” But the little kid just kept standing in the seat. Again he said, “Sit down and buckle the seat belt.” And after a time or two more the boy was convinced he had better sit down or disaster would strike. So he slipped down onto the seat, snapped the seat belt closed, and said, “Daddy, I’m sitting down on the outside, but I’m still standing up on the inside.”

Has God been calling you to do something for His glory? Have you been taking a different path than His? Wouldn’t today be a great day to come to Him and tell Him that you are through running and fighting, and that you are ready to go with the Lord?

THE PRISON OF HIS POWER

 

Acts 12:1-19

The early days of the church witnessed the power of God moving on miraculous ways. 3,000 people were saved on one occasion, Acts 2:41; and 5,000 were saved on another occasion, Acts 4:4. The early church was marked by the manifest presence and power of God. He was on them to such a degree that “fear came upon every soul”, Acts 2:43. God’s power and presence produced peace and harmony within the church, Acts 2:42-47. Souls were being saved on a daily basis, Acts 2:47. The people were excited, busy and holy. God was working and His power was felt by saint and sinner alike. The church was growing; God was glorified; Jesus was being preached and sinners were being saved. It was a great time to be a part of the local church!

But, not everyone was pleased! The Jews hated the early church because the church said that Jesus was the Messiah. The church said that Jesus had been killed by the Jews and, most amazing of all; they even claimed that He had risen from the dead. The Jews hated the message of the Gospel, and with so many Jews turning from Judaism to follow “that way”, Acts 19:9; 23; 24:22; it wasn’t long before the church came under fire from its enemies.

The Jewish leaders had tried arresting the Apostles and forbidding them to preach the Gospel, Acts 4:1-23. That did not work, so they arrested Stephen, tried him and stoned him to death in an effort to stem the growth of the church, Acts 6:8-7:60. This failed to achieve the desired results as well. The Jews continued their efforts to try and stop the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They used hired guns like Saul of Tarsus; but he wound up getting saved. They persecuted the saints and many members of the church were scattered to the four winds of the earth. Still, the church continued to grow and prosper.

That brings us to our passage of Scripture today. Herod, seeking to curry favor with the Jews, arrested James, the brother of John and had him executed. When he saw this pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter, and planned to kill him too. So, this passage opens with the Apostle James dead and the Apostle Peter in prison, about to be put to death. In this prison experience, God flexes His muscles in some amazing ways and gives His servants a great victory.

By way of introduction, let me point out that Peter arrived in this prison through no fault of his own. He was living right; walking with God; doing the best he could do; preaching Jesus; honoring the Lord and trouble still came his way. There is a lesson here for us as well. We must never get the idea that a good, godly life is a hedge against troubles. Sometimes, the closer one lives to Jesus the more that person suffers for Jesus. Consider Job. He was clean, holy and good, by God’s Own estimation. He was doing his best to serve the Lord and to live for God and still trouble came his way, Job 1-2. Trials marked the lives of David, Paul, Elijah, and even the Lord Jesus. Jesus is called “a man of sorrows”, Isa. 53:3. If Jesus suffered trials and setbacks in life; we should expect no better treatment ourselves.

I think the Bible is pretty clear on this matter. Every person who comes into this world is going to experience troubles and trials, Job 5:7; 14:1. Those people who live for the Lord are going to have their trials too, John 16:33; 2 Tim. 3:12.

Peter discovered this when he was thrown into Herod’s prison. But, it was in that prison experience that Peter experienced the power of God in some wonderful ways. I want to look into Peter’s prison experience today and show you the ways God manifested His power to Peter in that prison. We need this teaching because we will find ourselves shut up in this prison at some point in our lives. When we do, we need to know that our God is God in the prisons of life also.

As the Lord gives grace, I want to preach on the thought The Prison Of His Power. Let’s notice the ways God manifested His power in this prison experience.

 

• I. v. 6 GOD’S POWER IS SEEN IN HIS PEACE

• Peter is scheduled to be tried and executed the very next morning and what is he doing? He isn’t in there praying for deliverance. He isn’t writing his last will and testament. He isn’t crying, screaming and begging for mercy. The night before he is to die, Peter is sleeping in his prison cell like a little baby! (He slept through the angel coming in and the light shining around him. The angel has to hit him to wake him up, v. 7.) He may be chained between two soldiers, but he is sound asleep, without a care in the world. God had given Peter “peace that passeth understanding”. (This wasn’t the first time Peter had been in jail. He had already been delivered in Acts 5:19 by the angel of the Lord. Maybe Peter believed the Lord would come through again.)

