Satan said, "Kill yourself."

but Jesus said,

"Arise from the dead!"

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Ephesians 5:14

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Oh, hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus!

Brother Steve has graciously given us permission to post his powerful testimony. Jesus Christ is about POWER. He stretched His arms out on that cross and shed His blood for this ungodly generation--then He rose from the dead three days later JUST LIKE HE SAID HE WOULD. Hallelujah. 2,000 years later that powerful blood is STILL savin' souls. The POWER OF THE BLOOD will transform any man, woman, boy or girl that is willing to yield to The Son. God speed to Brother Steve and to all those that love the Lord Jesus Christ of a truth.

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I had basically a normal happy childhood, with caring parents who loved 
us. I had no teaching though about salvation, or how to know the true God of 
the bible. My parents left that up to the catholic church. I spent half of 
my school years in catholic schools, and half in public schools. I was a 
quiet kid, and did not speak really unless spoken to.

  I had an older brother and sister, and I was the youngest for 8 1/2 years. 
Then my parents had another child. I was used to getting a lot of attention, 
and that quickly changed. Of course, the new baby needed more time and 
attention than me, but I felt rejected, I did not understand it all. I felt 
like my parents did not love me as much anymore. It was at this point in my 
life, I started becoming depressed quite frequently, and as time went on, I 
felt happiest when alone. I started to feel uncomfortable around family 
members, feeling like an outsider, and always felt like I was a burden to 
everyone.

  Later on in my childhood, I accepted the idea that I must just be a bad 
kid. I noticed that I did not enjoy being around my little brother, like the 
rest of the family did. Then I started having evil thoughts come into my 
mind about physically hurting my brother. This always made me sad and 
depressed. Because, I did not want to hurt him, I wanted to love & enjoy him 
like everyone else. At this time I didn't know much about Satan and how he 
works to destroy anyone he can!

   As a teenager I was rebellious, I dove into a life centered on myself, 
and seeking pleasure. I smoked cigarettes, and chewed tobacco. I looked at 
as much pornography as possible, magazines mostly, but some XXX movies. I 
smoked pot, took acid, snorted cocaine, and drank alcohol heavily. I listened 
to the most evil heavy metal music available (Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, 
Iron Maiden, Motley Crue to name a few). I lived mostly for sex, drugs, and 
rock n roll. It was my God at the time, and my savior for a short while (it 
was actually, leading me quicker to my destruction). It was in these 
rebellious teenage years, that I started having thoughts about killing 
myself. I was afraid to do it, but it happened so much (thoughts), that I 
belived it was probably only a matter of time. I always daydreamed about 
people coming to my funeral, or how they would react when they found out I 
died. Would they cry? Would they say good things about me? By their 
reactions did they really love me? I didn't really feel like living, but I 
certainly didn't want to die either. At this point of my life I basically 
felt unworthy of anyone's love.

  Sometime during my late teen years, or early adult years, I started a new 
plan.  I decided being mr. nice guy, would eventually make me happy, and solve 
all my problems. I tried to everything to everybody. That was mission 
impossible, mankind is so hard to please. This did not work, it made things 
worse, I became very anxious, very fearful and very insecure, and not to 
mention, I lost my individual personality. I got to the point where I 
couldn't even make a simple decision without constant questioning. I was 
always worried about what others thought about me.

  My life got to a point to where I could not even converse with family and 
friends. The pressure to please (to be everything to everybody), and feeling 
like I was always on stage in front of an audience, was to much for me. I 
would even have to muster courage before calling my parents, or going 
somewhere with friends. After a while I totally dreaded talking on the 
phone, or just coming in to contact with people.

  One night I was talking to my mom & dad on the phone. I could barely 
speak, everything was forced and jumbled. I was terribly anxious, and so 
afraid to even talk to my own parents. After the terrible phone call, Satan 
made his big move to seal the deal, and get me to take my life( therefore 
sending me to an eternal hell). I started hearing in my mind, over and over, 
without end, KILL YOURSELF! KILL YOURSELF! KILL YOURSELF! KILL YOURSELF! At 
the same time I had evil violent thoughts running thru my head.

  I was trying to fight the thoughts (power of positive thinking), but that 
was fruitless, and I was losing the battle. I stopped eating, stopped 
sleeping, and stopped basically doing anything a normal person may expect to 
do. I did a lot of pacing around in fear, not knowing what to do. Mentally 
there were no reasoning skills whatsoever, I had absolutely no control of 
my mind and what went thru it!

