Hands in Action
Thanks to Ambassadors to the Nation who donated the money to buy our new moto bike. A new bike for us is use the same way as a pick-up truck is used for most other ministries. The last bike carried more bags of groceries to help the poor then one can imagine. We are grateful for this great gift and for God’s provision on this ministry. Praise the Lord.
As we remember the ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. Please also remember the ONE who gave the ultimate sacrifice: Jesus Christ. In Romans 5:8 it states “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in while we were yet sinners (Gods Enemies), Christ DIED for you. Why did He die for us? The main reason is wants to have a relationship with you. God is not angry with you, He is in LOVE with you. But OUR sins, our own desires, block that relationship with Him, here and in eternity. So God knows, we can NEVER be good enough, live a perfect life, give enough sacrifices or money, do enough sacraments to earn our way to him. No good works can do it for us!
So instead, Jesus , the one who COULD do all this. Did it for us. He went to that cross and took every sin you ever committed against Him and paid it off. God will never hold you accountable for any sin you ever did. Why? Because Jesus was held accountable for those sins, your crimes that you committed against God, He paid that debt for you! Jesus took your death sentence for you!! Is that not great news? If you think so, that is what we call the Gospel (to good to be true news).
So today as we remember those who died. Remember the One who DIED for you personally. Give your life to Jesus, he paid the ultimate price so you can be free for all eternity. Remember it is free gift, to all who call on His Name.
But how Denny? How can I accept Jesus and receive this great gift?
Any questions or need help with this new life, be free to contact us at www.dsiministries.com or write me at dinostauffer@yahoo.com, all contact will remain in strictest confidentiality. I do not judge you either, do not be afraid to contact me and ask anything, that you think keeps you from the Love of God. I am here to help. If you care to argue or debate, I do not argue, you are free to stay an unbeliever. This is for those who want or need God or on a journey to find Him.
One of the most challenging things I heard in Bible College was this:
Most people have not used their faith since they received Salvation.
At first this was offensive to me. I thought who was he to make such a statement in class. But, by the moving of the Holy Spirit, I knew he was right. Yes, I used my faith for emergencies, or when I needed a parking place in a hurry. But did I use my faith as Jesus commanded me? Did I truly understand faith? Did I understand all that was included when I received the “measure of faith?”
So like many of my previous posts, I am going to try to tackle a most misunderstood issue and make it as simple and practical as I can. I plan to do a two or three part series on faith.
What is Faith?
In Christian teaching this is the favorite and most often quoted verse of all when it comes to faith:
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (NKV)
This however, is not my favorite verse on faith. Although I have been to Bible College, I still like to break down the issue of faith to make it simpler.
In the New Living Translation, I found a verse that I have mediated on for years. It is so simple.
Romans 4:20-21 – Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything He promised.
He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything He promised.
I will share it again. What is faith? Being absolutely convinced that God is able to do anything He promises. I will simply say that faith is taking God at His Word. If God said it, it is true and valid. That is a check you can take to the bank and cash.
When you mediate on Romans 4 and see what Abraham did it was truly amazing. Abraham was a 75 year old man who was married to Sarah for approximately 60 years. She was barren, unable to conceive. But Abraham believed God and took God at His word when He said they were going to have a child. Then for whatever reasons, God waited another 25 years before fulfilling His promise to Abraham. In verse 20, the Bible says that year after year Abraham never doubted God but instead grew stronger and stronger in faith. He believed God so much that it did not matter how long it took for the promise to manifest. Abraham was like a child waiting for Christmas morning. The child knows on that day the tree will be loaded with gifts. Every day that passes to the child, it is a day closer to that wonderful day. That was how Abraham and Sarah demonstrated their faith in God’s Word.
Roman Centurion
Then in Matthew 8, Jesus meets a Roman Centurion. The Centurion’s great faith had a powerful impact on Jesus.
If you are not familiar with the passage, a Roman soldier (an enemy of the Jewish people) came to Jesus for Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus offered to go to his home which was a great offense for a jewish person. They were not to enter a gentile’s home, but Jesus offered anyway.
Matthew 8:8, The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
What made this man’s faith so great that Jesus marveled at it? Ready for some super theology? He took Jesus at his word! He believed without a doubt. If Jesus said it, it was as good as done. He knew the capabilities of Jesus. He believed that whatever Jesus said would be done. In verse 13 – Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
Remember this from the passage, the centurion asked Jesus (who had the power) and the soldier (believed it). Jesus did his part and in verse 13 in the New Living Translation it states: Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go on home. What you believed has happened.
What I want you to see in this first lesson is that faith is a two way process. God has the power to save, to heal, to deliver and protect you, but then you have to believe, and be fully convinced that God can and will do all he promised.
Secondly you must read what the Bible actually says, not just what you believe the Bible says. I once heard some good advice from a world class preacher. If you are not sure what to believe, just look at what Jesus did. Look at His actions, at how he dealt with people and their sicknesses and how he protected the disciples in the boat. Look at how He took care of the needs of the people when they were hungry or demon possessed. That is a picture of what God is like. Jesus said it! If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. Why? Because Jesus and the Father God are one!
The Nuts and Bolts of Healing
How can I receive healing and how can I ward off diseases.
Know that it is God’s will to heal you. (Mark 7:13 – Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition,……)
Ok, I showed you the best way I can in this article that it is God’s will to always heal. You do not need to pray that useless prayer, “If it is your will, let it be done.”
I think the hardest thing about healing is first to get someone to change their religious views on healing. So many in churches today try to explain healing away by saying: “When the Bible talks about healing, it is referring to spiritual healing.” I only have one question! When was the last time your spirit caught a cold? Your body can be infected with an illness. Your mind or emotions (soul) can go through mental, and emotional pain and trauma. But your spirit is sealed. (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30)
I am asking you to think this through. Jesus said in “The Lords Prayer;” Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in Heaven. Jesus wants God’s will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Do you believe there is sin, sickness or death in Heaven? The Bible tells us that in Jesus’s life He went around healing all who were oppressed by the devil. (Acts 10:38)
Renew your mind to the Word of God
Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind
We need to understand that healing is a part of your salvation. When you say I have been saved you are literally saying (in the Greek language) the word “sozo”, or by saying I received salvation “soteria.” This is the same root word in Strong’s Greek Concordance of the Bible:
This weeks subject references a question I had when I was an unbeliever and then again when I became a new believer. I received answers to my question from my personal time with God. Now, when I have questions and I do not want a religious or christianese answer, I get alone with God. I go to Him as my Father and ask these hard questions, that only He can answer. This post is based on my one on one intimate times with God.
