Would you like to hear the Good News? God still loves you. He never stopped loving you. He loved you so much that He sent His Son Jesus to bring you back. All you have to do is let Him bring you back. Will you pray with me? "Lord Jesus... I want to stop trusting in myself…and what I can do...and start trusting in you...and what you have already done...when you died for me on the cross. I know that! am a sinner...and I am sorry for my sins. I ask you to forgive me...I believe you rose again...and 1 invite you to come and live inside of me. I want you to be my Savior and Lord…which means being #1 in my life. I want to repent and turn away...from everything you and the Bible call sin...and I totally commit myself... to obeying you...every day, for the rest of my life. Lord Jesus baptize me in your precious Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus." Now that you have made peace with God, He is ready for you to begin to grow in a personal relationship with Him. Receiving More of Jesus? "The Baptism in the Holy Spirit" “They overcame him by the blood of the Who is the Holy Spirit? He is God. You might ask, "If the Holy Spirit is God, and Jesus is God, and Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Revelations 12:11 the Heavenly Father is God, are there three Gods?" No. There is only one God as stated earlier. But God is unified as One and exists in the three Persons of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This threefold nature of God is exhibited even in creation. Humans have a body, a mind, and an eternal spirit. Our FROM CALLED-OUT CHUMP TO CHRISTIAN RAPPER mind is not our body. Our spirit is not our mind. Are we then three people? No. We are just one , back out in the wilderness for sixteen person with three manifestations. I grew up thinking I was the good kid, and I believed that most of my life. After we receive eternal life through confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior, we can also receive what I never got into a lot of trouble and never saw myself going down a wrong the Bible calls the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The purpose of this Baptism is to be anointed like path. Jesus and do the works that He did. Through this Baptism we receive the power of God, the As a kid, I attended church occasionally while growing up near Houston. supernatural fruit of the Holy Spirit, and the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. My family and I sat in pews on certain Sundays throughout the year. I The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and quickly learned the church’s traditions; but I didn’t know much about the self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). We receive these supernatural capabilities in our lives when we God that was spoken of there. I knew how to obey during Sunday services receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. and eagerly awaited their conclusion. My main teachers in how to view myself, relationships, and money Some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are listed in 1 Corinthians 12. Through the Baptism in the Holy Tedashii were movies and music. I took my cues from them and lived accordingly, Spirit, God distributes these great gifts to each one individually as He wills for each situation (1 and I was applauded.and I was I knew applauded. how to follow I knew the how rules to follow and do the my rules work and in school,do my workso I could in Corinthians 12:8-11). get good grades.school, I knew so how I could to attract get good the ladies. I knew how to physically intimidate Would you like to receive this great gift? Yes No people, so they knew not to mess with me. All of those around me applauded me. I was a good kid. Throughout the New Testament, the Bible shows the manifestations of the gifts that may be received I thought that all the way to college. after receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Initially the gift of utterance, a language not I got the chance to go to Baylor University in Waco, Texas. By the grace of God, I got a previously known to the person may be received, or interpretation of tongues, or prophesy. The gifts scholarship and walked onto the football and track teams. My dreams were coming true, of power are faith, healings, or miracles. The gifts of revelation are also available: word of and I get to play sports. My grades are looking good and I’m looking good. I remember knowledge, word of wisdom, or discernment of spirits, or any combinations of these gifts. The Holy thinking that I’m living my dream. Spirit will manifest His presence differently at different times depending on which gift or gifts are Rude Awakening needed at that time. Halfway through my first semester, a student walks up and tells me that he knows me. I Do you believe these things? Yes No deny it. “You were in the Student Center hanging out with some of my friends, and I was there,” The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is received by faith just as salvation is received. Pray the he says. following prayer or one similar to it. “Okay, I guess you’ve seen me,” I say. “I heard the way you speak about girls and how you talk about your life. I heard the Dear Heavenly Father. I believe You are the source of all love and power. I ask right now for the gift jokes you told and how you interact with other guys. I gotta be honest; I think the Bible of the Holy Spirit. I have faith in You, and that You will give me this great gift. Because I have asked, I believe I have now received the Power of God, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and the gifts of the Holy would call that sin.” Spirit in my life. I have received all these wonderful gifts by faith. I also ask that You will show me “What?” I replied in a questioning tone. how to use these gifts for Your glory by Christ Jesus. I pray now thanking you in the name of my “Sin is disobedience to a holy God. Sinning against a holy God makes you His enemy. If Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Luke 11:13 you break His commandments and do something He tells you not to do, you become His enemy.” Do you believe you have received these great gifts? Yes No I’m shocked. “What?” “You become an enemy, and this is what happens,” he says. “There’s a place called You have received these gifts. You should begin to use these gifts now that God has given you. heaven and a place called hell, and God’s enemies don’t go to heaven. So listen, I want to tell you about Jesus.” I’m still shocked and now I’m angry. “You don’t know me, bruh!” I get in his face, yelling over and over, “You don’t know me!” I shove him and go on to class. I don’t even know if what he said is true. I just know for the first time in my life, someone is telling me that I’m not a good kid; and it’s not just him. He is saying God is also saying that and I don’t know what to do with it. So, like many when they hear the gospel 2 3 I’m still shocked and now I’m angry. “You don’t know me, bruh!” I get in his face, myself as the good kid; but as a sinner saved by grace, through no effort of my yellingwanted over no and over, “You don’t know me!” I shove him and go on to class. own. I began to view romantic relationships not as a means to gratify selfish I don’t even know if what he said is true. I just know for the first time in my life, desires; but as a purposeful means to one day obtain the good gift of a wife. someone is telling me that I’m not a good kid; and it’s not just him. He is saying God Physical intimidation, anger, and pride didn’t fuel me like they once had. A heart is also saying that and I don’t know what to do with it. So, like many when they of service started to grow in me. hear the gospel truth spoken plainly for the first time, I get offended. The guy who called me out and shared the gospel with me is to this day a close I go on to class and then to the weight room. It’s leg day, so I prep the bar to do friend. He influenced many young men and women during our time at Baylor. He squats. I had 675 pounds on the squat bar. The school record was 810 pounds, and was not ashamed to communicate the life-changing truth he believed. I am I wanted to break it as a freshman. beyond grateful for his boldness that day on campus. Down, then up—one squat.