The Keys to the Kingdom: Book One: Love

By Baron Stepney and Robert M. Paris

Baron and Rob arrived at Butner Federal Correctional Institution on the same day. They soon discovered that they were both Christians with a passionate zeal for the things of God. They began spending a lot of time together in the word of God. They experienced a higher quality and caliber of revelation than they ever had individually. Just as Jesus sent His disciples/apostles out by twos, Baron and Rob were sent on a specific commission. The message, word and ministry was simple: Love. The Body of Christ was being called higher, but this spiritual reformation could only take place upon a solid foundation of love.

Each chapter depicting an experience on Baron and Robs journey is followed by a chapter of revelation they received, or a kingdom key.This book is not for comfortable or complacent Christians, but for true disciples who yearn for Gods kingdom to come. Also for His will to be done through them, on earth as it is in heaven. The Keys To The Kingdom- Book One: Love is autobiographical, spiritually full of impact, and the first of a trilogy chronicling a tow-year period of illumination, inspiration, training and kingdom service.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512740004

Baron Stepney

Baron, 32, and Robert, 31, are both North Carolina natives.They were incarcerated at Butner Federal Correctional Institution from 2013-2015, where they embaked on a dynamic discipleship journey together.Their voice and story come as one refined in the fire and furnace of affliction, for the use and glory of God’s kingdom.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Baron and Rob had both been incarcerated in the Feds for years. Baron was at U.S.P. Hazelton, West Virginia, and Rob was at U.S.P. in Lompoc, California.

After being at an institution for a certain amount of time, you could have your counselor submit the paperwork to be transferred to another facility. Being so many miles away, they both dreamed of the day when they would get an opportunity to be transferred closer to home. Namely F.C.I. Butner- the only federal prison complex in the state of North Carolina where they were both from. The chances were slim because almost all federal prisoners from North Carolina tried to get to Butner, but they were both accepted and designated to be transferred there in the spring of 2013.

They were flown to the national federal transit center in Oklahoma, and then flown into the nearest airstrip to Butner, N.C. They were transported to F.C.I. Butner by bus, fed and processed. It definitely wasn't freedom, but they felt real good to be back home. Things seemed to be getting better.

They were allowed to shop at the prison's commissary that following Monday. Rob had already shopped and was sitting on a bench waiting on a move (designated times where inmates were allowed to travel from one area to another) when Baron approached. He sat his bag on the ground and took a seat beside Rob.

What's up, man? Baron greeted Rob and extended his hand.

What's good? Rob replied and smiled in recognition of the slim, light brown-skinned guy with dreads that arrived with him days ago. He shook his hand.

I see you bought some food and stuff.

Yeah, man, I am trying to get situated.

Yeah, I got a few items myself.They've got some stuff here that... they didn't have at the spot I left.

Where are you coming from? Rob asked.

Baron gazed off as he shook his head in regret at the long season of his life spent imprisoned in the mountains of West Virginia. He snapped out of it, smiled and sighed. Man, they had me way in West Virginia- Hazelton. Boy! I'm glad that chapter's over! What about you? Where are you coming from?

I'm coming all the way from the west coast- Lompoc, California.

Wow, man! Baron exclaimed in shock. They had you way on the west coast?!

Yep, Rob replied, this time shaking his own head in disbelief. They had me at the ends of the earth!

That's crazy. Well, at least we're back in N.C. now.

Yeah, glad to be back, too. I've been a thousand miles away for too many years.

Who are you telling? Hey, didn't I see you in church Sunday? Baron asked.

Yeah, I was there.

How'd you like it?

It was good. Haven't been to a service like that in awhile, Rob answered.

Yeah, me neither. The church where I just left was dead. I felt the Spirit in there Sunday, though. It felt good, too.

Yeah, well, the church where I left had good preaching, but didn't have much of a worship service. That service Sunday really moved my spirit.

Baron sighed, smiled and glanced off to the side, Are you a Christian?

Rob replied with firm conviction, Yeah. I'm a Christian, and nodded his head.

I mean, are you a.. .REAL Christian? Baron asked and looked at Rob suspiciously.

Baron had met many Christians over the years since his conversion. They fell into a slew of different categories, and though he was far from self-righteous he'd yet to meet many whom he considered real Christians, or ones he felt matched his drive, dedication and passion for God. It wasn't that he felt like those whom lacked his fire weren't genuine and sincere; he knew that only God could see the hearts of men. But he just had a higher regard for men who hungered for the things of God as he did.

Yeah, I'm a real Christian! What do you mean a REAL Christian'? Rob shot back, sensing what Baron was getting at but shocked that his own dedication was in question. He, too, shared the experience of fellowshipping with few brothers who matched his zeal.

I go hard, Baron said and smirked, Like- I go hard for my God.

I go hard, too! Rob exclaimed, eyes bulging.

Baron laughed and threw his hands up in mock surrender to calm and disarm Rob. Hey, man, I'm not trying to attack you. I just needed to know.

* * *

(U.S.P. Hazelton)

Baron's growth had been gradual yet consistent over the years. The first thing that he asked the Lord to take from him was foul language. That had been immediately, right in the beginning of his walk, and had not been hard for him to overcome. This was while he was still in the county jail awaiting sentencing.

When he first got to prison his church attendance started off regular, but the lack of spirit-filled worship or preaching at the services left him feeling emptier and more drained than anything. He knew back then that God dwelled within His people and that the church was not a building, so he didn't like the feeling of going to church services out of obligation. Eventually his attendance waned.

