Category: Articles by Prisoners

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Articles by Prisoners

Sanctification (Growth in Likeness to Christ)

Contributed by Adam Gillespie

Sanctification

is a progressive work of God and believers that make us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives. This is a process which continues on in someone’s lifetime. We will not completely become like Christ in this lifetime. At the moment of regeneration, a moral change begins in our life. We are beginning to be renewed by the Holy Spirit.

John 17:17 set them apart for holiness by means of the truth-your word is truth

Jesus is speaking here and asks the Father to set apart his children for holiness by his word. As his children for we are to live out his word in our lives to become Christ like.  God’s word is truth therefore we should allow our hearts and minds to be yielded by it.

Romans 6:11 & 14

11: in the same way, consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God, by your union with the Messiah Yeshua

14: For sin will not have authority over you, because you are not under legalism but under grace

To be sanctified on a daily basis you must be dead to sin and no longer be a slave to it. We are under grace, not the law.

Romans 6:17-18

17: By God’s grace, you who were once slaves to sin, obeyed from your heart the pattern of teaching to which you were exposed

18: and after you had been set free from sin, you become enslaved to righteousness.

God’s grace is bigger than our sin.  We are freer from the bondage of sin and are slaves to righteousness which reaps eternal life. Just as we use to offer ourselves to more and more sin, we are now to offer ourselves to more and more righteousness for sanctification.

2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us, with faces unveiled, see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, and we are being changed into his very image, from on degree of glory to the next, by Adonai the spirit.

As we go on in this Christian life we are becoming more and more like Christ.

Philippians 3:13-14

13: Brothers, I, for my part do not think of myself as having yet taking hold of it, but one thing I do; forgetting what is behind me and striving towards what lies ahead

14: I keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize offered by God’s upward calling in the Messiah Yeshua

Paul is saying that he is not perfect. He keeps pressing on toward the goal Christ has called him. To become more Christ like we to need to keep pressing forward and not worry about the past. Christ has saved us for a purpose.

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is continually being renewed in fuller and fuller knowledge, closer and closer to the image of its creator.

Now that we are new creatures in Christ, we are to put on our new selves daily and look more and more like the Messiah our savior.

God’s Role in Sanctification

Most of the work of sanctification is done by God.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 May the God of shalom (peace) make you completely holy-may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless for the coming of our Lor Yeshua the Messiah.

It is God who makes us holy and gives us the desire to become more and more like his son.

Philippians 2:13 For God is the one working among you both the willing and the working for what pleases him.

God’s work in our lives causes us to fulfill his will in our lives to be free of sin and to do what pleases him.

1 Corinthians 1:30 It is his doing that you are united with the Messiah Yeshua. He has become Wisdom for us from God and righteousness and holiness and redemption as well.

Jesus earned our sanctification for us because of who he is we have an example to follow. In him, we have hope of eternal life.

Our Role in Sanctification

We depend on God to sanctify us. We are to take steps to be more like his son and strive to obey God and his word.

Romans 12:1 I exhort you, therefore brothers in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you.

Since we are brought from death to life, we should offer our lives to God as slaves of his righteousness.

Romans 8:13 For if you live according to your old nature, you will certainly die, but if by the spirit you keep putting to the death the practices of the body you will live.

To become like Christ our old nature must be put to death daily. To practice righteousness on a daily basis produces a life reflecting who Christ is.

Hebrews 12:14 keep pursuing shalom with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the lord.

Becoming sanctified we must become holy turning off the old desires of our sinful nature and produce fruit that pleases God.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 What God wants is that you be holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality.

Sexual sin is one area that entangles a lot of us, but if we continue to pursue holiness and become like his son we will be from that old nature.

Articles by Prisoners

Who we are in Christ by

Hi Jim, 

Here are four of my husband’s Bible studies that he wrote. He is currently incarcerated in Canon City Colorado and leads a weekly Bible study. He has wanted to find a way to share his Bible studies with others outside the prison walls. He and I both hope these bless others. I can send more as well, he sends his writing of these to me weekly to type up for him. by Jolynn Gillespie

This is the first Lesson!

