Liberty Ministries Church Intl

THE GREAT ESCAPE.

I know, from one of our last messages, Wilderness Experience: where Jesus revealed to us; when He went through those temptations, he did this for us. Again, what the Father revealed to me today, is a revelation, I am likely never to forget.

When we get to the place, of complete surrender to God and His plans and purposes for our lives, we never again have to be troubled about anything. There is great freedom that comes with this level of our walk with Him. The Lord said to me, “I will take you to the place of escape for every temptation. I prepared this for you, when Jesus was in the temptation wilderness with Satan. Now, you understand how I did it. I gave My people the way of escape. This was My purpose for this great experience of Jesus. Nothing can take you under. I have prepared the way of escape.”

I always knew after I read the Scripture in 1 Corinthians 10:13, that God will make a way of escape; but I didn’t completely understand how the escape would come.

1 Corinthians 10:13 —- There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to men: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation wilderness,also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Studying this verse an comparing it with Mark 1:13a let’s read it —- And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan;…

Comparing these two, together, began to bring light to me: Jesus’ temptations; and our temptations.

Finding other references, that relate or connect, is also important for the full understanding of this great truth, or any other subject in the Bible: comparing Scripture with Scripture (Isaiah 28:10).

Hebrews 2:3a —-How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;…

Escape means = to evade, or slip away from.

Temptation means = a testing designed to strengthen, or corrupt.

2 Peter 2:9a —- The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,…

Temptation is withstood, through our trust in the faithfulness of God.

God has undertaken to defend, and deliver His servants, whether it is daily temptations, or the Great Tribulation period of the last days.

We all need to escape both.

Look at Luke 21:36 —- Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Jesus prepared the way of escape, but we can see in this verse we also have something to do: We are told to watch and pray.

This would go for any kind of escape we might need.

When Jesus was tempted in the Judean wilderness, He warded off every thrust by the power of the Scriptures.

God encourages us to call on Him in the day of trial.

The sentry or soldier, doesn’t advance or move forward, to meet the approaching enemy: he falls back, and gives warning to the commander.

So, when we are tempted, we should call upon our God.

It’s the difference in being strengthened, or corrupted.

temptation When God strengthens us, we just slip away from the temptation.

Joseph was given strength, by God, to do this very thing.

Most all Christians know this story, but for those who are listening who don’t, and those who would love to be refreshed, turn with me to Genesis 39:6b —- And Joseph was a godly person, and well favored.

Verse 7-9 —- And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house (or trusts me with everything in his house) and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand.

There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Look at verses 10-12 —- And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he harkened not unto her, to lie with her, or to be with her.

And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went in to the house to do his business; and there was none of the men in the house there within.

And she caught him by his garment, saying lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out (he got out of there).

We know from the next verses, he escaped this temptation, but she lied on him, and his master, Potifhar, sent him to prison; but we also know God was with him, and even used him in prison.

Verse 21 —- But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Verse 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 to prosper.

As time went by, Joseph began to interpret dreams.

interpret,butler,One morning, Pharaoh awoke from a dream that troubled him, (Genesis 41:7,8) and the chief butler told Pharaoh, that Joseph could interpret it.

Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and in verse 16, we read —- And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not dream,in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

Pharaoh shared his dream of which Joseph interpreted and verse 39 reads —- And pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet (or discerning) and wise as thou art.

Joseph showed himself not only to be a man of integrity no matter the cost, he showed himself to be a man who sought God.

My friend, sometimes when we escape temptation, the result is: trouble with man; but we can depend on peace with God. Obedience, and peace with God, are worth the stand we take. In the end, we win every time.

Verse 40 —- Thou shalt be over my house, and according to thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

We see Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers, taken down to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, who was the captain of the guard, under Pharaoh; promoted by God’s favor to the second to Pharaoh.

My friend, only God, can give this kind of favor, that a man could come from a servant, to the second to a king, in approximately fourteen years.

Most of Joseph’s life was filled with troubles and trials, but he remained faithful to God, and completely trusted God.

He followed God’s plan and purpose for his life.

If you are going through a time of testing or temptation, my advice to you is, stand strong in you conviction of what is truth, and keep your heart and mind toward God.