• (Note: If you are saved, God has already delivered you from the worst prison of all; He has delivered you from sin, judgment and Hell. If He can deliver a sinner from that prison, any other prison will be a pushover!)

• That is an amazing thing to see! Sadly, very few of the Lord’s people have arrived at that kind of place in their life. Sometime it seems that the least little thing can come along and it sends us reeling into fear, panic and worry.

• God has a better plan! He desires to give His children peace, John 14:27; Phil. 4:6-7. Do you have that kind of peace in your heart today?

• That brand of peace is on display in the Word of God. The Three Hebrews had it, Dan. 3:16. Daniel had it, Dan. 6:10. Job had it, Job 13:15. You and I can have it too! Thank God for His peace!

• GOD’S POWER IS SEEN IN HIS PRESENCE

• As Peter lay there sleeping, the angel of the Lord came into that very cell. The bars, the locks, the guards and the walls proved to be no barrier to the Lord! He came right in and did as He pleased. He meant to come to Peter and nothing was able to stop Him.

B. When we find ourselves in these prisons of despair and trials, we need never fear being there alone. Our Lord promised us that He would ever be with us and He meant every word that He said, Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20; John 14:18.

He has never forsaken His people and He never will, Psa. 37:25! When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the furnace, they found the Lord already there, Dan. 3:25. When Daniel went into the lion’s den, he found the Lord was already there, Dan. 6:22. When Paul was on the ship in the stormy sea, he found the Lord was there with him, Act 27:23.

C. No matter where the path of your life leads you, you will never go there alone. The Lord will be with you in every trial and along every mile. He will never let you down!

 

III. GOD’S POWER IS SEEN IN HIS PROVIDENCE

• God moved in might, supernatural power to deliver His servant from that prison. Chains fell off, doors opened by themselves and Peter was delivered from his prison.

• God will use whatever means is necessary to care for you in all the prison times of his life. When you find yourself in a prison situation, you need to know that God will move Heaven and earth if necessary in order to meet your needs.

• This is seen throughout the pages of the Bible - Elijah and the ravens, 1 Kings 17:2-7; the widow and her meal and oil, 1 Kings 17:8-16; The Three Hebrews and the flames, Daniel 3; Daniel and the lion, Daniel 6; The children of Israel and the Red Sea, Ex. 14, the Manna, Ex. 16, the water from the rock, Ex. 17, the shoes and clothes that did not wear out for 40 years, Deut. 29:5; the Disciples in the storm, Mark 6:45-51; The hungry multitudes, John 6:1-13; Mary, Martha and Lazarus, John 11:1-45.

If He will do this for these people, He will do what He has to do to meet your needs. That is His promise, Matt. 6:25-34. And, that is just what He will do!

 

IV. v. 12-17 GOD’S POWER IS SEEN IN HIS PURPOSES

• The Lord used Peter’s prison to teach Peter and the members of the church to place their trust in God and to leave the matter in His hands. Those people could not have delivered Peter by their power. They could not have stormed that prison and secure his release. They did what they could though, they prayed and God worked. This prison experience taught them all that God is greater than our needs and that He is worthy of our faith!

• As we pass through this life and as we move through our various troubles, trials and prison, we probably will not understand the reason and the purpose behind all we face. That is why verses like Rom. 8:28; Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17 are so vital to our faith.

C. Why does the Lord allow these things in our lives? I cannot answer that, but I can say this: God has a purpose for every prison He allows you to pass through. That purpose may be to grow you. It may be to help someone else. It may be simply to glorify the Lord. He has a plan and He has a purpose and He wants us to come to place where we simply trust Him for all we need and for all we face.

 

Note: After these events, you will notice that Peter gave glory to the Lord for his deliverance, v. 17. You will also notice that Herod received the praise of men and refused to give glory to God, v. 21-23. God killed Herod and when that threat was removed, the Gospel spread faster than ever before, v. 24.