“Who We Are in Christ

Contributed by Adam Gillespie

Before the foundation of the world, we were elected by God the Father to be in Christ which brings us the reward to be called a son or daughter of God. Our relationship with God is in some way connected to our relationship with Christ. In Christ, we have redemption from the power of sin. In Christ the old man is dead, and the new man arises (see 2 Cor 5:17). We are in Christ and Christ is in us.

God Always Had a Plan

Ephesians 1:4   In the Messiah, he chose us in love before the creation of the universe to be holy and without defect in his presence.

It was God’s grace that he chose us to be his holy children, not because of anything we have done. It is in the Messiah that we have this blessing of salvation, redemption, and justification. In Christ, we can share in the blessings and inheritance that Christ has.

In Him We Are Righteous

Romans 5:19   For just as through the disobedience of the one man, many made sinners, so also the obedience of the other man, many will be made righteous. 

1 Corinthians 1:30 It is his doing that you are united with the Messiah Yeshua, He has become wisdom for us from God, and rightlessness and holiness and redemption as well!!

Philippians 3:9 and be found in union with him, not having any righteousness of our own based on legalism but having that righteousness which comes through the Messiah’s faithfulness, the righteousness from God based in trust.

Without being in Christ we are just disobedient sinners who have no right standing with God. It is through the perfect sinless life of Christ, his death burial, and resurrection on our behalf that we are righteous. He took our sins and gave us his righteousness.

He Bore Our Sins

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made this sinless man to be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God’s righteousness

Isaiah 53:6 We all like sheep, went astray; we turned each one, to his own way; yet Adonai laid on him the guiltless all.

1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the stake, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness, by his wounds we are healed.

By him taking all our sins on the cross God sees Christ’s righteousness not our sins. In him, we have the freedom to die to our sins so now we should not let sin rule in our bodies. We must give our lives over to him.

In Him, We Have a New Life

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is united with The Messiah, he is a new creation-the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new.

1 John 5:11 and this is the witness: God has given us eternal life and this life is in his son.

2 Timothy 1:1 From Sha’ul, an adversary of the Messiah Yeshua by God’s will, which holds forth a promise of life through being united with Messiah Yeshua

So, from these scriptures, we see we do have a new life in Yeshua. This good news should cause us to deny ourselves and pick up our cross daily and follow him. The first Adam brought death the second Adam (Yeshua) brought life.

In Christ, We Are to Live for Him

Romans 15:17 In union with the Messiah Yeshua, then, I have reason to be proud of my service to God.

1 Corinthians 15:31 Brothers by the right to be which the Messiah Yeshua our lord gives me I solemnly tell you that I die every day

Paul knew what he had in his savior Yeshua the Messiah. He knew what it was to die to his flesh every day and to live for him. He was proud to be constantly working for God and bringing many into the fold. He also knew who he was outside of Christ. So, let’s remember the children of God who we are in Union with the Messiah.

Articles by Prisoners blog Letters

Letters from the outskirts of society

Remembering prisoners are people who love, hate, and hurt.

Our goal in the prison ministry is to help these people find true freedom… IN TRUTH

John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

I mentioned Jody will soon be reading letters we have received  from inmates on line, and will be posted both here and on our Youtube channel.

Our purpose is to share the thoughts of the incarcerated with all of you, by doing this we are hoping to make these people and their humanity more real to you, and hopefully this will lead to true prison reform.

This morning I received two letters from women in the Luzira Women’s prison in Luzira, Kampala, Uganda.

We are always asking for people to help, of course financially, and by helping in the work, but this is one simply way you can also be involved… read the letters, and share them on your personal facebook page, or other social media platforms….

