WHO IS THIS MELCHISEDEC #110

Prison Ministries

February 23, 2002

LUKE 23:32 ¶ And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided [him], saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. 44 ¶ And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

WHO IS THIS MELCHISEDEC 65-0221E 112 Now, the world, how did He redeem the world? The first what He did, when it sinned, He washed it off in water baptism. That's right. Then He dropped His Blood upon it from the cross and sanctified it and called it His own.

Let's bow our heads in prayer. Dear Gracious Father, and full of Mercy, it is with our hearts desiring your mercy and Grace that we have assembled ourselves this morning to sit at Your feet, for you are the Word. And Father, we recognize you first as our God and then as our Father, and we do understand that You have come to us in this closing hour of time to deliver us from this mortality, and to dress us in immortality. It is with this great hope in mind that we have assembled ourselves once again this day to learn of You, for You have told us in Your Word that when You shall Appear, we shall also appear, and we know that word appear is the Word phaneroo which means to be revealed in ones true character. Therefore, we would ask Father, that as You have unveiled Yourself to us through Your revealed Word, so might we become formed to the image of Your Son, by the washing of water by the Word. Word upon Word, and Cell upon cell, bringing forth that image which You ordained to come forth in us, since before the foundations of the world. And with these thoughts in mind we ask You blessings upon us as we partake once more from Your Word, feeding our inner man and nourishing it up into the full stature of that perfect and complete man. For we ask it in the Lovely name of Your Obedient Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Now, this morning, I would like to take a short study from this scene we saw unfold in our text this morning. Notice, the scene was Jesus dying upon the cross, and there were two thieves with him, one at his right and the other at his left. Brother Branham spoke of the purchase price being the blood, and through that payment the price was paid.

In this scene, we recognize that Jesus spoke to one of the thieves and acknowledged his words, while the other He never replied to when spoken to. This is a paradox to many, but it sets the tone for our message this morning, for both of these men were prisoners, and yet one was given life while the other was left to die alone with no promise of immortality, and life in the world to come. One was purchased with Jesus' own blood while the other was left to eternal damnation. And yet both were equally guilty of whatever crime it was that placed them on that cross. These men were both prisoners, along with Our Lord Jesus Christ, and yet we see the fulfillment of Jesus own calling was to set the captives free.

ISAIAH 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth. 10 ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed,

ISAIAH 42:5 ¶ Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. He shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

ISAIAH 61:1 ¶ The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

Now, let's go forward in time to when Jesus spoke these words before the people, and identified Himself with this portion of Scripture.

LUKE 4:14 ¶ And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave [it] again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Our message this morning will examine the Biblical History of Prison Ministries. We have begun by showing you that Jesus was ordained to set the captive free, and to open the prisons to then which were bound. And yet if you will note that a careful reading of this passage from Luke will reveal that Jesus read the words, to proclaim liberty to the captives,but he left off the words, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;. Because when he said, this day this scripture is fulfilled, he also left off thwe words, and and the day of vengeance of our God; which we know is to be fulfilled at the end time.

Now, this morning we shall read from the book of Genesis al the way through the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, in order to examine the history of the Prison Ministry. What is a Prison Ministry, How did it come about and what were the effects of those ministries. Now, before we begin, can anyone tell me a few of the names of the men God had called to a prison ministry throughout the Scripture History?

Well, to begin with the first one called to a prison ministry was Joseph GENESIS 39:20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners [were] bound: and he was there in the prison. 12 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that [were] in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer [of it]. 23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing [that was] under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and [that] which he did, the LORD made [it] to prosper.

Now, Joseph was sent to prison with a purpose in mind. God allowed his servant Joseph to be sent to the prison, and while there he ministered to the others who were in prison. But one thing I want you to notice is that the main thread that will follow every prison ministry we will find in the scriptures is that these men who were sent into the prison and ministered were all innocent of the charges they were sent there for.

I PETER 2:19 For this [is] thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:

I PETER 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy [are ye]: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 ¶ Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For [it is] better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 ¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

SOULS IN PRISON NOW 63-1110M There'll be a ministry that'll show great wonders (Joel said so), but there'll be no time for redemption. It's all over. The Lamb's done took His Book, and redeemed is over. As Jesus first preached and was rejected and then went and haunted those that were in there, preached to them that were in prison and could not repent, no time for salvation, that same ministry will have to repeat again. What if that could be the Third Pull to the eternal lost? What if it is there? I hope it's not. What if it is? Think of it just a minute now. What if it is? God forbid, I got children. See? But it sure looks pretty close here.

Now the point I would like to make here is very clear. Most people approach a prison ministry from the wrong perspective. They take one portion of Scripture for their calling and they do just that. They will read from Matthew 25, and because of a fear in their heart from the words Jesus says, "depart from me", they take on actions that become nothing more than a works program, trying to assuage the anger of the Lord from their own guilt.

