My Testimony, Part 2
Thesis: The renewing of my mind started to take place after my salvation and the Lord gently lead me through the process.
Text: II Corinthians 5:17, Romans 12:2
Introduction: My testimony does not stop at salvation but it continues on. For many they get saved but never get mentored and their minds never renewed and so they fall away . Some of the guys who got saved before me fell away. I never did. I thank the Lord for Roland a NCBC student who among others helped disciple me. There was the Jackson family, Rufus and Diane, Pastor Nate and his wife Gail and others. This is a key ingredient that helped me to mature in Christ. This is a must if we ever want to help people mature then they need to be mentored.
The rest of the story- After Christ!
I. The gentle leading of the Lord for the renewing of my mind.
a. My mind began it’s reprogramming through:
i. Daily reading of the word.
ii. Through Bible studies with Roland and the guys at work
iii. Through going to every service
iv. Through all night prayer meetings
v. Through relationships with others at the church
vi. Through Youth Group
vii. Through service- the guys and I set out to totally remodel the church over the next 6 months for just the cost of labor.
b. The change of direction from the renewing of the mind process.
i. My desire to date unsaved women stopped. I could not!
1. I was at the time of my salvation dating a girl named Mary Ann
a. She had tried to commit suicide many times very troubled.
b. I went to her house one day to help her get a Christmas tree with my truck. It was early.
c. Before I went up to her apartment I read some from my Bible because I was early and prayed this prayer, “ Lord is this the girl you want me to marry?” “If so show me!”
d. I went up to her place and knocked on the door. There was no answer. I had noticed her car in the lot so I knew she was there. We had talked the night before everything was set. I knocked again no answer. I heard a crash in the apartment. I became concerned. I called out Mary are you there are you okay?” No answer. I became real concerned and pushed on the door it was locked. I really felt she was in trouble so I through my body against the door and the door cracked. I stopped I did not want to destroy her door. So I went down to the super’s office and he called the police and we went up and they opened the door. When I went in with the officer, “Mary called out I am in the bedroom don’t come in!’ The officer then left and the sup and I said, “ What’s a matter!” I am very sick please go! Then I heard a man’s voice in their. I said “Who is that!” She yelled just leave, “He ‘s afraid you are going to beat him up, it’s my old boyfriend.” So I left.
i. She called later on that day and apologized.
ii. I told her that I was coming over to repair her door. I felt bad about it! So I went over and fixed it. She gave me sob story that nothing happened between them and gave me a Christmas present she had bought me.
iii. Believe it or not I believed her. Forgetting about my prayer to the Lord to show me!
iv. But late that week I was at a disco and ran into a mutual friend of ours. She gave me a different story. She said Mike I have to tell you, “She told me that you where so stupid because she deceived you into thinking she did not sleep with him when she did.”
v. I remembered the prayer I prayed “The Lord had revealed that she was not the one and to severe the relationship which I did.”
vi. She did call me a lot to work it out. But I knew. She for a wile kept telling me she had something for me but I had to come over. One night she called me and said her window was broke could I please come and look at it. I had a check in my spirit so I took my two Christian friends Bob and Carl with me. When I got there I fixed the window she made a play for me to get rid the two because they could not be around when she would give me my present. I went to the guys and said lets get out of here. I never saw her again but I did pray for her.
2. The Drinking
a. I did not stop drinking immediately the more I grew in the Lord the less I wanted to drink.
i. It took about 6 months to completely give it up and today I do not drink at all.
ii. The Lord laid on my heart to not do it so I don’t.
iii. It lost it’s appeal- my high came from Jesus!
3. The disco life- Yes, I was like John Travolta in “Dance Fever!”
a. Hitting the disco’s and dance clubs.
b. I continued going for about a year after salvation.
c. I dance eventually quit drinking and just socialized.
d. But I always talked about my recent discovery “Jesus!’
e. My friends started to fade in that world.
f. So eventually my close friends where at church and I would rather go to church than the disco so I eventually quit going. My interests had changed my desires had changed. I was changing.
