Prisoner of Hope

What do you see?

I want to challenge your perspective. What do you see?

I woke up one morning and saw darkness all around. And then a glimmer of light flickered before me. I could make out the edges glistening off the Iron. I then zoomed out and saw the bars, and the door was closed. In the cell I was contained. I felt the oppression of captivity, confinement, no way of escape.

Then the word “if the Son has set you free you are free indeed”. “Be released, you are free.”

Then I looked down and what did I see? A key! In fact, many keys!

I then walked to the door opened it and then unlocked the prison doors of many.

Why is it we feel contained, and confined when our purpose is to bring freedom!

It is natural to feel hopeless when shackled and confined and restrained and limited!

A prisoner of hope

BUT, If I am in prison I am a prisoner of Hope!

Zechariah 9:12 Return to the stronghold [of security and prosperity], you prisoners of hope; even today do I declare that I will restore double your former prosperity to you.

I hope in the God of the promise, of the God who restores, of the God of the double portion.

I’ve felt imprisoned and felt the fear, but I choose to worship, I hope in the God of the breakthrough. Who broke through the prison Doors that held Paul and Silas. When God moved the earth shook and shattered their confinement, but they were not harmed nor any held captive. For this is the God who has come to free the captive.

Isaiah 61:1 ​THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,

But note that when the prison door was opened, something even more extraordinary happened. Paul said to the captor. “Do not be afraid we are still here!” What the heck!

This was so that the purpose and power of Grace could be revealed and the captor set free!

Contained so as to burst forth

So if we are contained, it is so He might burst forth, that he might break the yoke of oppression! Read this passage 2 Chronicles 28: 7-15.

Wow can you feel the temperature rising, it is the fire of God, it is the pressure of fermentation, the straining against the boundaries! Pop the cork, burst forth in celebration! Praise be to God!!!!