Before I became a follower of Jesus, I was a heathens heathen. I started drinking, drugging and having sex between the ages of 9-11. I grew up hard on the streets of Pennsylvania. I learned how to party, fight and steal. As I grew up, my taste for the wilder side of life grew. Between the ages of 16 through 20, I became a chronic alcoholic and a drug addict. I do not believe I drew many sober breaths in those days. By the time I came to Christ at the age of 23 I was wild and crazy. I slept with over 30 women and almost killed two people in two very violent fights. I had my first child at 17. I also managed to kill myself by the age of 17. I was pronounced dead in the Emergency Room. I remained dead for over 6 minutes.
During that time I went to what the Bible calls, “Outer darkness.” I heard the Lord during those six minutes, (although I did not know it was Him at the time). He gave me the will to live by showing me my unborn son and asked “If I wanted to be there for Him.” I came back without medical assistance and scared my future sister-in-law half to death. Two years later, after being kicked out of the Army and deported from Germany, I found myself divorced. This started me on the road to recovery in the “12 step program”. Then in 1986 I received Jesus as my Savior at a revival meeting. I have been sober ever since.
Why did I share all that about my old days? To glorify, relive and brag about my wild past? No, I shared that for my readers, who do not follow Christ. I wanted them to know that I am not some religious preacher, who never has been in the real world. I want people to know, that I know what it is like to live life without God. I also want you to know what is like today to have Him as my Father and what He has done in my life.
So now let’s answer this question.
Why God, Do you take all the fun out of life?
Why so many rules and regulations? Why is sin so fun and being good so boring? These were questions I had in the beginning. I loved the church I was born-again in. But they had one problem, they were very dogmatic and legalistic. When I asked questions, I would just get a bible verse thrown at me. It never satisfied my questions. So when I met God and found out that He likes to have conversations with me I went to Him on a regular basis. He is a great Father and He loves these questions. He loves to teach His children by His Word (The Bible). He also loves to teach His children through one on one time where He alone talks to us.
The answer to me now is obvious. Back then it was not clear until He opened my eyes and I looked at this world through His eyes.
So I asked God these questions. His answers surprised me! I thought His answer would be; “It offends my Holy Nature,” or the reason I use to get from my natural father; “because I told you so!” His answer was plain and simple; “I hate sin because it kills my children.” Think about that! God hates sin because we are his children. He is no different then we are. I also have children and if anyone or anything would threaten or harm them, I would be there to protect them and or eliminate that threat.
What lengths would you go to or how would you feel if someone or something wanted to kill your children?
Why do we think God is different?
Roman 6:23; For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Genesis 2:18; “but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Once again sin kills! God is life and anything other than God’s ways are death; physically and spiritually.
I have heard this question asked many times by unbelievers; So if I do not do what God says, He will kill me or punish me? The answer is no.
Have you ever been told not to put your hands on a hot stove? My parents told me all the time. So once accidentally I touched the hot stove and I got burned! Did I get burned because my parents were angry or punishing me? This is not rocket science. It is because, if you touch a flame with your bare hand you will get burned! If you live in sin and continue in it, it will kill you or anything else you enter it into! Your marriage, work finances. That is what sin does, it kills everything it touches. Sometimes fast but most of the time slowly. It becomes a slow painful process like cancer.
Here are two examples of why we sin. First, God gave us free-will. He did not make us like robots. As His children, we can live our lives as we please. But like that hot flame there are consequences to our actions. If we touch that hot stove, we will get burned! So the first way is through our free-will – our choices. Secondly, there is a fallen Angel who decided to live outside of God. His name was Lucifer, today we know him as Satan, which means deceiver! That is what he does to us, he constantly deceives us. He did it in the Garden of Eden and he does the same today. He deceives, he lies, and tells us that life is better outside of God’s ways. He will attempt to get you, to destroy yourself, your family and your future. Remember, God is life and anything other than that is the opposite (death). That is why God hates sin! It kills his babies.
LET US LOOK AT THE REAL WORLD!
Today nothing has changed. The devil or our own self-will gets us to do what we want to do. Here we are now in 2014 and the world is a mess. The skeptic says, if there is a God, then why does He allow this to happen?
The answer is this. God gave man dominion (management) over this world and his own life. Who runs planet earth? Who is in charge in Washington, Moscow or any government in this world? Who is in charge of your life? The answer is man!
However, when we decide to live life outside of our Father’s ways, we usher in death. We hate the consequences of our actions and decisions. We hate what we see in the world we are living in. Why is that? Sin, like fire does what it does best, it kills. Fire will burn you and sin will kill you if you play with it.
There has only been one who was born and has overcome death, Jesus. He died for the payment of our sins! But then he rose again for He was God and He never committed sin! So He was not obligated to die! He died in our place to pay a ransom for our life, so you do not have to die eternally. So, we can choose to live with our Father for all eternity or we can choose to live this life without Him.
One Real World Example
For sake of time , let us take one example: Sex
This is an easy example to show in our modern world. When used outside the plan of God, sex can be so destructive. Since the “Sexual Revolution” of the 60’s, we have seen some of its results.
According to the Word of God, sex was designed for marriage in the context of one women and one man for all their lives. It was designed for reproduction of our species and also for intimacy and joy among the husband and wife.
Since the sexual revolution here are some of the results that are destroying our American Culture and are helping to destroy Africa.
At the very bottom of the list, only 1% of all abortions are for rape and health reasons.
I know this is not what you want to read over your morning coffee and donut.
God has been getting a bad rap for far too long. Too many blame God for what happens in their lives, when all this time it has been man alone who wants to live his or her life on their own terms.
Do you see how ugly this is? Remember, I only gave you one sin and 7 statistics for that one sin! Now consider all the other sins in this world and start reflecting on all the destruction these sins cause like I did above. You probably would not be able to ever sleep again. Now can you imagine what it is like for God? He sees it all and all the destruction, we create on this planet. How this must wreck God’s heart, when He looks at the planet He created, and looks at the children He loves so much who reject not only His ways but have also rejected Him. Can you now see why God hates sin, and why He works so hard to save his children.