That may be God’s sole purpose for the prison. He may be using your prison experience as a means to glorify His name and to draw others to Jesus. Are you willing to submit to His purpose, even though you may not understand it?

 

Conc.: Are you in a prison of sorts today? Are you in a place where you need to see the Lord flex His muscles and demonstrate His power in your life?

THE PRISON OF HIS PURPOSES

Jeremiah 32:1-15

Our God is a mysterious God. He works in ways that you and I cannot understand. He declares this very thing in His Word, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts,” Isaiah 55:8-9.

He is a God who is doing some amazing eternal things in your life and mine. He is a God who is working out a sovereign, unstoppable plan. As He does what He does in us and around us, we often find ourselves standing back, scratching our heads, wondering about what is going on.

There are times when we find ourselves caught up in the vortex of God’s eternal plan, with things going on in and around us that seem to make no sense at all. Have you ever been there? Can you identify? You know God is in control, but you have no idea what He is up to and sometimes that sense of the unknown bothers us deeply.

That is the place Jeremiah finds himself in these verses. He is in prison and God is doing something in him, to him and around him that he cannot fully comprehend. Since we also find ourselves in that same prison from time to time, it might be helpful for us to look at what Jeremiah experienced in The Prison Of His Purposes. I would like to take Jeremiah chapters 32-33 and show you some facts about this prison that you need to know. Let’s join Jeremiah in The Prison Of His Purposes.

 

I. THIS PRISON CAN BE A PLACE OF CONFUSION

A. The Circumstances Of Life Can Be Confusing – Even before Jeremiah arrived in this prison, his life had been a series of devastating circumstances. Let’s take a brief look at the trials faced by this faithful prophet:

• He had been denied the comforts of love and family – Jer. 16:2.

• He had been denied the comforts of encouragement and friendship – Jer. 15:10. Jeremiah preached the truth and stood for God and not a single person said, “Thank you”, or offered a word of encouragement and friendship.

• He had been denied the comfort of personal liberty – Jer. 32:2. Jeremiah conducted much of his ministry from the confines of prison.

There can be little doubt that these circumstances of life, and others besides, caused Jeremiah much confusion and turmoil of spirit. He had been faithful to the Lord in spite of everything that had come against him, and still he suffered greatly. In fact, there is no record that Jeremiah ever gained a single convert in 50 years of ministry!

 

Note: If we looked only at the circumstance of our lives, we too can find ourselves confused. Sometimes, it may seem that God isn’t fair in His treatment of His servants. Life is hard at best and sometimes it seems that God’s children carry a greater portion of the burden than others do. (“For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.” Eccl. 2:23.) Look at Job! God’s Own testimony is that Job was a godly, faithful servant, Job 1:8. Yet, look at how Job suffered! It just doesn’t seem fair! Consider Jesus! No One has ever been more righteous than He, yet He suffered more than any man, Isa. 52:14; Heb. 12:2-3.

What we fail to see is that God is operating on a higher plane than we can see. He is doing things that we cannot fathom. He is moving in ways that we cannot comprehend.

God has used Job’s tragedies to comfort millions down through the ages. Job had no idea what God was doing. Jeremiah’s troubles were used to teach a nation about the judgment and faithfulness of God. Jeremiah didn’t grasp it all either.

When your path makes no sense and it seems that God is not treating you fairly remember this:

• God is working out a good plan in your life, and you can trust Him, even though you don’t have all the details.

• Nowhere does the Bible say that God is fair! It does say that He is just and that He will always do right. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:25. You will never understand Him, but you can always trust Him!

 

B. The Complications Of Life Can Be Confusing – v. 2-5 – Here is Jeremiah, he is preaching the message God has given him. He holds nothing back, but he tells the truth and he is thrown into prison for his efforts. It must have seemed to Jeremiah that he was being shelved by God. Surely his situation made no sense to him at all. Have you ever been there? The wheels of life can spin fast at times, and there are times when they seem to spin out of control. In fact, your life can become derailed in a blink of the eye.

