My Own Road To Damascus - The Testimony of Timothy Hinze

It gives me a great deal of pleasure and blessing to be able to share with all of you, the personal testimony of Timothy Hinze about how he came to know Jesus Christ as His LORD and SAVIOR!

Tim is a brother that I met and befriended on Facebook and when he shared a bit of his testimony with me there, I thought it would be awesome for him to go over it with a bit more detail on FROM the MIND of FIRE.

And so, without further ado, here is his testimony - My OWN ROAD to DAMASCUS

It was 1:00 pm on a bitter cold January in 1983 that would change my life forever: I just burst out the back door of my home running for my life (literally) with my mothers’ second husband only steps behind me. He was half drunk and wanted to do me harm.

Any second I could be in the grasp of this raging violent drunk. I leaped down 5 cement steps and dove over our backyard fence that bordered our neighbor’s property. With nine years of these violent experiences to draw on, hesitation on my part was unthinkable and my reactions were honed to perfection.

Another Smoke Signal: HE WALKS and TALKS with ME

PSALM 106:9
He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.

PSALM 77:20
Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. ~

PSALM 95:7 
For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 

PSALM 95:8
Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

JEREMIAH 31:32
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

As most of you know, I do a lot of research and study, looking at current events and trends and examine the world scene, particularly what's happening in our own nation.

Things are looking grim aren't they? Wars around the globe (rumors too); earthquakes, tsunamis and storms; economic as well as nuclear fall out; fuel prices climbing with no promise of slowing down; joblessness creeping ever higher (ten percent unemployment rate, but another 15% of underemployment - those who are working but not making enough to live on).

Like yourselves, I have limited resources on my own, and know too well my vulnerability should I get laid off, or if I incur some enormous financial obligation. Naturally in such storms in life, in the face of uncertainty and signs of impending disaster (and for those who are looking, they are readily observable), one can worry about what's going to happen.

Not to mention how things are going for the church in America; she is getting flooded with heresies, seduced by deceivers, and weakened by the world and its satanic master.

One day a few weeks ago, I was walking about the neighborhood in the morning with my walk man, listening to some music by Chris Tomlin, praying to the LORD about all of these worries and burdens that can so easily weigh us down. At one point the song, All the Way My Savior Leads Me (originally written by Fanny Crosby, the well known hymnist who suffered a tragic accient as a baby through a doctor's mishap that resulted in her blindness) came on as I continued to pray.

Here is the song from youtube; have a listen, and then come back here, would you?

All The Way My Savior Leads Me

Well, as I was walking and praying, I heard the line - "you lead me, and keep me from falling", and at that exact moment I turned to my right and saw a sight that caused my breath to catch in my throat:

A grandfatherly man was gently, slowly walking with his grandchild securely, safely held by his hands over theirs. The little tyke took a wrong step, but the grandfather was there, and didn't allow him to stumble. The toddler was kept safe.
It was then that the LORD spoke so clearly through this sight before me; it was as though He was saying,

"James, you see how gently and lovingly and carefully that man is walking with his babe? He would never abandon that child and leave it on its own to stumble and fall and hurt himself. He isn't impatient with him, but willingly takes such small steps in order to accommodate that little one's own tiny stride.

"Am I not at least as gentle and as loving and as careful in my care for you? Will you not trust Me to care for your every step? Will you doubt My tender mercies for you?"

I must admit that I was ashamed of myself for my doubts and worries over my life before my heavenly Abba; as I continued to walk on, my vision became blurry as my eyes flooded with tears.

I had to repent for not only doubting God and His tender heart towards me, but for hurting His tender heart for all my lack of faith in His loving provision. Yet the LORD in proving His tenderness towards me, orchestrated that event and timed it so precisely that the meaning of that awesome sight was too, too obvious. It was a divinely appointed moment in which the LORD went out of His way to assure my faith.