2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (eternal life)
“I created Intimacy (Sex)”
At the start of this blog I told you that I used to ask God a lot of questions. This is how God chose to answer. The Lord came to me one day as I was watching Television. I love watching Animal Planet and nature shows. As I was watching a show on the ocean and its creatures, it showed the reproduction of a certain fish. As I watched, this female fish came along and layed her eggs. Then shortly after the male came along and fertilized the eggs. He did this by basically tinkling on the eggs.
I had the thought; this is really a boring way to reproduce!
Then I heard the Lord say to me. I could have made you any way I wanted. I could have made mankind just like those fish. Nothing intimate, nothing personal. Just have a women drop her egg and then the man comes after and fertilizes it. But I wanted to bless mankind.
The Lord wanted us to feel the love and the intimacy that comes from being human. All the emotion, the pleasure and the love that comes when a married couple come together as God planned it. God wanted us to feel love because He is Love. God designed sex to bless us. But, as we have seen above with just with one example, man is destroying God’s creation. Man has made it perverted and dangerous. And always for one reason:
Man wants to live life on his own terms in his own way apart from God the Creator of everything.
So I want you to see, that God is no KILL-JOY! He sets up guide-lines to protect us and others around us so we can enjoy all He has created. God does not want to kill our fun. Remember this the next time you think God is out to kill your fun. I hope you you can sit back for a moment or two and look through God’s eyes and see what he has created and how we have perverted it. Reflect on how much destruction it causes when we choose to live life outside of God’s will.
Edited by and most grateful for: Gary Green
Written by Dennis Stauffer
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God’s Prosperity III
Joshua 1:6-8
Be strong and of good courage, for this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success.
God wants us to succeed and prosper!
These verses let us know God wants us to succeed and prosper. That is God’s will for all his children, to succeed in all He commands them to do. So many preach against this today. Just ask yourself the opposite, God wants me to fail and live a defeated life. Does this sound like a loving father? What good father would wish this on his child? Not one. We all want our children to be blessed with all life has to offer them. In education, work, and family. We want them to prosper not only materially but also spiritually. So why do we believe God wants the opposite for us. To put it plainly, to preach otherwise is just religious nonsense. You have to be religious to believe this!!
So the question is; If God wants us all to be saved, healed, blessed and have success, why are so many Christians living in sickness, poverty and failure?
That is the reason for this article. To help you get out of religious nonsense, and to get you to start living the way God designed us to live.
I have not mentioned this in the two previous articles, but in verse six, it says:
Be strong and of good courage, for this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
God told them to go into the promise land and they will divide as an inheritance!
God told them right from the beginning they will be victorious, the battle is already won. But there are some conditions to this victory. It is not automatic! God shared with them the desired outcome but they need to follow His directions to win. This means work, it means a fight is ahead. It does not say there will be no effort on your part. It means as God says three times in these verses, be strong and very courageous.
Assembly Required!
Here is an example; have you ever tried to put something together and decided not to read the directions? You go out and buy a wonderful product, but it says “assembly required.” If you would follow the directions, you would be successful.
Human nature seems to tell us we do not need the directions. We can do it on our own. But after a few frustrating attempts, we finally come to our wits end. Sitting there frustrated we want to break the item, but we finally and reluctantly open the directions. Then step by step, in no time we have an assembled product.
Why then do we insist on doing things our own way? We become frustrated and even worse, often fail. This is a picture of so many lives today. Frustrated, confused and wanting to break something. We experience this in our marriages, our relationships, our finances and at work. Is this not the reality of so many believers and unbelievers alike? But where do we find these directions for this life? No other place than “The Bible.”
Changing directions
God does give us direction in the Bible. But like the example above, so many continue in their own wisdom. We do not even think to look at what God says about our lives. We get married, have children, start careers and business and never ask God. Remember God knows how to do all things.
We believe life is like the Doris Day song;
Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera, sera What will be, will be.
But this is not real, life takes vision, direction and guidance.
I heard this at church; “Failure to plan is a plan to fail”.
Sadly many find this out the hard way, with bankruptcies, divorces, broken homes and broken hearts. Our tendency is to plow ahead with no direction or guidance from “God, the “one” who created all things.
In my last blog, I shared about Joshua 1 verse 7. We covered the first few points about:
The preceeding points are the overview of any battle. This blog now covers the basics, the “nuts and bolts,” the how to of living. This blog will contain daily insights and practices to begin our success to any and all areas of your life.
Listen to what is coming out your mouth!
The Bible says; In the beginning God created the world by speaking it into existence. God speaks and it happens. Whatever God does is successful and prosperous. Putting it simply, if you learn to study God’s ways and His principles, you will succeed.
So many including myself love telling everyone about our circumstances. We love to tell others how many problems we have. We love to share the details of our marriages and of divorces and how bad everything has been. We get home from work and complain about our job. The doctor gives us a bad report and we let sickness and diseases define who we are. Telling everyone who comes across our path “what the doctor says” is not healthy, nor is it encouraging others to live for God.
But the verse says The Book of Law (Bible) shall not depart from your mouth.
Also the word says in Proverbs 18:21, Life and death is in the power of the tongue, and all those who love it will eat of its fruit.
What does this mean? This means we need to start speaking about what God says about our situations. We need to learn to speak life over things of our lives, not death. Speak blessings over our children, our spouse, our work and our finances, not curses.
Again we love to tell others our tales of woes;
Sound familiar?
But God says:
There are so many promises the Lord gives us in His Word, these are only a few. We need to learn what God says and then practice speaking only what He speaks. Do not speak the circumstances, not what your doctor or your body is telling you. Not what your checkbook screams at you. Not what your family or kids look like now, but what God promised you. Dwell on the positive not the negative.
You shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do
I wish that learning to say “God shall supply all my needs according to His riches” was all there was to it! But that is not all. God is not Harry Potter nor does He even operate in that fashion. We call what Harry Potter does “black magic”. God does not work in “black magic” nor is God the “great cosmic vending machine”.
You cannot just say, God will supply all my needs according to His riches and continually refuse to follow God’s plan for money. Many refuse to give and continually use God’s money for only selfish desires. So many are maxed out on credit cards for all the newest electronics, fashions and cars. This does not work. I have met so many Christians who speak the right words and the proper verses but forget to meditate on and observe God’s word about finances. We cannot use God’s money only for our selfish gains, and then wonder what is happening when we come into a crisis situation.
