The Court of the Prison

Earth's peoples are kept in a spiritual prison by the forces of darkness. This has been permitted by the Lord God of Heaven while He is completing and perfecting His purposes.

Now, it is time for the massive doors of the prison to begin to swing open. The prisoners will run toward the first rays of light when they filter through the crack. Inside the ancient stone walls are the teeming billions of the earth—people whom God loves with His great Father's heart.

The Body of Christ is beginning its growth spurt to maturity. The apostles and prophets of Christ are being moved on by the Spirit of God. The almighty power of the living Christ now is available to the saints. Who among us will rise to the spiritual opportunities available now—opportunities without precedent in the history of the world?

The knowledge of the Glory of the Lord is shining brighter with each passing day. Insight into God's purpose and Person is being given to the saints who are watching and praying. The gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit—wisdom and power beyond the imagination of men to conceive—now are available for the asking.

As soon as the Lord begins to work with us with signs following, as we proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, "the court of the prison" comes into view. One of the most important missions of the Church of Christ is the casting out of devils, the releasing of the prisoners of the earth.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (Mark 16:17)

The task of the Church of Christ is to set free those who are being held captive by unclean spirits.

The earth is groaning in bondage in the present hour, waiting for the revealing of the sons of God. The revealing of the sons of God will result in the utter destruction of the works of the devil.

Throughout the Church Era the Church is to build itself up, under the guidance and enabling strength of Christ given to the saints through the Holy Spirit, to the place where the Church will be prepared to go forth in the Spirit to destroy the bondages that Satan has placed on the inhabitants of the earth.

When the Church neither is tearing down the works of unclean spirits, rebuking them and casting them out of people, nor building itself up in preparation for the task of destroying the bondages of unclean spirits, then the Church is not in the will of God. The Spirit of God is not being obeyed and followed.

One of the chief occupations of Christ, Head and Body, is the opening of the prison doors so the peoples of the earth can be brought out into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Both the members of the Church and the peoples of the earth are in the bondages of sin, varying from person to person. Through the cross, Christ has delivered the believer from the authority of the devil and has made it possible for him to serve God even though his conduct reflects those aspects of spiritual bondage from which he has not as yet been delivered.

As the Church prays, sings praises, and ministers to the Lord, the power of God comes down from Heaven and releases both the Church and those who hear the Church. Then everyone's bonds are loosed. This is true now and will be true on a worldwide scale at the unveiling of the sons of God.

To be continued.