How On Earth Did I Get Here?
The Seven Stepping Stages With The Savior Workbook
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WARNING! DON’T READ THIS BOOK UNLESS YOU DESIRE THAT GOD ALMIGHTY, JESUS CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT DO MIRACLES WITH YOU! I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. —Romans 12:1 It had been eight months since I had accepted Christ on that fateful evening in the movie theater, and I had just started going to church on Sunday evenings. One Sunday evening, there was a large praise-and-worship group from Liberty Baptist College in the service. They were singing songs with an amazing message. I didn’t know any church songs. I didn’t even know “Jesus Loves Me.” Until this time, I didn’t know any gospel singers or Christian radio. I was listening to these young people (who were all about my age) sing such amazing messages from the Bible, and my heart started to stir inside of me again. It was like that first time in the movie theater when I was saved. I knew I was saved, but I didn’t know what was going on inside me. At the end of the evening, when they were giving the invitation (I knew what an invitation was by then), I went forward by myself. Not really knowing how or what to pray, I started to share what was in my heart. I began by saying, “I know I’m saved, God. Thank You for loving me. But, God, I have this overwhelming impression that You want me to give everything to You—not just my life, but all my plans and all my possessions. Lord, You know that my possessions aren’t very many, and I certainly don’t have any talents, but what I am and what I have, I’ll give to You.” That night, I learned to surrender all to God. I didn’t know I was supposed to do that before. He was my Savior, but that night, I learned that he was my Lord. _______________________________________________________ A Fifth or a Case? On my first Bible-reading night, I got home to my singles-only apartment complex, and Wally from across the hallway was throwing a party. I fought the temptation to go over and join, grabbed a few beers, and began reading. I opened the Bible and looked at the table of contents. What in the world is a Deuteronomy? Who is Ecclesiastes? What’s a Corinthians—and why do they need two of them? I decided to just let the Bible open, and whatever page it fell on would be where I began reading. I put it on my lap, and it opened to Proverbs 20:1: “Wine is a mockery, and strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is unwise.” Have you ever been hit in the stomach and not been prepared? I sat there for a while, realizing that God wanted me to stop drinking. I had been drinking four cases of beer a week for three or four years, and He wanted me to stop. I took the rest of the beer to Wally’s party and left feeling unsure about even being there at all. This week, we will discover the concept of separation. From my experience with the cases of beer, I had realized that God was asking me to separate from my worldly lifestyle. He also wanted me to separate from all the worldly relationships I had. I now knew that God wasn’t just my Savior—He was also the Holy One. He wanted me to be like Him, and I wasn’t. I wasn’t sure what would happen when I separated, but I had a feeling it would create solitude—and it certainly did. _______________________________________________________ Suffering and Afflictions These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. —John 16:33 I had grown up knowing the reality of physical pain, but the mental pain was much worse. When the pastor who had trusted me in his church pulpit completely turned on me because of the issue with his son, I was blindsided. In my old days, I had learned to become aware of my surroundings and protect myself in case something like this happened. What had happened? Did I let my guard down? Was I supposed to have my guard up? The spiritual wind had been knocked right out of me. I knew I was in God’s army, but I wasn’t completely sure what that entailed before then. I began to understand that in service for God, there is going to be some suffering, afflictions, persecutions, and even friendly fire. They were possible—and they were to be expected.
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About the Book
Have you ever wondered how to “grow in Christ?” Do you really believe you can become a “mature Christian?” How about becoming a “disciple of Christ?” How do you know if you are even on the right track? You might compare yourself to other Christians, but that doesn’t even sound Biblical! It’s not a contest, right? Author James Willis feels your pain. This workbook is all about Spiritual Growth Steps. The Christian growth process is to be intentional. James learned early in his Christian walk to listen to the Holy Spirit. The things He asked were different and completely counter cultural. Yet, once James learned to listen and obey, major transformations occurred in his life again and again. He calls them “Defining Moments.” They were so obvious and so clear. His first feelings might have been fear and doubt, but when he learned to trust in Him, life changed. When James looked back on these Defining Moments, he realized that when he listened to God and obeyed, he was really following “Divine Appointments.” The same can happen to you. Get ready for an amazing journey with Jesus! Oh and remember, the summarized stories referred to here in the workbook are found in their complete setting in my book How On Earth Did I Get Here? Go to https://www.westbowpress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/859993-how-on-earth-did-i-get-here to order your copy.
About the Author
James H. Willis III grew up in a very conflicted home. He was homeless at fifteen, living in a tree. After transformational salvation and during Bible college, years of ministry, and many international mission trips, his life continuously changed. Looking back over his life, he knows these were growth steps with his Savior.