Restoration

Restoration

My life has not always been easy, even as a Christian I have struggled. When I became a Christian it was the greatest day of my life besides my two beautiful girls been born.  

My life had a meaning now that I have Christ. What I was not prepared for was the enemy. To kill, steal, and destroy is the only thing he knows.   

1 Peter 5:8
Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.

I was not prepared. I had read it many times but had not experienced it yet. It happened to me unexpectedly. It was a relentless attack, not matter what I felt, or what I thought I knew the problems piled up. Divorce, abandonment, restlessness, depression, suicidal thoughts, financial struggles, family gone. The list goes on, this lead to drugs and alcohol, with lead to isolation, and self pity.

I slowly started to seek the lord once again, but had many strongholds, I was in bondage. Even found myself in a church, the Lord was reaching out to me once again, and I was trying to take his hand. I encounter many battles with the enemy, even lost my roommate to cancer. Shortly after I became what you know as homeless, but the streets have another name for it. The streets of California are ruff, but the Lord will lead you if you seek him. 

 Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.                                                                                                                                    

It was not easy for me in the cold nights and rainy days, trying to hustle for food and shelter. Some days were better than most, but there was nothing like the church days. Some days I worked for my uncle by day, and if there was room at the shelter I was there by night. The more I prayed to God, the more signs and miracles I saw, some were explainable some were not. I eventually stopped doing drugs and alcohol. I stopped pursing women and started to pursue Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:22

Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

            Life was starting to be beautiful once again. It came to me out of nowhere, struck with pneumonia. I thought I was going to die, in fact I think I did. I blacked out in the ambulance and it was during that time I really felt Gods presence, and his great love for me to keep living. I woke up in the hospital bed dazed and confused. Trying to scrabble together the voice and images I had seen in my head. I remained in the hospital for 3 weeks. I was saved by Gods grace and love for me.                   

 Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

After being discharged from the hospital, I stay in California for another two weeks, and then I moved to North Carolina, I had not been home for three and a half years. Through my illness I understood life should be with those whom you love, not who or what you want. Being in the hospital was an experience like no other. It is where I understood life and death, and also my value in Christ.

My bus trip to NC was an adventure. I shared my testimony with others, and heard many stories as well. As I shared felt closer to God, but I also felt shame and guilt. Seeing families with kids was painful for me, because I missed my daughters so much and still do. All I can do is pray but the pain and the guilt I felt inside was still there. I was now 2752.99 miles away from my little girls. The farther away I got from them the more pain, shame, and guilt I felt inside. I was happy to finally be home but I could not help how I felt.

 Matthew 11:29

All of you take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.

Pain, shame, and guilt (PSG) got the best of me. I started going to a local church, my family when to a different church from me. I struggled with (PSG), I took it everywhere with me. It was heavy, and sometimes I could not leave the house or my room. I felt no one understood (PSG) like I did. One day I decided to go to the Faith Harvest Church, it is also were my family goes. I went there twice, and realized that this is where God wants me to be. Later had meeting with the church pastor. We spoke for a while, shared my testimony with him and also my struggle with (PSG). He understood, and encouraged me to go to a program I had learned about earlier that week. The pastor at Faith Harvest is truly a man of God. Not only is he my pastor, he also my brother.

I went to Bethel Colony of Mercy, it is a place where can go to deal with addiction, strongholds, bondage, (PSG). I wanted to get closer with God, because I had fallen short of his glory. It was there I rededicated my life to Christ once again. As I went to the Calvary I saw Jesus on the cross with nails in his hands and feet. As I got closer I realized the nails were my sins. I became broken and I got on my knees. I prayed to him and asked for forgiveness and submitted to him. He forgave me once again, and now I live for him and only him. I started to walk and I looked back at the cross and Jesus was no longer there. I looked beside me and there he was, walking with me, and he still is up to this day. Thank you Jesus for dying for me I Love you.

Romans 12:21

Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Reconciliation

Reconciliation

Saturday, April 18, 2009

My name is Michael and once I was a dead man. Not physically but spiritually.

