This Is My Testimony

I was introduced to a younger man I met through a close friend and co-worker. She was dating his brother. She told me he was in town for a little while and asked if I wanted to meet him. So, I agreed to go on a double date with her. We hit it off and spent time on the phone before we dated. We had only been seeing each other for a short while when his mom invited us to a crusade. I had never been to one in my life, so I was curious and wanted to go. We accepted the invitation and all three of us went together. It was at the Joe Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas. It was a Benny Hinn crusade, and I had no idea who he was. I had never heard of him before. The place was jam packed already, so we had to make our way to get seats on the upper level, way on top. I could see the platform that looked to be in a shrunken size because of how high up we were. There were huge TV monitors on either side of the platform. So, either way, we could see what was going on.

When the worship team began to play, the pastor stepped out on stage and began to sing, “Hallelujah,” repeatedly, as the whole auditorium joined in. Something was happening all around us. You could feel it in the air. I was in awe at the thousands of thousands of people singing in one accord. It didn’t matter what denomination, the color of skin, young or old, or their background. They were all there for one reason. Every single one of those people were there to worship God! This is what I had been looking for, this is what I wanted, this is what I needed! To be in unity with the body of Christ. It was as though I was being drawn into something way bigger than I could ever imagine. And I knew that God was the center of it all. I joined in the singing with all my heart. For every Hallelujah I sang, I felt myself go deeper into a place that was being prepared for me. I didn’t understand what that was, but I pressed in for more of God and what He had in store for me. As the worship continued, the atmosphere was filled with an intense holy presence. Pastor Hinn lifted his finger to his lips to quiet the worship team as he said, “Just a whisper.” Our voices faded out, as only the music was playing now, in a very quiet and peaceful sound. All our hands were lifted in reverence and honor to our God. He prayed a prayer of blessing over the whole auditorium, invited the Holy Spirit to have His way, then after a few minutes, everyone was asked to sit down.

He introduced himself. He was all in white and so were the hundred pastors who were sitting on stage with him. He said, “I don’t know a lot of these pastors up here with me, I do know a few of them.” He mentioned two of their names, they stood up and then sat down. Then he said, “Oh, and this is Pastor John Cortez.” To my disbelief, I looked closely, and I said loudly, “That’s my dad!” I said out loud again, “That’s my dad!” Again, in disbelief, “That’s my dad????” The last I heard of him, was that he was in prison for fraud. I didn’t know if that was true or not at the time, but there he stood on stage with Benny Hinn! Whaaatt??? I was very much perplexed! I hadn’t seen or heard from my dad in years. I didn’t care where he was or if I ever saw him again.  

While I sat there and listened to the pastor preach, his words really hit me where it hurt, deep in my heart. I knew I was harboring unforgiveness towards my dad, so right there and then, I chose to forgive my dad for everything. Subtly, all the hard feelings, all the anger, and the hurt melted away that had been rooted in my soul. When Benny Hinn’s preaching was over, the beautiful worship songs began. He gave an open invitation for anyone who desired to give their life to Jesus, to come down to the alter. I couldn’t get there fast enough! I stood there with open arms and humbled myself before my God. I repented of all my sins, prayed with pastor Hinn and asked Jesus into my heart.

With tears running down my face, I felt the pure and un-conditional love of my Savior penetrate to the hidden chambers of my heart and flood it with a blissful flow of intimacy with Him. It was almost too much to bear. While standing there surrounded by hundreds of others who just got saved, Pastor Hinn said he was going to blow on us and we would fall under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I didn’t believe in getting slain. I used to mock people about that because it looked like they were being forcefully pushed down to the ground. And speaking in tongues, I thought they just made up some ridiculous sounds and forced them out of their mouths. So, I stood there talking to God, “OK, God. You know me. You know I don’t believe in this stuff. So, if it is true, You are going to have to show me Yourself.” Benny Hinn blew on all the people to my right. I thought that the majority might just give a courtesy fall, but they all fell down. I was in the center group. I stood there telling God, “Well, it’s our turn. I’m going to look like an idiot because I will be the only one standing. OK God, show me!”

When Benny Hinn blew on us, in a split second, a huge bolt of lightning struck right in front of me! All I could see was this tremendous, bright, pure, and glorious light that burst out of this bolt when it crashed against the floor. The second that it did, I experienced an explosion of un-believable peace and warmth that I never felt before in my life. It seemed to saturate my being. I felt like I was melting and gently fell to the floor. I stayed down for a few moments just lying in the power and presence of God. I couldn’t move, open my eyes, nor talk. That was the moment of truth, from God Himself! I got slain in the Holy Spirit! When I did get up off the floor, it felt like I was drunk. I really didn’t know what was going on, but it sure felt good!  

After the alter call, I made my way to the stage where I was greeted with security. Literally, men in black. I climbed a few steps and told the security that I needed to talk to my dad. They asked me who my dad was, and I said, “Pastor John Cortez!” To which they responded in an un-believing tone, “Pastor John Cortez is YOUR dad?” I said, “Yes! I need to talk to him!” So, one stayed on guard and the other went to call him. I will never forget the look on his face when he saw me! His mouth dropped open wide, his eyes filled with surprise and tears, and as I climbed past the security guard to the platform, we embraced. He told me that he had been praying for thirteen years for one of his thirteen children to get saved. That was me!!!

 God restored our relationship as father and daughter. He also restored all the years that were lost between us. I also found out that my dad was wrongfully accused and imprisoned. However, only God can turn something bad and make it good. While my dad was in prison, he gave his life to the Lord and studied to become an ordained pastor. God used him to minister to the other prisoners. I didn’t know it at the time, but he was the one who organized and put together the whole crusade with Benny Hinn. Little did he know, God was using him to bring his daughter into the kingdom and set me up for my own salvation and destiny. Wow! All that for me! Thank You Father God! Thank you, dad for your faithful and continued prayers for your children. I love and appreciate you.

