Transformed by the Renewing of the Mind

Question: "What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of the mind?"

Answer: The phrase “transformed by the renewing of the mind” is found in Romans 12:2. Chapter 12 marks the transition in that epistle from the Apostle Paul’s theological teaching to his practical teaching. The Book of Romans is probably the closest thing in the Bible to a systematic theology. Paul did not found the church at Rome, but he had every intention of visiting that church on his way to Spain. As a result, Paul wrote this epistle as a way of introducing himself to that congregation and to give them an overview of the gospel and what it means in the lives of believers.

After teaching us all of the great doctrine regarding the gospel of God’s righteousness that is our through faith in Christ in Romans chapters 1-11, Paul begins to exhort us to godly living. How are we to live in light of the saving power of the gospel? That is what Romans 12–16 aims to teach. The practical section of Romans begins with a great “therefore.” Seeing all that God did on our behalf, therefore live like this. The first of Paul’s great exhortations is to be renewed in our minds:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2).

The phrase “the mercies of God” refers to all of what has preceded in chapters 1–11. The exhortation that Paul presents is that since we have been the gracious recipients of God’s great mercies, we are to be “living sacrifices” to God. How do we do this? We are living sacrifices to God by not conforming to this world, but by being transformed by the renewal of our minds.

This exhortation really serves as a summary statement of all that follows. A living sacrifice to God is one who does not conform, but is transformed. We are not to be conformed to this world. Paul is using the word “world” here to refer to the spirit of the age. In other words, “world” refers to the popular worldview that rejects God and His revelation. As unbelievers, we are naturally conformed to the world (Ephesians 2:1-3). As believers, we are no longer conformed to this world because we no longer belong to the spirit of this age. We have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). Therefore, rather than continuing to conform to this world, we are to be transformed by having our minds renewed.

It is interesting to note that Paul says that we must be transformed by the renewing of our “minds.” The mind is the key to the Christian life. The reason why non-Christians do not respond to Christian truth is because they cannot discern spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:14). The gospel is a call for the unbeliever to repent of his sin and embrace Christ by faith. The Greek word translated “repentance” carries the notion of a change of mind. Our thinking must be changed (transformed) from old, ungodly ways of thinking into new, godly ways of thinking. What we know in our minds to be true forms a conviction in our hearts of that truth, and that conviction in our hearts translates into action. Therefore, we must first renew our minds.

The only way to replace the error of the world’s way of thinking is to replace it with God’s truth, and the only infallible source of God’s truth is found in his revealed word, the Bible. Transformation through renewed minds comes as believers expose themselves to God’s Word through the faithful exposition of it each week in church, personal Bible study and group Bible study. A solid church that believes in preaching the Word, reading the Word and singing the Word is invaluable in helping us renew our minds.

There are no shortcuts. There is no magical formula for renewing our minds. We must fill our minds with God’s word. As Jesus prayed to the Father, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).

Thank You

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"I am Now a Child of God" - from a Facebook Share

Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as “Holiday Trees” for the first time this year which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you. I think it applies just as much to many countries as it does to America . . .

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejewelled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, “Merry Christmas” to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crib, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her: “How could God let something like this happen?” (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said: “I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?”

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbour as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

If not, then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

How to be Saved Through Jesus Christ

Here is a study outline to guide you in understanding the biblical way to be saved...

The Roman Road to Salvation in Jesus Christ

1)  Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

a)  Acts 4:12 - Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

b)  Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2)  John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

a)  We hear Jesus say, "God so loved the world." God's love has no limitations.
He loves "so". More than we can imagine. He loves everyone - not just some ones.

3)  Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

4)  Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

a)  This verse tells us that all people have sinned. We have fallen short of God's intended purpose for us. God made us to know Him - to receive His
love and to love him in return. 

b)  For love to be love - for God to be God, and for humans to be humans - God gave us a choice. We can choose to love ourselves and turn to our selfish pursuits. That is sin. In our sin we cannot know God and His love. The result of sin is that we are lost, separated from God.

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

a)  Wages are “just payment” or “due reward” what one has coming because of labor. The just payment for our sin is death.

b)  Death here means spiritual insensitivity. When we are still in our sin, we have no life with God. We are alive physically but dead spiritually. If we continue in that condition, we will be separated from God for all eternity.

c)  The wages of sin is death. But God's free gift is eternal life. While wages are earned, a gift is offered... no strings attached. God says He will give us eternal life - life with Him - in the place of sin's payment of death.

d)  How can God remain true to His holiness and forgive unholy sinners? Because Jesus, His Son, has paid the price for sin by His death on the cross.

