When we think of the word prisoner, we think of incarceration or bound with chains. The apostle Paul referred to himself as a “prisoner of Christ” probably as he was imprisoned in Rome for the cause of Christ. Yet he, as a prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ, meant freedom in many ways despite the detainment by the Roman soldiers. So, in a sense Paul saw Himself so connected to the Lord Jesus Christ that he, as a prisoner of Christ, was captive to privileges and high expectations that come with a life of dependency upon Christ. Zechariah referred to this status as a prisoner of hope.
Zechariah 9:11–12 (ESV) — 11 As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12 Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.
Notice the prisoners were set free from the waterless pit and thereafter referred to as “prisoners of hope.” Hope in the Bible is not a wish as people use the term hope today. I grew up near Cleveland, Ohio and every spring we would have hope of a world series, but every year that hope soon faded. That is not hope in the Bible. The Bible’s definition of hope is something that is positive because it is based upon God, His word and promises, as well as His faithfulness. Therefore, you could say hope is something that is positive from God, it’s just not yet. Waiting while hoping is not so difficult if we remind ourselves of the faithfulness of God and the reliability of His word.
Romans 8:15–18 (ESV) — 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
God, the Holy Spirit works in us drawing us to the throne of grace, where we commune with our Father in Heaven. Even though we are adopted into the family of God, we have this family privilege of a close relationship with the Father. The Holy Spirit continually gives us assurance of this relationship and of the promise of an inheritance that is so fantastic it overshadows every bit of suffering we have while awaiting the day when we shall obtain it. That is hope – an expectation of something that is positive, just not yet. But because it is based upon God who is faithful, and who cannot lie, then we with patience wait for it. You could say we are prisoners of hope, which is not at all a bad status.
Romans 5:1–5 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Notice the progress of a prisoner of hope, where hope is made to shine brighter and brighter. As we come to Christ, being drawn and quickened by the Spirit of God who gives us faith to believe, we are made right with God or justified. It gets better as we are given access by this faith into grace upon grace which is just cause to rejoice in hope of the glory of God. It doesn’t stop there because as we face sufferings in this life, God’s marvelous grace upon grace enables us to rejoice because God is working endurance, character, and hope. It is in this that God’s love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Have you ever thought about what being a prisoner of hope means?
Titus 1:2 (ESV) — 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
Hope of eternal life is based upon the fact that God has promised it and He cannot lie. He is the Rock. He never changes. We can have assurance as we lock into His steadfastness as a prisoner of hope.
Romans 8:24–25 (ESV) — 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Here’s a great reminder that as a prisoner of hope, we may not have a clear view of the things for which we are hoping as in being able to see it clearly with our natural eyes. But if things must be tangible for us to believe, then it’s not really hope. Hope is something that is positive because it’s based upon God and His word. Hence, we with hope await the fruition of what we are awaiting.
Romans 15:13 (ESV) — 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Calling all prisoners of hope! Keep in mind that the hope you have has come from God, is based upon God, and is focused upon what God has promised. Therefore, as a prisoner of hope (chained to Him if you please as in dependency upon Him), we receive joy and peace in believing as the power of the Holy Sprit causes our hope to abound.
It’s no wonder Paul referred to himself as a prisoner of Christ. He was locked in upon Christ, he was dependent upon Christ, and He desired to please the Lord Jesus Christ. Although he is not recorded as using the term, he fulfilled what Zechariah described as the prisoners of hope who had escaped the pit.
1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV) — 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
As with Paul, so shall we find great joy as we see ourselves as prisoners of Christ, which are prisoners of hope.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
Check out our podcast, The PowerBreak Podcast, wherever you download podcasts or from our website: www.bobbrubaker.com.