So many speak health but forget to follow God’s ways for eating. God warns us about stressing and worrying over ever situation. I once was praying for a lady at church. She was angry at God! She was over weight and suffered from diabetes. She was determined to find out why God was not healing her. She told me she spoke verses over her life ever day! So she demanded an answer from God! The Spirit of God came back to me and told me to tell her “I cannot not heal you because if I did, you will only get diabetes back in a week.” I spoke what the Holy Spirit said, “You have failed to follow your doctors advice. You have refused to change your diet. You have refused to stop eating the things that are killing you …. “, and she knew she received an answer from God. Yes, she spoke the right words, but her actions did not line up with God’s direction in his Word.
In our marriages, God gives clear directions for husbands and wives. But so many men balk at the idea of loving their wife as Christ loves the church, unconditionally, and how many times have I heard women speak out against submitting to their husband. Both are rebelling against the King of Kings. God invented marriage! God knows how marriages work best. But we like to write marriage off as an old culture thing of the Bible. Meanwhile 50% of Christian marriages end in divorce. No different from the world. Why? Because we conduct our marriages just like the world does and then we wonder why we are failing so badly. We are failing to follow God’s plans.
We need to first observe and learn what God’s Word says and then follow it. Then we can learn how to speak blessings and not just tell others about our circumstances. This does not mean denying what is going on in your life. We do not live with our heads in the sand. What we need to learn is to value what God says more than what we see and hear. We have a tendency to think the physical realm trumps the Spiritual, that the physical (what we see and hear) is more real than the Spirit world. Remember, it was the Spirit (God) who created the physical realm. God created the (physical) world. So we need to remember to follow Spiritual direction and not the physical ways.
You might say;
I am not saying to live in denial of the situation. What I am saying is that we need to value what God says, more than what the situation says. Who knows more about cancer and healing? God or your doctor?
For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success.
I love how God put this: for then YOU will make your way…..,
Who makes your way prosperous? You! If you follow God, then you will have success.
God does have a perfect will for our lives. But we have to cooperate just like Joshua.
It is interesting that in Joshua chapter 7, Joshua had to do battle with a little tribe of Ai, after he just had a mighty victory against Jericho. He did not seek the Lord but instead followed his own wisdom and past victories. He then experienced his worst defeat. Yes, he knew God’s will, but he decided to follow his own ways and he lost. It cost everyone. In chapter 8, dejected, Joshua went to the Lord, and then the Lord gave him directions on how to win the battle. After that He had success. There is so much to learn and glean from the book of Joshua along with the rest of the Bible.
Now the only question is, do you want to prosper and live a successful life?
Written by Dennis Stauffer
Edited by Gary Green (Praise the Lord for him)
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I want to continue on the subject of saved and stuck.
When I got born-again, I was told to come forward and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. I was told He would forgive all my sins and when I died I will go to heaven. I said the prayer and was re-insured that when I die I would go to heaven but in the mean time I should read my bible and find a good church. That is what I did and for the next eighteen years. I read my bible and devotionals every morning. I went to church three times a week and was in service as a Youth Pastor and lead many people to Jesus.
To be honest, I was born-again and saved and stuck. I was frustrated. Do not get me wrong. I loved Jesus, loved going to church and being in service. But this is not what I thought the Christian life should be. I read the New Testament, and this life did not match what I was reading. No great moves of Jesus. No miracles.
If you measured me up to any moral person living in the world, I would be no real difference except I went to church and I read the bible. (I think this is why Christianity is loosing so much ground in the U.S. today.) Most people do not see any real difference in us as Christians. Let change that!
Intimacy
First problem is the introduction to Christianity or the invitation to receive Christ. We tell people receive Jesus and get your sins pardon and one day you will go to heaven. These are true facts but this is not the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the book of John it states real eternal life is this:
John 17:3, And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
If you look at this verse you will see that eternal life is that you know. This word is also used in Genesis 4:1 to show it real meaning:
Genesis 4:1, Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.
God want us to know Him intimately in the here and now. Not one day, when you die and go to heaven. He desires the same things, as a man desires in his relationship with his wife. This is how deeply the Lord desires a relationship with you. Not just some religious worship or a servant/master relationship with him. God wants a one on one personal relationship with Him. He does not desire some distant, far away relationship. God want to be in your life just as your wife or husband would be. He wants us that close and that emotional. He wants to be apart of your decisions. He want to have input in the way your life is going and all the decision your make. That is why we the church is called the “bride of Christ”
Communication
1 Thessalonians 5:17, pray without ceasing,
If God tells you to pray (talk, communicate) without ceasing. That means He is talking and listening to you without ceasing. Communication is a two-way street. So remember if God is telling you to talk to him without ceasing. He is doing the same for you.
Adoption
You have been adopted. You did not join a religion. You got yourself into a one on one personal relationship with the Creator of this universe. God now becomes your Father and you become His child.
Romans 8:15-16: you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
Sozo
When you say you been saved, you are saying in the greek “Sozo”. This word has many layers of meaning to it. I do not know how to explain it properly but when you got saved you have received so many benefits.
Understand “going to heaven is only one aspect of being saved” it is the natural process of living your life with God in the here and now. If you have Jesus now in your life. You will have Jesus in your life when you go into His realm or dimension. And on the other hand if you live your life without Him here, you will continue that on the next life. So a strong word of caution; if you continue to live this life for yourself and without Him, this will continue in the next by your decision not Gods. This is what you have desired in your heart.
2 Peter 3:9:The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Let us look at the Greek meaning of Sozo:
to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction one (from injury or peril) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue to save in the technical biblical sense negatively to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment. to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance.
To understand your salvation. This is better to look at it as you been adopted into a family instead of receiving a ticket to a destination (heaven).
In my life, in Guatemala. I married Maria Luisa and she had five children. I by marriage adopted those children. Now as their father;
This is a more perfect look at Salvation. A real relationship with God as your father. In the here and now. Can you image tell your kids you want to have a relationship but it will not really begin for 50 or more years from now in a distant far off land. But is that not how we view salvation.
Even in Scripture God verify this in His word.
Psalm 103:1-5,
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
10-13
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
Now does this sound more like what God wants and what you want. I am like you, I do not want some far off, God and that I need to beg and plead to. I do want a relationship if God hears me or not. God hears all that we say to Him. He always inattentive to us. He is our loving father who is wants to be apart of our lives.