6)  2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

a)  Jesus arose from the grave to conquer sin and death for all who receive Him as God's free gift.

7)  How can you receive God's free gift of love and life?

a)  Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

i)   A person receives God's free gift of love and life by placing faith in Jesus Christ. To believe is simply to take God at His word. With our heart (whole believing), we believe that Jesus is God's Son who died for our sin on the cross and arose from the grave to live in us as Savior and Lord.

ii)  To believe in Jesus will result in confessing that faith with one's mouth.

8)  Three little questions:

a)  Do you acknowledge that you are a sinner?

b)  Do you believe by faith that Jesus, God's Son, died for your sin on the cross?

c)  Will you now confess Him as your Savior and Lord?

9)  Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

a)  This verse says that any person who will call upon the name of Jesus, the Lord, shall be saved. 

b)  To call means simply to ask in prayer. The verse does not require one to know more... do better... clean up one's life... or in any way try to add to what Jesus has done for us.

10)  Will you now call upon Jesus to save you from your sin so that you can know God's love and forgiveness?
Salvation Prayer

Pray like this:

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself.

Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

11)     Please be clear on this: IT IS NOT THIS PRAYER THAT HAS SAVED YOU!!!

You have been saved because:

a)        You heard God's word (Romans 10:17; Acts 8:5,35; 16:13; 2:22),

b)        You believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 2:36; 8:12; 16:31; Mark 16:16),

c)        Repented of your sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 17:31),

d)        Confessed your faith in Christ (Matthew 10:32; Acts 8:37),

12)     In line with your confession of faith in Jesus Christ, and your Salvation, there is one more thing that you should do, in accordance with Scripture:

a)        And were baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12-13; 16:15,33;22:16).

If you have read through this study, and have made the decision to become a follower of Christ, we at Havillah Christian Center would like to welcome you to the family of God!

Feel free to contact us at any time with questions, or just to chat!

The Strongman Series: Part 1

It's the classic scenario:

The big, muscle-bound school Bully accosts the skinny little Weakling kid every day. The Bully embarrasses Weakling in front of all the other kids, takes his lunch money, and leaves him with empty pockets. On a good day, Weakling is left with only a bruised ego... On a bad day, maybe a black eye.

After having suffered through this daily harassment for a full school year, poor Weakling  is fed up. He has had all he can take. Over the summer break, Weakling lifts weights, runs, and takes up boxing at the local gym. He is determined to put a stop to Bully's tyranny.

One the first day of the fall semester, Bully sets out to pick up where he left off before the summer - terrorizing Weakling. Only today, Bully is in for a surprise...

Bully finds Weakling, and is a bit surprised. Weakling looks a litter thicker, a little more solid. Weakling has a subtile confident air about him that was never there before. He isn't cowering and trying to find an escape route...

Bully walks up to Weakling and begins to berate him and demand money, as was the custom. Weakling hesitates, and then says "NO!"

At this point, bully - in total shock at this response - makes a move to punch Weakling in the eye. The kids are all gathered round watching, assuming this will go as it always has: Bully will knock Weakling to the ground, then make off with Weakling's cash.

But what an unexpected turn of events!!!!

Weakling ducks the punch then lands a solid blow to Bully's chin, knocking flat! Weakling stands over Bully and boldly announces, "Don't ever mess with me again!"

Consider this:

Just as there are bullies and brutes in the natural realm, there are also bullies and brutes in the spiritual realm. Moreover, there is one Big Bully, who is boss over them all, and his name is Lucifer, and Satan, and Beelzebub, and Belial – among others. He, together with his underlings – his demon army – seeks to terrorize mankind; and, especially, to antagonize Believers.

The Enemy will accost you on every hand for as long as you allow it. He will take your things. He will leave you bruised, and battered, and broke. He will have you living in a constant state of fear, and high alert; always looking over your shoulder trying to spot the bully before he spots you.

But this is NOT how Believers should live.

The Word of God says:

¹⁸ And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

¹⁹ Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

²⁰ Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. – Luke 10:18-20

What does this mean for the Believer?

