Friday, 20 October was a most blessed day. An inmate came up to me after my study/sermon in the male dorm of the Lapu-lapu City Jail. He was crying while handing me a small piece of paper with something written on it. I did not immediately read it as my attention was on the man, who was already pleading with me that I pray over him. He was all in tears while he was telling me how his life has been like that of Job, he has lost everything. I realized then than God has convicted the man. I told him that he himself, must pray for himself, to ask God of his forgiveness and mercy. But all he could do is cry and cry so I prayed over him. The LORD was truly gracious as I was praying over him, not knowing what was on his note – I fully remembered my prayer for him – that the LORD strengthen him and encourage him, to give him understanding that he himself will pray to God, to repent and ask the LORD for his forgiveness, aside from asking God for his grace and mercy for the man. After praying for him, I told him again that he himself should pray and ask God for his forgiveness, to accept that he is a sinner needing God’s mercy and salvation. Then he talked a bit of the reason he is in jail – still crying. I would have wanted to talk to him much longer but it was way past the allotted time for me to stay. I had to leave but the man would not stop crying. I hugged and reassured him telling him that the LORD Jesus loves him. Then I handed him over to a couple of inmates who are changed men, themselves sharing the gospel to other inmates. I asked them to spend time with him so that they can encourage him to pray and to fellowship with them during the evenings when they have their own sharing. I do not know if the man himself prayed the sinner’s prayer, to ask and make the LORD Jesus his personal Saviour. I will have an idea the next Friday in jail. Then I remembered the piece of paper that he gave which I slipped in my Bible. It read, “pastor, please haw-asa ko sa kangitngit dad-a ko sa kahayag” with his name written on it. The LORD will deliver him from darkness to light, not I nor anyone around him. Not even himself. But he must ask God himself for his deliverance. Psalm 49:7 immediately came to mind when the man first asked me to pray over him. Just like the tax collector beside the Pharisee. Salvation comes to those who call on the name of the LORD, Joel 2:32. I pray to God I did the best I could to help the man to start to know the LORD Jesus and accept him as LORD and Saviour. I came out from the male dorm that day truly blessed and full of joy inside, yet grieving with the man who should truly surrender his life to the LORD Jesus.
Ps. Andy