4. The search to discover where God wanted me- “Outreach, another?”
a. The charismatic catholic and his referral to the church in Andover.
b. The church in Anoka
c. The leading to stay right where I was “ Outreach is where I was to stay!” “ I knew It!”
T.S.- When you are saved there will be transformation and I was experiencing it.
II. The truth of His Word was effecting my life!
a. Ephesians 4:17-5:10 was actually occurring.
Ephesians 4:17 (NIV)
17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
Ephesians 4:18 (NIV)
18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
Ephesians 4:19 (NIV)
19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
Ephesians 4:20 (NIV)
20You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
Ephesians 4:21 (NIV)
21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
Ephesians 4:22 (NIV)
22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
Ephesians 4:23 (NIV)
23to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
Ephesians 4:24 (NIV)
24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:25 (NIV)
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Ephesians 4:26 (NIV)
26“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
Ephesians 4:27 (NIV)
27and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:28 (NIV)
28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:30 (NIV)
30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:31 (NIV)
31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 5
Ephesians 5:1 (NIV)
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
Ephesians 5:2 (NIV)
2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:3 (NIV)
3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
Ephesians 5:4 (NIV)
4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Ephesians 5:5 (NIV)
5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 5:6 (NIV)
6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Ephesians 5:7 (NIV)
7Therefore do not be partners with them.
Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)
8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
Ephesians 5:9 (NIV)
9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
Ephesians 5:10 (NIV)
10and find out what pleases the Lord.
· I had become a Holy Roller – I lived and breathed the Lord! I Loved him with a zeal that could not be satisfied. I wanted more. I began feeding on Him like a frenzied shark. I read the Bible, I went to every service, I listened to radio preachers at work, at home, in the truck
T.S.- I actually had a lot of zeal and little wisdom then and it caused some trails for my life.
III. The imbalance of a zealot with no wisdom and grace.
a. I became the fire and brimstone man of God. I became emotionally overcharged. I hurled the Word with the zeal of a and tact as one of the wrestlers on Nitro. I let the fire spill out of my mouth. I threw brimstone at the unsaved and my friends and relatives.
b. The way I treated my family:
i. I preached at my parents.
ii. I told my mom that Catholicism was from the pit of Hell and all Catholics where going to burn and she needed to repent.
iii. When I burned my porno magazines I did it dramatically. My family was watching T.V. in the living room I bundled them up walked into the living room holding them up saying something like “ I am going to burn this vile filth of Satan and I want everyone here to know that if you look at sin like this you will burn in Hell forever.” So I burned them for all to see. ( I lied a little here on hoe it happened!) Please forgive me!
iv. I then gave away all my secular albums. Announcing that I only listened to Christian Music now!
v. When I eventually ended up getting kicked out of the house.
1. I came home from work one day and all my stuff was on the front lawn.
2. The straw that broke the camel’s back was when I called my family prejudice. I let them know I was dating Violet a black girl.
3. But really that was minor to what I was doing speaking in tongues at them rebuking them and preaching at them all the time!
4. I remember my response, “Persecuted for Jesus sake!”
5. Yet I had did it to myself!
6. But even in this God was faithful, because my stuff was moved to the church and I lived with Roland who mentored me everyday. Thank You Lord.
7. I learned to trust Jesus and received some good direction from others on what to do and not to do!
c. The way I treated unsaved co-workers.
i. The unsaved workers would get “ Repent or your going to Hell everyday!”
ii. I would tell the boss Bill all the time.
iii. We at one point had a relationship but I drove him away” With in your face Christianity!”
iv. I and the others were eventually laid off. I recall testifying at church how we were being persecuted for Jesus’ sake!
v. I had become like Zophar with Job a Christian redneck bully!
vi. I was not showing the Fruits of the Spirit!
vii. I was obnoxious, repulsive, unloving, judgmental, merciless, and harsh all in the name of Jesus’ love.
d. I lacked wisdom!
i. James 1:2-5
James 1:2 (NIV)
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
James 1:3 (NIV)
3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
James 1:4 (NIV)
4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:5 (NIV)
5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
ii. I though I had it but man I lacked it!
iii. The Lord started convicting me of this and how I needed to gain his wisdom.
iv. He had me do about a 2 year study on what Biblical Love is!
v. It changed my attitude and actions.
vi. I Cor 13 describes what love looks like and I learned I was not doing it.