I think about how the LORD led Israel out of Egypt and gently, patiently led them through the wilderness. Oh, to be sure, there was severe chastening for the people of Israel at the hand of God, but there was provision of grace in the midst of judgment as well. How could Israel have doubted His tender mercies and provision, after they saw such signs and wonders performed by the Almighty in Egypt on their behalf?

The same way that I can doubt Him, though He has performed such miracles in my own life that Israel never saw: namely His holy habitation in my heart as He became my LORD and Savior, and I became the temple of His Holy Spirit.

The same LORD that provided salvation for me, a sinner, and secured an eternal dwelling in the glories of everlasting heaven is the same LORD Who governs this entire universe, yet knows each and every sparrow when it falls, and numbers the hairs on my head (in my case, he counts my eyebrow hairs!). As the Fanny Crosby song goes,

"How could I doubt His tender mercies?" The LORD indeed "leads me and keeps me from falling" - He is ever willing to take me by the hand and gently walk with me, and softly talk with me through His Word, by His Spirit. And He knows every bend in the road of my life, sees every provision and how long it will last - and when it dries up, has a plan to supply my needs by other means: but all of them from His divine hand of grace.

Did you know that one of the titles of God is El Shaddai? In English, this title means the "Almighty Provider" or one who is Almighty in their ability to provide - the same God that proved His Almighty abilities in creation; the same God that proved His Almighty abilities in redemption (Jesus did what NO ONE else could have: he bore the sins of the ENTIRE Human race and paid the price for it all!) is the same God that will meet my needs, supply grace for every trial, grant strength to endure any hardships, be ever-present to help in time of need or persecution or illness.

GOD is indeed Almighty so He can do anything at all; nothing is impossible for Him!

GOD is also LOVE, which means He has the motive of our best and greatest good in mind for everything He brings into our lives. Sometimes He brings trouble into our lives, just so that He can prove Himself strong on our behalf as our Deliverer! He indeed delivers us out of our distresses!

What need then for anxiety or worry? What cause can I point to as a legitimate reason for such things? If I trust Him, He can even keep me from falling into sin and rebellion against Him - and this I greatly desire for my 'new man' (that is, that part of me that is born of God and lives by the power of the Divine nature [character] instilled by Jesus Christ) has no inclination to hurt His Holy Heart.

I want to bless Him by showing Him a heart that will rest in His care, and joy in His ability and demonstrations of love and provision! And I know you want to do the same, for His love and care for you, as for me, is also the same!

JUDE 1:24-25
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. And AMEN!

The MOST IMPORTANT CHAPTER in the BIBLE - Part 2

(note: this entry is based on a sermon delivered on 3-20-11 by yours truly; not everything mentioned here was preached on during the sermon, and likewise there were some things stated in the sermon that are not included here. LORD permitting, videos of these sermons will be available soon, and a link to it will be added to these entries).From last time, we finished the study including verse 20 -

vs. 20: "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."

This phrase, 'first fruits' is very relevant; it refers to the first harvest of fruit that is grown with the promise of an even greater crop in the future. Just as the Bible commanded Israel to render to God their first fruits (in crops, in live stock, our first born children who were especially dedicated to the LORD) we as the church today, offer God the first fruits of our labor (working as unto the LORD and not human beings) and finances (as in tithes), our time in study of His Word, prayer, and fellowship, whatever ministry the LORD has given us, etc.

God offered up His First Born (a title for one who was pre-eminent, or rank #1), the LORD Jesus Christ on our behalf, and He has risen with a promise of even greater fruit, when all the church is likewise risen from the dead!

1 PETER 1:3-5 
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

The MOST IMPORTANT CHAPTER in the BIBLE - Part 1

(note: this entry is based on a sermon delivered on 3-13-11 by yours truly; not everything mentioned here was preached on during the sermon, and likewise there were some things stated in the sermon that are not included here. LORD permitting, a video of the sermon will be available soon, and a link to it will be added to this entry)

There are 66 books in our Bible today, each of them with chapters ranging from one or a few to over sixty or more. Which of these would YOU select as the most important chapter in the Bible?