Another person gets that promotion and you are passed over. Your spouse comes in one day and tells you they do not want to be married to you any longer. That child in whom you have invested the best years of your life turns on you and goes off into rebellion. Your ministry comes to a grinding halt and others move forward while you stagnate. The complications of life are many and they arrive without warning. They are devastating in their impact and they leave us wondering, if not out loud, at least in our hearts, “Where is God and what is He doing to me?”

Sometimes it seems as though God has forgotten our address, doesn’t it? Sometimes it seems as though God has placed us on the back shelf, out of the action, and that He has forgotten all about us. Sometimes it seems that He doesn’t care about what we are facing. Sometimes it seems that He is nowhere to be found. The complications of life can be very confusing!

Remember John the Baptist; the great preacher and prophet who was locked away for preaching the Word of God? He faced such a time of doubt and confusion, Matt. 11:1-11. We are not alone in our confusion over life’s complications.

C. The Commands Of Life Can Be Confusing –Jeremiah locked up in prison. He has been preaching that Judah is about to fall into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Even as he languishes in the prison, the Babylonians are coming to execute God’s judgment on the Israelites for their rebellion and their idolatry. Jeremiah has even prophesied that Judah will go away to Babylon in captivity for 70 years, Jer. 25:11.

In the midst of this impossible situation, Jeremiah’s uncle sends his son Hanameel to Jeremiah, asking Jeremiah to redeem a piece of property that belongs to Jeremiah’s family. That made no sense! The Babylonians surely possessed that land already. Even if they didn’t they would soon. They would possess it for the next 70 years. Jeremiah was being asked to pay money for a piece of property that he would never be able to farm or even see. Yet, God was in this matter, v. 7, and Jeremiah bought the property as he was commanded, v. 9-16, fulfilling all the legal requirements of such a transaction.

 

Note: Sometimes the commands of life can be confusing also. God will come by and request something that makes no sense. He may call you into a new ministry in a place that seems to make no sense. He might uproot you from a church where you have served for years. He may require you to give up something that you love very much. He may make a request of your life that seems insane on the surface.

When God shuts you up in the prison of His purposes, you can expect Him to require some strange things from your life. He doesn’t ask these things from us to confuse us, but He does so to accomplish His purposes. We don’t always know what He is doing, but as I have already said, we can trust Him to do right. He will never lead you down a wrong path, Psa. 37:23.

 

II. THIS PRISON CAN BE A PLACE OF COMMITMENT

(Even though Jeremiah was in a difficult place, it is interesting to watch his life. He was confused about his circumstances, but he was committed to doing the Lord’s will anyway. His commitment to the Lord is easy to see.)

A. v. 16-25 The Prison Became A Place Of Communion – Jeremiah did not understand his circumstances and he did not understand what the Lord was doing in his life, but he used that time as a time of personal growth and communion with the Lord. He praised the Lord for His greatness, His glory and His power. He praised Him for His past works. Jeremiah was in a hard place, but he turned to the Lord in that prison and spent time with the Lord.

 

Note: The hard places of life can affect us in one of two ways. They can drive us away from the Lord as they did Cain, Gen. 4:1-16. Or, they can drive us to the Lord as they did Job, Job 1:20-21.

When we find ourselves in one of the prison experiences of life, there is no better thing for us to do than to pray! When we turn from our fears, our doubts and our confusion, to face the Lord, we are allowed to step out of our reality and into His presence, Heb. 4:16. Prayer brings us into contact with the help and the resources we need to make it through our prison times, Phil 4:6-7.

Prayer is never an easy business. It is made even more difficult when trials and trouble arise in our lives. But, we must pray! We must seek the help of our Father. He cares about what we face and He invites us to come to Him for the help we need, Jer. 33:3; Matt. 7:7-11; 2 Cor. 12:8-10.

 

B. v. 26-44 The Prison Became A Place Of Confidence – The theme of Jeremiah’s prayer had been confidence in God’s abilities, v. 17. When the Lord speaks to Jeremiah after his prayer, God confirms His power and His ability, v. 27. God tells Jeremiah that He is going to judge Israel for their sins and their rebellion, v. 28-36. But, He also tells Jeremiah that He will restore Israel one day, and keep His covenant with them, v. 37-44. The essence of Jeremiah’s prayer is summed up in verses 24-25. He declares his confusion over what he has been asked to do, but he also declares his confidence in the plans, purposes and power of God.