1. My first sermon was on “Love!”
vii. Through my studies on Love the lord worked on my anger, and unforgiveness toward my dad.
viii. When I was done with my study I discovered that Love drove out anger and those other defects. I could actually tell my dad that “ I loved Him!” It blew him away when I said it!
IV. The grace of God at work in my young zealot life as a Christian.
a. Even though I caused a lot of heart-ache for myself God was always there showing me grace and molding me into what he wanted me to be.
i. God working in spite of me!
ii. My mom went to her priest and told him my story. He asked her what I was doing she would respond:
1. He is reading his Bible all the time- He said,” What’s wrong with that?”
2. He is praying all the time. He said,” What’s wrong with that?”
3. He is going to church all the time. He said,” What’s wrong with that?”
4. He is changing his life – and he said, “ What’s wrong with that?”
5. He knew I was over zealous and told her that I would balance out.
iii. My dad went in to talk to his boss at work. He ended sharing with my dad that he was “Born Again” and could relate to where I was. He shared about how the Lord had changed his life.
1. I later on did a lot of carpenter work for Bob he helped me balance out a lot.
2. My dad changed after his talk with Bob.
3. He asked my mom why I did not come around my mom said because you threw him out.
4. he called one day and we went out for lunch.
5. He wanted to me t Violet my girl
6. He ended up buying me a suit that day.
a. How the lord worked by me learning to tithe
b. I gave it all on Sunday and God blessed with a suit the next week
7. My dad has become a Christian and he is maturing pray for him
iv. In spite of losing my job I just collected unemployment and remodeled the entire church literally. I loved just volunteering to help out and eventually when unemployment ran out I went back to work.
1. But during this time I grew in leaps and bounds.
2. Pastor Nate took me under his wing.
V. The Holy Spirit the best teacher in the universe.
a. The tent revival on Penn and Plymouth.
i. Body slamming Clyde into the Kingdom
ii. The rebuke and guidance of the Lord and from pastor Nate
iii. The lesson
b. The study of the occults, and cults and the real life encounters
VI. The dating of saved women
a. Violet
i. The courtship
ii. The prayer and receiving of rings
iii. The prophetess Kay
iv. The turmoil
v. The breakup
vi. Her backsliding
1. At Moby Dicks on Hennepin Ave.
2. Her pregnancy from another guy.
3. She was married and divorced.
4. I’m not sure where she is at today but pray for her.
vii. Waiting on the Lord
viii. The other “Word of Knowledge”
1. “The one you were going to marry you will not marry but God is going to give you the best.”
b. Denise
i. The warning, “ Beware of wicked women they are the downfall of many kings!”
c. Dawn
i. Opened the door to get to know Paul and Becky.
ii. Which lead me to counsel at SHLBC.
d. Mary
i. Encouraged me to go to Bethel
ii. She lead me to FCA by God’s design
e. Ginny
i. Challenged me to live 100% for Jesus
f. Others
g. Kathy
i. My wife- that’s next week’s testimony!
Conclusion:
The key here is that it does not stop with being saved it’s just the beginning of a great process of maturing in Jesus.
Closing Scriptures:
II Peter 2:9
2 Peter 2:2 (NIV)
2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
2 Peter 2:3 (NIV)
3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
2 Peter 2:4 (NIV)
4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell,£ putting them into gloomy dungeons£ to be held for judgment;
2 Peter 2:5 (NIV)
5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
2 Peter 2:6 (NIV)
6if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
2 Peter 2:7 (NIV)
7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men
2 Peter 2:8 (NIV)
8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—
2 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.£
James 1:12
James 1:12 (NIV)
12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:19-26
James 1:19 (NIV)
19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
James 1:20 (NIV)
20for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
James 1:21 (NIV)
21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
James 1:22 (NIV)
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 1:23 (NIV)
23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
James 1:24 (NIV)
24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
James 1:25 (NIV)
25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:26 (NIV)
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
