Prison: An insight for freedom seekers

Prison: An insight for freedom seekers by 'Wale D. Adekanye

Preface

On the 20^th January 2011 as I was reading through an excerpt, the Spirit of the Lord opened my mind to unforgiveness as a prison sentence, this I had an idea of before now but the Lord’s Spirit broke it down more and I understood better what it meant as it shall be revealed as you read on.

While trying to meditate in the open where I was, he laid it upon my heart to expound this topic PRISON as it kept hammering and ringing on my head, all I did then was to pick a pen and a very rough paper to pen down some things He told me as a guide to exposing the veil covering people and putting them in prison with various number of years or even for life if not careful and aware.

So many people, even the so called Christians are imprisoned unaware and they live as free persons of which they are not. Some knew they are in a form of bondage but don’t know the way out, while some go in and out of the prison yard being unstable in all or some of their ways.

This book is to expose to those who don’t know exactly what they are in for, also to unveil the face of those who are veiled and to express the way out and how to sustain one’s liberty once gotten.

May the Lord in his mercy remove every prisoner from the prison and make them live freely for Him in Jesus’ name.

Can we pray this prayer together?

O Lord, please open my heart and eyes of understanding to learn as much as possible what you want me to know through this book in my hand and not only learn but take bold steps to get out of whatever has imprisoned me or that which I have imprisoned my self over the period of time.

Lord Jesus, come to my rescue and let the price you paid over me long time ago work on my behalf. Set my heart at liberty to follow you to the end and do your will while I am living here on earth.

Chapter one (YOUNG CRIMINAL)

There was this young man who refused to live morally and his life was full of different characters which do not by any means glorify God nor make his parents happy. He had always being a thorn in the flesh of all their neighbours around where he lived and no one could say a good thing about him because he never had any good record that could be referred to.

One day, he got involved in a robbery and he was caught, he was brutally beaten and tortured, charged to court and the hearing dates were held while he had to be in the prison custody until the final judgment day is fixed and judgment given. While in prison custody, he was kept in a cell where hardened criminals were and he was seriously dealt with by the inmate for not been smart enough to be caught.

Finally, the day came and he was taken to court to hear the judgment, his lawyer had really tried so much trying to convince the judge over time to tender judgment with mercy, as the final request before the final judgment is passed, the lawyers and the people in the court room were expectant of the judgment the judge is about to pass, as he looked keenly on the accused person, he started by saying: having heard from both side over the period of time, it is evidently clear that the accused person is guilty of all charges leveled against him and by the law of the land he has to be punished accordingly. Here is my judgment: you are hereby sentenced to …. (someone walked into the court room and spoke as loud as he could, saying I am here for him, to take his place and let him go free, all eyes shifted from the judge to the man who came in, full of wondering, what a manner of man he is and the kind of gut he has, he walked into the dock and stood beside the accused person, waiting for the next line of action), the judge was persuaded to release the real accused person and faced the man who took his place, then passed the judgment to be life imprisonment with hard labour with no option of fine.

Before the man was taken away to serve the prison terms, he spoke to the accused but free young man to make amend of his old way of life for which he is going into for and live a new life that will be worth talking about even after he would have died.

The young man left as a free person all because someone stood in his stead. When he got home, he narrated his ordeal at the prison cell to be a very terrible one, where life itself is miserable and inmates living as chickens in the cage without any form of freedom, prison cells he said, are equivalent to hell itself, and that he never wished to go near such again, this event made him remember all the time when he was preached to but for worldly gain refused and rejected the way of God, he came to his senses like the prodigal son (in Luke 15:11- 24) and knelt down in tears repenting of his wayward life.

“I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. And he arose and came to his father”

Luke 15: 18, 20a (NKJV).

People in prison today are there for reasons and their lives either gets better (if they find Christ) or worse (if they meet Satan). I was listening to the news on television sometime ago of people who were charged with murder case and released after 15 years of a wasted life in prison, one of them was going to buy roasted meat (suya) when he was caught along with others, this clearly shows that ignorance can make a person be imprisoned.

This young man got converted, located God and was always grateful for the man who went to prison in his stead.

Have you been to Nigerian Police Station and had access to the cells to see the condition at which people are subjected to, awesome? No. If the police station could be terrible like that, you can imagine what the country’s overpopulated prisons would look like.

So many are there because of ignorance, some by their carelessness, some by being robed in issues they knew nothing about, some by the evil and sins they have committed. One thing is common to them: imprisoned.

Funny enough, any one who had gone to prison and back are labeled ex-convict in the worldly terminology, showing that he or she had being in the black book of the government.

Every record you have in the black book of the devil as a sinner before now shall be wiped out with no trace in the name of Jesus!

There came one day, that the Governor of that state in which the man was sentenced had to pardon prisoners in the state’s prisons, fortunately enough, the mane of the man who stood in for his friend was included in the governor’s pardon’s list approved, and he was released as a free person. On getting out, he met face to face waiting for him, his friend whose prison term he went in to serve, they hugged each other with tears on the eyes of the man who should have been in prison for his sins, and thereafter laughter followed when the newly released friend had about his new life. Whao!

Not minding what you have done before now as you read, the God of freedom declares pardon for you out of the prison you are in Jesus’ name.

You cannot buy salvation nor work for it, so it is the Lord’s work through the Holy Spirit to set you free, you know what:

“…. If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed”.

John 8:36 (NKJV)

I believe you should be able to interpret the scenario mentioned above and understand that God can set every one free, you inclusive.

Chapter Two (UNDERSTANDING PRISON)

Prison is a common word used in our world, to many it is not scary any longer, especially in the developed world where they care for them (prisoner) at least with an environment conducive for human beings compared to the ones we have in our part of the world, I give kudos to the people who do prison ministry because they see a lot.

Prison therefore is defined as a building where people are kept as a punishment for a crime, or while they are waiting to go to court for their trial. It is also said to be an unpleasant place or situation which it is difficult to escape from.

As clearly defined, I want to go with the second part of the definition which calls it (prison) a place or situation which is difficult to escape from as unpleasant as it is.

From the biblical perspective, prison can be physical and spiritual as the case may be.

Prison is synonymous to captivity, burden, bondage, sickness, debt and other related problems.

So many situations as we find ourselves are prisons in themselves and many have become accustomed to that kind of life, I mean prison life and never wanted a change (freedom) as they gladly announce: a devil one knows is better than new angel unknown. Like the Israelites in the wilderness:

“The Israelites said to them (Moses and Aaron), “if only we had died by the LORD’s hand in Egypt! There we sat round pots of meat and ate all food we wanted, but you brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

Exodus 16:3 (NIV).

I observed at a time a particular goat that was imprisoned, not in the cage or room or cell but a prison of rope tied to a peg. This goat has always been tied on regular basis to the said peg, so if the goat will play, it doesn’t go farther than the length of the rope on its neck and at worst goes round about the peg as many times as it feels, and in the evening, it is moved to the barn and returns to the peg again in the morning. This cyclical way of life continued for this goat which has become a prison sentence for the goat, for it cannot do anything on its own, cannot go anywhere. One day, the owner decided to set the goat free, removed the peg, loosed the rope off its neck, and allowed the goat to be on its own. Then I took time to see what next, surprisingly, the goat went from the cage to the place where it used to be tied, it remained there, and was going round about like it used to do while on rope, it never occurred to the goat that it was free, though now free, still lived a prison life, a life with boundary, a life with limitation, a life with little or no meaning.

Then it dawned on me that many people are a type of the observed goat who is imprisoned and can not do anything with liberty because their lives are monitored and remote controlled by the one who has enslaved them.

Anyone who knows what is right and does not do it is in prison.

Anyone who is supposed to stand out but for fear of what people will say could not is in prison.

Anyone whose life is placed under limitation is in prison.

You can walk yourself (or might have walked yourself) into prison or your prison life might have been worked for you by people but with your consent.

Let us see together an example from the bible, a man that was imprisoned till death (i.e. life imprisonment).

The man Cain was the firstborn of mankind, Adam and Eve’s first offspring who had a brother called Abel, the second born of father Adam and mother Eve.

Mr. Cain unleashed death on his only brother for sentiment and jealous sake, internal anger for what he had no control over.

So many people today enter into prison because of their attitude, because you do the same thing (or similar) with someone else or group of people, and because you are not thriving as they are, or not famous, not prospered as the other person, then you go extra mile to harm the person or run the person down with slander and gossip, it may please you to know that even before you carry out your evil desires, your prison sentence is already declared.