It means that the Believer DOES NOT have to accept nor suffer demonic activity in their lives, because:

1.       We have been given the power to stop this activity in its tracks

2.       We have been given authority to exercise that power

The Word of God says:

³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. – Romans 8:37

Let’s look at the Greek text for the phrase “more than conquerors”, as found in the Strong’s Concordance (word number G5245);

ὑπερνικάω

hupernikaō (hoop-er-nik-ah'-o)

From G5228 and G3528;

to vanquish beyond, that is, gain a decisive victory: - more than conquer.

Let’s also look at the definition of “vanquish”

               

van·quish   [vang-kwish, van-]

verb (used with object)

1.       to conquer or subdue by superior force, as in battle.

2.       to defeat in any contest or conflict; be victorious over: to vanquish one's opponent in an argument.

3.       to overcome or overpower: He vanquished all his fears.

What does this mean for the Believer?

The Enemy will do everything he can to strong-arm you out of what you are entitled to through Christ Jesus (your lunch money). He will tell you “you might as well give up and go home, you don’t stand a chance!” He will bring to mind every time you have lost in the past, and use it to try to persuade you that you will lose this time, too.

The Enemy will repeatedly attack you and win, setting in your mind an expectation of defeat. He’ll have you scared to walk down the street (much as Weakling was afraid to walk the school corridors) because you never know when he’s going to pop up. But:

                The Word of God says:

               

                ⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

– 2 Timothy 1:7

What does this mean for the Believer?

The Believer has no reason to fear the devil. The spiritually weak Believer need only build up some spiritual muscle. Spend some time in the “Jesus Gym” (yes I really said that) working out with the Word of God!

Weakling had to work on his body in order to build strength. He had to be trained in a form of hand-to-hand combat so that he could do battle with his antagonist. His newly gained strength and skills brought a fresh confidence when he next faced his nemesis.

It works much the same for the Believer in spiritual matters. You must have training, strength, and confidence when you face your spiritual bully (the devil and his workers) or you won’t win. But, through Jesus Christ and the Word of God (the Holy Bible) you have the necessary power to be victorious in battle.

                The Word of God says:

¹⁷ And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils… – Mark 16:17

³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. – Romans 8:37

What does this mean for the Believer?

In whose name? Who is ‘he’ and ‘him’?

JESUS!

               

The Word of God says:

¹⁸  And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. – Acts 16:18

¹⁰  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. – Philippians 2:10

¹⁸  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All poweris given unto me in heaven and in earth.

– Matthew 28:18

What does this mean for the Believer?

Both the power you have over the Enemy and the authority (permission) by which you exercise that power are given and sustained by Jesus Christ; it is placed in your possession for you to use, but DOES NOT ORINIGATE FROM YOU.

                Consider this:

                Delegated Authority (as defined on Wikipedia.)

Delegated authority is an authority obtained from another that has authority since the authority does not naturally exist.

Typically this is used in a government context where an organization that is created by a legitimate government, such as a Board, City, Town or other Public Corporations to allow them to legally function in the name of the constitutional government.

               

               

                Consider this:

               

You are leasing a property from ABC Realty, but you don’t deal with the owner of ABC Realty, you deal with Bobby, a property manager. Bobby has the power to act on behalf of the Corporation to buy sell and lease properties. He also has the power to collect fees, such as rent; he also has the power to approve payments for insurance, utilizes, and fees for maintenance. Bobby doesn’t own the property, so he has no automatic authority to do any of this; he can’t just take it upon himself to start managing someone else’s property. (That would be like Average Joe walking into the local department store, then ordering products to stock the shelves and signing off on checks to pay vendors.)

Bobby had to be GIVEN PERMISSION by ABC Realty to act as representative, and to carry out actions in the name of ABC Realty.

If Bobby has to evict a tenant, he calls upon the authority of ABC Realty (entity that ACTUALLY HOLDS THE POWER over the property) in order to be able to legally evict the tenant.

Bobby acts ‘in the name of’ (under the authority of) ABC Realty.

Believers engaged in spiritual warfare ‘act in name of’ (under the authority of) Jesus Christ, because Jesus has given the Believer PERMISSION (authority) to do so.

SUMMARY:

1.       satan and his workers can be compared to ‘spiritual bullies’

2.       Believers DO NOT have to tolerate demonic strong-arming

3.       Jesus has delegated authority to Believers: He has given them both power to defeat demons and permission to exercise that power

4.       Jesus is the source and maintaining force of Believers’ power and authority over the enemy; the Believer is the vessel into which this power and authority has been placed.

