Some years ago, I stood up in front of my church and made a statement of faith, which inevitably included the promise of continuing attendance to church and daily reading of the Bible. While I did not immediately pick up the Bible, I eventually followed up on my public promise, and my life has truly never been the same. To be clear, I have always been a Christian. Baptized and raised in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, I have had two very strong Christian parents that have raised me up to know the Lord. But after beginning to read the bible and spend alone time with God, the Lord really opened up my eyes and strengthened my faith.
Growing
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
From the two bible passages above, it is clearly evident that God's Word lights our path and equips us for works of righteousness. Reflecting on my own life, that is precisely what reading God's revealed Word (the Bible) has done for me. As I spent the time to read bits of God's Word and ask the Holy Spirit to teach me, I began learning specifically and more clearly the things which I have grown up believing. The spiritual milk was now getting replaced with "solid food," and boy was it delicious! (Heb. 5:13-14) Over time, I began memorizing scripture and actively witness Christ to people at school, able to recall key bible passages! I was zealous for the Lord and would boldly confront people with their spiritual condition, dealing squarely with sin, and bringing them to Christ. Long story short, I discovered that I had an extraordinary desire to share Christ with others (spiritual gift of Evangelism?) and Satan hit me hard.
Times of Testing
On the way home from street preaching, one evening, my friend shared God telling Him that Satan was going to really attack me hard. Since I have been a believer that actively speaks about Jesus, an attack came as no surprise to me and I thought nothing of the comment. Little did I know, however, that my life was about to get turned upside down. I became a leader of a prayer group that I essential vacated responsibility of and, with the addition of many school stresses, anxiety opened the door for me to become engulfed by condemnation, fear and confusion. This began my experience with Clinical Depression. I consistently felt down and, from senior year of high school on through five years of college, my grades slid. My academic life went down the tubes, so to speak. Failure crept up, causing me to be insecure and I seriously questioned what kind of witness I was for Jesus. I ran out of hope.
Times of Healing
In February, I spoke with a friend who identified spirits of condemnation, fear and confusion, informing me that I needed to attend a deliverance service. After speaking to a coworker, I attended at a bible study where I received deliverance... A couple, gifted especially by God, lead me through renouncing the spirits of condemnation, dear and confusion over my life. During that time, the man praying over me. As he whispered in my right ear, I heard a loud, echoing voice. Soon after, I felt a warm feeling engulf my arms and eventually I began hyperventilating hard, resulting in loosing all my strength. Something supernatural happened!
By Whose Power
The next great question arises is: who did that? Perhaps you may chalk this up to little more than a psychosomatic experience, enduced by the expectation of something supernatural. While that may be possible, there were too many other things happening that night to be simply mind-play. We do read in the bible that Jesus healed the sick (Mark 10:51-52) & so did His followers (Acts 3:1-7), so it should not be a surprise today. Others, who do acknowledge the supernatural, are prone to attribute such works as false miracles from Satan (Matt 24:23-24, 2 Thes. 2:9-12). But what else does the bible say? No one can say Jesus is their Lord except by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:1-3), nor will they acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4:1-3). The folks that prayed over me acknowledged Jesus to be their Lord and used miracles to constantly point to Jesus, not to them selves. I admit I do need to spend some time studying the Greek, so I can more fully comprehend the full implication of these passages. However, context seems to point that we can take those words in the literal sense.
Epilogue
I can say much more, but I will close with mentioning that I have been gradually healing from my depression (not instant). Consequently, I took a summer course where I read three books in a row (which I previously would not be able to get through) and am starting back at Concordia University Texas to finish my Senior Year. I'm now at a place in my life where I am researching things supernatural and attempting to seek the Truth. I plan on periodically posting more stories here and videos on YouTube about what I am learning. Please keep this on your list and ask the Lord to help you see the Truth.
In Christ,
Robert Lott
"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us," (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)