Transformation

God began a life changing process in me. He began to heal all my hurts, brokenness, sorrows, regrets, and failures. Also, to deliver me from all the powers of darkness. This was not an overnight process. This took some time and surrender on my part. He removed different layers of darkness that plagued my life, in different seasons of my life. He filled my heart with love and compassion. He was filling me with Him. I could feel a deep change taking place within my soul. He restored all my sorrow for joy. He renewed my strength. He lifted me out of the darkness of hell and raised me up into His glorious light. He saved me from death and gave me a place of eternal life with Him in heaven. I was no longer just going through life but living it abundantly with the help of my Savior Jesus, and His Holy Spirit.  

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:2)   Jesus answered and said to him truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John3:3)

  I was indeed born again. God has molded, conformed, and transformed my life into His beautiful image. I truly am a new creature in and through Christ. You see, it isn’t enough just to love God, do good, and go to church. You must have a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. You need to be filled with his Holy Spirit.  

 If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)  Jesus answered, truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. (John 3:5)

 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Roman’s 6:23)

  Being a Christian does not mean that you will not face difficulties or hardships. It does not mean that everybody  will love you and be your friend. Now that you belong to the Lord, the enemy will do everything in his power to keep you down and in the same place from which you were in bondage. However, you now have the weapons of spiritual warfare and God on your side! The Bible is His living Word and contains everything you need to be victorious in life.  

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:2-8)

  After I got saved, I began to get attacked, ridiculed, and falsely accused by a few family members, my ex, and my neighbor. A brother I used to be close to, outright dis-owned me because I left the Catholic church. Over the years, he called me names, judged me to other family members as to why I was going to hell, told me to my face how evil I was, and belittled me in front of my own children. Oh, how my kids wanted to tell him off! I told them that we just needed to forgive him, he was their uncle, and they still needed to show respect. You see, the enemy wants you to doubt your salvation. he wants to keep you down and out. And now that I was saved, he was mad as hell, because he lost my soul to Jesus!

My mother was so loving to me. We went to lunch one day and I explained to her my experience in being saved and that I considered myself to be a Christian without being tied to any religion. She listened with her heart full of love and with her beautiful smile said, “I don’t care what you call yourself, so long as I still have you.” My mother was a Catholic, who believed in Jesus, as Savior. That is the love of the Father to us. He doesn’t care what we call ourselves: Catholics, Pentecost’s, Baptists, Protestants, Lutherans, or Presbyterians. So long as we believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior and in His Holy Spirit who comes to dwell in those who believe. God is not a God of religion. He is a God who cares about the substance of our heart!

Eventually, the few members of my family who didn’t really understand me leaving Catholicism, came to peace with my decision and salvation. The eyes of their heart were opened to the truth. Except the one brother.

Even as a Christian, we have to endure heartaches, trials, and battles. It wasn’t until I gave my life to the Lord that He began to reveal His purpose for me and why I had gone through such tragedies. This was the time where He answered my prayer when I asked him years ago, why I was going through all that heartache and turmoil. He was going to use me to minister to other women. I had to go through everything I went through, so that I could relate to them on a personal level and in different situations going on in their lives. God was going to use me to bring healing and deliverance to their lives. It’s one thing to say, “I understand what you’re going through.” But if you’ve never experienced what they went through, then you really don’t understand. I would know how to pray for them, what to pray, and teach them how to pray, as well. I knew how to minister to these women because I lived and went through the experiences myself. And I was victorious. I became a Queen of Valor! (Great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle.) This only happened with the weapons of warfare that our King Warrior gave us, the full armor of God. He also, surrounded me with warring angels as I used His Word to bring destruction to the enemy. When I spoke His Word, He rose up inside me and placed His sword and shield in my hands. When the enemy faced me, he faced the Lion of Judah roaring back at him.

  “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1-4)

  Our life does not belong to us. We were created to serve Him. He gives and plans our life. He uses our life and our testimonies to help and encourage others. We must give Him all the honor, praise, and thanksgiving for the wonderful things He has done in our lives.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.  (Revelation 12:11) I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly, I will praise You. (Psalm 22:22)

However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” (Mark 5:1919)

Your testimony is the key to set someone free from their own prison, the solution to someone’s dilemma, or the answer to someone’s life changing event. It may be the encouragement someone needs for something difficult they are going through or the hope for that someone who is desperate. We should always be ready to testify of the goodness of our Lord!  

 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. (John3:16)   There is therefore now, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-4)  

  That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10: 9-10)

This is what I ask people, “If you were to walk outside and get hit by a car that takes your life, would you know without a shadow of a doubt where you would spend eternity?” If you don’t know the answer to that question, or you know God has been tugging at your heart for some time now, I urge you to ask Jesus into your heart, to be Lord and Savior. You may never have another chance. Maybe you are reading this right now, and this is your time. We are not promised today or tomorrow. You have nothing to lose but everything to gain. Please, don’t pass up this opportunity to allow yourself this lifechanging, lifesaving miracle.

  Prayer for Salvation

(Just say this simple prayer, but really mean it in your heart.) Dear Jesus,  I come to You right now, where I’m at and just the way I am. I ask You to please forgive me for my sins, for I am a sinner. I believe that You died on the cross for all my sins and that I may be healed and set free. I believe that You resurrected on the third day and sit at the right hand of the Father. Jesus, I ask You now to come into my heart and take over my life, as I surrender it over to You. Thank You for reconciling me back to our Father. I confess and accept You as my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I surrender my life to You now, so that You can transform me into Your image. Holy Spirit fill me now and dwell in me all the days of my life. In Jesus’s name, amen.