5.       The Believer is empowered to gain DEFINITIVE VICTORY over the enemy

Toy Drive

Havillah Christian Center is kicking of its First Annual Toy Drive!

Christmas is right around the corner! Won't you help to make it a merry occasion for the children of Dallas?

We are seeking your assistance in bringing the Christmas spirit to the less fortunate! Your donated toys, clothing and books will be delivered to children. Donating or contributing is easy and it will bring great joy to you and your family!

Please help out with toys and Bibles for the toy drive.

We would like to make this Christmas good for those whose parents will not be able to provide gifts this year. We will try to provide 3 new toys per child ($15 – $30 value).

Please purchase a $15 – $30 gift appropriate for a child (ages 0-16) and drop the unwrapped gift off at the following location by Sunday, December 9th:

Havillah Christian Center, Office

3076 Spruce Valley Lane, Apt #2093

Dallas, TX 75233

We are looking for sponsorships, donations, and places to put stocking boxes and over-flow donations.

Contact Info:

Phone: 214-377-8250

Email: hcci.church@gmail.com

Facebook: Havillah Christian Center

***IMPORTANT NOTICE***

PLEASE CALL IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPLY

FOR CHRISTMAS HELP. 

PLEASE DO NOT "DROP BY" WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT

PHONE CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE ARE ACCEPTED

TUESDAY, AND THURSDAY 5PM - 7PM

BEGINNING TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6TH

ENDING THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22ND

NO CALLS ACCEPTED ON THANKSGIVING DAY

Guidelines

Toys Must:

· Be brand new and unwrapped

· No toy guns, knives, bow/arrows, etc

Toy Suggestions:

· Board Games

· Sporting Goods

· Toy Car/Plane/Boat

· Dolls

· Coloring Books

· Hand-held video games or small electronic games

· Bicycles

Books:

· Bibles

· Educational

Clothing:

· Boys and Girls

· Birth to 12 years old

Infant-2 years

· Elmo

· Sesame Street Character items

· Dora & Diego Items

· Interactive musical/light-up toys

· Pooh and Tigger toys

· Playskool Busy Ball Bopper

· Push & pull toys

· Riding toys

· Educational toys

· Little People toys

· Walkers, swings, playpens, etc

· Rattles

Preschool Girls (2-4 years)

· Character items (Dora, Diego, Princesses)

· Little People & Accessories

· Leapfrog/V-tech educational toys

· Dress-up/imaginary play toys

· Fur Real Friends

· Baby-Alive

· Dolls

Preschool Boys (2-4 years)

· Diego toys

· Handy Manny toys

· Thomas the Tank Engine

· Little People & accessories

· Leapfrog/Vtech educational toys

· Bob the Builder toys

· Mega Blocks

· Trains, trucks, cars

5-7 year old GIRLS

· My Little Pony & accessories

· Littlest Pet Shop

· Scooter/skates & helmet

· Barbie, Disney Princesses, Polly Pocket dolls

· Jewelry and bead craft kits

· Board games

5-7 year old BOYS

· Action figures

· Remote control cars

· Remote control helicopters

· Basketballs

· Lego sets

· Skateboards/scooters with helmet

· Board games

8-12 year old GIRLS

· Pocketbooks and bags

· Bath & body lotions & soaps

· MP3 players

· Craft kits

· DVD’s

· Jewelry

· Games

· Skateboards & helmets

· CD’s

· Digital camera

· Watch

8-12 year old BOYS

· TV plug-in video games

· Remote control cars

· Lego sets

· Skateboards & scooters with helmet

· Board games

· Footballs, basketballs

· Watch

· MP3 players

· DVDs

· TV plug-in video games

· Games

· Footballs, basketballs

· CD’s

· Digital Camera

Policy:

· Donated toys will not be returned to the donor under any condition

· Donor waives the right to direct the donated toy(s) to a particular recipient

Disclaimer:

· In case the number of toys collected exceeds the number of recipients, extra toys will be reserved for future distribution events at the discretion of Havillah Christian Center.

Nasir Siddiki - Left to Die

By age 34, Nasir Siddiki, a successful businessman, had made his first million, but money meant nothing to him on his deathbed. Diagnosed with the worst case of shingles ever admitted to Toronto General Hospital , his immune system shut down and doctors left him to die.

The next morning I woke in a sterile room on the eighth floor of the hospital, my skin burning as t
hough someone had doused me in gasoline and lit a match. I felt on fire from the inside out.

