I wasn't always around the church, in fact before my 16th birthday I had never really been into a church. I didn't exactly believe in God and didn't know there was a God because none of the friends I ever hung around with went to church and never spoke of God. I always did my own thing and never really cared to much about other people, much less what God cared about. I never even really thought about God before my 16th birthday. Anyway, the following is how I came to know Christ as my Lord and Savior.
The neighborhood I grew up in basically wasn't a bad one, but then it wasn't a very nice neighborhood either. Although almost everyone was nice there was alot of ungodliness under the surface. I did almost everything I could do to get into trouble, but no knowing at it was wrong at the time. Rom 5:13 "For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law" that verse can basically explain how I was before I became a Christian, having not known the Law of God which reveals sin, the sin I was doing I didn't think anything was wrong with it. Anyway, then something happened in my life that I always feared. My family wanted to move. And I was so mad at them I just went crazy, I got into as much trouble as I could find. Finally they made a deal with me, they said they would think about it for a month if I would stop doing all the bad stuff that I was involved in at the time. I agreed. About 3 weeks in and things were looking alot better than they were 3 weeks ago, God did something that I never thought possible, he used a miracle. Most of you won't think this could possibly be a miracle from God but miracles are often disguised, we just have to look deeper. A neighbor of mine about 5 houses down, was murdered by the other neighbor, turned out it was a race crime. Anyway that was the last straw for my parents so they went and bought some land and we started work on building the house. I was about 13 at the time.
The next 3 years I kinda stayed to myself, because I didn't really know anyone and my neighborhood wasn't that big at the time so I kept to myself. And shut myself out from the world. (This kinda reminds me that when God wants to do a great work in someone he will lead them through the desert, to isolate them and slowly bring them to himself, much like Moses) When we moved here my family started going to church, yet I myself refused to go because God was hardening my heart. Finally, my 16th birthday came along and my mom signed me up for a "Lock In" at the church, it's where a bunch of kids get locked in the church for 24 hours and they do whatever they want, play bball, or games or just talk. I showed up there and almost immediately people started talking to me, not about God or anything at first but just started talking to me. Looking back on it they were very wise because if they would've mentioned God right at first I would've just walked away. Then we went into the Sanctuary to Worship and I never really heard of "worship" so naturally I asked someone what it was and they said "it's a band and they play music and stuff" so I thought it would be cool. I go in and the band was pretty cool, the whole time though I didn't even really listen to the lyrics but just mainly focused on the music. Slowly God was bringing me to Himself. After the band a speaker came up, but I don't remember his name. And he was so dynamic, I was totally blown away by how he spoke of God. I accepted Him that night in a pew. From then on my whole life changed.
I wanted to include this because it will totally change the way you pray. Right after I accepted Christ he started working on me, but me being on fire for God I didn't revert back to my old ways. When he realized I wouldn't give into my old sinful self, he fled. Later on, God tested me by way of my health. Now I have always been a very healthy person. I developed a "lump" underneath my arm, near the armpit. It got so bad that eventually it restricted all arm movement. I began to pray, day in and day out. The last night before God worked his miracle my pray went like this "God, I know that you can do all things. I know that you always desire to do what is best for me. I don't know what your purpose for this problem is but I know it's not too big for you to handle. I ask you to heal me Lord, in the name of Jesus but most of all Lord, I desire your will" No, I don't believe in this name it and claim it stuff, and Jesus' name isn't some kind of magic word. The next morning I went to work, sick as a dog but nevertheless I knew God would either heal me, or give me the strength to keep working. I got there at about 7 and about 5 hours later at 12 o' clock I was standing by one of the door ways leading out of out store. I was waiting for one of our customers to come so I could carry out a sofa they had (now keep in my I could NOT AT ALL lift my arm to do anything, yet I knew God would do a miracle, or give me the strength to do it) As I was standing there, a man came up behind me. He was dressed in a very nice black suit, looked like a business man, and he was black. He came up behind me and touched my shoulder (the same shoulder that had the lump on my arm), now that I look back on it his touch was very gentle. I turned around and he said "Hey Matthew! how are you doing?" and I said "I'm doing ok, how are you?" and he said "I am doing great, and don't worry you are going to be fine" and he walked away. Now as he was walking away I looked toward the exit door for about a second, and then looked back and he had disappeared!
The next day I went to the doctor for my appointment and the lump had shrunk and almost completely disappeared. I gave God all the glory and I thanked Him as much as I could. I hope you enjoyed this testimony and remember, if your answer doesn't come the way you think dont be discouraged because God will ALWAYS do what's best for YOU!
