PRISON WAR CRY: CLAIM BACK WHAT IS YOURS!

ARMOR-UP PRAYER WARRIOR!

My knuckles are white from clinching, when I think about the holy War Cry I am going to preach on in prison this weekend. 

"WAR CRY - CLAIM BACK WHAT IS YOURS!"

"RAK CHAZAK!" This has been the mighty war cry of all generations of the Hebrew nation. A cry that ignited all people to go into battle.

(This message was inspired by Eric Ludy, Ancient War cry.)

"Rak Chazak = In Hebrew this is the rock like "OOMPH" of the spiritually zealous heart."

• The game face of a mighty warrior
• Tenacity of the soul
• The gritting of the teeth of the spirit inspired warrior
• and bearing those teeth to the enemy
• Possessing a resolute and growling resolve for the GLORY OF GOD!
• A tensing of all soldiers muscles...

"RAK CHAZAK! Where is our war cry?"

"We don't even know we are living in hostile territory. This isn't a time of peace, that is yet to come."

These inmates are now in for a spiritual battle. Why?

1. After receiving Christ as their Savior
2. Being publicly baptized
3. They need to be trained up in Spiritual Warfare 

(I recently used a similar message last Sunday evening at MN Adult and Teen Challenge Family Ministry Event.- God's Spirit was overwhelming as He moved through and convicted over 300 souls!)

"WILL YOU JOIN ME ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS BATTLE?"

• Please pray that the inmates will armor up and realize this battle is not against their families, courts, police or drugs. That they stop being the victim, and get some "Spiritual Street Smarts" ...This battle is spiritual against the principalities and powers of Satan.
• Pray Satan will be bound from using them like puppets. 
• Pray they will realize Christ's Spirit in them is far greater than he who is in the world.
• Pray they will put on their armory of heaven. (Ephesians 6 - Armor)
• Pray they will memorize verses and use them as weapons against Satan.
• Pray in turn, they will pray in the spirit  - for guidance, victory and discernment.
• Pray they will put legs to their faith and live victoriously AS REDEEMED PEOPLE IN CHRIST!
• Pray IN CHRIST they will... CLAIM BACK THEIR LIFE, CLAIM BACK THEIR PURPOSE, CLAIM BACK THEIR FAMILIES!

"We are in a position here, to see souls set free!" Imagine what will happen, if Christians take up their battle cry once again to get Rak Chazak!" 

I personally need your prayers of protection for the spiritual warfare that can rage against my marriage, children, ministry, finances and health. Because Satan is going down!

WHERE IS YOUR WAR CRY? "RAK CHAZAK!"

Serving Shoulder to Shoulder with you.
Shug

IT WAS THE "SUPERBOWL" OF PRISON BAPTISMS!

I stand in awe of the power of Jesus Christ. There is indeed a revival going on in prison. All baptisms should have this type of celebration.

IT WAS LIKE THE SUPERBOWL. There was clapping and shouting, what a celebration!

I am reminded of Malachi 3 where the floodgates were opened and the blessings from heaven overflowed. The prison gym was transformed, there were flickering plastic candles, drying mats that lined the area and fresh flower pots that surrounded the large baptismal tub. We placed the chairs in a U-shape around the tub for all to witness.

Wow, every prayer lifted was answered. We held two back-to-back services and baptized "full immersion" 70 inmates. Because of prayer and persistence, this was the FIRST EVER immersion baptism in this prison. The Prison Chaplain was extremely happy how the team organized it and brought it all together. God worked it seamlessly. It was absolutely beautiful...

One Prison Team member who held the I.D. badges for the inmates while they were being baptized, describes her experience. 

"As I was holding their badge I would look at their prison photo and see either an angry, sad, or scared face. I was in awe as I watched the baptism experience change the reality of their faces. When they were immersed for the baptism it like a silvery liquid flowing over their faces and they rose up now beautiful, happy and so different from their prison badges."

Amazing! As I helped each woman in the tub, there was a mix of emotions. Some were nervous, some scared, others crying. I gently whispered... 

"Enjoy the moment, Jesus has been waiting for you." 

You could see the Holy Spirit just drape them at that moment in peace. When they professed their faith in Jesus Christ, the crowd went NUTS with cheering and applause for each woman. At the conclusion of their baptism, you could see the relief on their faces when I reminded them; 

"Your old life is gone, buried in baptism. You are washed and resurrected a NEW WOMAN in Christ. Now GO, and live a life victorious in Christ." 

All 200 witnesses throughout both services were cheering, clapping, celebrating and shouting "Hallelujah!" at each woman's baptism.

I wish you could have seen it! You could feel Christ's love resonate throughout the prison. 

At the conclusion of both services, I offered an opportunity for the witnesses to receive Christ through a prayer of salvation. We again had a front row seat to watch many more inmates cross over from death to life. Several inmates came up to me afterwards asking; 

"Shug, when is the next baptism, I want to be baptized in Christ!" 

It just doesn't get any better than this!

Lord, I am available anytime, anywhere in the world to help prepare hearts and do this again!

Shug