Prison Rules – Part 2

Last week we looked at the reality of how our past limitations prevent us from embracing present growth and future freedom. This is especially critical when it comes to living into who we were called to be, instead of succumbing to whom the world has convinced us we should settle for. 

In the short 29 years of being open, Alcatraz reported a total of 36 escapes on 14 separate attempts, and only 3 that were deemed as successful. It is believed that the men died in their attempt although their bodies were never recovered. 

You’ll have to read about how these guys made their grand scheme a reality. It’s some real Shawshank Redemption scripting. Full story HERE: Alcatraz Escape 

When you’re locked up behind bars, the mind is always racing and I can’t imagine what the extent of the thoughts are inside those cold hard concrete and steel cages. For the 3 infamous convicts who escaped, their heads must have spun at a dizzying speed with ideas of how to get off the island. And everyday, dreaming of what they’d do when they were free. It was what drove them to chisel through concrete blocks for weeks with kitchen utensils by hand in the cover of darkness at night.

For a couple followers of Jesus, there was a bit of a different mindset during their time in the slammer. Paul and Silas got locked up because they were ministering in Philippi and creating a stir amongst the locals. Not everyone was crazy about their miracles, especially those being affected negatively by the removal of evil spirits that were being used for financial gain. (Acts 16:16-24)

These two apostles were stripped naked and beaten. The humiliation and physical pain must have been unreal. Then they were thrown into a jail cell and locked in stocks and chains. While on the inside, scripture tells us that their mindset was a little different than that of the Anglin brothers and Frank Morris while on Alcatraz. They did not immediately begin to map out their escape plan or dream of life beyond bars. 

We read that they were praying and singing songs to God and during this worship service in the middle of the night, an earthquake shook the prison so that the doors flew open and their chains fell off the men. Not just theirs but everyone’s. Can you imagine the chaos? 

The prison guard who was sleeping on duty, woke up to his worst nightmare and thought he’d kill himself because he was as good as dead if prisoners escaped on his watch. But Paul hollers that they are all there and not to harm himself. Through this crazy night in prison, the jailer becomes a believer and begins to care for the badly injured prisoners. The next day, they are released and go on their way, encouraging believers in that town before heading on to the next city. 

If I were titling this message apart from the series, it would be called ‘Freedom IN Chains’. This story reveals a shocking truth about life in Christ. Paul and Silas had their butts literally kicked and were locked up. Life SUCKED and to say it was unfair is a major understatement. However, we see them remaining calm and positive in this devastating situation. Life had them pinned down, beat up, in darkness, and helpless at the hands of others but they were never really bound, despite the chains. 

Their mindset was to seek the LORD and SING songs to celebrate God in the midst of this tragic moment. This made them free regardless of the prison walls. But God’s freedom didn’t stop there. The shackles broke off and the doors flung open, bringing them total freedom! And finally, those in charge participated in their deliverance by walking them out.

God hasn’t forgotten you in your prison cell. God sees you in that darkness. God can break those chains and set you free, but you must seek him while in them. It may be in a night or it may take years but sing anyway because God is with you and you can trust Him.

Furthermore, we must not use our freedom for the harm and demise of others. Paul and Silas could have let the guard kill himself or at least beat him to make a statement. Instead, they spoke life and helped him find the freedom they had even while behind bars. 

May the earth shake with the deliverance of God and may you find freedom from your chains, and even experience the LORD’s freedom while waiting for jubilee. Freedom is coming!!!

#PrisonRules
#JailBreak
#Alcatraz
#RestoringWholenessOfLife 

Brett