A testament for our Savior, Jesus Christ By Jeff Ginapp (May 2012)

Lord of Heaven and Earth guide my hand, spirit, and mind to write only the truth in the forthcoming testimony. Let these words act to glorify your kingdom and guide lost souls to your son, Jesus Christ... Amen

My testimony began with a desire to hear the voice of God and the suggestion by Pastor Jeff to try the Mark Virkler series titled specifically,'' Hearing the voice of God''. In all honesty, on progressing I found the program a standard visualization exercise and subsequently fell short of believing the results. Although frustrated, I continued communing with God in faith that His truth would prevail. My spirit knew the Lord was tugging but I could not understand his command. He answered my prayers in the form of a sermon.

One Sunday, Pastor Jeff spoke on the difference between references to Jesus Christ and Christ Jesus in the Bible. The assertion accentuates the existence of Jesus as man (Jesus Christ), and as God (Christ Jesus)... 100% Man.... 100% God. This unique combination posited Jesus to act as mediator or conduit to the Father. Although I knew the words, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me. (John 14:6), it never

occurred to utilize this wisdom during my prayers and general

communing. The Lord gave me an epiphany. I had been speaking straight to God while completely ignoring his Son! God, being loving and faithful, had been responding to my humble words. I simply was unable to grasp the enormity of his voice.

Within a week of prayer and praise to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the visions began. The first left me in awe during our weekly Wednesday prayer group. We had welcomed Jesus to our gathering, then commenced singing his praises. I was unfamiliar with the current hymn,yet felt deeply ensconced in the spirit. Suddenly, and with absolute clarity I heard, Look right. I saw Jesus seated on the hearth of our hosts' fireplace. He appeared to be enjoying our sweet sounds. Jesus tapped his feet while clapping lightly to the beat. My eyes widened as my heart seemed to stop at the sight. Jesus stood, came up to me, then cradled my face with his gentle, strong hands. I smiled and looked up to see his reassuring face offering my soul peace. He said nothing, then commenced walking around the room. Marvin, looking pale and sickly with an ongoing illness, had his head bowed in prayer. Jesus placed his left hand on the back of Marv's neck and shoulders, leaned down, and embraced his ailing son. This was my first blessed vision.

With praise and thanks the visions would continue to bless me periodically over the next few months. Even though, I once again became discouraged. I started wondering if the manifestations were God's gifts or the product of an overactive imagination. Those in the prayer group enthusiastically believed in their legitimacy, so I chose the path of faith.

Although these blessing gave given great joy I was still unable to see his vision for me in his World holistically. How did he create me to serve him? Why couldn't I hear his voice regarding more personal concerns? Was the decision to work at the factory through the temp service his intent or was I missing his calling altogether? I realized and accepted that my desires and preferences paled to God's overall plan. I still could not help wondering why he would gift me with a penchant for words and ideas if I am to serve in a cognitively stagnant, overwhelmingly physical capacity. And, if he truly wanted me to serve as a general laborer, why would he sculpt massive joint and structural defects within making me a substandard worker?

I needed to understand his greater desire. I needed to understand if my current position in society was at his guidance or a product of social and personal influences alone. On praying more feverishly on these issues God offered the most astounding responses.

At the end of a particularly physically grueling week, considerable swelling commenced in my forearms and wrists. At least five production parts needed to be rejected that morning due to my inability to grasp the parts firmly and dropping them to the floor. The pain intensity not only hindered productivity but interrupted my daily, ongoing prayers. Pausing to rub my wrists, I intended on requesting Jesus subdue the pain in my body. I just wanted to perform more adequately and make it through the day. With precise clarity, Rephrase randomly entered my consciousness. On contemplation I believed God was offering the opportunity for spiritual clarity. I rephrased, Jesus... If this is where you intended me to work.... Once again, Rephrase echoed in mind. Being confused, I sat in stillness. What do you desire most?, was his gentle teaching. Everything converged like the mighty rivers to the sea at that moment. To serve you!, I claimed in enlightenment.

I prayed:

My Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray now for your wisdom. I have prayed blessings over this company and for those that inhabit these walls as you have commanded. I will continue to serve here if it is your will. I request clarity on this point. If you intended me to serve here could you please heal my infirmities so I may work and pray with greater life and enthusiasm. If this is not your will allow my pain to increase beyond any doubt of your intentions. I do not ask this due to lack of faith that you will respond. I know you have been speaking your truth all along. I simply need a path my limited scope can understand completely... Praise you... Amen.

