Preacher In Jail

Funny how those words can capture our interest and imagination.  But it is, I hope, a good way to increase readership.  The truth is several years ago I spent a short time in a Cuban jail.  Short as it was, I have had some jail time experience.  The short story on my experience is this:  I had run afoul of the Cuban authorities while planting churches in that communist island nation.  In all, I have been arrested and deported from there three times, twice restricted from re-entry for as long as two years.  However, by God’s grace we continue to do what we can in Cuba.

The purpose however, of this post is not to talk about my jail time, but another, much more interesting preacher: the Apostle Paul.  From the time of his arrest, transport and prison times Paul probably spent as much as seven (7) years incarcerated.  However, we do not find him bitter and frustrated as a prisoner, instead we find a man impassioned and extraordinarily useful during his imprisonment.  In fact, we find this preacher in jail to be quite prolific as he pens letters to the churches of the Ephesians, the Colossians, the Laodaceons, the Philippians and also to Philemon.  How insightful and pregnant with prayers, doctrine, and powerful instruction are these epistles.  Every reader of these epistles are blessed and helped.  Even though he was in bondage the Word of God was not bound!  “Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evildoer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.  Therefore I endure all thisgs … “  Yes, even imprisonment! 

Letter writing was not Paul’s only ministry.  Several other tremendous benefits come to us because of this preacher in jail.  He didn’t allow his imprisonment to hinder his missionary activity.  God allowed his cell time to be tremendously useful, in fact Paul writes to the Philippian church; “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethern in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”  (Philippians 1:12-14)  From his notoriety as a prisoner, his public defenses before officials and leaders, his prison letters sent to churches, his witness to his guards, and his special liberties to welcome and minister to all visiting guests Paul utilized his prison time to maximize the effectiveness of his continuing missionary impact.  He was continually asking others to pray for him so that he could have the divine help to make use of all of the above opportunities always asking for prayers of open doors (Colossians 4:2-4) and emboldened possibilities for witness (Ephesians 6:19-20)!  He seemed unembarrassed to proclaim himself as an ambassador in chains.  Instead of whining or becoming depressed in the face of this adversity and persecution, he in fact, seemed to rise to the discovery of every benifit to the furtherance of the Gospel as a prisoner.  “What then?  notwithstanding, everyway, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therefore rejoice, yea and will rejoice.”  (Philippians 1:18)  What awesome testimonies by a preacher in jail. 

I would like to end this post by mentioning that I believe there are many, many preachers and yes many Christians in jail.  Not literally behind bars, but they have been imprisoned, fettered, and hindered in the ministry by many things.  The excuses for the limitations in our ministries are legion.  I believe the lessons we can learn from Paul’s incarceration can help us to overcome anything that might be hindering the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to reach our world in this generation.  There is a world waiting to hear of Him.  There is much ministry to be done.  Letters written, witness given, disciples trained, Christ exalted.  What are you waiting for?  Let us do all we can to take the Gospel into the next towns.  www.baptistevangelism.org