Articles by Prisoners

Letter from Inmate John R

I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for sending this lesson to me!
It speaks right to the heart of my greatest issue right now.
I have lots of time on my ands, lots of time to dwell on the hurt I have caused to others throughout my life. There are countless times that I could have been a better person, made better choices, taken different paths. But I am coming to realize that being here was God’s way of saying “The Lord is a jealous and avenging God” (Nahum 1:2)
By choosing things I wanted to do, by not putting God at the fron of my life, I spurred His jealousy and He brought Himself to the front and center of my life. And I couldn’t be more THANKFUL that this happened!
I’M NOT SAYING THAT I ENJOY PRISON. What I am saying is that I would never have found my way without Him doing tis, and my sins were leading me to eternal death. I still struggle with guilt for the people I have hurt over the course of my life (one person more than all others combined) but I can readily and frelly say that I am a better person now and will never make the choices I have made in the past. When someone asks to borrow from me I will give freely, when someone hurts me I will turn the other cheek to them, I will guard all of my words, and actions for the rest of my days and strive to continue to grow into the man God intended me to be.
Thank you for being a part of my journey…
John

Articles by Prisoners

Applying Cliches to Scripture…or vice versa

Ghost Soul

By Loren Gier

SINCE I WAS A CHILD CLICHES HAVE CAUGHT MY ATTENTION. I’M
IN THE MID FORTIES NOW AND I STILL ENJOY RESEARCHING CLICHES OF
OLD. AS A CHRISTIAN, CLICHES HAVE BEEN SURPASSED IN INTEREST BY
THE INFALLIBLE TRUTHS OF SCRIPTURE. AS OF LATE, I LIKE TO THINK OF
CLICHES AS A TYPE OF COMPACT PARABLE OR MYSTERY BY WHICH
GOD’S TRUTH MAY (OR MAY NOT) BE REVEALED; HAVE YOU EVER
WONDER ABOUT HIS WAYS WITH YOU?
IN PROVERBS CHAPTER 1 MYSTERIES AND SECRET SAYINGS ARE
REVEALED BY PROVERBS (WISDOM OF THOSE LONG BEFORE US
WHO’VE SOUGHT SIMPLE TRUTHS FOR A COMPLICATED LIFE).
SCRIPTURE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT SAYS THAT GOD IS KNOWN BY THE
THINGS HE’S CREATED, THEREFORE EVERY PERSON IS WITHOUT
EXCUSE OF MISSING THE BUS (ROMANS 1).
ONE CLICHE RECENTLY HELD MY ATTENTION IN A SERVICE ABOUT
DAILY CHRISTIAN DIFFICULTIES. I DID NOT HEAR THIS CLICHE IN THE
SERMON BUT RATHER WAS REMINDED OF IT IN A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
LET ME EXPLAIN:
(NASB) 2 CORINTHIANS 4:15-18 SAYS,
“For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is
spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to
abound to the glory of God. Therefore, we do not lose heart; but though
our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by
day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal
weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the
things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen
are eternal.”
IN OTHER WORDS, BECAUSE OF THIS UNDERSTANDING, LET YOUR
PROBLEMS FALL OFF YOUR SHOULDERS LIKE, “WATER OFF A DUCK’S
BACK”.
A QUESTION BEGAN TO RISE UP IN MY MIND TURNING HEART.
“WHAT DOES A DUCK HAVE THAT I DON’T?” I’M A MAN. I CAN BUILD,
CREATE AND IMPROVISE ON A MUCH HIGHER LEVELTHAN AN ANIMAL
I’M CREATED IN THE CREATOR’S IMAGE WHICH MEANS I’M INTENDED
TO BE LIKE HIM. HE IS MY MODEL, NOT A DUCK. BUT EVEN THOSE
