My testimony
John 3:16 : “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
There was something I was missing that GOD requires from ALL before we can truly be adopted by His Holy Spirit and become a child of GOD in Christ Jesus. This is my story.
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I ENDED UP BREAKING DOWN. At 22 years old in my room I broke down. I was miserable. I was sad. Felt alone. Had no joy. I did not want to come to work, I just wanted healing and to truly know GOD.
I BELIEVED ON JESUS CHRIST AS THE SCRIPTURES SAID. I even had seen GOD move in my life a few times, and yet I was ready to give up on life.
I WAS STILL LIVING A LIFE OF SIN. Asking for forgiveness (If I remembered to pray that night) and was thinking it was the normal way to live my life. No one told about true repentance.
I did not know my purpose, my reason for living. I ended up crying to GOD for what felt like a week or so. I would get home, and just get on my knees and cry out. I wanted healing. I was ready to give up everything. I did not care if I died at this point, I was sad, and felt alone, and felt out of place.
THEN
In the midst of my crying and readiness to give up everything, something happened that changed my eternity.
I REPENTED, AND LET GO OF EVERYTHING.
All this time, I was believing on Jesus Christ the risen savior, and yet I never knew Him, nor was on my way to Heaven because I continued in sin. The preachers told us when we believe on Jesus Christ and ask for forgiveness we are saved. But there was no change in my life. I never truly repented of my sins…. I was never adopted by the Holy Spirit of GOD.
Acts 17:30 -- And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
2 Peter 3:9 -- The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
I truly was ready to die. Give up my old ways, my old life and have my old me be crucified and buried with Christ… I just wanted GOD. I wanted a relationship with the one who loves me more than anyone, who sent His son Jesus to die for me. I wanted GOD. I was yearning to give up whatever was keeping me from knowing Him and being close to GOD, and wanted to be rid of the disgusting sin and sinful ways that my Lord Jesus gave His life and shed His precious blood to wash me of. This is called repentance.
IT WAS THEN THAT I WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ADOPTED AS A CHILD OF GOD, a blast of joy, peace, fear, trembling, purpose, miracles, healing, spiritual battles, unspeakable depths of love and reality came into my life after I was filled with the Holy Spirit of GOD.
When you repent (turn from sin and your old way of life) and believe on Jesus Christ as the Scriptures hath said, the Holy Spirit will come and adopt you as a child of GOD!
Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Everything I was going through, although it brought me to a place of misery and sadness and loneliness, led me to repentance and a place where I was truly ready to give my life to Jesus Christ
THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD GIVES ME THE POWER TO PUT TO DEATH ALL SIN IN MY LIFE. All the preaching I had received until this point never told me that I could be set free from all sin and truly live a Holy life free of sin. Jesus Christ has set me free, washed me in His blood, and given me the Power of GOD to overcome all sin in my life, so that I can truly become a new creature and be a partaker of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Matthew 7:21-23 -- Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
I never “knew Him” because I worked iniquity, and was continuing in sin. I was not on my way to Heaven, yet I did call Jesus my Lord and believed on Him and asked for forgiveness. But there was no change in my life. I continued living in sin, trying to stop, but always falling back in again after a time. To someone who keeps falling short this verse looks like it’s impossible.
1 John 3:6-9 -- Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
· The question is, why do people who name the name of Christ continue in sin and claim it to be normal to fall short and continue being bound by sin?
· True salvation is built on repentance, faith in Christ Jesus, and being filled with the Holy Spirit, the power to live holy and break free from sin. And have a real relationship with GOD!
Romans 8:9 -- But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his
Acts 2:38 -- Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
John 7:38-39 -- He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Titus 3:5-6 -- Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
.
· Again, the Holy Spirit is the power to put to death the deeds of the flesh (sin), and enjoy living holy unto the Lord (the divine nature) and adopt us as a child of GOD! He comforts us and dwells within us. The moment we are filled with Holy Spirit we then become born again in the spirit and not the flesh!
Romans 8:13 -- For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Galatians 5:24 -- And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Romans 8:4-9 -- That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
I am not saying that after you receive the Holy Spirit no one ever commits another sin (it is most definitely possible by the power of the Holy Spirit!). I am saying that the Holy Spirit is the power to deliver us from ANY AND ALL sin and live a holy life J! If you have the mind to repent, repent! As David did in Psalm 51, and continue in your loving walk and relationship with GOD.
1 John 2:1 -- My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
· Temptation may come because of the carnal flesh, (when we are drawn away of our own lusts and enticed, James 1:14), but when you have the Holy Spirit, GOD will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will make a way of escape.(1 Corinthians 10:13). We must of our own free will, desire to live holy, and resist the devil and he will flee. Because GOD will never force anyone to live holy, just give you the Holy Spirit (the power) to partake in the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.
· In Christ Jesus there is ALL joy, peace, fulfillment, love, compassion… and everything that is good. Living holy is not a chore or un-wanted labor, but a gift. The new man (divine nature) given to us by the Holy Spirit loves to live holy and rejoices in a right standing and close relationship with GOD in Christ. But we must “put on” the new man and renew our minds by feeding (sowing) to the Spirit and spending time with GOD in prayer, reading and worshipping.(Ephesians 4:24 / Colossians 3:10 / Galatians 6:8). GOD will renew our minds as we meditate and act on His word and spend time in prayer and worship. Being close to GOD and having GODs presence with you is better than ANYTHING, it is actually addicting it’s so good. Put down sin, not just because hell is waiting for the unrighteous (1 Corinthians 6:9 / 1 Peter 4:18), but because salvation is GODs free gift of His grace and He is so loving, and longsuffering and good. And remember, His lovingkindness is better than life!
