For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5
THE SINS OF THE FATHER
David witnessed the five years of my life between the last temple recommend in 1979 and my coming to Christ in October 1985. He witnessed the use of alcohol, drugs, and some hurtful relationships. But my involvement in that lifestyle was brief. I was already an adult when I made those choices. It didn't take long before I hated my life. I left that life happily after coming to Christ. But David was an impressionable young man who was deeply changed by my sinful choices. Like me he did not choose many godly friends. But for me this was a brief transition. For David those years marked his life. He felt more comfortable taking martial arts classes than religion class. He felt more comfortable around the "biker" culture than around religious people.
As soon as I was born again in 1985 I began praying for David but I was too confused to be much of a witness. David came to Christ in 1992. I still remember the joy I experienced when David shared his story. But for David the theological transition from Mormonism to Christianity was minor because his exposure to Mormon doctrines was slight. I struggled deeply with theological changes like grace for years. But David's struggle was giving up addictive drugs and alcohol.
DAVID'S CHALLENGE
I grabbed every tract they had and told them they would be hearing from me. "Be prepared for baptism!" I told them. I corresponded for months. But the more I studied the more confused I became comparing their claims, Mormonism and the Bible.
Tina had just been baptized in the L.D.S. Church. We were preparing to go through the Mormon Temple in a few months. Another influence at this time was my discovery of the Bible Answer Man program on the radio.
I was working long hours on the job, and was staying up until 2:00 in the morning studying. There was a tremendous internal struggle going on within me which increased the more I studied.
MORMON LOYALTIES
I was afraid of telling Tina of my findings, not to mention my family. We began attending the Valley Assemblies of God in Salt Lake and were beginning to grow for a few months.
But when we moved to Price, I made the deadly decision to start drinking again. In addition, as many past Mormons admit, I found myself being more focused on "exposing problems of Mormonism" than on building a relationship with the LORD.
CHOOSING ALCOHOL & DRUGS
I threw away four years of sobriety. From Price we then moved to Arizona where everything fell apart. I will jump ahead five years to 1997 and share how God brought us back into his fellowship.
THANKSGIVING 1997
Thanks giving weekend of 1997 was remarkable for me, my children returned home from state custody and my wife Tina was in Teen Challenge where she had given her life to the Lord. Years of drug addiction, alcoholism and dysfunctional lifestyles were coming to an end.
It started for me in July of 1997 when I prayed a Bob Dylan type prayer to the Lord before a major suicide attempt.
“Lord if I die and go to hell I’m ok with that because I’m already living in hell and I can’t take it any more.”
2 Pet 2:19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity-- for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
As I got up to leave the Pastor took me outside and to my unbelief began to encourage me and ministered to me, I was expecting to be 86ed for life like was my experience in several bars in the past. The Pastors of the church took me under their wings; they visited me often helping me to feel comfortable. At this time my self-esteem was at “scum” level when I looked into the mirror I saw somebody that I hated, I let so many people down in life, my wife, kids and community.
I remember one time I was really drunk and I was getting ready to walk to the store to get another 12 pack of beer and my oldest son pleaded with me, “dad please, don’t get no more beer”. But I ignored him and kept going. That little church and my Pastors was a lifeline to me. (Hebrews 10:25).
Heb 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”(John 3:16)
I Jn 5:4-5 For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--
Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
Luke 7:47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-- for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
In the past treatment centers like Teen Challenge targeted turning teenaged boys to Christ to get them off drugs, but organized crime has begun to target young ladies today. Seattle has more than one women's center.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Matt 11:28-30 28. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Phil 3:13-14 13. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
For me personally I had to work through control and jealousy issues due to roots of feeling inferior and insecure. Problems this deep will take time for the Lord to walk us through. (Philippians 1:6).
Phil 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
I Jn 1:8-10 8. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Prov 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Many think when we offer Christ that we only offer heaven after we die
John 14:1-3 1. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
John 10:10 I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Rev 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
God is Just "For judgment is without mercy" James 2:13
The Bible says "if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved" Rom 10:9
Trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord ~
Untold millions have prayed this prayer and received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. Would you like to turn to Christ?
Would you like to have someone pray with you? Just click here and pray with Billy Graham who has led untold millions to Christ.
If you prayed to receive Christ, the Bible says
None of us are able to earn having Christ come into our lives. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9
You will now begin to experience a new life and one more abundantly. Many things are different from now on because we have been born into God's family, not through our own efforts, but through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. Theologians call this regeneration, or the "new birth."
Franklin Graham's Audio Testimony
Second you need to share about what God has done in your life with another.
Third you should obtain a Bible and begin to read it everyday.
Fourth you should begin talking to God in prayer following the example of the Lord's Prayer and other prayers in the Bible.
Fifth you should begin active fellowship with other believers regularly joining with them in worship and service to honor Christ. Make certain that the church or fellowship you join is one where Christ is preached as the only pathway to God. Remember there is a hurting broken world around you - demonstrate your new life by showing your love and concern for others.
If you need help finding a new church family in your neighborhood please click here and enter your zip code. This will take you to a local Bible believing church near you.
LOCAL CHURCH
Contact David Stokes by email.
Father I confess I am a sinner. I renounce self righteousness as a pathway to salvation. I believe you sent your Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross as a complete and sufficient offering for my sin. I turn from my past life. I open my heart and life to you. Please forgive me and come into my heart and life. I receive You Lord Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Please take control of my life. Thank you for saving me by your mercy and your grace apart from the law in Jesus' name.
If you sincerely asked Jesus Christ to come into your life He has come in, happily, forever. For He said He will never leave us or forsake us. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen your relationship you should, as your first act of obedience, follow Christ into a water baptism in a Biblical church.
David and Tina have a loving growing family in Price Utah. They are serving God in a small local church there happily. They both love to participate in mission trips and love to share about how God radically transformed their lives.