Part 3b What happened after I Prayed in the Church at the Altar?
Nothing. I did not grow taller or shorter or more fit nor did I develop a great smile. But everything started changing although I was unaware of the transformation process in the beginning but one striking thing that I instantly noticed, and as a former atheist who had read the bible to make arguments, was that reading the bible became a totally different experience. It came alive like the letters had become magnified I could feel the promises in my spirit. I cannot really explain it. And I have read books, I still read but it’s not the same. And this experience, I later confirmed it in Germaine Copeland’s 'Prayers that Avail Much’ book and also in Heb 4:12. I also used to pray the Holy Spirit to teach me and to reveal the mysteries of the Word’ or when I found ‘show me the wondrous things in thy law’
I subscribed to bible gateway plan for seeking God. It was only scripture, no devotional material. There I found Rom 12:1-2 ‘Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service, and do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God’
So I yielded, I surrendered and I prayed, I still pray like that ‘I surrender all that I am to You Lord, to Your will and cause me to be obedient to Your will’ I was determined because I wanted Him to come so anything to hinder that, I disposed off. I got rid of my masturbation toy, alcohol, porn, secular music, I never was a movie person so that wasn’t so much a problem, and I replaced them with powerful gospel songs that sang about the Holy Spirit, all worship no funky praise songs. I bought christian books about the Holy Spirit that I haven’t even read up till now. These, I did alongside very long laboratory sessions.
I knew I was not my own and that my body was the temple of the Holy Spirit(1 Cor 6:19-20) that God destroys whoever destroys His temple(1 Cor 3:17) and did His will for sanctification by fleeing from sexual immorality(1 Thes 4:3) and by giving thanks always(1 Thes 5: . Out of all the sins, only sexually immorality causes one to sin against his body (temple). So it was a No for me. I was not going to defile this temple of God (my body).
I had always been quite conscious to know that what you let into your mind subconsciously affects you and your opinions, and the bible says ‘be transformed by the renewal of your mind’ so I got on a mission to be transformed. Didn’t give any room to the devil for my mind. I read the bible, prayed, gospel music, did my work, read faith articles, and church. In church they suggested I start reading the book of John. I got hooked to reading. I couldn’t stop reading, to be honest, sometimes I just get moved to read the scripture. I sought the power of the living God. I knew without faith it is impossible to please God. I found also that faith to be the gift of the Holy Spirit. I prayed to receive these things.
Tests
Two significant experiences that I recall were, one, when I didn’t succeed at an interview that I prayed so much for and made pledges. I was so shaken that I didn’t even pray often anymore. I thought 'if You don’t answer my prayers Lord, what will I tell people about You, when they ask why I serve You.' That was one point I would have abandoned the faith but somehow I didn’t, I prayed before I slept with a heavy heart saying ‘Lord even if you don’t answer any of my prayers I will still serve You’ That was one of the most difficult statements I have ever had to make. Imagine living a life of restraint and not getting your prayers answered. But God is faithful.
The next one was at church when I was disappointed that I didn’t receive what we prayed for again ‘I said Lord you know my heart’ but when I got to my secret place I yielded and repented from my rebellion in disappointment’ These were significant because I believe they were tests for me if I just served because I wanted something and I said I would serve even if I never got anything.
As these went on, little did I know that the Spirit of Jesus was breaking me as I continued. I started praying for longer mostly for my family for them to find Christ then everyone to find Christ. I prayed to proclaim Jesus as Lord over all. I prayed to glorify Him in all that I do. In my thoughts, my actions, and my words. I surrendered everyday. Then I started even praying for people that I thought had hurt me or left me heartbroken. I continued in the routine. Then:
Miracles
1. The Unspeakable Joy of God swept me. 1 Peter 1:8-9 Sometimes, I would be on my bed smiling and when I read the Psalms would feel the joy in David’s heart when he wrote them. I would post on Facebook out of excitement. I just couldn’t contain this joy. I get asked at work why I am so excited, and I tell them it is the joy of the Lord. I also discovered I didn't have bitterness in my heart for anyone anymore I was just free. I felt lighter, and happy from this brokenhearted joy.
2. Peace of Jesus. This peace is miles away from being calm. It is supernatural. Jesus says ‘My peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid’ John 14:27. Peace that surpasses all understanding(Phil 4:6). The crisis had disappeared. No more. I have this peace no matter what happens in the world.