I had the sense he was promising an answer by morning.

That night I freely welcomed the Holy Spirit into my mind and body then slept with mild fear and enthusiasm anticipating the results. By his grace and glory the answer was absolute. I awoke in exquisitely excruciating pain. My hands and wrists were incapacitated nearly to the point of immobility. Every muscle spasm I'd ever encountered had charged my system. The Lord's counterbalancing, peaceful energy surged through my spirit producing the strength to stand and slowly make my way through the day. Within one hour all but the inner thigh cramp had subsided. God had answered my prayer, then gave mercy. Clearly God had not intended my working in the factory. I had taken the position out of fear of my financial condition without prayer nor concern for God's plan. After giving praise for his blessed response I prayed for forgiveness for going it alone.

Stubbornly, for a moment I considered the possibility this result was a product of subconscious desire and not divine. After all, well trained Yogis claim to meditate their heart rate down to nearly a dead stop. A motivated mind has the potential to alter nearly every bodily function. As well, it would not take years of professional therapy to surmise my discontentment in the currently mismatched career path. Regardless, a glaring flaw exists in proposing a psychologically based explanation. Unless I am the quickest study in history, I do not have the cognitive training to regulate internal systems so readily. Neither do I desire to endure excruciating pain simply to make a point. This had to be Jesus fulfilling his promise... Praise him!

Around mid shift Jesus reaffirmed his message. Since the buffer and parts were coming out nicely my mind could once again meander. I remember praying for the company to base their business decisions on biblical teaching when I caught movement out of my left peripheral vision. A senior coworker was committing a minor company violation. The senior employee noticed me witenessing, then strolled up

and made threat to get me fired if I squealed about what I had seen. I was shocked! Never would I have seen this coming, but Jesus certainly did. I believe God knew I would be coerced to comply with sinful lies. Although I've continued praying for this person's salvation, I no longer can trust his intentions. I believe it was not coincidental my answer came the same day work relationships irreversibly changed. God blessed me with this forewarning.

If nothing else miraculous had happened I would have considered myself undeservedly gifted at his juncture. God's power and mercy had different plans. Around a week later Jesus spoke to me in the form of a dream. After which, he command me to do a close reading of Revelation. The dream, to the best of my knowledge, went as follows:

Blackness exuded into open space like thick airborn tar. Demons tortured innocents before me. Paralyzed in fear, I watched complete strangers and coworkers vivisected before me. These heinous, evil creatures claimed the ability of restoring the innocents' mangled bodies. Their only price was allegiance to Satan and the coming of the Anti-Christ. Tears rolled down my face. Although desiring to help, my feet were bound by invisible chains. I could feel the cold metal on my ankles. Movements were restricted to pivoting perhaps 50 degrees left or right. My mouth opened to unleash a silent scream, as I strained to break free from my bondage. Suddenly I felt a sharp object pierce my lower back. I turned to face one of Satan's minions. He laughed maniacally while mauling my flesh with sinuous claws. After what seemed an eternity the vile demon stood back admiring his bloody work. He laid the same claim to ease my pain and price of restoration as the other Demons. I proclaimed, Do what you want to my body... My spirit belongs to the Lord, Jesus Christ! A white light instantly came upon and raised me to his comfort. I could see the demon finish off my carcass as my spirit floated freely above. Then I awoke.

Our Wednesday prayer group found this dream fascinating. Their first inclination was to observe the nature of Demons. It was unanimous that they do, in fact, torture people into abiding by their will. They believed by outwardly proclaiming my spirit to Jesus Christ he saved me in reality and not only in the dream. I would tend to agree since his influence in my life accelerated after that experience. I believe unwarranted fears and selfish intents were building walls in my relationship with our Savior. That night be brought them crumbling down.

Time communing intensified. I have come to understand the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit on levels I had not imagined possible. I did do the close reading of Revelation as he commanded. In the past the outlandish imagery and violent wrath of God within the book made it difficult to read without frustration. This reading was no acception until I prayed for his intents beyond the words. At first Jesus tied my Demonic dream to the text. Then; surprisingly, he connected everything to a dream I'd had weeks ago that appeared to have no spiritual value whatsoever.

The crux of that dream was as follows:

A small town was preparing for their 173rd Founders Day celebration. In normal course there would not be any significance to 173 years compared to; say, 150 or 175. Yet, for some reason, factories and retailers were closing down weeks before in anticipation and preparation for the events. I had left the community three or four years previous and could not comprehend the intensity surrounding such triviality. I needed to investigate.

