Standing On The Promises...

Transcript

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another podcast by Jongo, in the back of a truck, in the middle of a field in eastern Saskatchewan. Hope you guys are having a fantastic start to the work week. I got some stuff to talk about tonight, and it was impressed upon me today as I was kind of... there was some news that came across the wire, let's say, in my personal life. And it got me thinking about some examples of two individuals' walks with Christ. And this isn't, it's not going to be pretty. It's going to be real, it's going to be raw, it's going to be the true Christian experience. And it's definitely not flowers, roses, and smelly things. It's, it's rough. Okay, so let's get in. So, we'll start with my story. You guys should know my story. I grew up as secular as it comes. I was not in the church. I was not brought up in a church environment. I knew nothing about the Bible. I came to faith, basically in my late 30s, excuse me. So 38 years, let's say, of my life, my religion was what I saw on TV. I did not know anything about religion. came to Christ and it was, you know, a beautiful thing. It was, it was like the best decision of my life. I, uh, I, I, I couldn't deny God anymore. I tried. I tried, and I'm sure a lot of people have tried. Um, but right now, um, it's been about 10 years since I was baptized. And you guys know my story now. So around 10 years ago, well, it wasn't 10 years ago, it was 2017, so all nine years ago. I lost everything. Absolutely lost everything. So this is a couple of years after I've been baptized. Just starting in the faith, not really deep into it, but, you know, starting to get into it, starting to realize some things. I lose everything. My business crashes and burns. It, you know. It was horrible. It was an awful experience. I wouldn't worship it on my worst enemy. Like, it was just the worst thing ever. And so here I am a brand new Christian, and my life basically implodes on itself. What a start to your walk with Jesus. That's my story. You guys know this story. I've spoken about it quite a few times here on Hive over the years. It's crazy, but you know what? it's, it's, it's kind of expected. And I'll talk about more on why it's expected in a minute. Then I want to share a story number two with you guys. I have a friend of mine, a good friend of mine, who, similar to me, I don't know totally his experience, but when I knew, you know, when we grew up and stuff like that, I knew that he didn't come from a Christian home, didn't really know much about faith, and just kind of, you know, just, didn't, wasn't brought up in the faith. He was brought up secular, and, you know, he might have had different experiences. Obviously, we all do, but generally, when I first met him, he was not going to church, and, you know, the last thing we spoke about when we would conversate was church, God things. So he's, he's been going to church now, four years, let's say, three or four years. So he's going to church, he's going to church, and then, um, He battles some sickness, he battled some illnesses just before he started his journey. He got through it, no problem. But then I, this is the news that came across the wire to me today. I had learned that he got a really bad infection and actually lost a limb. He lost his leg. It had to be amputated. And this is, this was a couple months ago. It wasn't even that long ago. unbeknownst to me. I had no idea that he was going through this. And he kind of, he's, you know, he didn't want to make a big deal about it. And he didn't really share it with too many people. And so as soon as I reached out, him, as soon as I heard this. And I was like, dude, like, you know, like, oh, man, this is, you know, like, you okay, like everything. And then this is, this is the question I dropped to him. How's your faith, man? Like, that was, that was, that was, it was so weird. It wasn't like, I know, I know the kind of guy is, he's going to get through this stuff, he's, he's going to, he's a strong dude, he'll get through this, he'll, he'll conquer the challenges. But the, after I kind of, like, convinced myself that was going to happen, the first thing that came to mind was, how's his faith? So I reached out, I had to ask him, this is his answer to me. He's like, dude, my faith has not been stronger. My faith is stronger now than it's ever been in my life. Now remember, he was not brought up in the church. He's a new Christian. Circle back to my story, a new Christian. Like, I didn't lose a limb, but I lost everything. I lost my house, my business, you name it. He loses his limb. These are two brand new Christians that are going through trials and tribulations, literally, right after they become Christian. And this is what I want you guys to know. Our stories are not unique. Look at the history of the apostles. You know that out of the 12 apostles, only one died naturally? Do you know that? Every other apostle was martyred except for John. Peter was crucified upside down. Paul was beheaded. Matthew was killed. I think Bartholomew was, like, skinned alive. Like, just rank and crazy ways. They all died. They all knew. Like, because that's what Jesus said. Jesus said, you will be tried and put up to the magistrates and the judges if you keep me. top of mind. If you put me out there to the world, the world is going to hate you because it hated me first. And this is what made me think today. I hear about my friend going through the troubles with his leg and the infection. I remember me and my family going through all these trials, and it's like, this is what it means to be a Christian. The devil is not going to go after people that are in the world. The devil's not going to go after the people that aren't trying to change their life. The devil's not going to go after any of these people. Who's he going to go after? He's going to go after the people that claim Christ. That's who he's after. And what does he do? He will throw every single thing, just like the story of Job, every single thing, your way, when you claim Christ. But you never curse God. You never curse God. And it just, it was, it was, today it was just like one of those moments where it felt, it felt like, right, you know, that especially when my friend said his faith has never been stronger. Like, that to me was such a testimony to the power of God in our lives. So, just to let you guys know, if you're, if you're new to the faith, if you're struggling with faith, rest assured, you're going to go through trials, right? Think of, think of the story of Daniel and the three Hebrew boys in the fire. Did he, did he save them? From going into the fire? No, he saved them through the fire. He was there with them through it. They had to experience it. So, you're going to experience some crazy stuff, especially when you claim Christ. But we know who wins in the end. We know the promise that is made. Think of John 14. Like, read John 14 versus 1 to 3, 1 to 4. Read that. Look at the promise. Look at the promise that Jesus makes. and that is what, that's what will keep your faith stronger. So, just thoughts, thoughts on a Monday evening in the middle of a field, in the middle of eastern Saskatchewan. God bless you guys, and keep praying, keep looking heavenward, because that's what matters at the end of the day.

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