I shouldn't be here...

[jecelpabor]

Hello, fellow believers. I just wanted to start my very first thread with a heart-felt shout out to our one true King - Jesus Christ! As you can see I am a new believer, a Christian I would suppose. I am also new in this forums. I am a 27-year-old man in the Philippines and I want to share my convertion. God is truly the greatest being there is. I can't stress this enough that He is my one and only Savior now. Before I truly knew Christ, I was a 'mechanical Christian/Catholic'. I always read the Bible and prayed almost every night. I thought nothing would befall me since I was doing my duty to Christ. I was so wrong. My duty to Him was only a routine, and I was fooling myself. I was a sinner and I knew it. I was living a double life, I was lying to myself. My old persona was that of a sarcastic, hateful, brooding, hungry-for-spotlight type of guy; I was doing things God didn't approve; things done in secret but very destructive. These things consumed me; These transformed me into someone I couldn't recognize anymore. The wicked one was grabbing me by the throat and ready to claim my life in a way I can't even begin to describe. Yes, it's a testimony that I consider very terrifying to even say to people who may never know me personally. Right then and there, I knew I couldn't continue living for two masters; I knew I had to choose only one. But before I could choose, God came to the rescue and chose me! He chose me to know Him better; He chose me to break free from the wicked one. I cleansed myself of the things that made me unclean. The things I had to let go I let go, even though my past self was telling me not to. I was a slave of sin but now am set free. God is truly real; God is the most high and will never leave us. The great faith I have now shames the mechanical faith I had before.

Back then I considered being very bold in testifying for God as something I wouldn't do. I'm your typical tech-geek. Someone who likes playing videogames and enjoying life for himself. Some of my friends might tell me that I shouldn't be here. But I am, and I am never going back. I am confident that this testimony is God-given. I should be here; I had to write this for someone, for some of you here. If I can inspire people through small means blessed by Christ, I will do it! Praise the Lord for everything; praise the Lord for saving me! Praise the Lord for saving us!!! Amen!!!

[Boo]

Praise God for touching you and bringing you to the place where you belong!

I see "mechanical Christians" every week, and I pray that God do the same thing for them that He did for you.

If you ever find a way to get people to look into their own hearts instead of out into the world, share it with me. It is only after a person searches his own heart that anyone can see the empty spot where Jesus should have been in residence.

[Dani H]

Yes, Jesus is real. Thank you for sharing! He is always faithful, and worth giving ourselves to for all eternity. It is for freedom that Jesus set us free!

[jecelpabor]

Thank you for your replies. Everyday my faith is strengthened. I never really understood this kind of fellowship until now. The union of believers is indeed a powerful tool in strengthening our faith in God. Let's help each other!

[lovex]

Thank you for your replies. Everyday my faith is strengthened. I never really understood this kind of fellowship until now. The union of believers is indeed a powerful tool in strengthening our faith in God. Let's help each other!

I agree with you. I have been desiring to have union with my Church. Sometimes I feel like there are certain groups or clicks that people form when in reality, we are all the body of Christ. We should be after Christs heart, desiring unity within the Church and pressing on towards the same common goal. That is one reason why I really enjoy being on this website.

[Desperaux]

Welcome to the family of God, jecelpabor! Letting Jesus' blood cleanse you, and making Him your Master is the best decision you will ever make in life!

[david]

Congratulations! I'm glad you decided to cut off the sin. To reinforce your purity of devotion to Christ, I want to share something which I put together awhile ago and I hope others' faith will be strengthened by it too.

"No one can serve two masters. The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace. No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

How long will you go limping between two different opinions? You cannot serve God and mammon. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve. Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? For what is exalted in the sight of men is an abomination in the sight of God. Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.) What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. The body is not meant for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. We are the temple of the living God. "Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them," says the Lord, "And touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you."

[jecelpabor]

Thank you all for your wonderful insights. You are so welcoming and I know I made the right decision. Never have I said 'I love you, Jesus' and 'I praise You' and really meant it. I will have a small group of my own in my church, but this one right here is also a small group. This website is God-given in that I thought it was the same site I registered in 2 days ago, but found out that it wasn't; it was meant to be! That right there is something to be considered a divine intervention. Thank you David for your post, yes, we can never serve two masters. I just wish I chose God a long time ago. But no matter, this is His will; This is the perfect time. Praise the Lord for His moving hands. Let His name be glorified forever. Amen!

[doug3]

Welcome!! God has used this site to help build my faith and knowledge of His Word. May He do the same for you!

[lovex]

There is so much passion in all of your hearts... I have a feeling that is so hard to describe. There's so much joy,happiness, gratefulness... and it all points towards Christ. He has all lead us here, for fellowship. To encourage, to teach, to listen. Thank You Father, for all of these wonderful servants of You. We are aliens to this world, but we are found in You Christ. Take our hands, and guide us. May our hearts long for the day of Your return.

[Liquid Tension]

Great testimony!! Thank you for sharing!! Welcome to the forum, and more importantly, to the family of God!!

[Bronagh]

I too am a relatively new Christian and still not feeling very secure in my faith... so this story was very inspirational to me!

[jecelpabor]

All thanks to God that we've all been gathered here for a purpose - helping one another. I'm glad Bronagh that my testimony has inspired you. I'm sure you will show Jesus to others through your testimony as well, for that's how the grace of God works - it's viral! Glory be to God! Amen!

[Diggindeeper]

Thank you for your replies. Everyday my faith is strengthened. I never really understood this kind of fellowship until now. The union of believers is indeed a powerful tool in strengthening our faith in God. Let's help each other!

Hi new friend! I am so happy you found us here. You know the thing about this message board that many probably don't know....this board is dedicated to the Glory of God! I noticed jcelpabor, that this thread has been viewed by 175 people. It really is impossible to say HOW many have been touched and encouraged by reading what you have written.

All that read here don't post. There are many who come here just merely to read and learn. You are so right! The fact is that WE may be the only 'Bible' that some people will ever read. May they see Christ Jesus in us!!

I look forward to reading your other posts in all the forums here! And I am so thankful that God has blessed you so much.

[jecelpabor]

Hi new friend! I am so happy you found us here. You know the thing about this message board that many probably don't know....this board is dedicated to the Glory of God! I noticed jcelpabor, that this thread has been viewed by 175 people. It really is impossible to say HOW many have been touched and encouraged by reading what you have written.

All that read here don't post. There are many who come here just merely to read and learn. You are so right! The fact is that WE may be the only 'Bible' that some people will ever read. May they see Christ Jesus in us!!

I look forward to reading your other posts in all the forums here! And I am so thankful that God has blessed you so much.

Thank you! I know that this place is filled with different people, but all believers; or at least there are those who are seeking Christ. If I can be a witness to them using the internet (for I used the internet for many vile things in the past, why not for good now?), I will do it. I want people here how Christ changed my life and now making it better. I want to relate to those who think they shouldn't be here but are HERE, and for a good reason. That is our Lord Jesus Christ! God bless us all! Amen!!!