To God be the Glory!!
I first believed the Lord Jesus Christ was the Son of God, from the time my mother knelt down to pray beside my bed at night, when I was a small pre-school child. She led me in prayer. She taught me who Jesus was and told me a quick condensed version of what he did on the cross and why we should always pray in His name. Of course, I knew nothing in God's Word, but I Believed Jesus was who she said He was.
Then about 4 years later, when I was 8 years old, my earthly father passed away. I was heartbroken to say the least, and so was my mother. To make a long story short, I was given away at birth, and these were the parents that adopted me and took me to their home from the hospital 3 days after I was born.
Then sometime later we moved from the farm to the city. When I was about 9 years of age, while riding my bike, I heard a bunch of loud voices in this little, small building, so out of my own curiosity, I parked my bicycle just outside the front door and slipped inside the front door and sat down in the back, of what was then called a Primitive Baptist Church. The people inside, were shouting, crying and praying. Then a man got up on a stage to speak. He said the world was going to come to an end at any minute, and that everybody there needed to get Saved right away or we would all be cast into hell fire for all eternity. That Pastor and several of those folks told me that I would burn in hell forever if I didn't get saved. I was already scared to death and crying and asking, "what do I do to get saved?" They told me to get down to the altar and to cry out to God for salvation in the name of Jesus, then repent and turn from my wicked ways and then make a commitment to follow Jesus for the rest of my life. I didn't even know what the word salvation meant, but I immediately ran down to the altar and did all of what they told me to do as best as I could through a sincere wall of tears. Then the Pastor told me to sign a Card of Membership, which I did, then he told me. "Praise the Lord ... you are Saved. See you next Sunday." I rode my bicycle home as fast as I could and told my mother that the world was going to end, and that I just got saved, and she better do the same! She just patted me on the head and said "That's good son. I'm glad you got saved, but I've already taken care of that, so don't worry about me." I was so relieved to find out that my mother was already saved. We moved to another school district shortly thereafter, so I never did see any of those folks again.
About 3 years later, I was asked by an elderly gentleman, in his 80's, to attend another Baptist Church in a different area of town. I was about 12 years of age at the time. I went to the Church with him about 3 times. The last time I went, he grabbed me by the collar and asked me if it wasn't about time for me to be saved. I thought I already was saved, but he was older and bigger than I was, so I once again went up to the altar and knelt down to ask the Lord to save me. Another person asked me to sign another card. He gave it to the Pastor of that Church and told me I was saved. That elderly gentleman tried to get me to go again, but I never went back.
I went on to graduate High School, then joined the U.S. Navy. I begin to live a normal sinful life. After being Honorably Discharged from Military Service, I worked at a couple of different jobs, but eventually decided to follow my desire to play Country Music for a living. I played and sang in various places all around the United States, and of course got into a lot of the sin that went with it.
Then one night in an old dance hall near San Antonio, Texas, while I was singing to a crowd of about 1,200 people ... All of a sudden, I felt an indescribable feeling. It felt like warm honey, or something being poured all over and through me, but it was definitely Spiritual in nature, but I wasn't sure what in the world it was at the time. It felt like waves of love being poured over and through my entire being. It took place in a matter of a few seconds. I was living a life of sin and loving it one minute, then in a matter of a few seconds, I could not stand where I was, nor what I was doing anymore. I was in the middle of a song and stopped singing instantly. After the people left the dance floor, I took off my guitar and threw it across the dance floor. I threw it so hard it went all the way from the stage at one end of the building, to the front door at the other end of the building. I left my guitar and all of my equipment behind and walked out, while the dance hall owner followed me outside cussing me for all it was worth. I told him "I was through." He told me that I should take a couple of weeks off, then come back to work. He didn't get it. When I told him I was through, I meant that I was through with that entire way of life. I had been truly changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. I had been loving a life full of sin and wrong living one minute, and the next minute, I could not stand living that kind of life at all ... not one second more. I was not only leaving that dance hall, but I was leaving that entire way of life, never to return to it again. I was definitely delivered from that way of life alright, but I later found that I also needed to be delivered from several more issues that were located within my innermost being, deep inside my very own self. It was the year 1969. I was 24 years old, at the time this happened.
After that experience, I later found out that someone prayed for me, (I suspect it was my mother, who adopted me right after I was born) and that I had truly been "born again." I wasn't familiar with this term. And, when all of this happened, I could barely find the Book of Genesis in a Christian Bible. I did however have a supernatural vision
in those days. In the vision a man named Melchizedek appeared to me. He didn’t say a word. It was like he was communicating
with me telepathically. He pointed to a small crowd of people, maybe 30 or 40
in number … in the midst of a field of what looked like to be full grown wheat at
the bottom of a large, beautiful valley. They were all praising God and expressing
a lot of joy and happiness. That was it. I kept the vision in my memory, but I didn’t
understand it. Back then, I had never even heard of Melchizedek.