 

Note: That is the place to which God wants to bring us. He wants us to reach the place where we do not need to know all the answers. His desire for us is that we come to the place where we trust Him, even when what He is doing in us and around us makes no sense at all. Ill. Psa. 37:1-8; Psa. 56:3-4.

One of the greatest days in your Christian walk is the day when you reach that place of peaceful contentment, where you may not know what God is going to do, but you know that He has a plan. The Three Hebrew boys reached that place, Dan. 3:16-18. Daniel reached that place, Dan. 6:10. Paul reached that place, 2 Cor. 12:9-10. Many others have arrived there and we can as well, by the grace of God.

 

C. v. 9-15 The Prison Became A Place Of Compliance – Jeremiah’s character is seen in how he responded to the Lord in a time of confusion and personal pain. He simply did what the Lord asked him to do. He redeemed the family and he made sure that he took every step that was necessary to record the transaction. I am sure that some people must have laughed at Jeremiah as he did this, but he did it anyway. I am sure that many did not understand, but that did not stop him. He remained faithful to the Lord, even when doing all that God required made no sense at all.

 

Note: Anyone can serve the Lord and keep His commands when they make sense and the way is easy. However, it takes true commitment and dedication to do the Lord’s will when others do not understand.

Imagine how Abraham must have felt as he led Isaac up that mountain to put him to death. Put yourself in his sandals. That was a moment when the requirements of the Lord made no sense at all. But, if you will read Genesis 22, you will find no hesitation at all in Abraham’s response. He just did what the Lord asked him to do.

That is the response God is after from each of us. It’s not always easy to obey God. It is made especially difficult when God’s commands make no sense at all. It is not easy to do what He wants when our hearts are breaking. It is not easy to remain steadfast when everyone around us seems to be moving away from God. He is looking for a people who will obey Him, without question, simply because they love Him, John 14:15. He will bless those who walk in this fashion – John 14:21-24.)

 

III. THIS PRISON CAN BE A PLACE OF COMFORT

A. We Are Comforted By God’s Providence – Jer. 32:26-33:26 – Jeremiah is comforted by the Lord’s ability to declare ahead of time that which will take place in the future. He is reminded that God works on both ends of time to accomplish His will in the world. Yes, Israel will be destroyed and taken captive; but they will be brought him and restored to their land and to fellowship with God.

 

(Note: When we find ourselves in the prison of His purposes, we need to take comfort in Who our God is. We may not understand everything that He is doing, but we can trust the fact that He is in control. We serve a sovereign God Who is working out an eternal plan. I take comfort from the fact that He is in control, Dan. 4:35; Eph. 1:11; Rom. 9:15-23; Acts 4:24-31. I may not know what He is doing, but He knows and He has a plan to make everything work out right in the end, Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor. 4:17.)

 

B. We Are Comforted By God’s Power – Jeremiah is comforted by the Lord’s Power. Not only does God have the power to declare the future, He also had the power to bring it to pass.

 

(Note: Let me just remind you that we serve a God of limitless power and ability, Eph. 3:20; Luke 1:37; Matt. 28:18. If you have a need in your prison, He can meet it! If you have a mountain, He can move it. If you are in a deep, dark valley; He knows the path out. He can and will take care of your situation in His time and in His way.)

 

C. We Are Comforted By God’s Presence – Surely Jeremiah felt all alone and deserted in his prison. Yet, the Lord was still with him. God spoke to him there and God even used that prison to meet the needs in Jeremiah’s life, Jer. 37:21. While others were starving, God used the prison to feed his man!

 

(Note: The prison times of life and be frightening. They can make us feel as though we have been deserted by the Lord and left there to die. Regardless of how things may appear, we still have His promise that He will never leave us, Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5. God will often use the very things we fear as His vehicle to move in our lives. Ill. The Disciples in the storm, Mark 6:48-51. The Widow of Zarephath – God used the needs and tragedies in her life to demonstrate His presence and power, 1 Kings 17.) You may feel like it, but you are never alone!

