Walking Out of Prison

During one of the night sessions at training camp, Micahel Hindes shared about getting set free from prisons in our lives. The doors of these prisons have been opened by Christs work on the cross, but we still have decide whether or not were going to walk out of them. Kind of like a bird who flies into a garage, and cant figure out that he must go back out the same way he came in. He has the ability to get out, but hes blinded by whats in front of him so that he stays in his prison, even though there really isnt anything holding him there.
It was a powerful time of deliverance where we were invited to live in the freedom that Christ died to give us. It was for freedom that Christ set you free, therefore do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. This verse has been mulling around my head the past few days, and Ive heard several other people reference it as well. Such a powerful verse.
Weve been doing prison ministry in the mornings, split into two groups, guys and girls. The first day, (was that really only yesterday?) I ¡m not going to lie I was a little outside my comfort zone. Which is good. I prayed that God would blast my comfort zones on this trip. And He is doing that. From speaking in front of people, to awkward situations where i can only laugh and say lo siento, no intiendo, God is moving me even further outside my comfort zone. The more time you spend on the field, the larger your comfort zone becomes, and so its a daily exercise of asking the Lord how I can move beyond those boundaries and experience more of the Kingdom.
Today we went back to the prison and were given a really warm welcome. It was so encouraging to see the impact that just our presence but more importantly the presence of God had made after a single day of ministering, and how joyful they were to welcome us back, and listen to what the Lord was speaking through us today. We brought along a guitar and sang how great is our God, which was pretty awesome, and Jared, Keith, Derek and myself did a skit.
But after this came something that wrecked me. During the prayer time at the end of Johnny, one of the locals, exhortation, there was this one guy I noticed off to the side a little kneeling with his face on a footstool, the snot and tears streaming down his face. I went over and kneeled down beside him just laying my hands on him and praying with him. I couldnt understand a whole lot, but I could hear that he was crying out El Señor, El Señor, quiero libre! if that doesnt mess you up right there I dont know what will. Kneeling next to him and just having that opportunity to be there and share in this most intimate time between him and God moved me.
As I was praying the Lord gave me a word for him, and so I got a translator (Cesar, hes a pretty cool kid) and began to prophesy over him. The Lord showed me that he had a heart like a lion, and that it was roaring within him, waiting to break free.
Now I dont know exactly what happened in his heart, but what I do know is that he had a divine encounter, and he walked out of prison. I am claiming that over him in the name of Jesus that it may have only been the first step, but today he took that first step into freedom, and he will be free.

I know this blog doesnt even come close to capturing the power of that moment, and how much it rocked my world. And how much it just blows me away that God let me share in that with Him, and have this crazy opportunity to hold up my brother and support him as he looks for Jesus. I just pray over this blog that it impacts whoever reads it, and that you can catch a glimpse of the power of this encounter with Jesus that this man had.

I pray that it is only the first of many for him…