December 3, 2015 was my oldest son’s 26th birthday. This was his fifth birthday behind bars.
Almost five years ago Stephen found himself in a bad situation that led to his incarceration. Though the circumstances were devastating, we thank God that He is our Redeemer and Restorer through Jesus Christ.
Incarceration has led to my son surrendering his life fully to Christ. FULLY. He is an on fire lover of Christ. Therefore, Stephen is more free behind the prison wall than many who are walking in physical freedom. And for Stephen’s spiritual release we are grateful.
So we thank God on Stephen’s birthday for the gift of Release!
Yesterday a friend posted a message that has been in her spirit concerning release. She gave me permission to share it for this is a powerful message for you.
Release by Cynthia C.
Release: It’s a word that has bombarded my spirit lately. A word that the Lord has had me think about and pray about. While it is Christmas time and the focus in on the Little Baby King who would grow up to be the King of kings, I can’t stop thinking about one of the greatest prisoner releases of all time – Barrabas.
“Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished” (Matthew 27:15 NKJV).
The multitude chose to release Barrabas over JESUS. As I thought about this more, tears flooded my soul when I realized that had not JESUS been exchanged for a criminal (someone who breaks Gods law, which is the whole human race), my son (and your son and daughter) would stay locked up in chains forever into eternity without a chance of ever being released.
JESUS bore chains so that ours could be broken. JESUS became a prisoner of the human flesh so that we can put on immortality and live with HIM forever. He bought us and brought us back to life, while we were yet still sinners.
Listen my dear brother and sisters in Christ—there is no one who gets this better than our sons and daughters who are locked away. That’s why JESUS came for the sick, not the healthy.
Prison can often times be a blessing in disguise. But JESUS never leaves a person locked up; He always comes to set a person free.
Jesus is always about release!
Whether it is release from chains, despair, bickering, finances, hopelessness, and so on, Jesus took our punishment so we could be released.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that You are the initiator and that You stepped forward so that we didn’t have to be without hope. You stepped forward so that we and our sons and daughters don’t have to stay locked up. We recognize Your sovereignty and wait on Your timing as to when the actual physical chains fall off. We thank You that the spiritual chains have no hold on our loved ones. We thank You for walking through prison walls and prison doors into the heart of ALL who call on Your name. Fill our hearts and minds with joy. We thank You in advance for the RELEASE as we worship You on Your birthday. Amen.
(Thank you Cynthia for permission to share this message of the hope we have in Christ for Release.)
Whatever prison you find yourself in, know that the King of kings came to release you from that bondage. Call on the name of Jesus to receive it.