  I really wanted to give up, and find a way to kill myself, but every time I 
got real close, a thought came into to my mind, that said, you could not do 
that to your family. I agreed with that thought (which I know was from God), 
but could not figure out how in the world I could live anymore. My whole 
life had been getting progressively worse year by year. If it got any worse, 
I would either totally loose my mind, hurt somebody in an uncontrollable 
crazy rage, or what I felt was the best option kill myself. I didn't know, 
but God was getting ready to give me another option. What was it? A new 
life, a brand new start thru His Son Jesus Christ. Let me explain.

  On the fourth day of Satan big offensive, I was watching t.v. I was 
futilely trying to take my mind of things. I was flipping the channels, 
flipping, flipping, flipping, finding no peace, no comfort, until it 
happened! I came upon TBN (note: I do not agree with most of what they do on 
that station, but God can even use them to save someone), and a man was 
about to be shot out of a canon. I stopped to watch. After he was shot out 
of the canon, he took his helmet off, and he started talking about his life. 
He talked about he had tried just about everyway of living, but always felt 
something was missing, never had complete peace. I felt like he was reciting 
my own life's story. Then he said after so many years of looking he finally 
had found what he was looking for. I was probably literally on the edge of 
my seat at this point. He said it was a personal relationship with the Lord 
Jesus Christ. He said Jesus Christ was the only one who could fill that 
void, and make us complete. No one but Jesus Christ could do it. Not drugs, 
not pleasure, not being Mr.. nice guy, not family, not friends, nor anything 
in this whole world could do it, but Jesus! He told us at the end how to 
start:

   Pray to God admitting first that I was a sinner, believe that the Lord 
Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and was raised from the dead, 
invite him into my life to be my Lord and Savior, and trust in him for my 
eternal salvation.

  It was at this point the holy spirit entered me, and I became a child of 
God. [After I was saved from a message I saw on TBN...
I started reading the bible every day and praying all the time. When I decided 
I better start going to church again, probably a year later, I naturally 
went back to the Catholic Church, the only church I knew. By then I had 
probably read thru the whole bible, and heard many messages about the Lord. 
When I went back to the Catholic Church, I immediately felt something was 
wrong, I could not articulate it, but I felt the Lord pointing out many 
errors, that they were teaching, that were contradicting His Word. 
I left that Catholic Church after about six months, 
and started going to a conservative Baptist Church.]


I am now a changed man, praise be to God alone. I do not even resemble 
the person I was seven years ago. I have a wife and two beautiful children, 
Im happy even in the tough times, and I am full of hope for the future. I 
peace in all things when I realize the Lord is my shield, and that he will 
never leave of forsake me. The best thing is, the One who created me love me 
and always will. He loved me even when I was His enemy. He is truly an 
awesome God!

[My parents, sister, brother, and many other 
relatives are Roman Catholics. My mom said she will never leave the church, 
but I know our God can do what is impossible for man, and save them all. 
...Hopefully if God is willing, he will use me 
to lead others to the truth which is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ of 
the KJV bible.]

  I would like to mention one last thing, that all my years going to mass 
every Sunday, going to catholic schools. I never heard any gospel that would 
lead me to way of salvation. You would think that someone so desperately 
looking for a savior, would find it, if it was to be found in the catholic 
church. I love all the people in catholic church, and hope they will come to 
know the truth as I have and be set free! My parents, and many relatives are 
among those still trapped in the catholic church, not knowing they are on 
the wrong path. I have written this testimony for the specific purpose, to 
let people know they cannot be saved by adhering to the teachings of the 
catholic church, or by any other fruitless way of living, but only thru the 
blood of the Lord Jesus Christ!

  John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that 
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For 
God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world 
through him might be saved.

A servant of the Lord Jesus Christ

How has life changed since knowing Christ?

 At this time I am spending most of my time learning about the Lord, how to 
serve him, how to witness to others about him, and apologetics how to defend 
the faith against false cults (especially Catholicism).  As far as spiritual 
gifts it seems like the Lord has mainly used me to be an encourager to 
brothers and sisters in the faith. He has used me to witness to a small 
number of people in word, but a lot I know in action. I feel the Lord leading 
me more towards sharing the gospel boldly. I'm not were I'd like to be 
concerning witnessing boldly about the Lord Jesus Christ, but that is a 
great longing of my heart, and I know if it is the Lord's will, it will 
happen. I have a young family, 2 children, 1 three year old daughter named 
Angel, and a six month old son named Christian. The Lord also has me 
building a strong bond with my wife and children, that I know the Lord will 
use as a witness to others one day, if not even now. Again in all these 
things praise be to God that he could use a man like me! The Lord can use 
anyone if they are willing to let Him!

Peace of Christ Jesus be with you in all things,

Love,
Brother Steve

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