When Mr. Cain saw that his sacrifice was not accepted, he refused to take the right step of finding out why it was so, and then make amends, but instead he deceived his brother to follow him to the field, getting to the field, he strangled his brother Abel to death, dug the ground and buried him. Then to him, he was fulfilled, thinking that: ‘I will see how you will keep offering acceptable sacrifices while you are dead’ or ‘I will see how God will not take whatever I offer Him now that my brother is dead’. He thought he was getting more marks but instead it was more count charges he was building up for himself – wrong attitude to offering sacrifices to God, unholy anger, deceit, attack, murder and careless talk.

“And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD.

Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry and his countenance fell.

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field”. And while they were on the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.”

Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Genesis 4:3-5, 8-9 (NKJV, NIV).

One thing he should have done – go back, properly examine why he failed and try again, instead he followed other voices outside God, thinking he has done all in secret, God quickly brought him to court and he was sentenced based on his criminal count charges.

Let’s see what his prison terms looked like –

“So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and vagabond you shall be on earth. (When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.)

Genesis 4:11-12 (NKJV, NIV).

In other words, prison is a state of mind as well as living status.

Living under curse (s) is imprisonment, and many people are limited today by generational curses, family lineage curses, bought over or carryover curses (as a woman in prison marries a man imprisoned by curse).

Until a person knows he or she is imprisoned, he or she may not think of a need for a deliverer (Saviour), and life lived in prison can not be life lived to its fullest.

Mind you, the prison tormentors will not want you freed, but a role to play by you is to strongly desire a release, not just a release but a total freedom.

Prayer point: Lord open my eyes of understanding to look inwardly as I read on and help me to make decision where necessary in Jesus’ name.

Chapter three (Life without Christ)

“For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people” Isaiah 60:2a

In the book of the beginning, it is clearly pointed out that the earth was void and formless, darkness was upon the face of the deep, showing that the earth as at then was without form, and darkness was the ruling factor.

“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

And God saw the light that it was good; and God divided the light from darkness.”

Genesis 1:2-3

Until when God (the creator) declared that ‘there should be light’ the darkness remained, but at the declarative command, light came into being for all other creations to take place. This reveals that God does not and will never live, work or walk in darkness, so the need for light, not just an ordinary light, but a shining light for that matter.

Darkness is equivalent to prison while light represents freedom. In other words, God wanted all of His creation to live in freedom so as to enjoy His already prepared blessings meant for His children alone.

And so, God made all things available in the home He made for man even before man’s arrival on the scene. Like expecting parents (with the wife pregnant) will make provision for the arrival of the unborn baby, so God did for man whom God treasured so much in His heart of heart.

God at evening time will come down, have a chat with His creature wanting to know how the day had been, checking their welfare, and encouraging them to keep the good work. God so much desired a relationship that is so cordial with man whom He made in His own image and likeness.

The man God trusted to fill a vital vacuum failed when he rejected the voice of God for the voice of a lesser creature, simple though, the disobedience looked like, but it wasn’t by any means a light offence to God. May be if Adam had taking responsibility for his carelessness and failure, and not blame shifting has he did, may be God would have just chastise him (or them) and not sentenced them as He did.

“To the woman He said:

“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.

“….. Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”

Genesis 3:16, 17a-19

The end result of man’s disobedience brought about the chasing out of the palace into the prison – the garden of Eden was made to look like palace with all the splendor and comfort that befits a king and a queen, but the abuse of grace allowed for the prison sentence, as life outside the garden of Eden was hectic and harmful to the tender life God made man of from inception.

“So He drove out the man; and He placed Cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.”

Genesis 3:24 (NKJV)

Ever since, life has not been the same as God wanted it to be, as the life of men became evil oriented, right from Cain down the generations after. God was bitter to the heart for making man in the first instance, for every day, men are moving from worse to worst and God had to wipe out the world then leaving Noah and his family to start afresh, all because Noah found favour in God’s sight.

You will find favour in the sight of God in Jesus’ name (amen)!

This continued for several generations with God sending judges and prophets among His people, but changes were not seen as sons of men were not actually ready to leave prison as they were accustomed to that pattern of life.

God never intended that man should be in prison, not to talk of remaining a prisoner for eternity, with this in the mind of God, He finally made known His pre-creation plan to save the world through the sacrificing of His only begotten son – Jesus Christ.

Remember the story at the beginning of this book, every man/woman who sins (lives in sin = sinner) is represented by that Youngman, the person who came to his rescue, who went to prison in his stead is Jesus Christ, and it was the pardon of God that brought up Jesus Christ from death and made him a living saviour for all mankind who believes in the coming, works, teachings, death, resurrection and the ascension of Jesus into the heavens.

When Jesus came, his mission was to come and set willing people free from the prison of sin and Satan, so that man can again live as God wanted him to.

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because He has anointed me

To preach the gospel to the poor,

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed,

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4:18-21 (NKJV)

As seen above, the passage clearly defines the six-point agenda for which Jesus was sent. Jesus was not sent for himself, but for you and I, and others who has not known the value of the price He (Jesus) paid to get us redemption that is all inclusive (i.e. healing, deliverance, breakthrough, fruitfulness, etc).

Any one who is not under the rulership of Christ is in prison still as he or she is yet to know the value of the price Jesus paid to make him/her free.

A person like that is compared to a sick person whose hospital bills had been paid in advance but refused to go for treatment for lack of fund or a person whose bank account had been credited before hand but goes about begging and living as a pauper, or a person whom a house was built for but remains homeless and sleeps around.

Living without Christ at the centre of one’s life affairs is living beyond the normal way of life (i.e. living a substandard life), such a life is neither ruled by Christ nor by Satan, in fact, there is more tendency that the devil rules that kind of life, for God the Son expects nothing less that total obedience.

So many remained imprisoned in their hearts and conscience because of ignorance as stated in Hosea 4:6a (NKJV)

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”

Some for their lackadaisical attitude like in the days of Noah in Genesis 6-7

Some for their stiffneckedness like king Pharaoh and the Egyptians in Exodus 7-12.

Some for a kind of familiarity or attachment to descendant-ship like the Jews who thought Jesus the son of a carpenter can never be the much awaited saviour.

“Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us? So they were offended at Him”

Mark 6:3 (NKJV).

For whatever reason you might have to still be without Christ, is a reason for your prison life. Many will say ‘I will give my life when I am so and so old’, or ‘when I possess all that is possess-able’. Some will even say, ‘we will enjoy life before enjoying heaven’ (aye la ma se ki a to se orun), some will say ‘ I cannot do without this or that’, while some will bluntly say forget, nothing like heaven or when God will throw me, annoyingly He will throw me and I will land at the other side of hell fire. Let me quickly state here that there is nothing like hell fire, there is only hell and the lake of fire which will consume both death and hell at the end as stated in Revelation 20:14.

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.” (KJV)

All these are tantamount to worldliness and they entangle everyone who is available for the set trap.

But you will be glad to know that freedom is made available for all that will grab the opportunity, for Christ is always ready to accept you back into his fold like the father of the prodigal son, you are one of his sheep who he actually paid dearly for with his blood.

When you refuse Christ – being Christ-less, you automatically bag a prison sentence for yourself and continually will live as prisoner until you actually accept the bail-out paper approved with the precious blood of the lamb of God. The Spirit of God represents freedom and wherever the spirit is, the atmosphere becomes atmosphere of freedom (light) where prison and its tormentor (darkness) cannot have dominion.

“But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

II Corinthians 3:15-17

No matter who you are without Christ, you may be churched or unchurched, the above scripture says you are veiled and a veiled person is imprisoned, but whoever turns to God will have his or her veil removed i.e. taken out of prison – meaning freedom because where God is, there is liberty for all who resides in that atmosphere.

I was at a place sometime ago and someone was speaking around where I sat. he said, there was no one who could convince him about the type of life to live. He said he intentionally went to the pilgrim lands (i.e. Jerusalem and Mecca) and he found out that they smoke, humanize, practice harlotry, cheat, rob, kill and do all sorts as it is practiced here in Nigeria. He said if in the so called holy places practices such and we preach about events from those places, then there is no justification anywhere. He added that he visited all visit-able places in Jerusalem but there was no where called hell, then it means it is only imaginary.