He drank wine (prison-brewed hooch) from time-to-time, smoked weed on his birthdays and entertained his lusts all in what he considered was moderation. That's how he justified all of his indulgences- he told himself that he was just remaining grounded and not being extreme. He'd heard the cliché that some became so heavenly that they were of no earthly good, and he did not want to fall into that holier-than-thou stigma.

He continued in this state for the next six years- believing in Jesus yet practicing his own form of Christianity while remaining powerless, uninspired, and spiritually ineffective and stagnated. He wore his religion on his sleeve and was respected in the penitentiary as both a solid convict and Christian, but he secretly yearned for God to show up and fulfill the promises He had made to him.

His commitment and spiritual state gradually grew weaker. Then things in his personal life went bad. Then they got worse. Baron always had his private, personal goal of stepping up and improving his personal walk when he turned thirty. The Bible said that Jesus began His ministry at around thirty years of age, and he always imagined being empowered along the same timeline.

He was in the shower one night and his sorrows overcame him. He became desperate. He was desperate for his freedom, desperate for help and change. He was desperate for God- for God to move. With everything going so bad and his thirtieth birthday looming, Baron made his decision. He made his decision to completely surrender. His decision was to give God whatever He required in exchange for His power; His hand; His aid.

He was desperate for God to do something. He wanted to be home with his daughter and fiancé more than anything. In his desperation- his brokenness- he determined that the cost no longer mattered. He would sacrifice today- and however many more were necessary- and be miserable if that's what God called for, in exchange for a better and brighter tomorrow.

He knew that it would not be easy to give up the few pleasantries that eased the pain of prison life. He knew from experience that the toughest would be giving up masturbation- the only way heterosexual males could satisfy their primal urges behind the prison walls- but he was determined to breakthrough. The best that prison had to offer- drugs, alcohol, pasta and rice dishes, girly books, and talking on the phone- were no longer even remotely appealing. He wanted his freedom, family, and success- his dreams. And he knew that only God had the keys.

* * *

(U.S.P. Lompoc)

After years of wholehearted submission, devoting his life daily to the Lord, Rob slipped and backslid. He slacked on his studies, prayer and fasting. One day he entertained a sports ticket. Tickets- typed menus of the daily sports games that they passed around to book bets on- were popular in prison. Rob checked one out, shrugged his shoulders and thought, It's just one ticket, no big deal.

One ticket turned into many. He started to regress in other areas of his walk as well. Looking at girly pictures and pornography lead to masturbation, and his bad temper got reignited. He also started getting caught up in various social circles and conflicts that he had previously separated himself from.

Rob truly desired to go home and be the man that his mother had raised him to be. God had shown him that He wanted to use him. That he was meant to be the head of his family and provide strength for them in the areas that they were weak in. And that in Him, Rob could be highly disciplined and devoted, and become a powerful and effective tool for God's will.

Even in his backslidden state, Rob continued to read his Bible, but he noticed that he wasn't receiving the revelation he had grown accustomed to. This lack of spiritual insight moved him to devote even less time to the things of God. He began spending more and more of his time idly playing and watching sports, watching various television shows, etc. He basically fell into the mundane routine of prison life- whatever to make the time go by.

The people who knew Rob and the former seriousness of his walk and relationship with God started to make comments to him about the change they'd observed. They say the truth hurts, and their words cut Rob deeply. Everything that they said was true, and Rob knew it. He was dead wrong. But in his rebellion he turned and lashed out at them. Who were they, anyway, to question, criticize, or voice their opinions about him? He fumed! Their remarks weighed heavily on his heart and mind, though, and he eventually wrote his spiritual mother- Ms. Harvey- and confided in her.

A frivolous sports debate escalated, and an altercation ensued. Rob told the guy that he was arguing with that he didn't want to talk anymore, but the guy would not let it go. They fought and Rob beat the guy up pretty bad. He actually snapped out for a brief moment in rage, but when he came back to who he was he was ashamed of himself.

By actually putting his hands on another man and harming him, Rob realized he had grown further away from God than ever. He could no longer turn a blind eye. The contrast of where he had been to where he found himself was stark, and the words his spiritual mother had sent him in response to his letter flashed before his mind's eye: God will never leave you nor forsake you. There's a mighty calling on your life to minister and preach His word. It's important that you remain steadfast and get back focused. Rob prayed about it, and God told him to fast.

He made up his mind during that time to get back on point and realign himself back in God's will. He started holding a nightly prayer circle in the cell block again and a Bible study on Sunday afternoons. His church attendance became mandatory, and he started participating more in the services. The gambling, idle time and masturbation all came to a cease. Rob was back! Or, better yet, Christ was back in full affect within Rob.

* * *

(F.C.I. Butner)

Baron and Rob started studying together daily. They would get together either outside or in the recreation building after lunch and go for hours. Their hunger and thirst for God's wisdom and truth was insatiable. Their drive and diligence in seeking God's face and will, coupled with the willing sacrifice of both of their devoted walks, was soon rewarded with powerful revelation.

CHAPTER 2

PROCESS /PROMISE

All of God's promises are connected to His processes. The church has focused mostly on God's promises. They have, thereby, inspired a semblance of obedience through incentive-based faith to the detriment of the body. By neglecting to properly focus attention on the processes that accompany God's promises, believers are frequently left confused, and feeling duped and/or misguided when instead of the bliss of blessings and answered prayers they expected they find themselves in more trials and hardships than they began with.

Most people come to the Lord when they are down and out, on their last leg, and/or when no other person can provide them with the answers or help they need. When people find themselves in this state- where nobody, including themselves, can help them- God usually becomes attractive, and they call out to Him. They, in turn, are more receptive to His responses. We see this with the nation of Israel:

And the Lord said: "I have surely seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and