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My Personal Testimony
I would like to let you know about something that has changed my life. It is the most important decision I have ever made, and it has made me see the world in a different light. First I need to tell you about what happened to me about eleven years ago, and how I came to the truth. God has opened up my eyes to so many things that I used to be blind to before I came to know Him. I would like to share those things with you because of the deception in our world today is great. Up until my late teen years, I was a church hopper. I would go from one church to another. I was searching for something, but I didn't know why. I thought I was all right because that was pretty much what I had been taught all of my life. They told me: “All you have to do is accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and you’re saved.” So that was what I believed for the longest time, but I still felt like there was something missing. As a result, I turned to the things of the world to try to find satisfaction, but no matter what, I still felt empty. I didn't understand what was going on, or why I felt this way.
The Void
Being abandoned by my own father, and dealing with some serious issues at home during my childhood, I never really learned how to show love or to receive it from others who weren’t close to me. I was taught a false concept and didn’t really learn how to address others properly. In the midst of that, I believed that I could still find that special someone who would love me wholeheartedly. To my disappointment, I found that the world didn’t have what I was looking for. I had even developed feelings for someone who ended up abandoning me in favor of someone else. I was crushed! As a result, I started hurting myself because I felt I wasn't worth anything to anyone, but I was. I had already been shown that! Here is how!
My Experience with God before I Came To the Truth
After all of the feelings of worthlessness that came upon me from the world, I began to take a trip down to memory lane. Four years prior, at the age of 14-years-old, I began to pray and seek God every day, when I woke up in the morning, on my way to school, while I was at school, in the evening when I got home, when I went to bed at night, and even in the middle of the night, etc. I sought His face, and something very unusual began to take place. I began to hear the audible voice of God speak to me at different times, and when I least expected it. I will never forget this. One morning when I woke up, I began to pray as always and suddenly the Lord spoke to me. He said to me “Sonya, I love you.” I felt it on my chest each time he spoke to me. It was as plain as day. I was shocked that God would even speak to me, that I could feel him speaking to me. There were a couple of other experiences I had just like that. I will never forget them. In a world that told me I was worth nothing, I was told by God himself what I was worth to Him. That was the very thing that put a smile upon my face they couldn’t take away. He was the very reason I had self-confidence, and love for whom God created me to be. And yet I felt the world pulling at me and pressuring me to conform to this certain image. I began to see the world’s mindset on what was thought to be attractive, and I fell into the enemy’s trap and snare. I felt I had to wear makeup in order to look better. One morning, as I put it on, God began to convict me about it. No preacher behind a pulpit ever told me it was wrong. Nobody I knew at the time ever taught me that it was wrong. So I thought it was strange that God would convict me about this.
God's Beauty Ideal vs The World's
I thought about it, but then I just brushed if off my shoulder. I just wasn’t ready to give it up. But what I didn’t realize is what I would be faced with in my life ahead as a result of that. Years later after I gave into the pressure to reflect “The Image” of the world’s mindset of beauty, I would ask myself “Can I ever measure up to this? Can I ever be good enough?” I knew it was a game that I could never win. Yet I would put on a face every day so that I could feel good about the way that I looked, and not be embarrassed. It got to the point where I could not leave my house without makeup. I was insecure and miserable! It was a prison for me, and I did not know how to overcome it. I lived in it, I slept in it. I felt ugly without it.
The bondage of Fear
Ever since I was a little girl, I always struggled with fear and anxiety. I was afraid to be alone, and yet I was afraid of people. Since youth I had seen my mother go through one abusive relationship after another. I would also become the abused victim in ways I cannot mention. I was terrified and shut myself off from people. I did not let anyone get close to me. I also lived in fear and anxiety every day of my life. My mother would try and tell me “It’s just a chemical imbalance”, but I thought to myself, “How could I possibly bring myself to such fear and torment?”
My Previous Religious Experience Before I Came To the Truth
Beforehand, I had accepted the Lord many times, but I still was not delivered from fear, insecurity, or depression and I did not understand why. Also, my brothers Scott and Shane would go with me to church, and they accepted the Lord, but they still went their own way. The church that I was going to in my early teen years taught me, “Once saved, always saved. You can go out and deny God for the rest of your life, but if you accepted Jesus, you’re saved.” I found out later that this teaching contradicted this scripture:
The Bible says:
“Therefore whoever confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny before my father who is in heaven.”
--Matt 10: 32-33
The reason why my brothers and I were so deceived was because we did not study our Bibles. When I came to Roswell, NM, and moved to this trade school, I went to another church that taught me, “You’ve got to repent of your sin. You can lose your salvation if you walk away from God.” At this point I was very confused. One church taught me, “Once saved always saved,” and another taught me, “You can lose your salvation.” Who is telling me the truth? Because somebody is lying to me. Either one is right, and one is wrong, or both are wrong, but it is completely impossible for both to be right.