From assessment, this kind of person is imprisoned and has never realized how important and urgent it is to accept the freedom offered to him. We were at a burial event, and calling his attention to the fact that life will end sometime, he responded by saying that ‘if I die and go to heaven, then I will know that there is heaven and if hell, then that is where my work takes me’.

There are many people around who carry this kind of thought pattern in them, and thereby remain in prison for as long as they live.

One thing you can do to help such is to intercede on his or her behalf and pray that the light of God will illuminate the heart of the concerned.

If you are imprisoned based on the fact that your life is void of Christ, then you need to really make up your mind now and here to be freed by praying this confessional prayer:

O Lord, I am sorry for my attitude towards you who paid for my life with yours, I am sorry for making your sacrifice look useless overtime, I am really sorry for not heading your call before now, please forgive me and grant me pardon from the prison of life I am in and from the tormentors of my life. Help me to live according to your dictates.

Thank you for loving me, in Jesus’ name (amen).

Chapter 4: (Medium of imprisonment)

People enter prison through various medium (knowingly or unknowingly) and find it difficult to get out from such. Many are in but ignorant of the situation in which they are and have tried little or not at all to get freedom, thinking it is so everywhere with everybody, a wrong assumption indeed!

Am I really in prison? So your thought now, but why don’t you read on to find out, if not you, may be someone close to you whom you could be of help to after properly digesting the content of this book.

We shall look inwardly to some certain areas which so many are imprisoned and truly needs freedom if willing to be freed as the case may be.

Marriage

Marriage is an institution ordained by God for mutual living together of a man and wife, for companionship and then for procreation.

So many people have missed it right from the start of relationship, for they get involved with just anyone not minding the spiritual background, family or lineage of the person in question (either male or female) which in itself is prison terms – carefree attitude.

If you are a Christian, the life of the person you want to have a relationship (or have) with is very important to be put into consideration for it can make or mar you.

If you have had (in the past) a demon-owned person or having such now connotes imprisonment for you and your future except you find the way out.

If you have had sex with anyone whom you have not married, or you promised marrying but you turned down, you have entered into prison, and if they (female or male) are many, it means you have several prison sentence labeled on you.

Having sex with a person is a bond (because blood is involved), when it’s more, it means your life is bonded to many and the risk is high for you in many areas which could affect your success in life and beyond.

At wedding, there are some items demanded for that could be used as a point of contact into prison life. For instance, there was a particular couple who wedded sometime ago, the bride’s family collected as part of the bride price a she-goat which was not killed but used for another purpose (evil intentions) by someone undisclosed, the bride in question was as a result barren (imprisoned) for almost a decade or thereabout, unknown to the couple, they served this prison term until the man found out and took to his heels after trying several avenues for solution before breaking up. The lady later got pregnant for another man after about two years of separation. It happened because the name of the imprisoned man and woman had separated without the consent of the joiner (family) and they both broke lose, but is that the end of the prison term? No.

In marriage proper, people are in bondage (prison), for they later found out that their spouse was a wrong person they shouldn’t have married in the first instance, an un-teachable person, a pretender, a total stranger, an ungodly person, stingy, wayward among others is the name given to such spouse.

Why all these names, because something got missing in the affairs of the home – trust, understanding, love in place of lust, insincerity, openness, inability to meet up certain standard, non-readiness to adjust or adapt to situations or terms, misplacement of priority etc. It may be on the part of the wife or the husband.

Take for instance, a husband or wife who is insincere to his or her spouse, has put the other person in prison as him or herself because the insincere or unfaithful partner will always be a pain in the neck to his/her spouse, which brings sorrow to the heart of the partner each time he/she remembers acts or events of the insincere partner, the grip of the prison tormentor fasten on such and this can continue for as long as possible until a change is made.

The insincere person is imprisoned for he/she cannot live alone but with the prison tormentor who controls the life of its prisoner thereby causing troubles and sorrow as attending result in the home.

A husband with a nagging wife is imprisoned because every time the spirit of nagging comes upon the wife and she starts, the home will be in shambles, some men will because of this stay late out in other to avoid trouble, but easily enters another prison out there even while trying to escape from one at home. The wife is imprisoned under the influence of nagging spirit (the tormentor).

Couples with wayward children are imprisoned as the children because each time their children go wrong, their hearts gets full of sorrow and there may be regret for having such children or those children carrying negative attitude.

Children whose parents are always quarreling, fighting, cursing are imprisoned as their parents, because each time their imprisoned parents starts, they (the children) are also affected one way or the other and this speaks volume about their lives because they too may take to street or public quarreling, fighting, cursing among others, meanwhile no sane man or woman would want to have anything to do with persons like that.

It is worthy of note that so many people with this kind of life finds themselves in church and even play roles in services but are still very much in prison, at times, their prison life reflects in the way they relate to others just as they do at home consciously or unconsciously.

Some couple don’t laugh at home at all because there is no avenue for such, when it is always fire at home, they either laugh only at church or other places to cool of the tension they carry all around. We can go on and on s it affects marriage, but let us take a look at one man called Mr. Samson.

“Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.

So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.”

Then his father and mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.”

Judges 14:1-3 (NKJV)

Mr. Samson wanted a wife, found one and asked his parents to get her for him – which was the culture. Today many people both male and female just find each other, go ahead to marry each other with or without parental consent which is out rightly against the culture (not even the bible land culture) but our own.

Though Mr. and Mrs. Manoah, Samson’s parents were not in full support, they followed him and on the way, Samson touched the forbidden (as a Nazarite), Samson gave a riddle to his in-laws to be and their people, but they couldn’t solve it. The wife he wanted to marry became a snare for him and he started journey to prison.

“But it came to pass on the seventh day that they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, that he may explain the riddle to us …….”

Judges 14:15 (NKJV)

The wife was under pressure (in prison) by her people who didn’t want Samson to take their daughter and also their other belongings, they threatened to roast her and all her father’s house alive if no solution is gotten. So, she entered into their prison and was controlled by the situation.

“Then Samson’s wife wept on him, and said, “You only hate me! You do not love me! ……..

Now she had wept on him the seven days while their feast lasted. And it happened on the seventh day that he told her, because she pressed him much ….”

Judges 14:16-17 (NKJV)

Somehow, Mr. Samson got himself out of that situation not knowing that he has just started a journey to prison which will cause more havoc.

Because of indiscipline, sometime later, he (Samson) got caught up again, this time around with a harlot who helped increased his jail term.

“Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her.”

Judges 16:1 (NKJV)

The people of Gaza wanted to kill him as they lay wait for him to come out of the hotel in the morning, but managed to escape at midnight.

Mr. Samson, though brave and powerful never saw himself as imprisoned, so he went on with his life like many do today, they don’t or won’t admit to be imprisoned sine and when things are going on for them, hmn - what an error!

The straw that broke the Carmel’s back was the woman called Delilah that Brother Samson fell in love with. Delilah was able to secure prison transfer for Samson, from minimum prison to maximum prison with a devastating end result.

“And the lords of the Philistines came up to her (Delilah) and said to her, “Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him and afflict him: and everyone of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.”

Judges 16:5 (NKJV)

Delilah was already a prisoner helping to imprison another person – collection and giving of bribe is act of imprisonment. She persuaded Samson until he finally let lose his guard on the laps of a tormentor. He (Samson) was taken from abstract prison to real life prison where his eyes were plucked out and he danced before the god of the Philistines and its people – this was a man with an assignment from heaven in the hands of prison tormentors.

He discovered very late that he was imprisoned for a long time, he prayed for an opportunity which he got but with an end with mixed feelings, he died a prisoner though freed inside.

I pray it won’t be too late for you in Jesus’ name (Amen).

David was another better example of a married man who was imprisoned but got to know earlier and retraced his steps.

“So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”

II Samuel 12:13

David discovered and acknowledged that he was already imprisoned and sought way out by asking God for mercy.

“Have mercy upon me, O God.”

“Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God.”

Psalms 51:1, 14a (NKJV)

As you make up your mind to acknowledge your true position as being in prison, the God of heaven will have mercy on you and deliver you from your prison life in Jesus’ name (Amen).

Health

Many today are imprisoned health wise because their state of health is deplorable and down it goes everyday. The body of many has become residence for sickness of various sort which exploits money from them per time, in short some people has a stipulated percentage of their income that goes on hospital bills or regular/routine check ups or prescribed drugs for daily usage as the case may be. Health prison has negate the word of God in the life of many –

“Beloved, I wish above all things that you mayest prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospereth.”

