Prison Ministries

Read Romans 8, Psalm 119:40-45
The Emancipation Proclamation

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

“And by virtue of the power and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States and parts of States are, and henceforward shall be, free;” (Abraham Lincoln, September 22, 1862)

Actual and spiritual slaves sometimes both have the same trouble. They cannot handle freedom. When Lincoln abolished slavery and declared all slaves free, many just stayed where they were and as they were. Often prisoners commit crimes to get back into prison because they cannot handle their freedom on the outside.

Before we get all puffed up with condemnation and wondering how anyone could be so dumb, we need to take a look at our own lives.

Why do we live lives so often in bondage to the will of our flesh instead of lives of freedom controlled by the Spirit of God that is in us?

St. Paul struggled mightily with this same problem. “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:23)

Thank God for Romans 8 which teaches us that the resurrection power of God is ours to claim by faith. We no longer have to live in bondage to sin of any kind.

The war has been won by Christ’s death on the cross. The battle for the control of our will goes on. No matter how many skirmishes we might lose, how many satanic darts hit us, we can stand firm and live victoriously not in our own strength, but in the supernatural strength of the resurrection power of Christ living in us, which is our hope of Glory.

When we appropriate this truth by faith, we fill find that we are free, indeed!

Father, give me your power of the Holy Spirit to live in the freedom Your Son died to give me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Please help us provide a Christmas for inmates that do not have any family. Any amount would be greatly appreciated.

May the Richly Bless you and your family this holiday season.
Timothy Caron

2 Responses to “The Emancipation Proclamation [Romans 8, Psalm 119:40-45]”