So today if you want a closer walk with God. I might suggest for you to look, on how you look at your relationship with God. Is He some distant far off God or is He your father and does he have an intimate place in your life. Does He help you make decisions? When you are in need or sick does He supply all your needs and heals all your sickness?
Two scenarios to help us understand where I am coming from.
Why does the bible say we been freed from the slavery of sin? (Romans 8:2) But so many good Christians are stuck in sin? They seem to be sincere but they have no victory when it comes to the devil and the sins of the flesh. Why do we see the divorce rate, the debt rate of Christians no better than those of the world? Why do they come week after week to church and ask God over and over to forgive our sins but we continually repeat our mistakes. Where is God in this? Why does´t he seem to help us? Whats wrong with this picture?
This post is in no way a in-depth study of sin and addictions. It is designed to be a simple tool to help us get a different look at what we been taught and change are mind-set to gain victory in our Christian walk.
A change of thought! Most Christian I know follow this routine when they sin:
Does this sound somewhat familiar?
The Problem
I think the biggest problem facing sin for the New Testament saint is this. We can not rightly divide the Word of God. I believe many people do not know the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. I believe most read the bible as one big book, not knowing that there is different covenants in the Bible. The Old Covenant (the law and traditions and holy day) was for the people of Israel, the Jews. and the New Covenant is written to all people who commit their life to Jesus Christ and receive the forgiveness of sin and the new birth. I am not saying we do not use the whole bible but we should know how to use it first. I have sat under so many preachers who preach Old Testament law and teach holy days to New Testament believers putting them back in bondage. (Read the book of Galatians and Acts 15, to get a better understanding, why we should not do this) So many Christian not knowing we are under a new covenant and new promises.
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. (Heb 8:6-7 read the whole chapter of Hebrews 8 for a better understanding)
Did you know in the Old Testament confessing ones sins is mention over 20 times in the Old Testament. (e-sword search)
In the New Testament, confessing of ones sin is only mentioned 3 times. Once in Matthew 3:6 when John was baptizing in the Jordan and if you do not know this, John is an Old Testament prophet. The second one, I want to really focus on is the Christian hobby-horse;
1 John, 1;9; If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If you read 1 John 1:9 in context you will quickly see, John is showing us the difference between a true believer and a false or unsaved one. The whole chapter is loaded with “if ” you….etc showing the difference between of who is truly born-again and who is not. But most of the time this verse is separated and preached alone without it being preached in its proper context, 1 John 1. I believe this is more a salvation verse then a christian maintenance verse when we sin.
My point is this! When we sin, we have a habit of going to God and ask him to do something for us; for Him to remove this sin. We continually ask God to do for us what He has already done! Do you remember when you got saved? You were told Jesus at the cross forgave all our sins! (past, present and future) This is a true statement and if you believe it is true. Why do we asked God to forgive us at the altar? Did Jesus forgive all your sins?
In 1 Corinthians 15:17-18; And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
Do you see that? If Christ has not been raised, we would still be in our sins.That means if we are still in our sins, we would perish like those who gone before us. We shall not perish because Jesus paid it all! Every one of our sins have been paid. We have been set free from the law of sin and death.
(Romans 8:2; But the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.)
You might be asking by now. What is your point? I know all this but I got no victory in my life!
The Solution
Now let look at another two words: Repent and Repentance.
Repent: 21 times in the Old Testament (many of those references refers to God). 24 times in the New Testament (all referring to people to repent)
Repentance: 1 time in the Old Testament. 25 times in the New Testament. (all referring to people).
Here is a few of those verses;
Luke 5:32; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Matthew 4:17; From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Acts 17:30; And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.
I believe as New Testament believers we are filled with the Spirit of God. We now can take responsibility for our lives. We now have the ability to make decisions who we want to live for. We can live for God or for ourselves. We can live in the flesh or we can live in the spirit.
Romans 6:11-16; Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
My point is this. We New Testament saints can make choices. We can decide if we want to be slaves to sin or unto righteousness.
Let bring this point home. My earlier example of the person who is addicted to porn. One day I asked God about this situation. God showed me this truth. This person would sin all week and feel guilty and remorse for his sins. On Sunday, he would make his way to church and go to the altar call and confess and cry over his sins. But no change ever came into his life.
God showed me, he was truly sorry for his sins . He thought by confessing his sins and lamenting over his sins would make God put an end to his problem. You see, he not only wanted God to die for his sins. He also wanted God to step in and just make his sins go away. It does not happen that way!
We have the responsibly to repent. My friend needed to do more than make altar calls and confess and plead with God. He needed to repent and turn away from the sins he was committing. He needed to decide to do what ever it takes to clean his life up. He could have gotten rid of his computer and his tapes.
Mark 9:43; And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched. (I do not believe God is saying cutting off your hand but using the principle to get rid of whatever is causing you to stumble even if it mean taking extreme measures.)
There are so many options he could have gotten. There is pastoral counselling. There are rehabilitation centers and help groups to help you in your recovery. But all he wanted was God to step in and clean up his mess. God will not do that.
Most modern deliverance ministries operate on this basis, people just come down to the altar and someone lays hands on you and all your sins and messes just go away instantly. I found out in my own life when God delivered me from alcoholism, He did take it away and delivery me from the demons, but I did have to take responsibility to change my lifestyle and renew my mind to the word of God and get some counselling and 12 step groups help. (see Luke 11:24-26)
Romans 12:2; And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.
We have the responsibility for our lives. If we know what we are doing is destructive and moving us away from God. We need to stop it, repent (turn around and move away from it). I believe Gods power is in our repentance. I believe the moment we are sincere and make the first move, we will have all of Gods wisdom and power at our disposal.
Remember the story of the parable of the lost son. (Luke 15:15-32) I want to point out a few spiritual pointers.
The last scenario I want to point out is the marriage and family scenario. I think we all struggle in this area. The reason is that we are our true selves with our family. We put on no Christian fronts, we are not two faced when it comes to our families. The last statics I heard, was that over 50% of all Christian marriages end in divorce.
Matthew 5:24: leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Once again when we are having family troubles or marital problems. We head for the prayer closet and beg God to save our marriage. we beg, help me Lord with these kids. Change this husband or wife of mine! Does this sound familiar?