III John 2 (KJV)

Stress, lack of rest, inadequate and imbalanced diet could cause sickness, but outside these, so many people carry about in their bodies’ ailments, they have become carriers of diseases and their bodies cannot glorify God because of weakness that results from bad health.

I had of a man that always fall sick whenever he collects salary, and until when all is expended, he won’t get well, the moment the last kobo is spent, he gets well thereafter and lives normal again. This man in question is imprisoned by sickness (the prison tormentor) who releases him only after all he had laboured for in the month had been wasted. This imprisonment extends to his family because they have to live in lack and agonies each time this happens.

Several women have been afflicted with cancer of the breast and other diseases, they have been put into prison – a life of bondage. So many married women battle with miscarriages, ruptured womb, infertility, delay or barrenness, recurring sickness, stomach problems and so many others. Everyone in this category in imprisoned and it will take discovery and acknowledgement to take steps to get off the hook.

Men are not left out; some also carry about terminal diseases, some stroke, some diabetes among others. Devil uses all form of sickness to incapacitate the bearer, rending them useless and limiting them to its prison alone. Some go about looking healthy but internally they are imprisoned and tormented by sickness.

Let us see one or two examples of health imprisoned persons.

There is a particular woman whose name was not disclosed but was well known as the woman with the issue of blood. When a person is imprisoned, people tend to forget such person’s name and remember his/her situational name, such was the case of this woman.

The thing started like normal monthly period and then became abnormal by refusing to stop and she couldn’t control it, she used sanitary pads which could not curtail the flow, it was known to her household, soon after, on the street where she lived, sooner to everyone in her environs, she had expended her hard earned money from one hospital to another, tried trado-medicals, but all to no avail, people even capitalized on her problems and also duped her all because she was imprisoned, what a terrible world!

“And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any.”

Luke 8:42 (KJV)

There was another man who was lame from his mother’s womb (he is imprisoned right from the womb) and his parents tried all they could in their capacity to liberate him but their effort had no reasonable result and all they could do was to carry him to different spots to beg for money and used the poor boy as a means of getting income. Finally they discovered a place where he could get a regular income – the gate of a church, knowing that church people could be kindhearted considering his condition of lameness (imprisonment).

This guy’s name was not known but popularly known as the lame man. Ironically, the name of his new office is Beautiful gate but his life does not by any means correspond with the office – in other words, he was a prisoner at the palace gate, what a life!

The family brings him to office in the morning and comes later to carry him, he could hardly do anything on his own.

Everything that incapacitates you today shall be incapacitated in the name of Jesus Christ (Amen).

“And a certain man lame form his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple.”

Acts 3:2 (KJV)

This guy only watch people go into the temple (greatness) but he couldn’t, his life was paralyzed.

If you check through the New Testament, you will find something similar to almost all persons imprisoned - “And a certain …..” If you are imprisoned health wise, don’t you think there is something common with these people?

By now, you should be seeing the light of being imprisoned and preparing your mind to be freed.

Every sickness holding you captive (imprisoned) as you read this book, I declare by the blood of Jesus that they release you permanently in the name of Jesus Christ (Amen).

Receive your total healing now in Jesus’ name (Amen).

Finance

People are imprisoned financially and this could be in various ways. By finance, we are looking at the ability to have and use money and other related factors.

Firstly, so many are imprisoned because of the inability to live in financial freedom, i.e. they are either depending on another (like a parasite) or living beyond average. It is imprisonment when one wants to spend an amount of money and could not afford it. Joblessness, unemployment or recurring problems can be a cause of this, where the concerned finds it difficult to live conveniently, such people hardly live from hand to mouth. A person in this kind of situation is in prison and needs freedom.

Some live in debt, may be as a result of problems, lack or living exorbitantly alongside inability to differentiate between wants and needs. Such persons want to have everything they see in another person’s house, wants to put on every latest clothes, shoes, bags, necklace, wristwatch, bangles, etc, even to the extent of buying on credits to be paid for later.

Discontentment also lead people into prison, when you look off yourself and your income to another person’s way of life whom you do not know the source or how well placed than you the person is, you are liable to enter into prison when you start running helter skelter to meet the trend of life that such people live which you cannot afford.

Inability to live within one’s income also makes entrance into prison easy. Many live above their income (what they earn) – the kind of house they live (e.g. a person who is supposed to live in a two-room apartment who chooses to live in two-bedroom flat), though it’s good, but when you consider the amount that comes in with what goes out (i.e. income and expenditure), you will agree with me that such person’s should have cut his coat according to his clothes.

A widow whose husband died of sickness after spending all they had, borrowed from neighbours and even sold some of their valuables in order to revive the life of the man, all efforts were fruitless because the man died eventually. Just some weeks after burial, the debtors came knocking and asking for their money, with plenty of noise, quarrel, pleading among others, some of the debtors gave the woman an option. The option was that if she couldn’t pay up immediately, her children would be taken away to serve as slaves to work for the money borrowed and when they have worked enough to measure up the amount borrowed, they would be released. What an option!

“A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”

II Kings 4:1 (NKJV)

You could imagine what it looks like when one is in financial bondage, it is a mess.

I remembered when I was young, there was a particular day we didn’t have anything to eat and there was no one to help out, my mum needed to sell some things before we could afford to have a meal though not delightful, I wept for our condition then because it was very embarrassing.

So many people find themselves in that stage now, God that brought us out will definitely set you free in Jesus’ name (Amen).

God that delivered the widow and her sons will surely deliver you today as you read this book in Jesus’ name (Amen).

Living in plenty can also lead to imprisonment.

Many who live in plenty have allowed the possession they have to possess, control, direct and dictate their lives. People under the influence of their possession, riches and wealth are imprisoned because they rated those things higher than their creator.

Running after wealth by all means outside God is total imprisonment.

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drowns men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

I Timothy 6:9-10

There was a young man who made it fast in life and he possessed plenty wealth. He believed his wealth could buy him all he wanted, but the day he was to be freed from the prison term he is serving, he was not willing to leave prison, so he walked away from the table of discussion into life time imprisonment. You know what? The guy never returned to take the ticket for freedom and his name was never mentioned.

“The young man said to Him, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?’

Jesus said to him, if you want to be perfect (free from the prison term) go, sell what you have and give to the poor ………

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowfully, for he had great possession.”

Matthew 19:20-22 (NKJV)

The young man felt life was all about himself, so it was hard for him to take decision to be free though he thought he desired freedom. He forgot the advice of Apostle Paul to the rich people –

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches ……..”

I Timothy 6:17

Where do you find yourself under financial imprisonment? You need to take a stand to be out and follow to the in prayers for your financial bondage to be lifted off your shoulders.

Thoughts

Every human being has the ability to think and anyone who does not think will stink. But our thoughts determine who we are and where we are. The mind of man is the thinking room of the body and when polluted or corrupted, the outcome of it will be disastrous.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

Luke 6:46

What you look like is as a result of your thoughts from time to time, and your thought at one time or the other has imprisoned you and make life awkward for you.

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Proverbs 23:7a

Whenever the thought in you is going against God’s will, know for sure that something is wrong and prison gates are flung open if it continues to be like that.

The devil targets the heart/mind of man (male or female) to tamper with by polluting and corrupting the centre of thoughts which if successful enslaves the carrier of such unregenerated minds.

If the thought that fills your mind is one of the following, then you are imprisoned.

- Evil (ungodly by all standards)          Genesis 6:5

- Prideful                                  Daniel 4:29-30

- Treacherous                            Luke 22:47-48

- Lustful                                   II Samuel 13:1-5

- Pull down syndrome               Numbers 22:3-6

- Conspiracy                             Daniel 6:3-7

- Dupe or defrauding                 Genesis 25:29-34, Genesis 27:1-24

- Revenge                                 Genesis 34:25-31

There are people whose mind is full of negative thoughts e.g. someone who keeps thinking of falling sick, falling from a very high place, being hit by a fast moving vehicle among others is imprisoned by such thoughts.

When your thoughts to fellow human being are not of peace, I’m afraid, you are in prison.

There was in heaven a very beautiful angel whose make was about the most expensive and with a great task assigned to the angel called Lucifer, he allowed thoughts to imprison him and activated his thoughts into action which led to his eternal banishment. Let us see what happened:  

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!

For you have said in your heart (thoughts): ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north;

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the most high.

Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol (prison), to the lowest depths of the pit (interior).

