#57: Testimonial

On episode 57, Tim shares a Testimony after a bold listener named Sal sent an email to [e-mail]. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome in to Bring Heaven Down. My name is Tim
and I'm the host of this daily devotional podcast that
shows up in your feed Monday through Friday. Make sure
you hit that follow button wherever you are listening to
this show and rate and review the show. If you
are willing to do that as well, that would be
greatly appreciated. All right, Today's Tuesday, which means I love

(00:22):
sharing testimonies, and if you are willing and bold enough
to share your testimony, email the show Bring Heaven Down
Numbers seven at gmail dot com. All testimonies are powerful
and your testimony could change a life, and I know
for a fact that it will encourage other believers because
when I read these every Tuesday, and when they drop

(00:44):
into the inbox and I see them, I'm immediately encouraged
by the power and the impact that Jesus had on
your life. So let's read another testimony together today and again,
if you have one, email the show Bring Heaven Down
Numbers Heaven at gmail dot com. I said, if you
have one, we all have one. There is no bad testimony.

(01:11):
Bring Heaven Down Number seven at gmail dot com. Grab
your favorite drink or cup of coffee and let's bring
Heaven a little closer together. Today's testimony comes from Sal.
It says, good morning, Tim. My name is Sal. I

(01:32):
just discovered your podcast about two weeks ago. I just
wanted to tell you that I enjoyed it very much.
I listened every day, and it seems as though you're
talking directly to me. This is not a testimonial. I
just felt compelled to share a little bit about my journey.
I'm a middle aged man who still recently never allowed
Jesus into my life because I led a life of

(01:53):
just doing whatever I want. I'm not really being concerned
with whether or not it was pleasing to God. You
have mentioned in a few of your episodes. However, the
Holy Spirit moves people, and for me, it has moved
me to try and make serious changes in my life
and to develop a relationship with Jesus and to live

(02:14):
a life that is not full of the bakery. Like yourself,
I have struggled with pornography and sex addiction. I recently
went out and bought my first Bible, and I tried
to read a little bit every day. Sometimes I fail,
but I make a conscious effort when I get up
every morning now to thank God for the blessings that

(02:34):
I have in my life, and I have many. Right now,
life is a struggle to get through each day because
of all the garbage that runs around in my mind
every day. I have found out, though, that if I
am honest with Jesus and honest with myself, he gives
me comfort and peace. It didn't take long for me
to realize that without him I don't have a shot

(02:54):
in hell of changing or finding peace. For a very
long time, I just never felt that I was worthy
enough for his grace and forgiveness. I now see that
I was wrong. I have much gratitude anyway. I just
wanted to say that I really appreciate your podcast. I
believe that God wanted me to find your podcast because

(03:15):
your message is strong. It is a source of support
and strength. Thanks again for listening now. Sel says from
the get go that this is not a testimonial, but
it is exactly a testimonial. With all due respect, Cel,

(03:37):
this is an amazing testimonial, he says. Recently, I had
never allowed Jesus into my life, but then I bought
a Bible and started reading a little bit every day.
Sometimes I fail, just like I do, just like all
of us. He talks about how the Holy Spirit moved him.

(04:00):
He talks about his struggles with pornography and sex addiction,
and then discusses how he makes a conscious effort every
morning to get up and thank God for the blessings
that I have in my life. This is one hundred
percent a testimonial, and there are a few things that

(04:23):
specifically stick out to me in this testimonial. He says
that he struggled with pornography and sex addiction, and then
he later on says, right now, life is a struggle
to get through each day because of all the garbage
that runs around in my mind every day. And here's
the thing about pornography and sex addiction. Sure you can

(04:45):
stop it, Sure you can eliminate it from your daily activity,
and my prayer is that you do. However, just like
a scary movie or a scary TV show or something
that you wish your eyes didn't see, images stick in

(05:06):
your mind way longer than any event that takes place
as soon as you consume yourself with the dangers of
pornography and sex addiction. The unfortunate part of that is,
even when you have a clean break from it, some

(05:29):
of those images still live in your mind. And what
I love about this testimony from Sel is that he
then says, if I am honest with Jesus and honest
with myself, he gives me the comfort and peace. Sometimes
I think that we try to almost trick Jesus by

(05:55):
pretending that something isn't as bad as it really is,
by talking to gen Jesus and laying down our prayers,
or just talking to him but not fully admitting what's
going on behind the scenes as if he doesn't know.
And when you're honest with Jesus, he does deliver comfort

(06:15):
and peace. Because sometimes I think we treat Jesus like
a friend or a neighbor next door, where we try
to have our life perfectly together because we don't want
Jesus to see our deep sins. The problem with that
idea is that Jesus is all knowing and perfect and

(06:36):
he already knows. So we can stop playing the game
with Jesus of trying to act great or trying not
to show our deepest sins to him because he already
knows it. And the only way to receive the comfort
and peace that zeal is talking about is if we
are honest with Jesus, and then letter says, I just

(07:01):
never felt that I was worthy enough for his grace
and forgiveness. I now see that I was wrong. I
have gratitude. I love how he admits that he didn't
feel worthy of his grace and forgiveness. And this reminds
me of a message that our church talked about this

(07:21):
past weekend. There are self righteous people and then there
are people that don't think they are worthy enough for
Jesus's grace. You would rather be the person that doesn't
feel like they are worthy enough for Jesus' grace because
the self righteous person doesn't think they need Jesus. They

(07:43):
think they have it all figured out. But the problem
with that is everyone is in need of a savior.
Everyone falls short and needs Jesus. And what I love
about this testimony is that he admits that he sees
he was wrong and that he is now worthy of
God's grace. Because God's grace extends to everybody that wants it.

(08:09):
That's why Jesus died on the cross for us. If
Jesus's grace did not extend to all of us, then
Jesus's death on the cross would be a limited action.
When it clearly is not. It is an unlimited action,
and His grace extends to you even if you don't

(08:33):
feel like you're worthy of it. Really, that is a
humble prayer, Lord, I don't feel worthy of your grace,
but thank you for providing your grace anyways. That is
approaching God with humility because the truth is, none of
us are worthy of God's grace. But the point is

(08:55):
is that Jesus is worthy. I personally am not worthy enough.
I'm a sinner, I'm lost, but I know Jesus and
that is enough to receive Jesus's grace. I love this
testimony from Cell and I'm grateful that he shared it.

(09:19):
If you're willing to share yours, email the show Bring
Heaven Down number seven at gmail dot com. Thank you
for choosing Jesus today, and I hope the Holy Spirit
revealed more and more about our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