· 1 Corinthians 11:18-19 “For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must also be heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.”
I came to the conclusion that I can’t believe just anything that anyone teaches me in a church, and that I must look well to my going.
While I was studying the Bible with Salvador, I still thought I was saved, but my point of view changed later as God started revealing some things to me. After the discussion at the wreck, Salvador and I walked to the male dorm to discuss another subject with someone else. This other young man began to ask questions to us about salvation. I opened up and told him about what I had been taught all my life, “Just accept the Lord as your savior. Ask him to forgive you and that’s it,” as I stated. Salvador came in on the conversation. He said: “I’m not trying to get down on what she’s saying, but there is more to it than that. You must be born again of water and spirit, baptized with the Holy Ghost. ”What in the world is this guy talking about?” I thought. I wondered.
Afterward, Salvador mentioned that God told him to invite me to church. The confirmation I have been waiting for. I said, “Ok. I guess I’ll try it out. Thanx.” I read the church card and it said “Apostolic Bible Church” which I did not know how to pronounce. “What kind of church is this?” I asked myself. “I never heard of that either.”
On my way to Salvador’s church that weekend, the bus was giving me and some other kids a ride; they stopped by my old church (the one I was going to, previously). All of a sudden I felt this feeling come over me. I felt that something was just not right. I did not know what it was (at the time), but something was not right. I know now that God was trying to show me some things. I later realized that church was teaching false doctrine. The other young people got off while I waited on the bus. They went and dropped me off at my church, afterward. It was a very small building, but when I went inside, I found people praying and seeking God wholeheartedly. At first it seemed weird to me because it was not something I was used to, but I felt something different in that place that I had never felt in the churches I grew up in. I felt the presence of God so strong it moved me. From there, I knew that is where God wanted me.
After living in a world that was old and boring, filthy and nasty, and dirty, and disgusting, and making me go to bed every night with a sick feeling in my stomach (for 18 years), I wanted something different. I wanted a better life for myself than I grew up with. And to do that I knew I needed to make better choices. And after discovering that this small group of people actually had morals, I knew there was something different about them, something I wanted. They gave me a warm welcome, which I thought was really nice, but since I didn’t know anyone it was kind of hard for me to connect at first. But after feeling the presence of God, and seeing the different lifestyle these people were living, and the moral stance, I felt very drawn to it, and I knew from the first visit that I had to go back.
After I started going there regularly, a young lady my age gave me a Bible study on salvation. I was shocked afterward! I’m sure you will be too after hearing what I am about to tell you.
STEP 1 - Repentance (Death)
I wanted something different. I wanted a better life for myself than I grew up with. And to do that I knew I needed to make better choices. And after discovering that this small group of people actually had morals, I knew there was something different about them, something I wanted. They gave me a warm welcome, which I thought was really nice, but since I didn't know anyone it was kind of hard for me to connect at first. But after feeling the presence of God, and seeing the different lifestyle these people were living, and the moral stance, I felt very drawn to it, and I knew from the first visit that I had to go back. After I started going there regularly, a young lady my age gave me a Bible study on salvation. I was shocked afterward! I’m sure you will be too after hearing what I am about to tell you.From the Bible, I found out that I wasn't really born again! What must I do to be saved according to the scripture?
Side Note: I highlighted the birth of the water in blue and the birth of the spirit in red so they will jump out at you in the scriptures:
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom 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. Let’s dissect this!
***Step 1***: Repent (turn away from your sins).
Mark 2:17 “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
STEP 2 - Birth of Water (Burial)
***Step 2: Be baptized*** (birth of the water)
Why are we baptized?
1. For the remission (washing away of sins)
· --Act 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…”
· --Acts 22:16 ‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
2. To put on Christ
· --Galatians 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
3. For Salvation
· --Mark 16:16 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe shall be condemned.”
· --1 Peter 3:20-21 When sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ;
4. To be buried with Christ
· --Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
· --Romans 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life.
How were they baptized?
1. In Jesus Name
· --Act 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…”
· --Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
2. Full Immersion
· --Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
· --Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, when up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
To find out more, read "Biblical Plan of Salvation" Step 3 - Birth of Spirit
***Step 3***: Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost (evidence: speaking in tongues)
· --John 3:6-8 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again. The WIND blows where it wishes, and you hear its SOUND, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
And it happened for the first time.
· --Acts 2:1-4 AND when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a SOUND from heaven as of a rushing mighty WIND, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to ***SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES***, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
****Compare John 3:6-8 and Acts 2:1-4 (HINT: Wind and Sound)****
· --Acts 19:1-6 “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them: and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”
· --Act 10: 44-48 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all of them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
What happened when they received the Holy Ghost? They spoke with tongues.