Isaiah 14:12-15

Anyone who is full of himself starts from the thoughts like Lucifer did, the letter ‘I’ was used about five times signifying self ambition, self esteem and ego, and such a person is thought imprisoned. It is not that you should not have ambition, but when you are self-centered, it is imprisonment.

“…… not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think ………”

Romans 12:3b

Self-centeredness leads to pride and it results into disgrace.

“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

Galatians 6:3

Are you thought – imprisoned? Then you need to take a bold step after discovering your prison status.

One can be emotionally imprisoned too.

We all have emotions and the emotions can be positively or negatively motivated and used as it may apply.

One thing is certain and that is the fact that what dominate your thoughts definitely robs off on your emotions to take actions as it may be dictated.

Take for example, the man Amnon in II Samuel 13, he was preoccupied in his mind with lustful (in the name of love) thoughts about his half sister Tamar.

The wrong thoughts made him sick, not malaria or any other ailment but he was emotionally sick and the only drug that could heal him was the actualization of his thoughts. He started with undisciplined eyes used in looking at his sister, graduated to his lustful thoughts and convocated into emotional prison. He paid dearly with his life for what he had done.

Jealousy, envy, anger among others are emotional status in every human being, check from Genesis through, you will find that people have these in them, and like I said earlier, we all possess them and mostly uses them negatively to our detriment which puts us in position to be imprisoned knowingly or unknowingly.

That is why Apostle Paul had to refer to them as the work of flesh in Galatians 5:19 ff.

So if your life is characterized by the trio, in the church, group, place of work, home, and other places, be assured you are imprisoned by your untamed emotions. If jealousy and envy had made you planned and executed someone’s or people’s down fall, you are imprisoned by emotions. If yours is anger, and any time you get angry, you have tendency to destroy anything or anyone available, you are imprisoned by your uncontrolled emotion.

If you are fashion crazy, you are imprisoned because you will continue to put what you are crazy about as your top priority and it takes the place of God in your life.

There are some people whose eyes cannot skip any latest clothes, jewelries, bags and accessories to match, they always want to be in vogue, to please themselves, be rated high by others and oppress some as the case may be. If you are in such position, check your life very well, you are imprisoned. How do I know I’m in prison? If there is a particular thing you cannot do or put on fashion wise, which has become a must-do, and if undone or unused makes you feel incomplete, restless and useless, know for sure, this is a clear indication of prison life.

Our sense organs could be medium to imprisonment when and if they are not tamed.

Your eyes when not disciplined will lead you into prison. When what you watch or look at regularly are not things you should give attention to (because they do not edify), they automatically imprison you - for instance watching porn (film or pictures) keeps in mind the image of a man or woman in nude and you know what your thoughts would be like when it starts happening.

Your ears – what you ear more often will form the basis of what you think, if what you give your ears to are music/songs, talk, chat that gratify the flesh and sin instead of glorifying God,  conversations that ruin or wreck lives, these could lead to imprisonment. Like a Yoruba adage which says: “eniyan meta lo npin ninu epe – eniti o se epe, eniti o feti gbo epe ati eniti a se epe fun” (three persons partake in a pronounced curse – the person cursing, the person who hears it, and the person cursed). So when your ears are not attentive to God’s words, they automatically will allow for the other words - imprisonment.

Your mouth (tongue) can be a very quick means of entering into prison. So many people at one time or the other have spoken carelessly to people who they don’t know who exactly they are, some have mocked at elderly or disabled persons, some have abused, criticized or condemn “people of God” based on rumours and uncertain, unresearched and no sufficient evidenced accusations or allegations.

Some have used their tongues to destroy lives, homes, business among others and have been sentenced to prison. Some have spoken falsely using the name of God to dupe and deceive people, such persons are imprisoned. Any one who goes around gossiping others is a prisoner, anyone who goes spreading bad news about others’ problems or fall is a prisoner, anyone who tells lies freely is a prisoner, and they are under the control of the prison tormentor.

An example from the Bible is Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ brother and sister who spoke against him because he married an Ethiopian woman.

“So they said, ‘Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?’ “And the LORD heard it.”

Numbers 12:2

They (Aaron and Miriam) thought they were fighting for God against Moses, but the story was not the same for them as their mouth has led them into prison.

“So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and He departed. And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow.”

Numbers 12:9-10

Leprosy in the spiritual realm is imprisonment and if you have been operating a lose mouth before now, I’m afraid, you are in prison.

Habits also can be a medium to imprisonment.

Anything you like doing and you do it excessively to the fame of Satan is imprisonment.

Smoking, drinking alcoholics, womanizing, cheating in exams, gluttony, laziness, procrastinating, drugs, any type of addictions, all are prison term serving for anyone who is engaged in them, because they are not in control, they are only under control of their habits. Habits are easy to from but difficult to break.

The summation of all talked about here are mediums at which several had entered into prison, and live life in conditions other than that which God planned for them.

I am glad to tell you that God is more than able to set you free, if only you will allow Him to.

It is a matter of choice.

Chapter five (Prison Life in The Palace)

There are different categories of people in the prison with different reasons (causes). In other words, classes of people finds themselves in the prison ranging from the rich to the poor, the famous to the unknown, males to females, the learned to the illiterate, even Christians to non-Christians. So prison is a place that accommodates people from all works of life not having regards for their status or background.

This also applies in the spiritual prison, where many who professed to be Christians are enslaved despite the life of freedom that has been purchased with the blood of Jesus, such persons claim to be free but in the actual sense, they are not based on the type of life they live.

Many are imprisoned by the unforgiving spirit that rules their lives, though they are Christians but they refused to follow the instruction of the master which makes it difficult for them to live in total freedom as they ought to do as children.

This is prison life in the palace – people who keep others’ offences for as long as they live shows clearly that they live physically in the palace but spiritually in the prison.

Many Christians are in this situation, even ministers are not left out – pastor against pastor, pastor against church member, church member against each other, senior pastor against associate or assistant pastor among others in the Christendom may be by carefree attitude or overlooking it as a minor thing that could be corrected later on. So many are waiting for the ones who wronged them to come and apologize or plead for forgiveness before the offended releases them from their hearts – this is imprisonment.

Take for instance, some one you didn’t know from time wronged you, may be at a function, supermarket, eatery, in the public vehicle or just anywhere knowingly or unknowingly and you decide to keep the person’s wrong at heart for as long as you could, you keep the hurt and get angry all the time you see the person even when he or she has forgotten and cannot really remember doing anything or having anything with you, you have succeeded in imprisoning yourself. However, each time you recite the prayer model in Matthew 6: 12 (NKJV), you keep yourself perpetually in the prison.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Debts here mean sins, offense, wrongs and even negative acts. Whenever you recite this verse, you are making a profession of who you are not and the more you do, the more you increase God’s wrath and prison term.

No matter what anyone might have done to hurt or even inflict a wound on you, as Christian, Jesus expects you to release the person from the bottom of your heart by forgiving them (him/her) wholeheartedly, and by doing this, you free your heart from continual hurt, sorrow and grief you incur every time you see the person who wronged you.

See what Jesus said –

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your father will not forgive your sins.”

Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)

You know what – a person you refuse to forgive will always be a cog on the wheel of your progress because each time you set your eyes on such, your mood will change, and you will relive the events and find yourself in a state you didn’t plan for that moment.

If you attend the same church or fellowship or place of work, each time you cite the person, whatever you are doing comes to a halt or disorganized, this is certainly a sign of being prison.

If you are praying or the person is ministering, you become shut out outrightly because of the person whom you refused to forgive and let go – this is imprisonment.

Disciple Peter asked Teacher Jesus sometime about how many times he should forgive a brother who wronged him and Jesus told him seventy times seven. Then he told him a story of a master and two servants. The particular servant owed his master a large some of money and when he couldn’t pay, the master commanded he be sold alongside his wife and children, and the proceed will cover for the debt he owed. The debtor (sinner) fell at his master’s feet, pleaded for more time to run around to get the money so as to pay up, but on the other hand the master had compassion on him, instructed to release him and finally and totally forgave and forgo his debt.

The servant stepped out rejoicing and returning back home, on his way he met a fellow servant whom they serve together, who was owing him just a tenth of what he has just being forgiven by their master. His fellow servant fell to the ground, held his feet and pleaded for the time to pay up but this servant bluntly refused, instead he threw the fellow servant into prison until he was able to pay. How on earth does he expect this man to pay what he owed inside the prison? What a wicked world!