 

D. We Are Comforted By God’s Promises – When Jeremiah heard from the Lord in his prison, he was given the good news that things world work out. The Lord came with His promise that all would be well in the end. Surely, that word from the Lord cheered the heart of the prophet in that prison. Jeremiah leaned heavily on the Word of God, Jer. 15:16.

 

Note: As we journey through this life, we often find ourselves in what can only be described as prisons. We can find hope and comfort in our prison by leaning on the promises of God. As God told Jeremiah in verse 27, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?” No matter what kind of situation we are facing in life, we can rest in the promise that our God can handle it. Nothing is too hard for Him!

The world laughs at us today because we do not run with them in the pursuit of worldly pleasures. We separate ourselves from them to follow and ancient religion that demands holiness and obedience from its followers. The world does not understand our commitment to the Lord and they mock us as a result. But, there is a day of vindication coming for the saints of God! Our commitment to Him will pay off and we will be rewarded for our loyalty to Him.

 

Conc.: Are you in the Prison of His Purposes today? Is God doing some things in your life that do not make sense? Is He allowing some things to happen to you that just do not add up? Is He working out some plan that you cannot seem to get a handle on?

Are you confused and concerned about some of the things that are happening to you? Do you find yourself doubting Him more than you find yourself trusting Him? Do you need a word in your prison? If so, come to Him like Jeremiah did, pour out your heart before Him and look to Him for the guidance you need.

THE PRISON OF HIS PRAISES

Acts 16:16-26

Having lost in a fire virtually everything they owned, the Spafford family made new plans, including a move from Chicago to France. Horatio Spafford planned the trip for his wife and four daughters to be as trouble-free as possible. To transport them from America to France, he booked passage on a huge ship, and made sure they had Christians with whom to fellowship in route. He planned to join them a few weeks later.

In spite of much careful preparation, Mr. Spafford's plans suddenly dissolved when the ship carrying his loved ones was rammed by another vessel and sank, carrying his four beloved daughters to the bottom. His wife arrived in Wales safely nine days later and telegraphed her husband the awful news that all four of their children had drowned. Spafford left Chicago to go and bring his wife home. As they cross the Atlantic, the captain came and told him when they were passing over the spot where his daughters had died.

At that place, Horatio Spafford took a pen and paper and wrote these words while passing over the spot where his daughters perished:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

  It took great faith for Horatio Spafford to write those words. God took the worse prison experience of his life and turned it into a prison of praise and hope.

Paul and Silas found themselves in a difficult prison of oppression and suffering. In that prison they experienced the great grace of God. They received everything they needed transform a prison of pain into a prison of praise. I would like to examine their experience for a little while today. It may be that someone here is locked away in a prison of pain. I want you to see that God can take your pain and turn it into praise for His glory. Let’s notice some of the facts pointed out in this passage as we think on the subject: The Prison Of His Praises.

 

I. v. 16-24 IT IS A PLACE OF MISERY

(When Paul and company arrived in Philippi, they expected great things to happen. After all, the Lord had very clearly sent them to that city, v. 6-12. His will was further revealed when Lydia and some others came to faith in the Lord, v. 13-15. As soon as the Lord started blessing, however, the devil began his work. Ill. The Context of verses 16-24. These men were in the Lord’s will, doing the Lord’s work and still trouble came into their lives. They found themselves in a place of misery. Let’s examine that place together.)

A. v. 19-21 The Misery Of The Accusations – Ill. The context. Paul and Silas are falsely accused by selfish men, who cared for nothing but money. These men did not care for the poor demon possessed of whom they made their living. They were not above lying and scheming to exact revenge on those they felt had done them wrong.

The problem with their story is the fact that nothing those men said about Paul and Silas was the truth. All they had done was preach the Gospel and set a poor tortured soul free from bondage. They were doing their best to serve the Lord and still trouble came. Have you ever been there?

B. v. 22-23 The Misery Of The Arrest – Ill. The Context. When the rest of the people of Philippi heard the false accusations of the men, they turned on Paul and Silas like a pack of rabid dogs. They hauled them into court; there they were beaten and thrown into prison. The word “cast” means “to throw something with no concern for where it lands”. These men were beaten like common criminals and thrown into prison. All they had done was preach the Gospel and try to help someone and their troubles got worse and worse. Have you ever been there?