3. Love
I remember sometime when I was on my way back from work, I was broken completely, shaking had tears of joy but I held back. I couldn’t help but sing along to the worship song playing on my earphones ‘He who was and is to come, is the One that lives in us, the Great I Am, YHWH…’ I only felt like praying and thanking God and I did and there was this peace again. Perfect love casts out fear. There is no fear, I have hope for the glory to come in Christ Jesus and I don’t have any ounce of fear at all. Jesus gave me a new heart, I am no longer hardened, I can’t even get angry anymore. I feel loved, I know love and I have love. I have forgiven everyone who had ever offended me.
4. Free from indwelling sin. Regeneration
Rom 8 This should have been first, but my behaviour towards certain things I couldn’t do without totally changed. I have convictions now about right and wrong and It just comes, I don’t even need to think about it. I no longer spend time on unimportant things. I am busier now but I have more time than I ever did. I look away from indecently dressed girls and I am no longer attracted to them. But I will tell them about Jesus if ever I get the chance to speak to them. I just couldn't do the things I used to think I loved.
The bible says 'No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed abides in him...(1 John 3:19). It’s amazing because I never knew this scripture existed but I later found it and smiled. I was already living according to scripture by the Spirit of Jesus before I found it. I no longer had recurrent fantasies of sleeping with every beautiful girl, no longer had the urge to drink alcohol, to watch porn, to masturbate, to deceive girls. The thoughts do not even come to mind anymore. My thoughts are clean, I keep a clear conscience, and it has been easy by His Spirit.
5. Witness
Some of my early prayers were for God to assist me in my weakness, to overcome shame in spreading His word I kept praying that I would proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and tell people He is the way the truth and the life. My church is a mission church so we go out to evangelise. Haven’t had to go a lot with them because of my schedule but I go sometimes and I talk to people, atheists too and I ask them why they think there is no God. I tell them about Jesus but I can only tell. Everyone now knows that I am a christian. Look at the number of people the Lord has used me to get His message to on nairaland. I posted 'another reason to believe God' when it hit the front page and an angry atheist said I was deluded. But he is blind to know that God is using me to reach more and more people including him.
6. Purpose
There is a strong sense of purpose now in my life. there is no confusion or emptiness in my heart. I know what gives me joy and it is serving the Lord. I do not need to have a church, before I serve Him, helping poor people, showing love, telling people about Jesus, and glorifying Him in all you do is serving the Lord.
7. Wisdom
For the Lord gives wisdom from His mouth come knowledge an understanding(Prov 2:6)
If I tell you that I have not been a christian for up to a year, would you be believe? How about 6 months? But the truth is it just over two months now. Yes, me too I don’t know where and how I have come to know so much, but this writing is new, and boy! has it improved. Some answers I give to questions amaze me as well, not just here also when I speak to people about Jesus.
I could go on to tell about the other miracles but I left it at the supernatural only Jesus can give.
Why I say seek to experience Jesus. It is because it is much easier and more convincing(because it comes with emotion) than arguments and logic. So we can tell the world of His goodness.
If you want to look for arguments for if Jesus ever came to earth see Lee Strobel: A Case for Christ. As for me, I sought the Spirit of God and Jesus found me. Now I am always happy to tell people about Him because I know Him and how good He is. He saves and He sets free from bondage. He would take away that anger, bitterness, fix your marriage, heal you, free you from anything you suffer from, Jesus is the only solution.
I never set out to entertain or prove a superior argument. my testimony is an outreach to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. I endeavoured to end every post with accept Jesus to unbelievers. The seed has been sown. Thanks to the mods, God used them too, it’s up to them to believe or not.
God in His love has revealed Himself to me in areas I had always been empty. I sought protection but look at all the sweet things I experience that nobody had ever told me about Jesus. And I am just getting started, I have many more years by His grace. That’s why I passionately share this.
This peace and joy is better than all the money in the world. And I am not the only one that says this. In all these, nothing has changed, but everything on the inside has, the things I thought were so important like what we focus so much on that people kill and die for don’t really matter that much. God provides for His people. Of course, I will have enough to provide for my family but with this heart my conscience will not let me pile so much for myself while I watch others starve. That is not Jesus.
Coming from depression to this unspeakable joy and peace that is free. You begin to wonder what I was doing all my life that I rejected Jesus but then again I wouldn’t have had the experiences and knowledge to make up this great testimony. 'All things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose’(Rom 8:28)
Now I can say like Paul, '...I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.. '(Phil 3:
Jesus is Lord! Wow. This guy found God. Wonderful. I have never seen a man who encountered God and said anything different from what this guy said here. Oh |