Some people saw what happened and reported it to their master, the master summoned him to ask why he did that and couldn’t have pity on his fellow man like he was pitied and pardoned.

“In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Matthew 18:34-35 (NIV)

So far, you can see for yourself that every unforgiven issues you keep in your heart makes you end up with the jailers (prison) to be tortured.

Fear is another source through which many are put into prison.

Fear is a faithful companion in a world filled with broken people, many of whom live at the mercy of their fears.

If fear rules your heart instead of peace, you are imprisoned. Fear is a spirit and one of the devil’s weapons of war. The moment fear sets in, failure, troubles and other evil thoughts take control of the victim.

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear.”

Romans 8:15a (NKJV)

Fear is a killer spirit that leads to several illnesses and it incapacitates the victim.

People fear so many things around and within them, some of the fears include:

Fear of death: no one wants to die even at a ripe age, may be because of the ‘enjoyment’ or ‘luxury’ they possess, or the fear of where they will find themselves after the scenario, meanwhile no one can escape death because it is a way to eternity. Though Jesus said some will not taste death until the coming again of the son of God.

Fear of suffering: no one wants to suffer no matter how little, so the fear of suffering grips the persons who are stared at the face with such.

Fear of shame: shame is a result of disgrace and people are always afraid of disgrace and its attending result which may not be wiped away from the memories of people who witness such and it thereby become a stigma.

Fear of rejection: to be rejected is to be referred to being an outcast or forsaken, may be within a family, church, association, town or environment. When one does not have what it takes or is not wanted for envy sake, there may be rejection. Anyone who is rejected finds it difficult to associate.

Fear of failure: failure is not final, it is just a sign of weakness and need for improvement and be more focused but so many are afraid of failure.

Fear of change: change is inevitable but many want to remain who, what and how they are, and thereby raising obstacle against change. Often such people want things of people around to change but they themselves wants to remain unchanged, so the mention of change creates fear into them.

Fear of success: as failure poses fear (threats) so also does success, if the person(s) cannot handle it when it comes, it becomes a dreadful thing instead of a joyous thing it should be.

Which of these fears have imprisoned you?

You know better now and you can prepare your mind to be free. Fear is a sinker, it can sink anyone who allows it to do so.

Peter saw Jesus walking on the sea, he asked if he could come along and Jesus commanded him to, but what happened quite soon?

“But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out.”

Matthew 14:30 (NKJV)

You too have to cry out today so as to be loosed from your tormentor (the spirit of fear) that imprisons you.

So many religious sect today also imprison their members attitudinal, doctrinal, liturgical and otherwise thereby making people become enslaved under the authorities of the leaders who remote controlled the lives of people who had left the worship of the supreme God for the ‘men of God’ who are tormentors in the spiritual realm.

Some religious centers are prison yards where people’s lives become miserable instead of being pleasant. Can you imagine churches which by the means of spirituality have enslave their members through visions and prophesy, one of which has not come to pass but instead becoming more miserable.

Devil cannot release who is being tied by the evil ones because they work for him, if he does, it means the house is divided against itself. So if a person with a problem or sickness inflicted by the evil world runs to herbalist or fake men of God (devil’s ministers in suits and garments), they would only add more to the person’s predicament, it is like going to them with twenty percent troubles hoping to get relief or come back as a free person but discovers the percentage has increase from twenty to about seventy-eighty.

What a world of imprisonment!

There is a need for everyone to look inwardly and be ready to take a bold step to get freedom. God help you to gain freedom from your prison in Jesus’ name (Amen).

Chapter six (After Here)

It is important to take note and ask a rhetorical question of “where after here?”

Irrespective of whatever one have or have not enjoyed while living either as a free man or an imprisoned inmate, the journey does not end here. Here is timed while where after here is timeless (eternal).

Every man has a life span that has an expiry date at which we would return to account for how we have lived for or against our creator. Some have gone to the great beyond; they can not make amends like you who still have the opportunity now which may not be there the next moment.

Where are they now? I mean those who have passed on. They have started the final lapse of the journey to eternity.

Which of the eternity have they gone to or where are they right now. As it concerns our subject of discourse, we want to take a look at the prison beyond.

Of what benefit will it be if a man never enjoyed freedom here on earth and eventually will not enjoy freedom after here.

Does it really worth it at all despite all the effort and light shone to such persons through Christ and his ministers.

Life in hell

Every one who does not accept Jesus as the son of God is in prison while alive because the devil has blindfolded such from seeing the light and the priceless gift of life (salvation and redemption) that Jesus gave to all mankind.

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God.

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

John 3:18-19 (NKJV)

Everyone who lives in darkness is imprisoned and there is no how that light will not reveal what darkness covers.

When a person dies, it shows that the here has expired and the here after takes over. Before the judgment proper, the souls that died without Christ (who were already imprisoned here will be kept in another prison before appearing for judgment.

Like in a civil society, when a person commits a crime or suspected to have committed a crime, he/she first get arrested and detained at the police station before the law enforcement people charge such to court. Such a person is kept at the police custody (inside cell) or in prison until the court finally decides on the case. If found guilty of the crime based on the evidences made available, the now accused person is sentenced to prison for the remaining period of the life.

So it is when a person dies without Christ, he/she had been imprisoned and when he or she becomes late, they are kept in hell for tormenting until the final judgment is executed on the inmates as stipulated.

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them, and they were judged every man according their works.”

Revelation 20:13 (KJV)

How do think life in hell will look like?

Every one who refuses to live for Christ will spend life in hell and then get judgment actualized on them. If all mentioned earlier is found in your life, you are in prison and could be transferred from one prison to another when you are not free yet. The only thing that could save you from been moved from one prison yard to another is when you are released and pronounced a free citizen, for without this, hell is bound.

Not only unbelievers will be in hell (prison) but also every one who says I am a Christian but has or live a life of imprisonment.

“So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

And being in torments in Hades (hell), he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom.”

Luke 16:22-23 (NKJV)

A critical look at this passage shows that both Lazarus and the rich man where imprisoned on earth. How? Lazarus was imprisoned by sickness and poverty, for he could not live a healthy life and as a result took to begging. The rich man also was imprisoned by his riches for the wealth was in the control seat of his life. He could have taken Lazarus (his regular visitor and neighbour) to the hospital and pay the bills so that he can be healthy and thereafter start him off with a small business center so he could live by himself and stop begging, but he chose not to do so, instead the ego of being a rich man made him delighted in seeing Lazarus the way he was, picking crumbles from his table and even dogs licking the wounds on him.

What a selfish world!

One thing is common and that is imprisonment but with a difference. Lazarus, before he died recognized his need for freedom out of the prison life he was living and he got the desired freedom. The rich man on the other hand never saw himself as being imprisoned because he could walk, eat, do anything freely in contrast to poor and miserable Lazarus, so he never saw the need to desire freedom.

Suddenly, death came and the two died, may be at different time but by one messenger – death. Then the reality of the freedom and imprisonment came into play among the two principal actors. Remember, Lazarus got freed before death so he found himself in the bosom of Abraham before the final judgment is passed having a nice time. The rich man who enjoyed life and never realized he was imprisoned found himself in hell, the waiting place of torment for those prisoners who didn’t get freedom before they died and thereby had a move (transfer) from one prison (earthly) to another (spiritual) for further torture before the judgment is finally passed.

Let’s hear the comment of the imprisoned rich man –

“Then he cried and said, ‘father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”

Luke 16:24

Anyone who does not live freely before death irrespective of the title or post the person bears, will find himself in this said flame (Hades) where the tormentor will have the last opportunity to deal mercilessly with the people he had succeeded in deceiving with worldly things and sins so as to go against God and be blindfolded from seeing reasons to be free, even when preached to, they bullshit the preacher and ask who the Jesus they preached is.

What a pity!

No wonder, Jesus said

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”

John 10:10a

Satan is the chief tormentor who comes to manifest his three fold ministry works in the life of careless, carefree, disobedient and wayward citizens. The first thing he does is to steal – taking away liberty and replacing with prison life as had been discussed from the beginning, and if he is able to keep a person in prison and never released, he goes ahead to carry out his second ministry assignment of killing the prisoner, making it easy to transfer the soul into hell (the higher prison) where there wouldn’t be turning back or any attempt for freedom except Jesus has to die again and spend some days down there which is not going to be so. The third assignment covers the prisoners, their tormentors and the chief tormentor.

This will come to be after the White Throne Judgment recorded in Revelation 20:11-12.

