One evening at the jail I discovered the prisoners in the women’s unit were in lockdown because of disorderly conduct. Those wanting a Bible study would not be permitted out of their cells.
So I asked the guard if I might speak to all of them while they were inside their cells. She turned on their speakers and asked if anyone was interested in learning about Jesus. We quickly heard two YES responses from each cell!
There were 12 upper cells and 12 lower cells, each with two inmates. Each cell had a steel door with a small window. Faces appeared at every window while I stood in the middle of the day room and introduced myself. Then I introduced Jesus Christ.
I explained that He loves each of them very much. “There is nothing you have ever done that God does not want to forgive. That is why Jesus came—to live a sinless life so that He could become the perfect sacrifice to pay for the sins of the world. When He hung on the cross, your sins and mine were poured into Him. Three days later He arose from the dead proving His deity and showing us He lives again—and so can we. Today each one of us can receive forgiveness for our sins so that someday we can freely enter heaven.”
I told them about the two roads in life from Matthew 7:13-14. “We’re all on that wide road that leads to destruction because we are all sinners. We all need a Savior and there’s only One.
“When we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, it is more than a prayer. We must be willing to turn away from our sins. We must be willing to get off the wide road and get onto the narrow road and follow Jesus. There must be change or it’s not real.
“Yet we are powerless to change and turn away from our sin without the Holy Spirit. When we surrender our lives to Christ, that is when we receive the Holy Spirit who then supplies us with the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. All followers of Jesus have the power to turn away from sin. Why is that? It’s because ALL followers of Jesus have the fruit of the spirit available to them, they just need to exercise it.”
When I finished the presentation I gave them an invitation to get off the wide road of sin and get on the narrow road to follow Jesus. What a thrill for me to hear the voices of many women on both the upper and lower levels pray aloud to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ.
A few months later I was meeting with a group of prisoners when one said, “Wait! I recognize your voice! Awhile back someone talked to all the women in their cells. It was you! I gave my life to Jesus that night. You talked about getting off the wide road and getting on the narrow road; that there had to be change if it was real. I can tell you now that Jesus IS real! He has changed my life! Thank you for coming.”
Her sweet testimony made me teary-eyed. “Thank You precious Jesus for allowing me to serve You in this way. I too know You are real. Thank You for changing my life. Thank You for changing hers.”
- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
- Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14
- SONG: Only One Life – Author C.T. Studd, circa 1900; Music by Kathleen
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[This life is temporary. This life is short. When this life is over, our bodies will die and become empty shells, but our souls will continue to live forever. Where will the “real you” live? Will you live for all eternity separated from God? Or will you spend eternity in the presence of God in heaven? Learn more so you can make your most important decision: http://www.whoisjesus-really.com/
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It is always so fantastic, so amazing and wonderful to see how the Lord works thru you and uses you in so many peoples’ lives. God bless you.
Thank you Florence. Truly it is HE that has given me the desire, the boldness and the words.
Well done, good and faithful servant. A great encouragement for BELIEVERS to be spiritually minded to SHARE the gospel of Christ Jesus with all who we come in contact with. I certainly don’t want “the very stones” crying out instead of me!
Thank you Mel. Indeed, that is my deepest desire in serving Christ, that someday He might say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Oh Kathleen, I cried when I read this! How wonderful that you didn’t just throw up your hands and say, “Well, guess there will be no Bible study since they are on lockdown!” Instead you asked, and you received! Wow! All those women heard the Gospel that day! I am praying now that the evil one does not snatch away the seeds that were planted. I am so glad you were led of the Spirit to tell them that it’s not just about saying a prayer, but that their life should reflect a changed heart. I rejoice with you that God gave you the words to say, and the boldness to say them. God is so good!
You know what Linda? I cried too when I saw what God gave me the ability to do! All power and glory to HIM.
There is joy in heaven when a soul is rescued from death.
Absolutely! And this must be our life goal to rescue as many as want to be rescued.
Sending love through tears. How our Father must smile because of your faithfulness to minister His love. Praising God for souls saved.
Amen Liana! All glory to God!
Jesus-Yeshua Christ is KING of kings and LORD of lords, HE is the ALPHA and OMEGA!!
Doing our LORDS WORKS and HIS Holy Bible WORDS, spreading HIS is what HE wants!!
May our ONE TRUE GOD THE FATHER who art in Heaven Above Bless all my Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus-Yeshua and Your Families and Friends!!
Love Always and Shalom ( Peace ) Everyone, YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann
Thank you, Kristi Ann! Indeed, Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Praise Him!
Oh! What an encouraging post!! Praise God for His free gift of Salvation and for your willingness to be an ambassador for Jesus at the prison. My son is a prison guard and what he sees and experiences is more than what I imagined. It’s a very disturbing place to be. Yet you appear as an angel of light to these women who now have professed Jesus. Praise God for His work through you.
Thank you, Karen! I pray that your son will have opportunities to be used by God among those needy inmates he’s with daily.