THINGS GOD HAS CREATED MAY BE USED TO CONVEY, TO RELATE AND
REVEAL THE MYSTERY OF GOD’S SIMPLE POWER FOR LIVING
VICTORIOUSLY.
IN THE PRESENCE OF A TRIAL OR THE MYSTERY OF THEM, TWO OF
MANY ANSWERS WHICH SURFACED WERE:
(1) A DUCK HAS FEATHERS (COVERING) AND
(2) A DUCK HAS OIL ON THOSE FEATHERS (PROTECTION OF EASE).
THE PRESENCE OF OIL ON FEATHERS ISN’T RESTRICTED TO DUCKS
ONLY. FOR EXAMPLE, AN EAGLE, AT SOME POINT OVER 40 YRS OLD
HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MANY STORMS THE OIL ON THEIR FEATHERS
FADE. OIL KEEPS THEM LIGHT AS THEIR FEATHERS AND WHEN THEY
DIVE INTO WATER ARE NOT WEIGHTED DOWN BY WET FEATHERS. IN A
CHRISTIANS LIFE OIL IS TYPIFIED AS A LIKENESS OF GOD’S SPIRIT.
HOLY SPIRIT’S PRESENCE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND HEART
CONVERTS LIKE OIL ON OUR BACKS, OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND
UNPREDICTABLY DEMANDING CIRCUMSTANCES IN LIFE.
FEATHERS ARE A COVERING. GOD COVERS US WITH HIS
SALVATION (AKA REST: HIS PROMISES HIS WAY). WE HELP BY GOING TO
HIM FOR GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION, WAITING FOR HIS ANSWER.
AS WE WAIT ON THE LORD HE HAS OUR PERMISSION TO COVER
US MORE THAN HIS PROMISE WITH EXTRA BLESSING (AKA DOUBLE
PORTIONS).
JUST LIKE OIL SPILLING ONTO YOU, WHOEVER YOU TOUCH,
WHATEVER YOU TOUCH BECOMES COVERED. WHEN YOU GOT GOD ON
YOU AND IN YOU, WHATEVER HIS SPIRIT HAS WILL TRANSFER ONTO
OTHERS AND THEIR PROBLEMS LIKE YOUR OWN.
(SEE ISAIAH 61:1-4 AND LUKE 4:18-19)
FRIENDS, WE ARE COVERED. THAT’S THE PROMISE OF JESUS. BUT
THE PROMISE DOESN’T STOP THERE. THE PROMISE CONTINUES WITH
JESUS AND OUR FATHER’S PRESENCE, HOLY SPIRIT, COVERING US WITH
HIS SALVATION AND COATING AND PROVIDING VITALITY AND LIFE TO
LIVE, NOT JUST PLAIN OLD LIFE EITHER. WE ARE OVERCOMERS, MORE
THAN CONQUERORS.
(SEE ACTS 2:12-21 AND ROMANS 10:3-4,6-13)
IT’S TIME TO BE THANKFUL FOR THOSE THINGS THAT TRUMP ALL
THINGS. A FRIEND OF MINE RECENTLY DEFINED THE GIVING OF THANKS
AS THE ACT OF GRATITUDE. GRATITUDE IS THE EXPRESSION OF
THANKFULNESS. WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR? DON’T KEEP IT TO
YOURSELF, BUT LET IT OUT AND THE OIL WILL FLOW. IT WILL GET ALL
OVER YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH. DO THIS
EVERY DAY. BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH’S YOU DISCOVER IN THE SCRIPT
OF GOD, LET THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE ROLL OFF YOUR BACK. IS THE
CREATOR ALIVE IN YOU? LG

Articles by Prisoners

Anthony P. Miller, Jr; inmate at Dick Connor Correctional Center

To Whom It May Concern:

July of 2018 was when I came to realize I’d been chosen to be a light bearer for Christ.

Unfortunately, I was in Tulsa County Jail at the time, but the effect was still the same.

One night while in my bunk I finally said to the Lord, in so many words, I don’t want these burdens anymore PLEASE TAKE THEM FROM ME AND I’M YOURS FOREVER.

Guess what? HE did!!!!!!!

I immediately had such an overwhelming feeling of a huge weight being lifted from my entire being and I finally found what had been missing in my life.

Crazy thing is, I had no idea that this is what I’d been missing this whole time.

In retrospect, deep down inside, I always knew something was missing; I guess it would be better described as a certain type of emptiness, but I just assumed that was me missing my birth mother so very much.