 “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.” 
(Ephesians 2:1)

Living in sin and not caring about life or myself, I only cared for the treasures and pleasures of life. I even neglected my family. I was lost in my own world. My heart was filled with hate and pain, and my words were full of lies. I turned to drugs and alcohol to ease the pain and the misery that I felt inside. I was so blind I wanted to die, so I tried.

“Once we too were foolish and disobedient. Were misled and became slave to many lusts and pleasure. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.” 
(Titus 3:3)

I made many attempts to change my life on my own, but in return I failed. The harder I tried to do it on my own the harder I fell. I was lost and miserable. As a matter of a fact I didn’t want to live anymore. My life was meaningless.

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10)

The thief had a hold of my life, and I knew so. So one night I got on my knees and prayed to God, this was my prayer: “Father why have you abandoned me, I don’t want to live a meaningless and sinful life any more, when will you come and save me, please help me Father, so many nights that I have cried for you, when will you come Amen.”

 “Save me O God for the floodwaters are up to my neck. Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can’t find a foothold. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me. I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me. Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal. O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you. Don’t let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me, O Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Don’t let me cause them to be humiliated, O God of Israel. For I endure insults for you sake; humiliation is written all over my face. Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me; they treat me like a stranger. Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. When I weep and fast, they scoff at me. When I dress in burlap to show sorrow, they make fun of me. I am the favorite topic of town gossip, and all the drunks sing about me. But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation.” 
(Pslam69:1-3)

The next day I meet a young man who knew God and God knew him. Immediately we started to talk about God. At that moment I knew that this was Gods doing. We talked for awhile then went our separate ways. A couple of days later I meet with this young man again. This time it was in a coffee house. He asked me questions about Jesus, and came to realize that I didn’t know much about Jesus, if I did I would know that Jesus is God. I was very much disappointed at myself so I listened and made sure not to miss anything. The man told me, in order for my sins to be forgiven by God, and to be accepted into the kingdom of Heaven (eternal life) I must confess my sins, repent from my sins, (turn away from them) believe in Christ, (that he died on the cross for us, so our sins could be forgiven, and he rose from the dead on the third day) and receive the Holy Spirit, and eternal life in Heaven, a new life.

 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with tour mouth that you are saved.” (Romans10:9-10)

On Friday March 13, 2009, by Gods grace alone, I confessed my sins, repented from my sins, believed in Christ, and received a new life through Christ. God saved me and he can save you. He is our maker, and longs for us to be satisfied in Christ alone. He has made me a new man, and has given me a new life, a new heart, a new spirit, and my salvation. Thank you Jesus.

 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn Heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

No longer am I a slave to sin, I am free because Jesus Christ lives in me. My old life was crucified with Christ.

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me so I live in this earthly body by trusting in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

No longer do I live in the flesh but live by the spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control, these are things the spirit has produced in me. No longer do I desire the pleasures of the flesh.

“So I say let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” (Galatians 5:16)

Once I was a dead man, but I was born again through Christ Jesus. I used to be a lot of things, but now I am a follower of Jesus Christ. And for those who want to know the truth I tell them Jesus lives. And also that he died for us on the cross in order that our sin could be forgiven, and on the third day he resurrected from his death proving that he defeated sin and death once and for all. And he ascended to Heaven where now he reigns. Then on the final day God will come and take those who believed in him back to the promise land in heaven. There will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain, no more sin hate, just complete worship. God himself will live with us and we will be his children. So I say to you, believe in this, confess with your heart, repent from your sins, and you will receive the Holy Spirit, and also inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

“No one lights a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly father.” (Matthew 5:14-15)

Live by the commandments, die with the commandments in heart, mind, and soul. Remember this also, love one another and worship and obey God, and only God.

“You must love the lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment. A second is equally important: love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

The glass is full but no one drinks, but those who know the truth will surely be thirsty. Repent from your sins and believe in the gospel and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Read your bibles daily and do what it says. Pray to God everyday and find a gospel centered church. Love God, Love others, and trust him to keep you to the very end.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commandments I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

God is the way, the truth, the light. He is the only way to life, please believe in him please.

“If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not judge it. But all who reject me and my massage will be judged on the Day of Judgment by the truth I have spoken. (John 12:44-48)

Your brother & a Servant of Christ,

Michael Indula