MISSIONARY TO PRISONERS AND DETAINEES
Have you been to prison? Or Police stations were suspects are detained? What is the purpose of having suspects or awaiting trial (ATM) detained in prison or police cell? God delights and is concern about people detained in prison or cell, “for the Lord hears the poor and does not despise His prisoners” (Ps. 69:33). There is an incarceration that is ordained of God. God has His own prison block where He confines His servants with chains in order to prepare them for greater works of service. If God imprisons you, you are powerless to get yourself out when He shuts a door, no man can open it, “If He imprisons a man, there can be no release”(Job 12:14). There is godly imprisonment and demonic imprisonment. Satan imprison through people living in sin (Rom. 7:32, 2Tim. 2:26). Jesus came with anointing “to proclaim liberty to the captives” (Lk. 4:18). Jesus with great compassion loosed a woman who was bound by Satan with a physical infirmity for eighteen years (Lk. 13:16). Jesus destroyed the devil’s power to subject people to bondage (Heb.2:14-15). Satanic bondage - imprisonment is not to be tolerated. It is to be broken in Jesus name.
God strategically imprisons some of His servants in order to prepare them for His purpose. Paul acknowledged. “I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ” (Eph, 3:1), “The prisoner of the Lord” (Eph, 4:). Paul clearly understood that even though the Romans Police had arrested him, it was God who had planned his imprisonment, and as such he insisted that he was God’s prisoner, Peter was in prison (Acts 12:4-10), Jesus was detained awaiting trial in prison. Why Jesus Christ had to go through prison experience like Joseph (Gen 39:19-23) and other Apostles or men of God (Acts 5:8)-19)? “From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins- that he was suffering their punishment? He had done no wrong and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’S plan will prosper in his hands….He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners” (Isa, 53:8-12, NLB). This was Jesus recorded of prison experience and trial that resulted in the salvation of those who believe in his atoning sacrifice on the cross.
Apostle Paul’s imprisonment reveals God’s purpose when God’s servant and His children are detained in prison or police cell. “One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl; she was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. She followed along behind us shouting, these men are servants of the most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved”. This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and spoke to the demon within her “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her” he said. And instantly it left her, Her master’s hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the market place…A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So he took no chances but put them into inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.”
“Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors flew open. And the chains of every prisoner fell off. The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open…the jailer…ran to the dungeon and fell down before Paul and Silas, He brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” they replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household”…then he brought them into his house and set a meal before them. He and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God” (Acts 16:16-34 NLB). The incarceration of Apostle Paul and Silas-servants of God reveal God’s purpose in prison or police detention. It is not the warrant what got them in prison or police detention but what is important is God’s purpose. In the case of Apostle Paul and Silas, they were sent as missionary to further the proclamation of the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ to the family of the jailer and the prisoners who heard them singing and praying in detention. This was God’s design and plans to reach them through the imprisonment of God’s servants. Same was Jesus Christ.
In Nigeria, you don’t need to commit crime before you will be branded cultist, militant or 419ner. It does not matter what takes you to police or prison detention.
What matters is God’s purpose. And God’s purpose is to use every occasion, situation including police detention to work out His purpose for your life. And that purpose is to glorify, release, promote, and uplift you from every form of captivity to greater service and placement in God (Rom. 8:28-30). So don’t despise prisoners or those detained either in police, prison or any other detention cell. Remember, God does not despise prisoners (see Ps. 69:33). God, “Don’t forget about those in prison; suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies” (Heb. 13:3). What is your attitude to those being incarcerated in prison or ATM or police cell? What do you do to alleviate their suffering? What should Christians do with regard to those in prison or police cell detention? Jesus said, “Then these righteous ones will reply, Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison , and visit you? And the King will tell them “I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Mt.25:37-40).
Just as Paul and Silas incarceration serve as opportunity to minister to the jailer and prisoners, so also those who are being detained in prison or police cell serve as opportunity to minister to God by helping them to further the cause of Christ in prison. Judgment of God shall be based on your attitude and help to the needy – prisoners. What have you done? Have you visit those in prison? Have you sent them help if you can’t go? What are you doing to advance the cause of Christ in prison? I had prison experience that rejuvenated my life and ministry. I had earlier while studying and working in America been involved with prison ministry – ministering to those in prison. But in 2007, l was detained few days at police station cell thereafter in awaiting trial (ATM) at the Port Harcourt prison for few months on account of a dud cheque that l had paid part of the money involved. My complainer manipulated the police to get me detained. I was angry but the opportunity of the detention helped me to discovered God’s purpose that l was used of God greatly to minister to inmates, detainees and prisoners as well helped to get over ten people released from prison. During my incarceration l learnt things l wouldn’t have learned without being detained at prison.
From this experience l can say that the negative experience you go through may not be your fault but it is an opportunity for God to use you to reach-out to someone in needy and in distress. That experience will galvanized you for greater exploits in Christ, so don’t despair or feel bitter about it. The best is yet to come and you are going through leaving a mark of distinction and testimony. I am today by those experiences a better person. God have dealt with me and used me greatly to advance the gospel of Christ in prison detention. Testimonies abound of what God have used me to reach out to people without hope and without God. I became missionary to prisoners. I have learnt and it has advance the gospel of Christ. Do you know God’s purpose in what you are going through? Discover God’s purpose in your experience, and you will be better for it. Have question, you may call: 08033399821 or write: [email protected]. Stay blessed.
Written By Dr. Lewis Akpogena