Now, I’m so happy and my life has a purpose. I feel so fulfilled, bright, spiritual, and powerful in my day to day like never before.

My life and spirit were so broken, that just about every day (if not every day) I’d look at myself in the mirror and hate the individual I saw looking back at me. Like all us humans, we are our own worst enemy at times and sell ‘destruction kills the soul.

Growing up the way I did, then becoming a young father at 21, and then on top of all that, my 3 yr. daughter Whitney passing away of complications 10 months after a near fatal car accident in which she, her siblings and birth mother were all involved.

Thank goodness no one died immediately, but the point I’m making is, Him, knowing all these things, plus all the other good and bad things I ever did or thought, He still loved me so much that He gave His life on the Cross for all those things and beyond.

He forgave me when I couldn’t forgive myself … man what a life changing revelation.

He forgave me, so I could, He died and arose, so I could, He loves me, so I can. Being falsely accused of a crime is very difficult to deal with and I know for a fact that things happened the way they did so I would be totally dependent on Him because without Him I couldn’t do it.

Thank You Jesus!!! Amen.

1 wanted to share this so that others can know God is real and you can make it through anything with Him at the Helm.

God Bless you all. Sincerely,

Anthony P. Miller, Jr

AKA Miller Thyme an

inmate at Dick Connor Correctional Center

Articles by Prisoners

Testimonial by Reggie Wilson, Inmate at Dick Conners Correctional Center, Hominy Ok

My name is Reginald Wilson and this is about my conversion moment.

I’m not sure when it happened so to say.

I guess I can say it happened in county jail. I was sitting there with a bond that was so high I couldn’t get out and didn’t do what I was charged with. I found myself praying to God for help because I couldn’t get out, but I knew I was going to get out because of the fact that I  didn’t do it, so I started reading my Bible and seeking God.

This was something I knew to do from growing up in church, and when I got old enough, I stop going to church. I don’t think I really accepted Him as Lord of my life or else I wouldn’t be here.

So, my seeking has sent me on a journey, it seems like the more Bible studies I would do, the hungrier I became for the Word of God. Today I sit here a changed man, it’s been seven years since that day in October of 2014 and I have not stopped following Him.

Before Christ I wandered aimlessly from place to place but, since accepting what Christ done for me, I have a purpose now and that’s what He does for you when you choose Him.

It’s been a life of peace since that day, and I am very thankful for my choice. I will never turn away from Him I’m with Jesus till the day I die.

May God Bless You and keep you

Articles by Prisoners

Testimonial by Andrew Williams, Inmate at Dick Conners Correctional Center.

My name is Andrew Williams

For me leaving the darkness of life to live in God’s marvelous light wasn’t so easy. I have constantly struggled to get rid of violence, anger, addictions, and foul speech. God has done a complete restoration in my life, and I have learned to appreciate my growth a lot more due to the struggles of change.

I have learned that, in order to fully grasp and enjoy growth it starts with step one.

You cannot enjoy step 10, if you do not go through the pain, and life lessons that lived between one and 10.

I thank God for the strength he provides, and I asked that whatever you may be going through, know that it is only temporary, and God has amazing things in store for you. Amen.

Articles by Prisoners

My Testimony by Robert S.

My Testimony

My Attitude: Has changed in ways that others comment (for the good)

My Behavior: Has changed in so many new ways

My Goals: to continue doing Bible Studies

My relationship with God: Has gotten even closer

Other Changes in my Life: Been able to use the Bible studies to change things in my life

Articles by Prisoners

Robert B: My TESTIMONIAL

My Testimony

My Attitude: My attitude has changed towards others and I have learned to consider their perspective and no be so condemning.

My Behavior: I have learned to take the time needed to control my behavior. Walk away when all else fails.

My Goals: My Goals are obtainable with Christ and they include family. I look forward to the future!

My relationship with God: Has been strengthened by learning more through Park Prison Ministry.

Other Changes in my Life: I want to live my life in a way where others can look at me and know I am a Christian. I believe your Bible Studies have helped me achieve that goal