In this verse, as it does in the whole New Testament,it puts the responsibility back on our laps. While we are always trying to get God to do what he has already done for us. He told us to take the responsibility for ourselves. God instruct us to leave the altar and go and find reconciliation with our families or all people in general. We have that tendency to run to the altar, offer sacrifices and tears to implores Gods help.
Marriage is not a 50-50 proposition, it requires a 100% on your part and 100% on the others part. But if the other person does not want to give a 1oo%, it does not let you off the hook. You must still give your 100%. We can not do the blaming game. Telling ourselves if only my partner would lest give back, I would do my part. No, that not how it works.
Husbands if you find you are not loving to your wife. Your callous to your family. Repent and show love to them. The bible reminds us that we are to be to our wives as Christ is to the church.
Romans 5:8: But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
You once again, We see God did not wait for us to get our act together. To start behaving like he wanted us to. He acted first, He loved us and then died for us while we were still His enemies. This is our example, especially in families. Do not wait until your husband or wife gets in line with your thinking for you to love them. Just love them in spite of who they are. ( This is for some what normal working families! If you’re in a abusive or violent marriage and there is danger to you or your children. Seek help immediately for your safety.)
Stop begging God to fix your marriage. Find out in scriptures what you can do and what can you do to make your marriage better. Repent, stop the “blame game” and the “if he does what I want him to do game”.
The Bible is loaded with how to make your marriage better even if your married to an unbeliever. (1 Corinthians 7 )
If your not sure how you can make your marriage and family better, ask the Holy Spirit to show you what YOU can do in yourself to become a better spouse or parent.
A good movie to watch is “Fireproof” starring Kirk Cameron. This is not only for men who struggle with porn. The biblical principle shown in this movie applies to both men and women, on how to take scriptural principles and apply it to your marriage.
One last advice you might not want to hear! Most people in the church and out of the church hate this word; “WORK”! I find so many people, who want to go to the altar and have God do something for them instead of taking the time to open their bibles and find what the word says about them and their problems. We look for quick fixes,we have a microwave mentalities.
Also we struggle in these modern-days with “victims mentality”. It is everyone’s fault for my problems or the way that I am. If my husband only….., If my children would only…. , if my wife would stop nagging and take responsibility…, It is my color, my lack of money, it where we live, etc etc.
It time for us to grow up, start looking at ourselves and then take responsibility for our families and children. The question is simple. Do we want to live a life that is worth something. Do we want our Christian life to make a difference or do we want to play church games? Do I want my marriage to be a wonderful thing or do you want to live on a battlefield? Do you want your children to grow up and continue on with God or do we want to lose them to this world and all it has to offer? Do we want them to carry on what we started, to carry on our family curses of abuse, alcoholism and divorce? Or do you want them to have wonderful whole marriages that serves God and begin a new family legacy? Do you want a powerful walk with Jesus Christ? That changes lives of the people around you? Your families, your neighbors and those who work with you?
You have the choice to stay saved and stuck or become the man or women God has called you to be!
Start today and take responsibility for your walk with Christ!
Today I want to talk about a serious condition that exist in the body of Christ. It is the condition some call, saved and stuck. What does this mean?
Saved and Stuck; a condition where a person is truly born-again and then waits to die to go to heaven or begins waiting on the second coming of the Lord. In the meantime this person is dedicated to going to church, reading their Bible, studying doctrines of their specific domination and ready to defend them at any cost. Very religious in nature.
At first, you might be scratching your head and wondering what is wrong with this? These are perfect things we do as Christians. You might be asking yourself, Has this guy lost his mind?
So where is the problem with this? Let me explain this from my own experience.
June 10, 1985, I met God personally. I met Him face to face and heard in His audible voice. Later through a 12 step group, I met some Christians who took me to bible studies and one night after a Revival Meeting, I got saved, born-again. Following this I got baptized and started going to church (3 times a week), bible studies and learning all my new beliefs. (Salvation, predestination, second coming of the Lord, eternal security etc, etc, etc.)
Still not following me? I became a good Christian, I became the youth leader and my friends knew how much I studied the Word of God. I got the name Mr. Bible (no joke). I was devoted to my church, was their every time the doors opened. I was reaching people for Christ and having weekly Bible studies in my home.
So what is wrong with all this???
What I was not telling people, even though I appreciated the Lord and his blessing of salvation. I hated living the Christian life. Just like the old story of; how to boil a frog? Put him in cold water and slowly turn up the heat. So was my life as a Christian, slowly becoming a religious burden.
Life in Pennsylvania was hard. I owned my own business, money was tight and so was life’s problems. The joy of salvation was gone. I used to scoff at the bible verses in Matthew 11:30 when preached: My yoke is easy and my burden is light. I did not have a clue why Jesus would even say such a thing like this. Life was not easy and my burden were heavy.
I would never admit this to anyone. I put on my Christian face, (fake smile) and knew the language of church.( How you doing Dennis? “I doing fine and God is good.” I am blessed! If God blessed me anymore I wouldn´t know what to do.)
Deep down life had no zest, I was on autopilot. Worked 6 days a week doing hardwood floors, church twice on Sunday,taught youth group on Wednesday night and also taught a bible study on Friday night. I would read my bible and have daily devotionals.
To be honest I had not a clue what was wrong with me! Nor would I even admit what I felt. I was living the perfect Christian life or was I? To be honest, I was saved and stuck!
This condition in not new by any means. It is written about in the Gospels. It existed for hundreds of years in the Old Testament. Jesus had to deal harshly with this while on earth. We may not have recognized it in the bible. But the Pharisees and Sadducees were contaminated with this condition. A religious life dedicated to God with traditions, rules and a way of life. Void of any relationship with God. More concerned with doctrines, rules and tradition. Void of love for God or the people, he sent them to minister to. Think about it, the Son of God stood right in front of them, did miracles like no other and still because of this condition. They missed out on their Messiah and him crucified.
In the New Testament, Jesus talks to the Church of Ephesus:
Revelation 2:1-5, The Loveless Church
“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
The church in Ephesus was doing all the right Christian things but one. They no longer had a loving and intimate relationship with Jesus.
The Solution
One day at Bible College I got the answer I was seeking. Even though I left my domination and moved to Colorado Springs. I had not shaken it entirely.
