Caught

24 Thursday Oct 2013

Posted by Kara R. Hunt in Faith & You, Non-Fiction

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anger, bondage, Caught, chains, discussions, freedom, God, LORD, prisoner, Satan, unforgiveness

Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.

~ 2 Timothy 2:25 & 26 The Message Bible

There are several definitions for the word captive. In general it means a person or animal that is forcibly confined or restrained, especially somebody held prisoner. What’s interesting is that it also means somebody gripped by a strong emotion such as love or anger. Goodness. How many times have I allowed myself to get involved in the type of discussions and conversations that the Scripture above warns us about? Those type of conversations are not only draining, they are designed by the enemy to steal, kill and destroy. It will steal our joy, kill our patience and destroy relationships. Captive. You are now caught. Caught in the trap of an enemy who only desires to devour you.

Satan is a ruthless captor. Most of us visualize captives as being taken by force but that’s not always the case. Most times we open the door wide with our emotions and let the captor, with key and chains in hand right into the daily rhythm of our lives with no questions asked. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Take those strong emotions of anger and unforgiveness to the LORD. He promised “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36 KJV).

That means that we don’t have to stay a prisoner of the enemy’s war, under his power and kept in bondage.

We can let go and let the God of All Creation, the Ancient of Days and the Prince of Peace show us what freedom really means.

And we will never regret it.

The Earthquake Voice of Victory

10 Tuesday Sep 2013

Posted by Kara R. Hunt in Faith & You

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chains, Earthquake, God, Paul, praises, prison, Silas, victory, voice

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. ~ Acts 16:25&26 KJV

Praising Your Way Out of Prison

Do you have Earthquake Faith? That is what Paul and Silas had. The book of Acts (16:16-17:16) tells the story of Paul and Silas and how after being dragged into the market square and accused of being dangerous Jewish agitators, the order went out for them to have their clothes ripped from their bodies. And then in public, right where everyone could see, they were severely beaten by a restless mob out for blood. They were then thrown into a maximum security cell, and under heavy guard, had their legs clamped in irons.

But that’s not the end of the story.

Paul and Silas – beaten and shackled – sang their way to victory. They sang so loud that the other prisoners were able to hear them. The Scriptures talks about how they sang praises unto God. Despite the dire situation they were in, they stayed focused on God and not on their pain or their circumstances. And what a blessing because the story goes on to say that suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the foundations of the prison were shaken.

… and immediately all of the doors were opened and everyone’s chains came loose.

Did you hear that? Every one who was in that wretched prison had been set free. Not just Paul and Silas.

We truly serve an awesome God.

Today, in the midst of our own personal dark days, trials, disappointments, heartache and pain, we have been blessed with the ability to do exactly what Paul and Silas did – cause an earthquake. Sing praises so loud to God that the whole world hears. So loud that the people around you – your family, friends, and co-workers will hear. Loud enough so that the doors of your prison will not only be opened but the doors to their prison as well.

We are the voices of Victory.