I love you all in the name of Christ, our father and our friend,
Matt
The neighborhood I grew up in basically wasn't a bad one, but then it wasn't a very nice neighborhood either. Although almost everyone was nice there was alot of ungodliness under the surface. I did almost everything I could do to get into trouble, but no knowing at it was wrong at the time. Rom 5:13 "For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law" that verse can basically explain how I was before I became a Christian, having not known the Law of God which reveals sin, the sin I was doing I didn't think anything was wrong with it. Anyway, then something happened in my life that I always feared. My family wanted to move. And I was so mad at them I just went crazy, I got into as much trouble as I could find. Finally they made a deal with me, they said they would think about it for a month if I would stop doing all the bad stuff that I was involved in at the time. I agreed. About 3 weeks in and things were looking alot better than they were 3 weeks ago, God did something that I never thought possible, he used a miracle. Most of you won't think this could possibly be a miracle from God but miracles are often disguised, we just have to look deeper. A neighbor of mine about 5 houses down, was murdered by the other neighbor, turned out it was a race crime. Anyway that was the last straw for my parents so they went and bought some land and we started work on building the house. I was about 13 at the time.
The next 3 years I kinda stayed to myself, because I didn't really know anyone and my neighborhood wasn't that big at the time so I kept to myself. And shut myself out from the world. (This kinda reminds me that when God wants to do a great work in someone he will lead them through the desert, to isolate them and slowly bring them to himself, much like Moses) When we moved here my family started going to church, yet I myself refused to go because God was hardening my heart. Finally, my 16th birthday came along and my mom signed me up for a "Lock In" at the church, it's where a bunch of kids get locked in the church for 24 hours and they do whatever they want, play bball, or games or just talk. I showed up there and almost immediately people started talking to me, not about God or anything at first but just started talking to me. Looking back on it they were very wise because if they would've mentioned God right at first I would've just walked away. Then we went into the Sanctuary to Worship and I never really heard of "worship" so naturally I asked someone what it was and they said "it's a band and they play music and stuff" so I thought it would be cool. I go in and the band was pretty cool, the whole time though I didn't even really listen to the lyrics but just mainly focused on the music. Slowly God was bringing me to Himself. After the band a speaker came up, but I don't remember his name. And he was so dynamic, I was totally blown away by how he spoke of God. I accepted Him that night in a pew. From then on my whole life changed.
I wanted to include this because it will totally change the way you pray. Right after I accepted Christ he started working on me, but me being on fire for God I didn't revert back to my old ways. When he realized I wouldn't give into my old sinful self, he fled. Later on, God tested me by way of my health. Now I have always been a very healthy person. I developed a "lump" underneath my arm, near the armpit. It got so bad that eventually it restricted all arm movement. I began to pray, day in and day out. The last night before God worked his miracle my pray went like this "God, I know that you can do all things. I know that you always desire to do what is best for me. I don't know what your purpose for this problem is but I know it's not too big for you to handle. I ask you to heal me Lord, in the name of Jesus but most of all Lord, I desire your will" No, I don't believe in this name it and claim it stuff, and Jesus' name isn't some kind of magic word. The next morning I went to work, sick as a dog but nevertheless I knew God would either heal me, or give me the strength to keep working. I got there at about 7 and about 5 hours later at 12 o' clock I was standing by one of the door ways leading out of out store. I was waiting for one of our customers to come so I could carry out a sofa they had (now keep in my I could NOT AT ALL lift my arm to do anything, yet I knew God would do a miracle, or give me the strength to do it) As I was standing there, a man came up behind me. He was dressed in a very nice black suit, looked like a business man, and he was black. He came up behind me and touched my shoulder (the same shoulder that had the lump on my arm), now that I look back on it his touch was very gentle. I turned around and he said "Hey Matthew! how are you doing?" and I said "I'm doing ok, how are you?" and he said "I am doing great, and don't worry you are going to be fine" and he walked away. Now as he was walking away I looked toward the exit door for about a second, and then looked back and he had disappeared!
The next day I went to the doctor for my appointment and the lump had shrunk and almost completely disappeared. I gave God all the glory and I thanked Him as much as I could. I hope you enjoyed this testimony and remember, if your answer doesn't come the way you think dont be discouraged because God will ALWAYS do what's best for YOU!
I love you all in the name of Christ, our father and our friend,
Matt