C. v. 24 The Misery Of The Accommodations – Ill. The Context – Paul and Silas were handed over to the jailer and “thrust” then into the inner prison, and then their feet were locked in the stocks. This was no prison like anything we have in this country. Our modern prisons would have been like a five-star resort compared to where these men found themselves.

Most likely, they would have been thrown into a deep, dark cell that would have been the nastiest place you could ever imagine. They would have been chained amid mud, filth and human waste. It would have been a dank, dark, dreary, dirty, disgusting, dangerous dungeon. They were there for no other reason but for faithful, obedient service to the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you ever been there?

 

Note: I know that I touch this note a lot in my preaching, but God never said this life would be easy. The Bible is very clear that the opposite would be true. Ecc. 2:17, “Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Ecc. 2:23, “For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.” Other verses teach the same truth, Job 14:1; 5:7.

Jesus told His disciples that trouble was not a possibility; it was an absolute certainty, John 16:33! I guess you have noticed by now that this life is hard. It seems sometimes like God’s children bear more than their share of trials and troubles, Ill. Asaph and Psalm 73.

There are going to be some rough times along the way. There will be some hard times, times when trials and suffering will dominate you life. There will be times when you will do your best to serve the Lord, but He will still put you in a prison situation. It will be a place of misery and suffering. Sometimes it will be worse than you can ever imagine. Spouses die, diseases come, children rebel, marriages fail, and sometimes life hurts. And all the good deeds, good prayers, good hopes, good wishes, and good thoughts will not be able to prevent you from going into a prison experience from time to time.

I know that is not what anyone wants to hear, but those are the facts as the Bible declares them. There will be some places of misery along the path of life. Have you ever been there?

If you have, I need to tell you that you will probably go there again. If you haven’t I can say that you will go there some. If you are there right now, I want you to know that there is hope in your place of misery.)

 

v. 25 IT IS A PLACE OF MINISTRY

A. A Place Of Personal Ministry – When Paul and Silas found themselves in this prison experience, they were hurting, humiliated and in need of some encouragement. After all, they had followed the Lord to Philippi and now they are sitting, chained in a cruel Roman prison. In their hour of need they had no man to whom they could turn for help. They turned to the only source of help available to them. They turned to God and lifted their hearts to Him in prayer.

These men knew something that so many saints never get a handle on. They knew the best place to find the help of a Friend in a difficult situation is to turn to the throne of grace. The saints have a Friend Who cares deeply about them, Heb. 4:15-16. He has promised to hear their prayers, Jer. 33:3. He has promised to answer their prayers, 1 John 5:14-15.

When you find yourself locked away in a prison experience, you can always find a friend Who cares and Who is available to help you. Learn to lean on Him in prayer and your prison will be transformed.

B. A Place Of Profound Ministry – As they prayed, their prison was transformed from a place of pain into a place of praise. Paul and Silas began to sing songs of praise unto the Lord. We do not know what they sang, but we can be sure that they did not sing “Gloom, despair and agony on me. Deep dark depression, excessive misery. If it weren’t for bad luck we’d have no luck at all. Doom, despair and agony on me.”

These men are in a terrible predicament. They have been serving the Lord faithfully. They followed Him even when His will did not make sense to them. Now they are in a prison because they did the right thing. They are in a prison because they have been lied about. They are in a prison, wounded, bleeding and chained. Yet, they are filled with the praises of the Lord. They had learned the profound truth of Job 35:10 and Psa. 42:8.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Any fool can sing in the day. It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but the skillful singer is he who can sing when there is not a ray of light to read by.... Songs in the night come only from God; they are not in the power of men.”

When we find ourselves in one of the bitter prisons of life, and we turn to the Lord for the help we need to make it through that prison, God can turn our sighing into song. He can turn our trials into testimony. He can turn our pain into praise. He can take a time of profound heartache and transform it into a time great help.

May God help us to do as many of the great saints of God have done. May He help us to have a song in the midnight hour. May He help us to be like Job, Job 1:20-21. May He help us to be like Paul, 2 Cor 12:9-10. May He give us grace to praise Him when the pressure is on!