“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations of the earth ………

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophets are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Revelation 20:7-8a (NKJV)

The agents of Satan, death and hell will release their captives to receive their final judgment and then get the eternal sentence (final of finals).

What will be the sentence?

“And anyone not (whose name) found written in the Book of Life was (to be) cast into the lake of fire.”

Revelation 20:15 (emphasis mine)

Thereafter the last part of the assignment - destruction sets in as the devil alongside his agents will also be cast into the lake of fire –

“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.”

Revelation 20:14 (NIV)

The second death is eternal damnation where no one who partakes therein can enjoy anything than torment, weeping and gnashing of teeth for ever.

-         Will it not be enough to suffer here on earth and acquire freedom like Lazarus did?

-         Don’t you think you should break off from living a prison life when there is a better choice?

-         Would you not prefer to be in control instead of being controlled?

-         Do you want to get to the beyond before you know and accept the truth as true?

-         For how long do you want to keep postponing the decision about your freedom?

-         Are you aware that the freedom you refuse to get now will not be gotten after death?

-         Do you think the tormentor will want to release you just like that?

‘The kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force.’

You need to take your stand and make the right choice for freedom and nothing less.

Chapter seven (Way out of prison)

There are three levels of prison so far discussed –

-         Prison in life

-         Prison after life

-         Prison eternal

So many had being from one level to the other and don’t have the grace (opportunity) to be freed again because Jesus will not die again, but for every one who is still living but imprisoned i.e. still at the first level, has the opportunity and time to get freedom and again live in liberty.

There is only one way out of imprisonment and that one way is Jesus Christ, who by himself announced –

“…. I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 (NIV)

For further emphasis, Jesus said –

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32 (NIV)

Only the truth will open your eyes and remove the veil that has covered your eyes of understanding for long to remain in prison and think it’s a normal life you are living. When the truth through any medium comes to you (like this book in your hand), you have to accept the truth as true, seeing yourself in the light of God’s word, then the truth points you to the way of freedom where life is abundant (outside prison).

Remember, that in prison, prisoners cannot change their wears like free people, cannot eat what they feel like eating at the time they wanted it, they are restricted to certain things and at times deprived of information. Satan uses ignorance to bastardize the psyche of many to think what they do is right when it is actually not.

If of a truth God is our creator, then there is no hiding place, as there is no ignorance in the court of law. That is why we are surrounded by information of freedom from all indication through numerous mediums – radio, television, books, movies, songs, internet among others.

The Bible called all these avenues ‘cloud of witnesses’ and with these in place sharing the details of His kingdom.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)

Jesus is the way out of imprisonment.

“Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of the righteous be delivered?”

Isaiah 40:24 (NKJV)

He (Jesus) purposely came to set free the captives (prisoners) whom the devil had tormented long enough.

Jesus emphatically announced his mission of setting free all captives, whatever they may have been under knowing the way to tackle the tormentors.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Luke 4:18 (NIV)

If this was his mission statement and has fulfilled his part, then you are left with your part of submission to him for the salvation (freedom) of your life which he had paid for.

“You were bought at a price.”

I Corinthians 6:20a (NIV)

Jesus feels your burden even before you decide to follow him and had given all you need, but except you know that someone is capable of releasing you (which he had done) and you are only left to agree with him to lead you out to freedom.

“As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.”

Zechariah 9:11 (NIV)

The blood shed at Calvary was the price paid for you to be free. That same blood was the blood of the New Covenant (New Testament) which God keeps remembering each time His children cry to Him.

The purpose of this book in your hand is to help you get the light of where you are and where you are going with a choice to either accept or reject the admonition given. The mandate to write this book is given in Isaiah 49:9a

“Say to the captives, ‘Come out’, and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ (NIV)

Let’s see together Jesus in action in the life of Apostle Peter in prison. Though Peter’s imprisonment was for the gospel sake, but Jesus can still do more now than then if you really want to be free.

“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers, and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.

Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison, and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up saying, ‘Arise quickly!’ And his chains fell off his hands.”

Acts 12:5-7 (NKJV)

If you read further to verse 11, you know what the rest of the story was. If only you will consent, the Lord Jesus will visit you in your prison in the name of Jesus.

When Jesus came into the scene, the first thing he did was to make light shine over the darkness of the prison room.

The light of heaven will find you out and make darkness of no relevance in your life in Jesus’ name.

Jesus (as known by scholars as the angel of the Lord) struck Peter to wake him up from his slumber and hopelessness (because he has seen Herod kill James and nothing happened) so he would have felt that will be the end for him too, but Jesus said no, because Peter has not completed his assignment, as he (Peter) stood up, the chains fell off from his hands.

As you look inwardly on your hopelessness in the areas of imprisonment in your life, Jesus will strike you right now and all your chains will have no choice but to fall off and break into pieces in Jesus’ name.

Jesus gave peter instructions and he followed them matching through the first, second and the iron gate that seems insurmountable, the prison gates opened by themselves and Peter was out in the free.

All you need to do is to be ready to follow Christ’s instructions as Peter did, and you know what, like a dream Jesus will bring you out, but remember, obedience matters.

If Peter, instead of following instructions to detail was busy asking questions e.g. where are you taking me to, supposing these soldiers and guards wakes up, what if the doors make noise, what if Herod discovers and instruct that I be beheaded anywhere his men finds me? These are the questions you might be asking too, but he who has come to deliver you is stronger than your tormentor, and when you invite him to come set you free, you need not query him again but obey to the latter of all instructions he gives.

There was no record that Peter was taking back to that prison, so once you are made free by Jesus, no one but you can take you back there.

Jesus said –

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

John 8:36 (NKJV)

Getting out of your prison

Ask yourself these questions:

What secrets or lies am I allowing to hold me captive?

How could God use my story for His glory?

Am I willing to share my experiences and failures for the transformation power of Christ to be seen by others?

Let us share from this sister’s testimony from her prison experience and how she got rescued.

I remember the phone call to my college boyfriend. Through sobs, I managed to tell him I was pregnant. There was a long pause on the other end of the phone ... and then came the speed round of questions and comments: "What are we going to do? Do you think we should get married? Oh, my gosh ... Oh, my gosh ... what are we going to do? Do you want to have this baby? What are we going to do? What about volleyball? What will your parents say? What will my parents say?

Oh, my gosh!"

Like trapped animals, we were frantically looking for a way out. Then we made our decision. We would take care of it. It wasn't time for us to have a baby yet.

God wasn't consulted. He (God) wasn't invited into our decision.
 

Adam and Eve hid in the garden after eating the forbidden fruit. My boyfriend and I hid from God and did what we considered to be our only option. We made a plan. He would pick me up and take me to a clinic.

When the day came, we drove in icy silence. I was dumb founded. No one was going to break through the emotional walls I had constructed for protection.
You see there was never a moment that I believed having an abortion was the right thing to do. I only stubbornly and naively believed that my choice was the only ladder to grab out of the horrible pit I had dug for myself.  

I was wrong.  Dead wrong.
 

There, in the sterile room of that stale clinic, I used an alias. I wasn't Gwen. My charts did not say that I was Gwen, the girl who was raised by good parents, the girl who was raised in the Word of God to know right from wrong. The counselor I had met with said that using my name could have made me feel uncomfortable with the "harmless and legal procedure" I was having done that day.

Nobody else needed to know. I was anonymous.

It was my secret. A secret of chains that bound me in silence for the ensuing fifteen years - a secret kept because I mistakenly assumed that no one else could handle the ugly truth of my sinfulness with grace and forgiveness. I was a Christian girl. Christians don't get pregnant when they aren't married, and Christians don't have abortions, right? It was all too scandalous, and I was crazy afraid of the consequences.

Most of that day was a blur. It was a dark, cold January day. Though the clinic was lit with bright fluorescent lights, the flame of dignity and hope in my heart had grown dim. I blocked out all the voices in my head as they contested what I was doing. I was desperate and scared.

For weeks following my abortion, I went through each day under a dark cloud of despair. I couldn't reconcile what I had done with who I was, and who I was supposed to be. My heart was broken. I felt hopeless and was horribly ashamed. I hated what I had done, and I hated myself for doing it. I was responsible for the death of my baby. It was my fault. I knew it, and it haunted me. 

Voices of accusation used to scream in my head. They shouted things like: Murderer! Baby killer! Hypocrite! You can never tell a soul about this! Condemnation kept me shackled. Without realizing it, I was a captive to my own acceptance of those words. I was guilty. A wretch. No excuses. My heart was paralyzed by death. Words just can't express the depth of anguish my soul experienced.