What was the wind and sound Jesus was talking about? The birth of the spirit in Act chapt. 2!
Conclusion
1. Repent (turn away from your sins).
2. Birth of Water - Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (for remission of sins).
3. Birth of Spirit - Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Evidence: speaking in tongues).
To see what happened after I was born again, read below.
STEP 3- Birth of Spirit
(Resurrection)
The Biblical Plan of Salvation
vs.
The Mainstream View
When I heard this message, my first response was “What? I thought all you had to do was pray this prayer. If this is what the word of God says, then why haven’t I heard about this before?” I looked back on how I had gone to church all my life. I began to question “Why didn’t they tell me? Why didn’t they tell me???” And it hit me like a brick in the face! That’s what is missing in my life!
”I said, “Get me in that water, and I’m going to be re-baptized in Jesus’ name.”
Note: When Matthew 28:19 says: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
We know that it is only talking about one name. What is the name of the Father?
--John 5:43 “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” Also see John 10:25
What is the name of the Son?
--John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing ye might have life through his name.” See John 10:25
--Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
What is the name of the Holy Ghost?
--John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” See Luke 1:35 There is only one name by which we must be saved.
--Acts 4:10-12 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The Night I was baptized in Jesus’ Name
When I was 11-years-old I was baptized in the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and nothing happened. But when I was baptized in Jesus’ name in May 26, 2002, something happened in that water. When I came up out of that water, I felt clean and pure. There was no longer any guilt of my past on me. It was washed away. People were praising and worshiping God afterward. My pastor, Rod Foster, told me to lift up my hands and thank God. I did just that and I felt the glory of God’s presence all over me. As I was worshiping Him, I sought for the Holy Ghost but did not yet receive it until a week later.
God's Beauty Ideal vs The World's
It wasn't but the next day, Memorial Day, when God started dealing with me about my make-up issue (the stronghold). In the world, and as I said before, I struggled with insecurity. I would put on a face every day so that I could feel good about the way that I looked. I was miserable! It was a prison for me, and I did not know how to overcome it. I was in bondage to make-up. I lived in it, I slept in it. I felt ugly without it. That next morning I woke up to get ready for the Memorial Day picnic. I went to put my make-up on. Right then I felt God convicting me. God had tried dealing with me about it before a few years back, and now he was dealing with me about it again, and stronger than ever before. God wanted to set me free from that bondage.
I went to the Memorial Day picnic that day, and I talked to my pastor’s wife about it. She let me know that it was the pride of the flesh. “The pride of the flesh?” I asked. “How can that be? I don’t have any pride in my flesh. That is why I put it on.” She let me know about where true beauty is found, that God beautifies the meek with holiness. And she explained to me about God’s beauty ideal vs. the world’s, and how the wicked women in the Bible painted their faces to allure men. Here is what the bible has to say about it:
-- Enoch 8:1-3 “And Azâzêl taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals of the earth and the art of working them, and bracelets, and ornaments, and the use of antimony, and the beautifying of the eyelids, and all kinds of costly stones and coloring tinctures. And there arose much godlessness, and they committed fornication, and they were led astray, and became corrupt in all their ways. Semjâzâ taught enchantments, and root-cuttings, 'Armârôs the resolving of enchantments, Barâqîjâl (taught) astrology, Kôkabêl the constellations, Êzêqêêl the knowledge of the clouds, Araqiêl the signs of the earth, Shamsiêl the signs of the sun, and Sariêl the course of the moon. And as men perished, they cried, and their cry went up to heaven...”
Ezekiel 23:38-46 Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my Sabbaths. For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house. And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments, And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil. And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with the men of the common sort were brought Sabeans from the wilderness, which put bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful crowns upon their heads Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them? Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women. And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands. For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled.
Isaiah 30:1 “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin.”
1 John 2:15-16 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Kings 2:30 “And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
-- Jeremiah 4:30 “And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.”
-- 1 Timothy 2:9 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety….”
-- Romans 12:2 “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed…”
-- Ezekiel 28:17 “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.”