Now, there are sins of disobedience that can cause us to fail to escape the judgment of God. We will take these last few minutes, and go over some of the Scriptures that cover failure to escape:

HE THAT SPEAKETH LIES SHALL NOT ESCAPE:

Proverbs 19:5 —- A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

Shall not escape what?

Revelation 21:8 —- But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.

All liars are eternally separated from God.

IF WE GET INTO DARKNESS WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:

1 Thessalonians 5:3-5 —- For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

IF WE NEGLECT OUR SALVATION WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:

Hebrews 2:1-4 —- Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at anytime we should let them slip.

For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;

How shall we escape, if we neglect (or disregard) so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him.

IF WE JUDGE OTHERS WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:

Romans 2:1-3 —- Therefore thou art inexcuseable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest (or criticizes anyone): for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

(a question) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgement of God?

Or we could say, Do you think God will judge and condemn others for doing them and overlook you when you do them, too?

God is saying,— There is no excuse for you, whoever you are, that criticizes anyone for doing something you are doing yourself. When you are condemning them, you are condemning yourself. And we know that God, in justice, will punish anyone who does such things as these.

THIS IS AN UNUSUAL TITLE FOR A TESTIMONY, BUT I’VE LIVED AN UNUSUAL LIFE.

MY NAME IS CHARLES SELLERS, FORMALLY KNOWN AS C.A. SELLERS.

BEING A SHARECROPPER’S SON, AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT A SHARECROPER IS, IT IS TAKING CARE OF ANOTHER PERSON’S LAND. YOU CAN LIVE THERE AND PLANT FOOD ON THAT PROPERTY.

IN OTHER WORDS, MY FAMILY WAS POVERTY STRICKEN.

MY DAD LEFT MY MOM WITH 6 CHILDREN, WHEN I WAS 4 YEARS OLD. SO ME AND MY SIBLINGS HAD NOTHING. WE HAD NO CHRISTMAS PRESENTS, NO BIRTHDAY PARTIES; NOTHING NORMAL CHILDREN ENJOYED. EVEN OUR CLOTHES WERE HAND-ME-DOWNS.

IT WASN’T MY MOM’S FAULT, IT WASN’T MY FAULT; IT’S JUST THE WAY IT WAS.

PROBABLY, IF THERE WAS ANYONE TO BLAME, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY DAD.

BUT THAT IS A DIFFERENT STORY WITHIN ITSELF.

MY DAD DIED WHEN I WAS 9 YEARS OLD. MY MOM HAD HIS BODY BROUGHT HOME. WHILE HE LAID IN HIS COFFIN IN OUR LIVING ROOM, I WAS AT MY FRIEND’S HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET, AND STOLE SOME MONEY THAT WAS LAYING ON HIS AUNT’S DRESSER.

AT THAT MOMENT, I STARTED A LIFE OF STEALING.

OVER THE YEARS, I’VE STOLEN EVERYTHING FROM BICYCLES TO ROBBING BANKS. I SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE LOCKED UP.

I’VE DONE TIME IN 8 FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS. SOME, LIKE TERR HUNTA, ATLANTA FEDERAL PENN., LEWISBURG FEDERAL PENN., ASHLAND KENTUCKY CORRECTIONAL INST., PETERSBURG VIRGINIA FEDERAL FORMITORY, TALAHASSIE (FLORIDA) CORRECTIONAL INST., LOUIVILLE KENTUCKY CORRECTIONAL INST.

ALSO, I’VE DONE TIME IN 7 STATE INSTITUTIONS, STARTING AT HOMESVIEW TO PERRY CORRECTIONAL INST., AND SEVERAL MORE.

I REMEMBER AND INCIDENT WHEN I BROKE IN A SCHOOL AND THE POLICE SHOWED UP. I CLIMBED OUT A WINDOW, AND WAS RUNNING ACROSS THE ROOF. THE ROOF RAN OUT AND I DROPPED DOWN 2 STORIES TO THE GROUND, ROLLED, AND KEPT ON RUNNING. FOR THIS ONE, I NEVER GOT CAUGHT.

BY LOOKING OVER THIS EVENT AND MANY MORE IN MY LIFE, I NOW REALIZE, GOD HAD HIS HAND ON ME.