The dark days turned into weeks, which turned into months. Although I could turn on the fake charm like water from a faucet ... oh, how my plastic smile served me well in those days ... I was dying inside! At night, my pillow soaked up rivers of tears. I would lie awake, wondering if my baby was a boy or girl, or if my baby had felt any pain as she was being sucked from my body.

I wept. I wept for both my baby and for myself. It was necessary. It felt right to cry. And though the tears helped my soul grieve, none were as healing as the ones I cried to Jesus when I finally turned back to Him.

Like Peter after the rooster crowed, I wept bitterly at the feet of Jesus in raw repentance. Then, as the psalmist did, I "waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God" (Psalm 40:1-3). Although I didn't deserve His mercy, Jesus forgave me. My forgiveness was immediate and complete, but the healing took time. He gave me a new song.

Hallelujah! I've been forgiven and transformed by the unconditional love of God. I was dead in my sins, but am now alive in Christ! I am free and it is my privilege to encourage you towards that same freedom in Christ. God longs for you to experience His perfect healing and hope too - no matter what you've done, no matter where you have been, no matter what has left you broken. (Culled from GIG devotional)

I believe you would want to take this same bold step if you know that you are tired of your prison life, and now knowing that if you fail to do so now and death comes, that moves you into prison after life where there wouldn’t be opportunity for freedom any longer, which final of finals will be prison eternal.

Why don’t you just take a step like the blind Bartimaeus and cry to him –

“Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me”

Mark 10:47 (emphasis mine)

He is more than able to set you free, just to trust and obey.

“Heavenly father, I have seen myself in the light of your word and saw the need for total dependence on you to take me out of this imprisonment. Lord Jesus Christ, come to my rescue, I am powerless but I believe in your own words that says, ‘if the Son set me free, I shall be free indeed’, I am ready, pay me a visit in my prison room, illuminate my darkness and lead me out of the prison yard. Have mercy on me, don’t let me die in this situation so as not to waste away in after life and eternally.

This I ask in the name of Jesus Christ (Amen).

You can go on fasting and prayer, and meet men of God to intercede on your behalf.

You shall laugh last in Jesus’ name (Amen).

Chapter 8 (LIFE OUT OF PRISON)

There is nothing that is strange that has not happened before except there are no records of such but somewhere someone will remember that similar event.

In essence, we have heard about Joseph who for his dreams and the envious nature of his brothers cast him into the pit, thinking of what to do to him to kill his dreams. Sooner, traders were passing by the pit, so instead of killing they resolved to selling. Joseph was resold again to Portiphar who at least gave him some respect alongside the responsibility he gave him. From Portiphar’s house, he (Joseph) landed in prison without fair trial and with all these, he kept focused and after the appointed prison term expiration, he was sent for from the palace and he became a solution to the nation’s problem.

You will become a solution to problems in Jesus’ name.

What am I driving at? The king sent to fetch Joseph out of the prison of life he was kept so that he would not be transferred to prison after life like the chief baker of king Pharaoh.

Wherever you have being hidden, the Lord will fetch you out and rekindle the fire of freedom in you once again in Jesus’ name (Amen).

The prison experience brings about poverty, punishment, panic, problems, partiality, prejudice among others.

Outside the prison where tormentors have no say in ones life if really free indeed, there we ball comfort zone.

Joseph left behind him the life of sufferings and sorrow and entered into the comfort zone where things are far better than where he was coming from.

Where you are going is far better than where you are coming from because the master of freedom himself will rule your heart with his peace and you will enjoy the palace life like never before.

Preservation: God is willing and ready to preserve you from all destructive agents set against your destiny of fulfilling God’s purpose. From the moment you give him the total control of your life, his covenant is for you and he is ready to take you up and keep you.

“Thus says the Lord: in an acceptable time I have heard you. I will preserve you and give you as a covenant to the people.”

Isaiah 49:8a (NKJV)

God is able to preserve anyone who runs to him and hide under his wings.

“The LORD shall preserve you from all evil (tormentors); He shall preserve your soul.”

Psalm 121:7 (NKJV)

Possession: Joseph entered Egypt as a slave, entered the palace as a prisoner without substance, but life changed out of prison. He got possessions more than enough to even give to others.

“By your patience possess your souls.”

Luke 21:19 (NKJV)

The greatest possession you can possess is freedom for your soul which is most important because if a man’s soul is imprisoned, no matter what he has, it is tantamount to waste.

“Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul.”

Matthew 16:26b

So, when your soul is possessed, then all other things (possessions) shall be added to you, all because you have been delivered.

“But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance. And there shall be holiness. The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.”

Obadiah 1:17

Provision: God is the provider as well as the provision for His children because He will never let them wander away in lack and hunger. King David knew this and he boldly proclaimed –

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” because before he needs, the Lord has made available. We all can enjoy this benefit if we choose to make Him our shepherd and follow Him uncompromisingly.

“They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat or sun shall strike them, for He who has mercy on then will lead them, even by the springs of waters He will guide them.”

Isaiah 49:10

The widow in II Kings 4 was in trouble but God came to her rescue by providing the way out, don’t be dismayed , at the verge of it when you least expected, God will rise for you.

“My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

Psalm 121:2

He is more than able to do it, if He could bring you out of the prison, He can sustain you outside the prison especially in the comfort zone.

Promotion: God gives promotion to whoever He wills and no one can query. Promotion means elevation from one level to another alongside benefits attached. God does not promote without attached benefits.

Abram had come out of prison to become Abraham and promotion came from all spheres. From a descendant to an ancestor, from wandering to land owner, from childlessness to becoming father of multitude and so on. What can God not do?

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

T he power of freedom brings promotion after problems and triumph after trial.

I see the Lord promoting you as you step out of your prison room in Jesus’ name (amen).

Peter was imprisoned by fear in so many instances e.g. walking on the sea, denying Jesus at the point of death, leading others to go back to fishing after the death of Jesus among others but when the power of freedom came, he was liberated and promoted as he stood to address the multitude who came to Jerusalem for Pentecost.

“Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd; ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.”

Acts 2:14

You may look ordinary to people but because you have chosen to be with Jesus, you will do extraordinary things that people will marvel at in the name of Jesus.

Praise: Apart from praising God for taking you out of prison to become a free born, He also wants to make you praise to Him i.e. your life becoming the praise of God – meaning that when people look at you now and look back to you then (living prison life), they would be left with no choice but to praise God for your life and in your life for the things He is doing in you.

“I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the people.”

Psalm 108:3 (NIV)

In the sure comfort zone, you can not but keep praising God because of His faithfulness and enduring mercies. If He is bringing you out of the prison, then it is to the arena of praise. Hallelujah!

God is decongesting the prison yards so that more people can come to the place of praise, declaring the liberating ability of the Most High God.

“……. that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

I Peter 2:9b (NIV)

What else can you give the God who delivered you from the snares of the fowlers – if not all round and all through praise.

Passion: As a free person, you are expected to be full of passion for the service of the God who set you free and gave you life to live. You (in the enabling environment in which you are now) are expected to love God passionately and give your totality to him in service and worship.

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”

John 4:23 (KJV)

Why He saved and delivered you from the evil police and prison tormentor is because he seeks you to be one of his true worshippers here on earth and to be part in heaven too when you finally leave here.

If God is passionate about you, then reciprocate by being passionate about God too. You should also have a passionate heart for others who are still in prison for you might be one of the vessels God is going to use to bring others out.

Protection: there is only one sure protection and it can be found in the sure comfort zone where God is ruler, who jealously guide and guard all that are his’ from all antagonizing forces. To be protected, then give all your all into God’s care. When God delivers from the prison, He surely places the delivered in a secure place. God hides you in his name, the most insured and assured name in heaven on earth.

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

Proverbs 18:10 (KJV)

So whoever that runs into that name seeks refuge in Him and no one can tamper with people in the camp of God.

As a protected person, you are engraved into the palms of God, meaning that at all time he keeps you safe.

“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”

Isaiah 49:16 (KJV)

I can gladly announce to you that there is no cause for alarm, if you stay where He keeps you and do what He asks of you.

Prison life can never be the best for me, but life of freedom in Christ Jesus.

“This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:11b

The reality of his coming back is certain, so remain in freedom till his coming.

Your Friend,

'Wale D. Adekanye

The Mouth Piece of God