The answers are simple. I found mine in the previous verse (Revelation 2) and in John 17:3
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
The problem is started at the beginning of our Christian life. When we have people come to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, it always with the promise when you except him, you get to go to Heaven. I am right or wrong? When we offer salvation, we say “except Jesus and you can go to heaven”! Plain and simple we offer folks “fire insurance” keep yourself from going to hell!
You still might be saying, “What wrong with that?” Look at it, Receive Jesus now and later when you die, 5, 10, 50 years later you can go to heaven. What then comes in between? Our answer is “Church life”, the things I described earlier in this blog. For a lot of us, we go to work for Jesus. We move from having an intimate relationship to becoming employees.
What does the bible say in John 17:3; this is eternal life, that they may know; the word “know”, used here is also used also in Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew his wife Eve and she conceived, and bare Cain. This is the same word use John 17:3. God want us to know, that eternal life is an intimate, close, face to face loving, personal relationship with Christ NOW. Not in some distance future when we die.
Old time religion use to write hymns like “so when we gather at that river” and “in the sweet bye and bye”. No, No, No, Jesus goes not want us to know him when we get to heaven. He wants relationship with us now, the here and now. I tell people if you do not know Jesus here, if you do not have a relationship here, an intimate personal one. You will not have it there in the “sweet bye and bye”.
When you die and do not have the relationship here, you will not be “dealing with the man upstairs” or some might say, “I will deal with my afterlife when I get there.”
When you die, Your decision is already made by you! If your life is void of Jesus here, when you die it will be void of Jesus there! If you have decided you will have nothing to do with God here, it will be the same there. Hell is simply a place where there is no trace of God. His presence, His blessing, His virtues are not there. You told him in this life, you do not want anything to do with him or his church. So in the next life, you will get your wish. If you replace Jesus salvation with your own personal goodness or your good works you will miss out on his forgiveness. You told God you want to do it your way. God does not send you to Hell, you do. The decision is yours.
God died for you, paid for all your sins, removed your debt you owe, so you can have an open relationship with him. Have intimacy with him here and now. You do not have to be afraid of His judgment. Because of what Jesus did. You have been judged already. You been declared righteous in the sight of God when you received salvation. Jesus has erased all your sin debt. He paid it all, not just so you can go to heaven. He want to know you here and now. To direct your life and help you in this life. He wants to have a loving relationship with you now. This is why the church of Jesus Christ is called the “bride of Christ”. We are His bride!
There are so many benefits to having this relationship with Jesus here and now. One it will keep you from what I described as my early life in the church. A dead traditional lifestyle. It will keep you from becoming a doctrine Nazi, who just pushes religion down people’s throat. Instead your life will make people asked you what is going on inside of you. They will want to know Jesus, because of what they see in your life. They will wonder how you do the things you do, how you show up for life with a different attitude and perspective. How you succeed when everyone is failing and panicking.
An Example from today
Here is an example of what I am talking about. As I was writing this blog outside on this nice spring day. An afternoon thunderstorm rolled in. It was nothing big, I thought! Few dark clouds and light rain. All of sudden the Holy Spirit began speaking to me. Go inside. I ignored Him at first. A second time, I heard the Spirit of God say take your computer and tablet inside now. Once again I kept writing this blog. And then I heard Now! So when He speaks this many times. I moved. As soon as I got inside, it began to hail golf ball and marble sized hail all over where I was sitting. It came on so strong and suddenly if I had not moved my computer and maybe my tablet would have been ruined.
You see, I woke up this morning, went outside and said hello to Jesus. I spent my first hour with Him. Having coffee and asking what to write this blog on. This is where I got the theme to write this. It is from Jesus himself. So when I was writing completely concentrating on this article. That still small voice came to me, warning me of some serious stuff was about to happen. In the picture above is where I was sitting writing this article and in just 30 seconds later, it was covered with hail. This is what it is like to have a one and one personal relationship with my Lord. For a lack of a better term. He has my back. He watches over me. Guides me.
How do you think I spent the last five years in one of Guatemala’s most violent neighborhood? Living open where so many others have been shot and killed for so much less. I am not saying, some have not come to kill me, they have but Jesus has always protected me. He always guides me. Speaks to me. He is the King of my life and this ministry. He tells me when to come and when to go. I always feel like I am in his arms today. No more dry religion. Not more being a Pharisee. A doctrinal Nazi, not debating every doctrine in the book. It is not about that anymore. It is about being in love with my King, my Savior and as the Bible also states; My Brother. We are family! They wrote a song with that title. That what Jesus is to me today. He is here, right now. I can feel him. I can also hear him. He is as real to me as any physical human being. Not a myth or some believe system. He is alive and directing my every step.
Would you like to receive Jesus today?
Just let him know you want to meet him. Be ready to repent (turn away) from your lifestyle and asked him to forgive all your sins. Tell him, you want to have this pardon because He died on the cross to pay it all. Then rose again so you can have eternal life right here and now.
If you don´t believe. Just asked him with an open heart to show himself to you. He will! If you approach him with a desire to know him like I did 30 years ago. He will reveal himself to you. Most people want to see and then they will believe. They want proof. I was like that. Unless I see, I will not believe. Then I began to open my heart and willing to believe. Jesus meet me where I was at.
When I was unbeliever, I could not see God anywhere. Once I meet him, I can see Him everywhere. In nature, in people and in me. I can hear him talk and I can sense His presence. It is truly a wonderful walk I have with Him. People asked me why I believe in the Bible. It an easy answer. I personally know the author! Jesus.
Is Jesus a reality or just a fairy tale?
I can only answer this by sharing my own personal journey, not some doctoral thesis.
I grew up in a religious church, I was baptized, received sacraments and even was heavy involved in church services as a young boy. I was at church every Sunday and every holy day that there was. You can even say with my activities with the church, I was there, almost every time the doors were open. I also went to a religious school for nine years.
But for me and most people I have known, who later received Jesus as their savior. I was deceived and never knew who Jesus was. To me he was someone we worship afar, He was some historical leader, who did some amazing things and made some amazing claims. To be honest, I was doing everything out of tradition (this was my family religion), and secondly, out of a real fear of going to Hell. But in reality, I did not know Jesus I just knew facts and doctrines about him. Everything I was doing was out of a sense of duty and tradition to my family. If you asked me if I was going to Heaven, I would say “I hope so” but deep down, I knew the way I lived. I had no chance of ever making it. That my friends is being a Religious Christian.