I’VE BEEN SHOT; I WOKE-UP OUT OF A THREE DAY COMA BY FOOD POISONING, AND FOUND MY LIVE-IN GIRL FRIEND WAS DEAD. THE DOCTORS SAID IT WAS NATURAL CAUSES, BUT I BELIEVE SHE ALSO HAD FOOD POISONING.

AS MY LIFE PROGRESSED, I FOUND MYSELF DOING THINGS I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER DO: LIKE SHOOTING DRUGS IN MY VEINS, UNTIL I DESTROYED EVERY VISIBLE VEIN IN MY BODY; AND TAKING UP A GUN AND ROBBING BANKS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. THIS WAS A LONG WAY FROM STEALING BICYCLES AS A CHILD.

I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I WAS NOW IN THE BIG TIME: SELLING DRUGS, ROBBING BANKS, BUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS LIFE STYLE TOOK ME FURTHER THAN I WANTED OR PLANNED TO GO, AND COST ME MORE THAT I WANTED TO PAY. YOU SEE, THE COST WAS MY FREEDOM, THE SUFFERING OF MY FAMILY, AND ALWAYS LOOSING EVERYTHING AGAIN AND AGAIN, AS I WOULD REPEATEDLY GET ARRESTED AND CONVICTED, AND SENT BACK TO PRISON.

A LIFE IN PRISON WASN’T EASY. WHEN I STARTED OUT IN REFORM SCHOOL, I HAD TO DIG 10 FOOT DITCHES, 18 INCHES WIDE, WITH A 10 FOOT SHOVEL. I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HAVE NEVER SEEN A 10 FOOT SHOVEL, BUT BELIEVE ME THEY HAD THEM.

I WAS 12 YEARS OLD AT THIS TIME.

WHEN I TURNED 15, I WAS SENT TO THE NATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON DC. BELIEVE ME, THIS PLACE WAS “HELL”. I WAS IN A FIGHT ALMOST EVERY DAY. WHEN THEY WOULD PUT ME IN LOCK-UP, THEY WOULD STRIP ME OF ALL MY CLOTHES, AND PUT ME IN A SMALL TILED ROOM. THE TEMPERATURE IN THE ROOM WAS THE SAME AS IT WAS OUTSIDE. SO CAN YOU IMAGINE DECEMBER AND JANUARY? HOW COLD IT GETS IN DC?

I COULDN’T TAKE MUCH MORE OF THIS PLACE, SO I PLANNED MY ESCAPE AND CARRIED THROUGH WITH IT. AS I CLIMBED THE FENCE SURROUNDING THE INSTITUTION, THEN BARBED WIRE BROKE AT THE TOP OF THE FENCE, AND I FEEL 10 FEET, AND JUST KNEW I WAS GOING TO GET CAUGHT, BUT NO ONE SAW ME BREAK OUT OF LINE GOING BACK TO THE DORM FROM THE GYM.

WE WERE SURROUNDED BY GUARDS. IT WAS AT NIGHT, BUT NOBODY SAW ME.

I MADE MY WAY TO A RAILROAD TRACK, AND THERE WAS A SLOW MOVING TRAIN. I JUST KNEW IT WOULD TAKE ME A LONG WAY FROM WHERE I WAS AT. I DIDN’T CARE WHERE IT WAS GOING AS LONG AS IT WOULD TAKE ME AWAY FROM THERE. WELL I JUMPED IN THE OPEN DOOR OF THE BOXCAR, AND THE TRAIN KEPT ROLLING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES; IT STOPPED, AND HERE CAME A TOW MOTOR IN THE BOXCAR I WAS IN, TAKING OUT PALLETS OF FREIGHT. I GOT OUT OF YTHE BOXCAR AND FOUND MYSELF IN DOWN TOWN DC.

TO SHORTEN THIS, I MADE IT BACK TO SOUTH CAROLINA, WENT TO CALIFORNIA, CAME BACK TO SC AND GOT CAUGHT. I WAS OUT FOR 2 MONTHS, AND THEY PUT ME BACK IN THE STRIPP-CELL AGAIN, NAKED. THEY THEN TRANSFERRED ME TO ASHLAND KENTUCKY.

THIS IS NOT THE END OF MY STORY: BUT HOW I CAME TO THE LORD, AND WHERE I AM NOW WILL BE IN “FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART II”, COMING UP NEXT.