Coming into town on odd energy emitted from the once listless streets. Parking the car, I headed toward a committee working on banners and decorations, then paused to inspect the surroundings.

Two or three citizens were seated on concrete walls passively observing the decorators. I casually leaned against the wall aside a gentleman of maybe 35 years young. He looked cosmetically contented yet internally dismayed. I whispered over, Doesn't look as good as last years though, does it? His eyes widened. He stood erect as his hands waved about in front of his body. No... No... No! This will be the best ever! Don't you say differently! He then said wistfully, No one can say differently. Briskly he walked down the sidewalk, pausing only for a moment to look back in concern.

Everything froze in time except for the gentleman and; what appeared to be, two corporate owned rent-a-cops. They were wearing black dress attire with highly contrasting, bright orange arm bands. The cops emerged from unknown origins. The gentleman protested apathetically then went with his captures, defeated. They headed westward.

A gasp, I looked around for responses. Decorators once again commenced their duties seemingly unaffected by the curious event. Spectators too behaved unaware while blissfully observing the decorators' finesse. The black and orange rent-a-cop uniforms could still be seen only a few blocks further.

The whole situation was unnerving; yet, I sensed immediate action was needed. I followed behind cautiously. Tailing the group ended at a lake situated about two miles west of town. Lake Foremost, expanding about ten miles in any direction, was one of the largest bodies of water in the area. Nearing dusk, the sun shimmered across its surface creating visual echoes that disoriented the exchange before me. Nestled in a nearby bush, I leaned forward and observed closely.

Both corporate cops sternly faced the gentleman. One man stood silent. Murmurs of a deep, grumbling voice came from within the cop on the left. Most words were indecipherable aside from the clarity of

one... 'Betrayal'. The captive gentleman's shoulders slumped and head bowed in shame at the accusation. The gentleman said something I couldn't comprehend, then turned toward the lake. From my vantage point he faced away. Stepping up to the waters edge he knelt down. With exasperated effort he picked up one of the large boulders commonly used as seating area for young couples holding hands. He smiled back at his captures as he walked brazenly into the awaiting pool.

With every step the gentleman took deeper into his watery grave a metamorphosis occurred. The voiceless rent-a-cop changed before my eyes to the very gentleman walking to his death! What was happening? Are these changelings? Doppelgangers? How many of them are there?

My mind swirled in confusion and terror while survival instincts took over. Tearing off my shirt I jumped in at the last point the gentleman submerge. The rent-a-cops appeared unfazed by my presence. Diving down frenzied and afraid did not prepare me for the horrors witnessed beneath. Through the faintness of dusk, shadows of hundreds of bodies came to light. Each poor soul, citizens of town, died willfully. Every man, woman, and child expressed guilt and shame while grasping their death stone. Screaming, I attempted to flee and faced the full gravity of the situation. My own corpse floated before me... Same guilt and shame... Same death stone. Then I awoke.

This dream, as you can imagine, did not seem to be a message from God. Its potential was more appropriate as an intriquing short story than anything of relevance. Days went by before mustering up the strength for another attempt at decifering Jesus's intent. Falling into deep stillness I listened for the truth. I heard nothing but stillness. Weakening my resolve, I pleaded to our Savior for clarity. Jesus then illuminated the connections as I humbly knelt down at his feet. The magnitude of his response prompted this paper and went as follows...

(On continued prayer I believe this in an accurate representation of his teachings to me.)

They are not Doppelgangers, but Demons. The bodies were an illusion from the Master of Lies. My people are made to believe the Father has given up on them due to their sins and lack of faith. They are convinced they have no purpose to God due to their 'betrayal'. The boulders represent holding onto this guilt keeping them down and away from the truth. You believed these Evil illusions until you proclaimed your Spirit to me in the dream vision I sent you. You have been closed off to my Love. It is true you have sinned against me by questioning my faithfulness and existence as a living God. You do lust and act selfishly. Yet, you are my precious friend and disciple. You have repented for your sins and have been forgiven. I sent you the vision so you would know and share the truth. When my arrival comes closer, the Beasts will attempt to hold my people in bondage with false visions and lies of unforgivable betrayal. Through me all will be forgiven. Tell all who will hear.... I Live.

He has since given me enough ideas and visions for a complete novel. I do not know exactly what comes next, but in faith I will follow. Praise Him!