It is interesting to me how the spiritual climate of the Christian community here at the prison often appears to fluctuate from week to week...
On July 8th I wrote about last Sunday's service and how we had more than the usual number of men in attendance. Well yesterday we had another good turnout, but the atmosphere was much different. There seemed to be a heaviness in the air. At the start of the service, when I began to lead the congregation in prayer, it felt as if a force was pressing against me. It was a struggle to pray, and the short message of exhortation I gave afterwards, was equally as difficult to deliver.
I recognized this as spiritual warfare. Something had set itself against me, and things like this happen often enough. Otherwise, our time of worship went well. The choir was sharp, and our visiting preacher gave a good sermon about being "justified" by faith in Jesus Christ.
For my short exhortation, however, I did tell the men that God's heart grieves when we are stubbornly living in sin, and are ignorantly destroying our lives in the process. But I also reminded them that, in the Bible, Jesus told the religious rulers of His day that "prostitutes, thieves and outcasts," were getting into heaven ahead of them because these people heard the Word of God and repented of their sins, while the proud and self-righteous folks would not admit to their sins.
I then added that God has now brought salvation to us because we, like the outcasts and thieves, long for forgiveness and restoration.
D.B.
I recognized this as spiritual warfare. Something had set itself against me, and things like this happen often enough. Otherwise, our time of worship went well. The choir was sharp, and our visiting preacher gave a good sermon about being "justified" by faith in Jesus Christ.
For my short exhortation, however, I did tell the men that God's heart grieves when we are stubbornly living in sin, and are ignorantly destroying our lives in the process. But I also reminded them that, in the Bible, Jesus told the religious rulers of His day that "prostitutes, thieves and outcasts," were getting into heaven ahead of them because these people heard the Word of God and repented of their sins, while the proud and self-righteous folks would not admit to their sins.
I then added that God has now brought salvation to us because we, like the outcasts and thieves, long for forgiveness and restoration.
D.B.
