From Prison to Presence

 

From Prison to Presence: Encountering Jesus Beyond the Written Word

How Scripture Leads Us from Spiritual Captivity to Intimate Relationship

Have you ever wondered if reading the Bible alone is enough to experience the fullness of God’s presence? Many believers find themselves stuck, knowing the words but longing for something more—a real, living encounter with Jesus. Today, let’s explore the journey from simply reading Scripture to stepping into the vibrant presence of Christ Himself.

The Divine Inspiration Behind Scripture

The Bible isn’t just a collection of manmade philosophies. It’s the living, God-breathed record of His voice, captured through the hands of inspired writers and brought to life by the Holy Spirit. This means Scripture isn’t merely informational—it’s supernatural, designed to connect us to the heart of our Creator.

Scripture: The Map, Not the Destination

Think of the Bible as a map pointing us to the ultimate destination: Jesus Christ, the Living Word. Yet, if we read it only with our natural understanding, it’s like trying to navigate in darkness. We see lines on a page but miss the way. That’s why we need the Holy Spirit of Truth, to illuminate the meaning and reveal the mysteries that have been hidden for generations. Ephesians 1:17-18 encourages us to pray for wisdom and revelation so our hearts can truly know Him.  It says, "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people." 

Who Are God’s Holy People?

God’s “holy people” aren’t just those who attend church, read their Bibles, or serve in ministry. They’re those who have surrendered their own understanding and submitted to the Holy Spirit’s teaching. They’re set apart—made holy—not because of their actions, but because they’ve allowed their hearts to be opened by God’s Spirit.

The Veil Over Human Understanding

Just because someone can read the Bible doesn’t mean they see its truth. Scripture describes this as a “veil” over the heart (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Paul writes, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God… they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Jesus Himself said, “You have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children” (Matthew 11:25).

How Are Holy People Made?

·        Purchased: Jesus’ sacrifice removes the barrier (Hebrews 10:10).

·        Purified: God’s Word washes away our human-only thinking (John 17:17).

·        Transformed: The Holy Spirit gives us a divine nature so we can truly understand the Living Word (2 Peter 1:4).

The key difference is submission. Are we standing above the Word, trying to judge or conquer it? Or are we standing under it, asking the Spirit to break it open for us? When we surrender, the mystery of “Christ in you” (Colossians 1:27) becomes a living reality.

From Information to Revelation: The Emmaus Road

The story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24) is a beautiful picture of this transition. Though they walked with Jesus and knew the scriptures about Him, they didn’t recognize Him until He broke bread with them. That moment at the table—when He broke open the bread—symbolized Jesus revealing the secrets of the Kingdom. Their burning hearts turned into opened eyes, and they saw Him for who He truly was.

For us, “sitting at the table” means entering covenant intimacy with Jesus. It’s the point where the map folds up because we’ve reached our destination: a face-to-face relationship with the Lord.

The Table as a Symbol

·        Then: For the Emmaus disciples, the table marked the shift from information to revelation.

·        Jesus waited to be invited in, just as He waits for us to open our hearts (Revelation 3:20).

·        The breaking of bread symbolizes Jesus breaking open the Word to reveal life within.

·        At the table, burning hearts become opened eyes—Jesus is no longer just a topic, but the living Lord before us.

As we move from the written Word into the Holy of Holies, the veils fall away. What we once saw dimly, we now see clearly (1 Corinthians 13:12).

From Captivity to Covenant

Scripture describes our spiritual condition before meeting Christ as prisoners—caught in a cycle of sin from birth (Psalm 51:5, Ephesians 2:3). Paul vividly describes this captivity in Romans 7:22-24, saying he was a prisoner within himself, desperate for rescue. This isn’t just a feeling; it’s a spiritual reality with a penalty: separation from God (Romans 6:23, Romans 5:12).

The Ultimate Transition: Presence Over Prison

The Bible leads us out of the prison of our inherited sin nature and into a face-to-face relationship with Jesus. Like the Emmaus disciples, when we invite Him in, the Holy Spirit transforms our burning hearts into opened eyes. We move from captivity to the freedom and intimacy of God’s eternal presence.

What’s Next?

Next week, we’ll dive deeper exploring the prison of the fallen world, the prison of our hearts (shame, guilt, unforgiveness), and how following Jesus leads us out of these prisons and into the Holy of Holies. There, we’ll discover what it means to be heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

Let’s keep moving beyond information, seeking transformation and the living presence of Jesus!