My definition of a “Religious Christian”; is someone who goes to church, performs religious duties or activities, by obeying spiritual laws and traditions, in hopes, that the day they die, they will have done well enough to Heaven. In plain words they are working for God and hoping one day it will pay off with eternal rewards. They are hoping to make the passing grade.
My life had a dramatic change!
After years of trying to be good and religious. I gave up. I became a rebellious teenager, who drank and used drugs. I became a violent street gang member and needless to say, a hardened atheist. By this time, my beliefs about Jesus was that he was a person the adults pushed down my throat and He was just a fairy tale. One day, (no lie), I came to this conclusion: Jesus and religion was just an adult version of Santa Claus and the Easter bunny to make you behave. You know the lyrics to Santa is coming to town;
You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
He’s making a list
And checking it twice
Gonna find out Who’s naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
To me this summed up my relationship to God and what I was taught in church. All they did was substitute the name Jesus for Santa Claus. You had better be good Denny, Jesus is coming back and he will see if you were naughty or nice. Just a little bit more intense because of Hell being thrown in.
So as I was saying about my life. By the age of 21, I was a full blown alcoholic, drug addict and basically homeless. Lost my wife and child to divorce, Got kicked out of the Army and deported from Germany for drug dealing, was drunk every day since I was 16. Been clinically dead for over 5 minutes. In and out of 5 detoxes and 2 rehabs. Life was over for me.
One of my last drunks. I got into a fight with several guys. One sucker punched me with brass knuckles, which did some horrible damage to my face. As I laid there drunk, bloody and almost unconscious. Another guy came and stood over me with a shot gun and pumped it. I wanted him to shoot and end it but as he tried to pull the trigger it would not fire. He tried several times with no shot. He gave up and they literally kicked me out into the street where I laid unconscious. My friends found me and took me home. I was sure I was going die. There seemed to be no future for me
Advice that saved my life
Back in November of 1984, I went to my last rehab. Completely defeated! When asked, if I would be able to stay sober. My answer was “no”! Then I met a hard core recovering addict who happen to be my counselor. As we talked about my hope of recovery, He said I had only ONE HOPE, FIND GOD! My heart hit the ground as he said that. I said you mean believe in a “fairy tale”. I told him I was down that road and it was all bull. THERE WAS NO GOD!
One thing saved me. I made a promise going into this rehabilitation center I would do anything I was told to do. I aimed to keep it for all those who pulled many strings to get me accepted. So I was going to keep my promise. My counselor knew this. He played it well. He told me I had to start praying. He told me; I had to ask God in the morning to keep my sober and at night, thank him. Even though I thought this was stupid, I was going to keep my promise.
It was not long after I began to pray, I noticed “little coincidences” in my life happening. My car broke down on the road and I asked this God for help. Next minute someone would pullover and help me. I was told God would meet my needs. Soon I noticed if I needed it, it was there. There was something strange going on in my new sober life. But nothing prepared me for what was about to happen next.
June 10, 1985
This is the day that changed my life forever! My fairy tale became real. On the morning of June 10, I was looking for work, I was sober almost 6 months. I had been praying every day out of fear of getting drunk.
But on this day, things went all wrong. I was living with my sister, we got into a fight and I got kicked out. I spend the day trying to find some work, some money, a place to stay. Nothing worked. It got dark and I went to visit my mom for help, even she said “no.” I was in trouble. I was homeless again.
I found myself alone, sitting on the corner where I use to deal drugs and get drunk. About 1:30 AM, I was discouraged to say the least. Soon the old temptations came back, speaking very loud. You know what do, go down to the corner bar and pick up a lady and go home with her. Deep down, I knew if I would go down to that bar, I would end up drinking again. The struggle was intense. I screamed out, “God, help me, I cannot do this alone anymore!”
Then all of a sudden, there was a peace like I never knew or felt before. A calmness took over, then there was an audible voice, not a still small voice but a normal voice. I could not see him but I could hear him in my ears and feel his presence right in front of me. I was blown away. I asked him who He was and He told me his name was Jesus. Once again, I want to repeat, the peace and calmness was unreal. Nothing like I ever felt before. I asked him, “Do you really exist?” Jesus said, “I have always been with you and I will never leave you.” At the time, I did not know he was quoting a scripture to me. Next he asked me a question; “Why do you continue to live in the problems instead of the solution.” I said, “I do not know the solution!” His response was “I am the solution”. After we talked a bit, he said relax. I began to feel all those demons in my life go. Jesus was removing all that junk at was destroying me. I never drank again. I felt so new, so clean.
Soon after that, His physical presence was gone. He told me to go back to my broken down car. As I was walking, I began thinking of what I needed to get back on my feet again. I thought of five things. By the next morning, miraculously those 5 things came to past. God moved supernaturally to let me know, even though his presence was not there, He was listening to me and we began a new relationship. He also showed me by those answered prayers, I was not dreaming!
It has been almost 30 years since that night. I had the opportunity to meet, what I thought was a fairy tale, face to face; Jesus of Nazareth.
So why am I a Christian and believe the Bible?
I met the Jewish carpenter who was crucified and died and was buried and rose from the dead. He is really alive! That night back in 1985, I began a relationship with him. He has personally guided though every season of my life since then. Through the good times and through some really tough times. Every season, He has been there. Not far off but personally engaged in my life. There is no way, I can tell you all that we been though in 30 years.
One thing I have learned, real Christianity is not a religion but is a personal relationship with our Savior and Creator. God did not become a man and die for our sins, just to be a founder of another religion.
He desires this for you also. You may ask; how can this happen for me?
1) Seek God with all your heart;
Deuteronomy 4:29; But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
2) Call on Him (pray) and repent (turn away) from sins or self-attempts to get right with God. (being religious)
Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Roman 10:9 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
3) When you are ready simply ask him to save you. Just pray;
Jesus, I want you in my life. I do not want to do this alone any longer. I now repent from all my sin and (or) any self-attempt to get right with you and get to heaven. I know believe you are God and became man and died for all my sins and rose again from the grave, so I may have eternal life with you, now and in all eternity. I now commit my life to you and your Lordship over my life. I want to give you thanks for saving me and desiring to have a personal relationship with me. Amen
4) Find and good Bible and good bible believing church to attend. (ask God to lead you in this)
Please do not rush off! Stick around and see the rest of DSI/Hands in Action website and the work God gave us to do in Guatemala, Helping families who are in extreme poverty.