John 3:16 : “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
There was something I was missing that GOD requires from ALL before we can truly be adopted by His Holy Spirit and become a child of GOD in Christ Jesus. This is my story.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I ENDED UP BREAKING DOWN. At 22 years old in my room I broke down. I was miserable. I was sad. Felt alone. Had no joy. I did not want to come to work, I just wanted healing and to truly know GOD.
I BELIEVED ON JESUS CHRIST AS THE SCRIPTURES SAID. I even had seen GOD move in my life a few times, and yet I was ready to give up on life.
I WAS STILL LIVING A LIFE OF SIN. Asking for forgiveness (If I remembered to pray that night) and was thinking it was the normal way to live my life. No one told about true repentance.
I did not know my purpose, my reason for living. I ended up crying to GOD for what felt like a week or so. I would get home, and just get on my knees and cry out. I wanted healing. I was ready to give up everything. I did not care if I died at this point, I was sad, and felt alone, and felt out of place.
THEN
In the midst of my crying and readiness to give up everything, something happened that changed my eternity.
I REPENTED, AND LET GO OF EVERYTHING.
All this time, I was believing on Jesus Christ the risen savior, and yet I never knew Him, nor was on my way to Heaven because I continued in sin. The preachers told us when we believe on Jesus Christ and ask for forgiveness we are saved. But there was no change in my life. I never truly repented of my sins…. I was never adopted by the Holy Spirit of GOD.
Acts 17:30 -- And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
2 Peter 3:9 -- The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
I truly was ready to die. Give up my old ways, my old life and have my old me be crucified and buried with Christ… I just wanted GOD. I wanted a relationship with the one who loves me more than anyone, who sent His son Jesus to die for me. I wanted GOD. I was yearning to give up whatever was keeping me from knowing Him and being close to GOD, and wanted to be rid of the disgusting sin and sinful ways that my Lord Jesus gave His life and shed His precious blood to wash me of. This is called repentance.
IT WAS THEN THAT I WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ADOPTED AS A CHILD OF GOD, a blast of joy, peace, fear, trembling, purpose, miracles, healing, spiritual battles, unspeakable depths of love and reality came into my life after I was filled with the Holy Spirit of GOD.
When you repent (turn from sin and your old way of life) and believe on Jesus Christ as the Scriptures hath said, the Holy Spirit will come and adopt you as a child of GOD!
Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Everything I was going through, although it brought me to a place of misery and sadness and loneliness, led me to repentance and a place where I was truly ready to give my life to Jesus Christ
THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD GIVES ME THE POWER TO PUT TO DEATH ALL SIN IN MY LIFE. All the preaching I had received until this point never told me that I could be set free from all sin and truly live a Holy life free of sin. Jesus Christ has set me free, washed me in His blood, and given me the Power of GOD to overcome all sin in my life, so that I can truly become a new creature and be a partaker of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Matthew 7:21-23 -- Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
I never “knew Him” because I worked iniquity, and was continuing in sin. I was not on my way to Heaven, yet I did call Jesus my Lord and believed on Him and asked for forgiveness. But there was no change in my life. I continued living in sin, trying to stop, but always falling back in again after a time. To someone who keeps falling short this verse looks like it’s impossible.
1 John 3:6-9 -- Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
· The question is, why do people who name the name of Christ continue in sin and claim it to be normal to fall short and continue being bound by sin?
· True salvation is built on repentance, faith in Christ Jesus, and being filled with the Holy Spirit, the power to live holy and break free from sin. And have a real relationship with GOD!
Romans 8:9 -- But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his
Acts 2:38 -- Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
John 7:38-39 -- He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Titus 3:5-6 -- Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
.
· Again, the Holy Spirit is the power to put to death the deeds of the flesh (sin), and enjoy living holy unto the Lord (the divine nature) and adopt us as a child of GOD! He comforts us and dwells within us. The moment we are filled with Holy Spirit we then become born again in the spirit and not the flesh!
Romans 8:13 -- For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Galatians 5:24 -- And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Romans 8:4-9 -- That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
I am not saying that after you receive the Holy Spirit no one ever commits another sin (it is most definitely possible by the power of the Holy Spirit!). I am saying that the Holy Spirit is the power to deliver us from ANY AND ALL sin and live a holy life J! If you have the mind to repent, repent! As David did in Psalm 51, and continue in your loving walk and relationship with GOD.
1 John 2:1 -- My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
· Temptation may come because of the carnal flesh, (when we are drawn away of our own lusts and enticed, James 1:14), but when you have the Holy Spirit, GOD will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will make a way of escape.(1 Corinthians 10:13). We must of our own free will, desire to live holy, and resist the devil and he will flee. Because GOD will never force anyone to live holy, just give you the Holy Spirit (the power) to partake in the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.
· In Christ Jesus there is ALL joy, peace, fulfillment, love, compassion… and everything that is good. Living holy is not a chore or un-wanted labor, but a gift. The new man (divine nature) given to us by the Holy Spirit loves to live holy and rejoices in a right standing and close relationship with GOD in Christ. But we must “put on” the new man and renew our minds by feeding (sowing) to the Spirit and spending time with GOD in prayer, reading and worshipping.(Ephesians 4:24 / Colossians 3:10 / Galatians 6:8). GOD will renew our minds as we meditate and act on His word and spend time in prayer and worship. Being close to GOD and having GODs presence with you is better than ANYTHING, it is actually addicting it’s so good. Put down sin, not just because hell is waiting for the unrighteous (1 Corinthians 6:9 / 1 Peter 4:18), but because salvation is GODs free gift of His grace and He is so loving, and longsuffering and good. And remember, His lovingkindness is better than life!