Shortly after this happened to me, I begin seriously studying the Christian Bible. I was soon introduced to the Pastor of an Assembly of God, Holy Ghost Filled Church near where I lived. He was a very loving man, who loved all people alike. It didn't matter who they were, nor where they came from. This Pastor loved the Lord Jesus with all of his heart, and he taught and grounded me in God's Word as presented in the Christian Bible and as he understood it. I experienced and learned of the importance of True Repentance, Water Baptism, Foot-Washing, Holy Communion as well as many other things to do with Forgiveness and Prayer, etc. I could go on and on.
He also opened up the doors for me to go to an Assembly of God Bible College, then to be Licensed and Ordained in order to preach the Gospel of Christ while working within that denomination. At the time, even though I believed he was one of, if not the most wonderful man in the Lord I had ever met, I just could not get a witness to some parts of what he taught, nor to what that denomination wanted taught in regard to End Time Eschatology, to do with Pre, Mid and/or Post Tribulation Rapture of the Church, so after much thought and serious consideration, I answered him and those that were with him, as nicely as possible, because I didn't want to offend them. I told them that I didn't believe their offer was for me at that time. I didn't tell them, that in reality, I just simply didn't feel comfortable in teaching their views and perspectives of End Time Eschatology. Anyway, I didn't feel right about accepting their offer, so at about age 26, I moved on.
As of today, my Pastor friend has now passed away many years ago, and I truly believe he is alive forevermore in the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. Whether he was correct or incorrect in regard to this matter, I don't believe it was something that would have separated him from the love of Christ Jesus.
I continued to study God's Word as best I could on my own for the next decade, that is to say up and until the early 1980's. I found that the study of church history is extremely important to understanding End Time Eschatology. I continued to study God's Word seeking revelation directly from each sentence, as well as from in between the sentences. I searched for what the Words said, and for what the Words didn't say. I continued to seek the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I knew I had passed from a pathway of death to a pathway unto life, even as I continued to fail in righteousness daily. I just couldn't seem to overcome the morally wrong living within myself. It was a continuous battle. I desired to live right, but just couldn't do it. I obeyed the law of the land, but I just couldn't live in line with the Word of the God. One day along the way I saw (or should I say I finally really heard) the Scripture in Acts 1:8 where Luke stated: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:.." I finally realized that it meant; I would receive power to overcome myself in order to become a witness for Christ Jesus. I had not yet received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, so during the decade between 1971 thru 1981, I would sometimes stop at a Church that I knew believed and taught the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and attend the Wednesday night or Sunday night service. At the end of the service, I would go up to the alter, ask and seek the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Nothing would happen. I did this over and over again. I don't remember how many times I did this, but it was a lot, and the result was always the same. Nothing happened.
Then the day came in the summer of 1981, when my mother who adopted me at birth, also passed away. More pain and heartbreak.
I had been in a marriage relationship for almost 20 years, with 3 children, whom I love and cherish to this day. But back then, the marriage was not working. Christ wasn't in the marriage and today we know it takes 3 to make a marriage work. It takes the Husband, the Wife and the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ dwelling in each. Back in those days, I nor anyone else knew how to make it work. We were all young, immature and Spiritually ignorant. So once again, to make a long story short, after many failed efforts to make it work, there was finally a divorce.
So, within about a 3-week time frame back in the summer of 1981, the pain of losing the presence of the last of both parents, a wife and 3 children ... all at one time, simply knocked me to my knees. I no longer cared whether I lived nor died. After having my own private pity party, I asked the Lord to either kill me or use me. Whatever he chose to do was alright with me. At that time, this following passage of Scripture, regarding building upon the Rock Christ Jesus, came into view for me. I had read it many times, but I had now obviously failed to do it.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
I had determined immediately after my great fall, that if my Heavenly Father would give me another chance, I would certainly build on the Rock Christ Jesus, and not make those past mistakes ever again. I've never been suicidal, so I just drove around the country for a couple of years in tremendous emotional pain, hurting, crying and seeking an answer as to what I should do with the rest of my life. I found out just how merciful our Heavenly Father can be. And I needed to put away childish things, grow up and become the mature man that God wanted me to be. I followed the teaching in His Word toward cleaning the inside of the cup, forgiveness of all others and making amends for past relationship failures, whether family, friends or acquaintances, as best I could. Some accepted my efforts. Some did not. But my Heavenly Father was again clear concerning His forgiveness of all of my sin and wrongs. As I forgave, He forgave. His mercy and love are truly indescribable. He made it clear to me as He did in John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: ...
