Monday, December 21, 2020
Month Theme: Release
Topic: Release from Prison
Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:1-10
Main Text:
Matthew 11:4
4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
John the Baptist was disillusioned whilst in prison. He sent messengers to Jesus Christ to find out if indeed He was the Messiah who had come to set captives free.
• The answer Jesus Christ gave John (Matthew 11:4-6) was an indirect way of saying He was surely the Messiah.
• It also meant while he was in the prison, he should maintain a positive attitude by looking at the events outside the prison.
• The answer could also mean that if John could exercise faith in God, he could come out of the prison.
Three keys to release:
1. POWER
The blind receive their sight…
…and the lame walk…
…the lepers are cleansed…
…and the deaf hear…
…the dead are raised up…
The power of Jesus Christ to do the above means, He had the power to release John the Baptist from prison. He released Lazarus from the prison of the tomb when he had been dead four days (John 11:39-44).
2. PREACHING
…and the poor have the gospel preached to them…
The Gospel was being preached and people were coming out of spiritual prisons. John the Baptist could similarly have come out of prison if he exercised faith in the Gospel of the Messiah (Luke 4:18-21).
3. PERSISTENCE
…And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me…
If John the Baptist could refuse to be offended, He could come out prison. Job’s captivity/imprisonment was turned when he refused to be offended. He even prayed for his friends who accused him (Job 1:20-22; Job 42:10).
Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see – HE COULD COME OUT OF THE PRISON. If Jesus Christ had the power to do the above things, He could have brought John the Baptist out of prison if he used the keys for his release.
Prayer: Pray for God to bring your soul out of prison (Psalm 142:7; Psalm 124:6-8).
Recommended Reading:
“The Jubilee” by Eastwood Anaba
(Find e-books at www.amazon.com)
www.eastwoodanaba.com