-- 1Peter 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
-- Psalms 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
I noticed the scriptures didn’t really have any good things to say about makeup, but rather encourages the believer to be without allurement, and to understand that holiness and salvation is where our beauty truly comes from. I’ll explain more about Lucifer in detail. Vanity caused Lucifer (a fallen angel who later became Satan) to become so proud of his outward magnificence that it began to overshadow his relationship with his Maker to the point of total rebellion. He was full of wisdom, but his wisdom was corrupted by reason of his brilliance. Turning traitor to the very glory that he was created to protect, betraying the trust that God had placed in him, he began to think that his appearance or glory could compete with the glory of God. Even to this day he tempts mankind, especially women, to do the same thing. I honestly asked myself, why I battled with these things. Because I valued my appearance, therefore, I wanted to do all in my power to enhance it. Focusing on the desire to be beautiful can corrupt our wisdom, and that can lead us astray to the point where we will begin to value the things of this world above our relationship with Christ. After my talk with my pastor’s wife, Pam Foster, I was even more convicted than before. I took a walk by myself and had a little talk with God about my little problem. The very next day, I woke up with a new desire. I got to the point where I did not care what the world thought anymore. I had to quit trying to fit into the world, and just be myself, because what’s the use of trying to fit into a world that doesn't even love you anyway? And what is the use of trying to spend hours on yourself in the mirror to please people that don’t even care about you? I took my make-up bag with everything in it, and I threw it in the trash can. I walked outside with a clean face, and I felt like a whole chain was lifted up off of me! I felt a change in my life like never before. I can now let it rain on my face, and not have to worry about make-up coming off. I’m now free to just be who God created me to be! I have gained more self-confidence now knowing I don’t need that stuff in order to be beautiful. I don’t have to put on a face every day to be confident.
The Baptism of The Holy Ghost - How To Get It!
This is how God Delivered Me From Depression and the Void:
The Night I Received the Holy Ghost Baptism for the First Time! That following Wednesday night in June 2nd 2002, church service was officially over, I still wanted to pray. I did not want to go another day without the Holy Ghost. I was determined that I did not want to leave that church until I had received it. I learned not to beg God for the Holy Ghost because that was a sign of unbelief. But I learned that if I praise, love, worship Him, and thank Him, I can receive what I need from God. And I did not receive the Holy Ghost until I lifted up my hands in worship.
Nehemiah 8:6 And Ezra Blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, A-men, A-men with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
By the laying on of the hands they prayed for me. I started feeling the presence of God all over me. It was not until I let God speak through me that it happened. When I let God speak through me I started speaking in tongues, and I heard myself repeating the same phrases over and over again. It was and is the most beautiful experience I have ever had. I was born again for the first time! When I had received the Holy Ghost, that was when God not only delivered me from fear and depression, but he also gave me peace, joy, and so much love I couldn’t even contain it all. This was the very love that I was searching for in the world. He gave me a hope beyond the grave, and even a joy in this life that no man can ever take away from me. I will never be the same again. The glory of the presence of God was so powerful! It’s not something that I can put into words. You have to experience this for yourself! You shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free! But it doesn’t stop there. There were many issues down the road I still had to deal with, but the difference is that I now have the power to overcome the world. Receiving the Holy Ghost is not just a one-time experience. There were times I received the Holy Ghost at school and home. Because I sought his face, he answered me according to that desire. The next day, I woke up and felt the presence of God like never before. You just have to experience this for yourself! It is truly amazing and it will affect every area of your life. It will change the way that you see things, the way you live, the way you think, and the way that you present yourself. This Holy Ghost is different than just having a religion. Religion just puts rules and regulations on you, but the Holy Ghost changes you, and transforms you. God loves us too much to leave us in our sins. His word says:
--Ezekiel 11:19 -20 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
--Tit 3:5-8 He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
Overcoming Sleep Paralysis
Since I was a little girl, I had been tormented many times by fear, whether it was in my dreams, wide awake, or in a dark room alone. I would wake up screaming, suffer from severe anxiety attacks out of the blue, and have even suffered from social issues. Of course I was told that it was all in my head, but I knew something was not right. I just didn’t know for sure what it was, but I knew it wasn’t coming from me, but rather something outside of me. Not many days after I got the Holy Ghost, I had laid down to bed late at night. At this time I was still staying at the dormitory of the trade school Job Corps. Before I went to bed I turned my electric lamp on to dim the room. I hated sleeping in the dark. During the night I was having a peaceful dream, when out of the blue, this sudden fear came over me. It was like I was confronted by some evil entity. I woke up, but my vision was perfect and crystal clear like I’ve never seen it before. As I barely opened up my eyes I saw I was under the covers. As I glanced around, I saw a black spirit hovering over me as my electric lamp was dimming the room. At that point, it was like the Lord was revealing to me what was causing the fear and anxiety all along. It was demonic oppression, a black spirit!
As my physical body woke up, I began to pray against it in Jesus’ name for probably a full 30 minutes or so. I ended up falling back asleep afterward, and was not confronted by the demon again for the rest of the night. I knew from that point how to defeat fear.
After receiving the Holy Ghost, I knew I had the power to overcome it. Now I know I have no reason to be afraid because He will be there if I call upon him. Here is a scripture that is comforting to me!
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
When God gets a hold of you, you’ll never be the same again. There is so much more to my experience with God than I can write in a few pages, but here are the beginnings of my experience, and I hope this will be an encouragement to you.
Remember, if you want to know the truth, God is not going to leave you in your ignorance. Ask him today!!