Jail Bird
Wintley Phipps is a well-known singer and Inspirational Speaker, and does an amazing rendition of “Amazing Grace” on YouTube, sung most likely as the music sounded as it came up from out of the hold of the Slave Ships of ages past, to now have inspirational new words penned to them, to become this most beloved Hymn. Wintley also runs a collection of “Dream Academy’s” for the children of Incarcerated Parents. He has discovered that there is an “Intergenerational Cycle of Incarceration,” in America. By the age of 30yrs 60% of all black boys in America, who have not graduated from High School, will be in Prison. Also 60-70% of All Inmates, are themselves children of those who are already serving time in prison. There is also a frightening pattern of “Repeat Offending,” where when once they become incarcerated, they inevitably become “Repeat Offenders,” and continue a lifestyle that leads them to keep returning to serve out yet more new sentences. Even in New Zealand, there are around 23,000 children who have a Mum or a Dad in prison.
What is missing in all their lives are “Tutor’s and Mentor’s,” as there are no upright fatherly and motherly role models to guide kids into right paths, to hold up for them a standard to live by, and by their own example, as their Mentors are actually living up to what they preach. Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Wintley’s “3-B’s;” Believing – Belonging – Becoming. We must ultimately become more “Christ Like” in every facet of our existence.
Quote; “”Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.” The purest joy springs from the deepest humiliation. The strongest and noblest characters are built upon the foundation of patience, love, and submission to God’s will. Charity “doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” Christ-like love places the most favorable construction on the motives and acts of others. It does not needlessly expose their faults; it does not listen eagerly to unfavorable reports, but seeks rather to bring to mind the good qualities of others. Love “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” This love “never faileth.” It can never lose its value; it is a heavenly attribute. As a precious treasure, it will be carried by its possessor through the portals of the city of God. “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” {AA 319}
Here is Wintley’s two best definitions of Love; 1/ “Love is when you choose to be at your best, when the other person is not at their best.” 2/ “Love is when what you want, is never important, but what the other person needs and wants, is paramount.” You can achieve the destiny for which you were created, Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” We should reveal the Character of God, 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthian 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
Wintley also tells us that, “Learning, teaches us that where our Knowledge Ends, our Ignorance Begins.” Wintley also asks us, “Are you living your “Destiny” or your “Best Destiny?” Your Best Destiny, is to perfectly reveal the Character of God. Here are his best “Eight,” to enable you to achieve your “Best Destiny;” Faith – Virtue (moral goodness) – Knowledge and Wisdom – Patience – Self Control – Respect for sacred things – Kindness – Love.
Men; the best thing for you to accomplish in your life is to; “Adore the Mother of your Children.” Lust should never ever be branded as Love, ever, believe in your spouse, become Romans 12:9-10 MSG “Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.” Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” Colossians 3:19 “Husbands, love [your] wives, and be not bitter against them.” Wives; Titus 2:4-5 “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” Ephesians 5:22 “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”
What would this world look like if we Christians were “Repeat Offenders?” As the philosophers once said, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Are your children and youth so impressed by your active Christian Lifestyle that they are actively believing? Why should we be winning souls for Heaven, only to be losing our very own kids in the process, or even worse, turning out to be totally fake ourselves, and we also losing out on Heaven? Martin Luther often used words and phrases to tell us that he was a captive, captivated or a prisoner of God, as his mind and will was held always captive by the Love of God, are you a “Jail Bird” in God’s Jail, that God has your mind and willpower fully under his sway, to make of you your “Very Best Destiny,” that is an Eternal and a Heavenly amazingness. 1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
Romans 5:1-11 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
Question; are you Captivated, Enthralled, living under the power of the Holy Spirit, Bounded by the cords of Heavenly Love, totally under the power of Heaven? If not, then “come on in, the water’s fine,” this is where real living, moving and being really exists, living you “Best Destiny.” Are you a “Jail Bird” for Jesus, captivated by his Love and Compassion, and are now under the control of his will, thus making you more and more “Amazing,” every day, and in every way? There is an “Intergenerational Cycle of Incarceration,” in America, and most other countries, so why do we not have an “Intergenerational Cycle of Bondage to the Love of God as found in Christ Jesus,” in this world? Let us each fall into the arms of Jesus, and by our holy lives, thus be attracting many others as bees to a honey pot, swarming into the Love of God. By beholding God, we become changed, formed into the image of our Maker, Creator, Redeemer and Friend, so are you a “Jail Bird” for Jesus, captivated by his Love and Compassion?
