Suddenly, without room for my typical doubts or skepticism, I sat in awe at the majestic way in which the power of the universe moved.
Undeniable.
Inexplicable.
Truly Perfect.
As a group, our three teams were able to spend an hour inside the local Mokhotlong prison. We were asked to share testimonies, a couple songs and a message. Because I had gotten an opportunity to give a sermon and share a testimony at the church, I figured it be best if I begin to step back. We had two people agree to share a testimony, and we found a group of four who are musically gifted, to sing a few songs. Our alumni squad leader, Andrew Chambers, was going to follow by delivering the message.
That was perfect! We filled the spots we needed to fill for this specific ministry opportunity. When time came to hike to the prison, we began down the mountains into the depths of the valley; the prison sat further down the valley than did anything else in the entire community. As we approached, Andrew turned to me and asked if I would want to finish the message following his word, in which I replied no. I was firm in my choice to step back.
When I heard we would be working with the prison, I instinctively thought of security and danger, but what I found was a prison with one door to walk through without any form of security checkpoint. In the middle of the prison sat a large courtyard surrounded by the inmate’s doors.
We waited to enter the courtyard as the prisoners were gathered from their cells, and gathered into the courtyard. As we were patiently waiting, I again was asked if I was sure I didn’t want to end the message, to which I again replied, no. I wasn’t sure why I was asked again, but as I turned the offer down once more, I took a deep breath and something hit me. Immediately a word, an idea for a message, came upon me, and I heard a whisper of confidence. I was flooded with the power to say yes. Quickly, I rebuked my previous replies and decided maybe there was purpose in me speaking. I said yes.
Undeniable, it was.
Inexplicable.
Truly perfect.
In that moment I was reminded that there is nothing empowering about covering up our own light so that others don’t feel uncomfortable by their choice not to shine. We were all meant to shine! We have it all wrong! Our greatest fear is not that we can’t, but that we know something greater is inside of us; We all have the power within our being to change the world around us, we just choose not to let it out. Spiritual encounter is not something this skeptic normally allows to hold weight, but in that moment it seemed too clear to ignore. I enjoy writing; I enjoy speaking. For the most part, I find myself quite consumed with the details of my message. I am not a get up and wing in type of guy. I’m a write it down, and prepare the delivery type of guy. I don’t just get up and pray that my words be led; that calls for far too much faith for me.
But this time I allowed myself to be, which gave me an experience of power far too easy to cover up, to shine. I asked God to lead my words, and somehow an inexplicable feeling moved through me. God moved.
That same power, those same experiences, the same undeniable strength is waiting for you; It’s waiting for you to drop your skepticism just enough to feel it too.
Astonished by the experience, I believed this to be the extent to which I would see my faith stretched at the prison. I was dead wrong!
As I was called up, I spoke, I spoke about humanities attempts to fill themselves up . I explained sex, drugs, war, and all other forms of debauchery was only proof of mans inability to fill a God-sized hole within each of us. We long for something far greater! Joy can neither be established, or recognized, until a constant search for temporary satisfaction comes to an end. We don’t realize that our glory, our money, our highs, our counterparts or even our victories are incapable of giving man the fulfillment he is searching for until he grasps it, and finds himself yearning for more.
There is something far greater waiting,
I spoke on how we all want to be invited, and how our failed attempts at fulfillment often come from a desire to be included. It is no coincidence that most who are invited, come! We all want to be included. We all want to be invited,
So good thing we are!
For even those who seemed to cause the most turmoil: King Solomon and Judas, Apostle Paul and myself, were all invited into the depths of Grace that awaits. Jesus had a spot for each of us to pull up a seat to his table, and a place in his kingdom of everlasting joy. We need only to accept the outreached hand.
Including these inmates…. Including You!
As I finished speaking, we asked any prisoner who desired prayer for anything, to step closer. When I asked, majority of the prisoners stood up, and stepped forward. We had an opportunity to shake hands, share stories and offer prayer in the midst of struggle.
Redemption is always right around the corner. No matter how far one may stray, truly he is only one step away.
As I finished speaking with a man, a man who had a similar story to myself, I turned to see a couple teammates surrounding a gentleman. I leaned in to be witness..
They had been approached by a man, and when they asked his name, no response was given. Only a blank stare.
To be fair, majority of the older people in the community don’t know any English, but at the same time, I have failed to come across someone who was incapable of understanding an attempt to know their name. The translator began to attempt to find out his name and story, but even he couldn’t communicate until he slowed down and spoke up. As we could have assumed, the man could hardly hear…
All I can say is good thing my friends, and teammates, aren’t as skeptical as I. Good thing in moments like this, their faith exceeds mine.
Before I knew it, they began praying a bold prayer. A prayer I would have never thought to pray myself. A prayer for hearing. Now don’t get me wrong, I had heard of the many experiments done by doctors where they would do tests to check men’s sight, or hearing, before having others pray for such. In the experiments, the doctors would follow the prayers up with the same tests only to be astonished by the results of prayer.
I had heard it, I just couldn’t believe it.
But soon enough, after a prayer or two, and I kid you not, the man could hear. I would attempt to conjure up some form of justification for the event, maybe that the man felt obligated to act as if he could hear, or maybe that my teammates would say would they wanted to see, but I couldn’t. For I had become witness to God stepping outside the box I comfortably place Him in.
You see, our skepticism only effects us; doubts don’t hinder the radical goodness of God.