During the summer of 1982, I had a supernatural experience and call from God the Father. It was the gift of 'discerning of spirits' as mentioned in 1Corinthians 12:10. It was too much to try to describe or discuss here. Maybe another time and place. Let's just suffice it to say, that back then, I thought half the world believed in Jesus Christ. It wasn't true back then. And it's not true now. Jesus said in Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. What a perfect description of what I saw while experiencing perfect discernment under the Lord's anointing, thousands and thousands of ravening wolves. Comparably speaking, even today, it's just like Jesus stated in Matthew 7:13-14 when He was here on earth in the flesh. Jesus said: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
In the autumn of 1983, the Lord sent a lady to me who experienced the same supernatural discernment and call from God as I did under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Her name is Natalie. We later married and have worked together in the Lord's ministry ever since. We have a truly blessed and loving relationship. I'm so thankful the Lord put us together.
A lot a people believe that Jesus is who he says he is, the Way, the Truth and the LIfe, but few obey His Word and follow what he said to do, so they don't enter in, nor do they find an abundant life full of joy. In other words, the Lord revealed to me, that there were a lot of lost, alone, hurt and homeless people, without Christ Jesus, walking around in this world. There's plenty of work for every Christian believer to do. There's no room for ministries to be jealous of one another's numbers. We all have plenty of folks to witness to, gather together, ground and guide in the Word, and to ultimately reach out and advance our Heavenly Fathers Kingdom and purpose. All of us, who follow Christ Jesus, should simply start with the people close to us, and all around us. There are lost, alone, hurt and homeless people everywhere. If any of us lack the courage or faith to start ... then we're already finished. We must be fearless. Jesus said in Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Almighty God help us all to begin advancing God's Kingdom now in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord and King.
Then came the day, the Lord God spoke a Rhema Word to me in the Spirit further revealing His purpose for me. I was to do all I could to advance the Christian Gospel of our Heavenly Father's Kingdom by the Holy Spirit to the lost, alone, hurt and the homeless. I wasn't called to work as a foreign missionary, but I was called to help strengthen the True Church here in the United States of America. Hard but not impossible decisions were ahead, in order to move forward. Here below are some of them.
Luk 9:62 And Jesus said ..., No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. So ... No looking back!!
Mat 10:32-33 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. We can never be ashamed or embarrassed when standing with Christ Jesus.
Mat 10:26 Fear them (wicked perscutors) not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Mat 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mat 10:28 And fear not them (wicked perscutors) which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him (God) which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Let us all be fearless in Christ Jesus when serving God our Heavenly Father.
Mat 16:24-28 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross (willingness to expose himself to death: to die to self), and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: (the Kingdom of God CANNOT be seen with the natural eye)
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Luk 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he (Jesus) turned, and said unto them,
>>>>>>>> Notes from Strong's Concordance to clarify: Luk 14:26 If any man (added by translators) come to me, and hate (love less) not (cannot) his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:26 (Paraphrased for clarified meaning) If any come to me, and cannot love less his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
>>>>>>>> Notes from Strong's Concordance to clarify: Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear (carry) his (his own) cross (willingness to expose himself to death: to die to self), and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:27 (Paraphrased for clarified meaning) And whosoever doth not carry his own willingness to expose himself to death; to die to self, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. ...
Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Faith without works is dead. Let's be doers of the Word and not hearers only.
NOTE: Over the last 40 years of ministry, wherever my wife Natalie and I were serving the Lord, we always spent time in prayer daily. Not only to tell the Lord what we desired, but we took the time to listen to what the Lord desired from us. We've stayed attuned to the Revelation of His Word in the Spirit. We've always taken the time to access libraries in many and various parts of the country. And with the Lord's help, we purchased and/or have freely received several book volumes that now serves as a very good Christian Home Library, which continues to build as I write this testimony. Of course, now the Internet opens up so many more doors to Christian Biblical knowledge and makes it all available to anyone who seeks it. And more and more knowledge is going to be revealed in the near future. Study, Study, Study ... Never stop studying God's Word. Seek His Revelation knowledge in every sentence. Seek the Baptism of the Holy Spirit or you will never have power over yourself or be able to see clearly all of the things going on around you. ><>
J Stone Grant