MATTHEW 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Notice first of all, that When Jesus tells the story, He speaks of one thing concerning those in prison. He says you came and visited me, period. But when those who he rejected replied, they added, when did we see you in prison and did not minister unto you. The word "ministry" was never spoken of by Jesus. Those words were used only by those whom he had rejected.

If we follow the bible history of Prison Ministries, or rather ministries that continued while in prison, or ministries which began while in prison, we will find that there was a certain caring that came forth from the one who was in prison and was serving others, but we also find that both Life and death were given forth or pronounced from the one who was called to minister while in prison. Look at the story of Joseph, He was the first and Life was given to the butler while death pronounced to the baker.

WORLD AGAIN FALLING APART 63-1127 13 And the last name goes on that Book, or, the last name that's redeemed, that was put on that Book, that settles it. He comes to claim what He redeemed. And it might be a strange time. Did you ever think: people will go right on preaching, the church will go right on even thinking they're getting people saved. It's too late then, it's all over (See?), and the Message will go to the totally lost, just like it did in the days of Noah, seven days in the ark. It did in the days of Sodom. Jesus Himself, His--His third stage of His ministry, He went and preached to souls that were eternally lost, that were in prison, that repented not, long-suffering in the days of Noah. And we don't know what time these things might happen. And let's be warned. Don't just stand around; let's do something about it. If we're not right with God, let's get right with God. See?

Look at Samson: God allowed him to go to prison for one purpose and that was to be a witness to all while he was there and to bring forth judgment to the enemies of God.

JUDGES 16:25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars. 26 And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them. 27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines [were] there; and [there were] upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport. 28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. 29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. 30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with [all his] might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that [were] therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than [they] which he slew in his life. 31 Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought [him] up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.

And what about Micaiah, the Prophet of God? God allowed him to go to prison for the testimony of his Word, and as a witness against the king, and for judgment against Israel.

I KINGS 22:26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; 27 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this [fellow] in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace. 28 And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.

II CHRONICLES 18:25 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; 26 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this [fellow] in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace. 27 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, [then] hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.

And Hanani the prophet.

II CHRONICLES 16:7 ¶ And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. 10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for [he was] in a rage with him because of this [thing]. And Asa oppressed [some] of the people the same time. 11 And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they [are] written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

And of Jeremiah? He was in and out of jail for his testimony to the Word of God.

JEREMIAH 33:1 ¶ Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 2 Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD [is] his name; 3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

JEREMIAH 37:4 Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people: for they had not put him into prison. 15 Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison. 16 When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;

JEREMIAH 38:6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that [was] in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon [there was] no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

JEREMIAH 38:13 So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

JEREMIAH 38:28 So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was [there] when Jerusalem was taken.

And of Daniel, His entrance into jail was by cunning and craft. He was innocent, but when the Lord Himself showed up for his vindication, it sent tremors throughout the kingdon of Babylon.

And what of Shadrack, Meshack, and Abenego: Again the Lord came and His very presence brought vindication of His presence among the people.

And John the Baptist was cast into prison. For stealing, for adultery? For Murder? No, but for preaching the Word of God.

MATTHEW 4:12 ¶ Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

And what of the Apsotles? They also were not sent to jail for the bad they did, but for the Word of God as their testimony on their lips.

ACTS 5:17 ¶ Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21 And when they heard [that], they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, 23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 26 ¶ Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set [them] before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

And what of Stephen, the first deacon? Notice the effects of his prison ministry. He lambasted the self proclaimed righteous and died for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

And what of Paul? Again he was jailed for the testimony of Jesus Christ. But did this stop his ministry? It only gave him time to write all his epistles.

ACTS 16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew [them] into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat [them]. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast [them] into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25 ¶ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed [their] stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

And what of Peter? God used his prison time to witness of His own Presence and to meet the needs of a particular jailor and his family who were ordained to Life.

ACTS 12:3 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put [him] in prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. 5 ¶ Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon [him], and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from [his] hands. 8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and [from] all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

And the apostle John on Patmos: he tells us he was confined to imprisonment on the isle of Patmos for one reason, and that was for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

REVELATION 1:9 ¶ I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

REVELATION 2:8 ¶ And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich ) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

And in church history we have so many others,

Polycarp, was imprisoned and finally martyred, not for evil doing but for the tesitimony of Jesus Christ.

HEBREWS 11:36 And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

JOHN BUNYAN wrote PILGRM"S PROGRESS while in Prison,

UNITING.TIME.AND.SIGN 63-0818 57 Therefore, they are uniting themselves now, and your pastor here and many can tell you, that's reading, that they are--have the ecumenical movement of the--the--the world. And the... There's a Lutheran minister over it. That if there comes a disaster would happen in this neighborhood here; if we are not united with that ecumenical move, then our church can no more be church, and they can use it for a storeroom. Or if one of the brothers would see somebody dying or hurt, and try to minister to him any spiritual blessing, we could be shot for it; exactly right. We can be given ten years in the federal prison for ministering anything, because we're not a member of this ecumenical move. Don't you see the mark of the beast? See?