What about GENESIS 1? 'Genesis' means "beginnings" and this chapter lays out the creation account. Did you know that the first 10 chapters of Genesis contains the foundation of all of the Bible's major, fundamental doctrines?

This is why evolution is so destructive to "the faith" because if evolution were true, then we couldn't possibly believe in a literal Adam and Eve (even though the LORD Jesus mentions them as actual people; MATT 19:4). And if they weren't real, how could we believe anything of the creation account? And if this was likewise contrived, the entire first ten chapters would be suspect, and therefore all the doctrines of the Bible would not be trustworthy.

THIS VICTORY IS YOURS, CHILD OF GOD - Part 2 of 2

The victory we have in Christ Jesus is indisputable, unalterable, and eternal, for those of us who are of His body, the church invisible (believers who are born of God's Spirit that are represented in churches everywhere, though not all church members are included as there is a 'mixed multitude' of mere professors of Christ and those who are possessors of Christ).

We have eternal life through our LORD; we are promised this gift and assured of our residence in heaven with JESUS our SAVIOR.
However, there is another aspect to our victory in Christ Jesus that is available to us saints, but many are not receiving it; rather they're living in a complacent, compromised life that reflects very little the life and nature of Jesus. Salvation is an all encompassing work of God's grace through the LAMB of GOD, the LORD Jesus; not only is He our LORD, not only is He our Savior, not only is He our Elder Brother, our High Priest and Prophet and King, He is also our Regal Role Model.

THIS VICTORY IS YOURS, CHILD of GOD! Part 1 of 2

Are you feeling discouraged of late? Depressed? Disillusioned with life? Maybe you've suffered a sharp and deeply painful loss; the death of a loved one, the dark struggles of addiction, the broken-heartedness of an unfaithful spouse or a divorce? A besetting sin that plagues you?

I would like to try and encourage you. Would you allow me a few minutes and bring to your remembrance some truths from God's Holy Word?

As one who is a child of God, one who has repented of their sinful life, and turned your life over to God, YOU child of God are now HIS responsibility, and He is the LORD: He is able to do all things for us! He is able to answer prayers beyond what we ask or even THINK (EPH 3:20)!

Remember, The LORD GOD LOVES YOU! How much so? Think about this, I mean, really sit still and ponder this powerful truth:

TO BE A TRUE DISCIPLE - A Poem

~~TO BE A TRUE DISCIPLE~~

by James Fire written in 1986, updated 2011

My sin is ever before me;

I've become so blind, I can see

nothing but darkness that mars my soul.

My heart cries to be free and whole.

What has corrupted me and so cast me down?

My heart is withered, eyes are dim, I wear a frown.

How vile my old nature is, how wicked its way;

to turn against the LORD and Him betray!

Yet the fault is mine; the scripture holds true!

Be not deceived, God is not mocked;

beware what you do.

They that sow to the flesh shall of the same reap death;

They that sow to the Spirit, breathe the Everlasting Breath!

I cling to the LORD's mercy and I pray:

grant me strength to walk true, and not to stray,

 to resist the wiles of my enemy,

submit to LORD Jesus and Him only obey!

To Calvary I come, kneel and trust in Him;

Yet daily I must walk this way and deny my sin.

To be a true disciple, I must myself deny,

Pick up my cross, follow Him and then die!

to the old, vile nature so wicked and ugly;

and grow to become a saint of purity!

I can of myself do nothing wholly true:

Yet as a cripple, I may lean upon You!
For you are my shelter and Strong Tower!

Through Jesus Christ risen, I have the power,

to die daily and conform to His image,

walk from the old to the new,

bringing glory only to You,

and then to burn the bridge.

Dedicated to the Alpha and Omega of my faith: the LORD Jesus Christ!

Here is a link to a blog regarding the book by William MacDonald, True Discipleship

For a copy of True Discipleship, go here.

For a copy of another book by this author, check out The Disciple's Manual.