C. A Place Of Powerful Ministry – “and the prisoners heard them” – This phrase means that the other prisoners were “listening intently” to Paul and Silas as they prayed and praised the Lord. They were amazed by what they were hearing! Here were two men who had been severely beaten, carelessly thrown into the inner prison and fastened down in the stocks. Yet, they are not moaning and groaning. They are praising their God and singing love songs to him. That is a powerful ministry!

I would just remind you that a lost world is watching you and me as go through our prison experiences. They could care less about us when we are filled with joy and everything is going well; but they are all eyes and ears when trouble comes into our lives. They watch us to see how we will react when the pressure is place on our lives. They want to see if our faith is real when we go into the prison house of suffering.

 

(I have seen saints on both sides of this thing. I have seen some fall to pieces when trouble comes. I have seen others lean on the strong arms of a loving God and praise Him in the face of overwhelming pain and suffering. I can tell that those who can praise the Lord in their trials have a powerful testimony. Their testimony says, “My God is real when things are going well and my God is real when everything falls apart. He is God and He is sufficient!” That is a powerful testimony; and it is a testimony that we should all strive to have in our lives!  Psalm 84:6)

 

v. 26-33 IT IS A PLACE OF MAJESTY

(How you and I respond in the prisons of life is something we should pay close attention to. After all, God may have sent us there just so we could help someone else to see that God is an ever present, all-sufficient, all mighty God. Let’s notice how God used this prison to get glory to His name and to bring others to Himself.)

1. v. 26 The Majesty Of God’s Power – Notice the language of this verse: Suddenly, foundations of prison shaken, immediately – This is a verse packed with action! All of a sudden, God moved in power and one moment all the prisoners were chained down and the next moment, they were all free! One moment, things looked bleak, but in the next moment, the power of the Lord changed the situation and things began to look better!

 

Whether you recognize it or not, the prison is a place of power! God may change your situation as He did for the Disciples on the ship, John 6:17-21. Or, He may change you in your situation as He did Paul and Job. Either way, you can be sure that He will move in power when the time is right and set you free. He has a plan to set you free! He has not forgotten about you. He knows where you are. He knows the pressure. He knows about the horrors of the prison and He knows how to set you free.

Did you notice that even though they were free, they were still in prison? They were made free while they were still in their prison experience. God can and will do that in your life. When He does, it is a display of awesome, Almighty power!)

 

B. v. 27-33 The Majesty Of God’s Providence – Why did God allow these men to go through this prison? All they had done was serve the Lord! After that are released, they go meet with the brethren and immediately leave town. Is it possible that God allowed Paul and Silas to be beaten, thrown into prison and locked in the stocks just so He might use them in Philippi? Is it possible that God allowed them to endure all that pain and suffering just so God could get glory in Philippi? Is it possible that He sent them to prison just to save a jailer and his family? If you look at the outcome of this event, you will see that God used these events to save the jailer and his family, v. 27-34; to testify to the city officials, v. 35-39; and to encourage the saints and to teach them that God was greater than any prison or problem they would face, v. 40.

 

Sometimes you never get an answer to the why questions. Sometimes God will send you into a prison experience for His Own purposes and you may never know why these things have happened to you. But, does it really matter as long as He is honored and we are used as a vessel of honor for His glory? You can rest assured that even when life makes no sense at all, God has a purpose for everything He allows in your life, Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor. 4:15-17. Paul understood this truth, Phil. 1:19-22. He knew the truth of Psalm 46:1-2, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”

What we face in life is part of God’s plan for us. His plan is a good plan and He knows what He is doing. Our duty is to trust Him at all times and realize that even the things that hurt us are sent to grow us and to shape our lives for His glory, Heb. 12:6-12; James 1:3-4; 1 Pet. 1:7-8. Blessed is that saint who will allow the Lord to have His way in that saint’s life!

 

Conc: When the prison door slams behind you and you find yourself locked down tight in the shackles of your pain and problems, you may feel that there is no reason to praise the Lord. If you will turn your heart toward Heaven, He will hear you and He will help you to lift your voice in praise to Him. You will also find that He will give you peace in your heart that He will use your prison for His glory and for your good.

Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful. Indeed, I can say with absolute sincerity that everything I have learned in my 37 years in this world. Everything that has truly enhanced and progressed my occurrence, has been in the course of affliction and not through happiness.”