Why are prisons the most spiritually fertile harvest field on this planet? Part 5 of 10
If you have valuable seeds to plant a garden, where is best place to plant? On concrete, or hard ground, thorny ground, or nice fertile ground that has been turned over?
In different ministries, I have experienced different spiritual harvest fields. Right now with our prison ministry, we have seen amazing results of transformed lives and huge rewards for the invest we make into lives of women and men behind bars that want to know God and turn their lives around!
People have asked me, why do I say that prisons are the most fruitful spiritual harvest field on this planet? I would like to share 10 reasons with you over the next few weeks and thank you for investing prayer, money and time to help us bring Glory to God as inmates and their families come to faith in Christ.
For review here are the previous four:
1. Most inmates are very discouraged. They need to hear the Good News and Hope that only comes from God’s Word.
2. In prison, they have plenty of time to study God’s Word.
3. Many are looking for purpose and meaning to life (Living for Christ gives an eternal purpose) Ephesians 3:9-13
4, In prison, there are fewer worldly distractions (No cell phones, no internet, etc)
This week we look at #5. All inmates need to be loved (The Word of God tells the truth of the ultimate source of love)
1 John 4:7-9 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
How many inmates know that God loves them? Many feel no one cares or loves them!
I’VE HEARD MANY PEOPLE SAY that prisoners deserve what they get. After all, when a person commits a crime he should have to pay for breaking the law.
The truth is: God loves prisoners, and He wants to have a relationship with them, just as He does with the rest of us. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
In fact, there are numerous examples in Scripture of God’s working in the lives of ex-offenders. Moses, one of the most successful leaders of the Old Testament, was a known murderer, but God forgave him and used him in His service.
Hebrews 13:3 tells us,”Remember the pris-oners as if chained with them.” Every church should be involved with a prison ministry, and every believer should minister Christ to those in need of Him. Let’s do what we can to demonstrate the Love of God to the prison population.
Next week we will look at reason #6. Please continue to pray with us and our vision to see Godly leaders developed and churches planted in the prisons as we follow God’s leading. We need more prayer partners, financial support and volunteers to help us reach this goal of spreading the Good news of the Gospel of the Grace of God!