My doctor arrived and looked at me in wonder. “The blisters are multiplying so fast I can literally watch them grow,” he said. ‘”Your body isn’t fighting back.”

The next morning, in addition to shingles, I had chicken pox from head to toe. I was put in strict isolation. That evening my temperature soared to 107.6 degrees — hot enough to leave my brain permanently scrambled.

For days I continued to deteriorate. My nerve endings became so inflamed that a hair drifting across my skin sent shock waves of fire rippling through my body. By week’s end, I was listed in critical condition.

My Last Hope

In life, I’d been bold, self confident, a risk taker. But facing death, I was terrified. I had no idea what might await me on the other side. I’d been raised as a Moslem in London , England , and I understood Allah was not a god who heals.

My only hope was in medicine.

I eventually slipped so close to death that the doctors didn’t know I could hear them when they examined me. “His immune system has simply shut down,” one of them said.

“He’s dying,” the other confirmed. “His immune system must be compromised by AIDS.”

I don’t have AIDS! I wanted to shout, but I couldn’t form the words. Then it hit me. He said I’m dying!

The doctors spoke quietly to my co-worker, Anita. “In a few hours he’ll be dead,” they said. “If by some miracle he lives, he’ll probably be blind in his right eye, deaf in his right ear, paralyzed on his right side and he may be severely brain damaged from the high fever.”

Then they left.

They left me here to die! I felt like a drowning man going down for the third time. Gathering my strength I whispered a prayer. “God, if you’re real, don’t let me die!”

In His Presence

During the darkest hour of the night, I woke and saw a man at the foot of my bed. Rays of light emanated from him, allowing me to see his outline. I couldn’t see his face, it was too bright. No one had to tell me, I knew it was Jesus.

The Koran mentions Jesus; Moslems believe He existed, not as the son of God, but as a good man and a prophet. I knew this wasn’t Mohammed. I knew it wasn’t Allah. Jesus was in my room. There was no fear, only peace.

“Why would You come to a Moslem when everyone else has left me to die?” I wondered.

Without words, he spoke to me. “I Am the God of the Christians. I Am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

That’s all He said. He didn’t mention my illness. He didn’t mention my impending death. As suddenly as He appeared, He was gone.

The next morning, the same two doctors arrived to examine me. “The blisters have stopped growing!”

“We don’t know what happened, but the shingles virus has gone into remission!”

The following day, still in pain and covered with blisters, I was discharged from the hospital with a suitcase full of drugs. “Don’t leave home,” the doctor cautioned. “It will be months before the blisters go away, and when they do you’ll be left with white patches of skin and scars. The pain could last for years.”

Stepping outside into the morning sun, I looked like a cross between a leper and the Elephant Man. When people saw me, they crossed to the other side of the street. However, my mind was not on my looks; my thoughts were on Jesus. There was no doubt in my mind that Jesus’ presence in my room had stopped the shingles virus. Whatever else Jesus may be, I realized that in His presence miracles happened.

That fact left me with one consuming question: Is Jesus the Son of God as the Christians claim, or is He just a prophet as I was taught?

At home that evening, in spite of the drugs, the pain and itching was so severe I almost had to tie my hands. Even so, I fell into a restless sleep wondering about Jesus.

Learning to Live

The next morning, I woke early and turned on the television. Flipping through the channels, I froze when I saw the following words across the screen: Is Jesus the Son of God?

I listened intently as two men spent the entire program discussing this topic — answering all of my questions. Before the show went off the air, one of the men led the television audience in a prayer. My body was aflame with pain but I knelt on my living room floor anyway. Tears streaming down my face, I repeated the prayer and invited Jesus into my heart.

Immediately a voracious spiritual hunger sprang up within me. I had to know more about Jesus. In spite of my doctor’s orders to stay inside, the next day I went out and bought a Bible. First I read the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Still ravenous, I started in Genesis and read through the Bible during my sleepless nights.

Meanwhile, Anita brought me books and teaching tapes explaining the Gospel. I devoured them while continuing to study the Word of God. As my understanding of faith began to grow, I dug out a picture of how I looked before shingles. I prayed and asked God to make me look that way again.

Nasir and Anita Siddiki - Jesus, My Healer

One week after my discharge from the hospital, I woke and found my pillow covered in blisters. I must have clawed them in my sleep, I thought. I crawled out of bed and stepped into the shower. What had started on my pillow was finished in the shower: Every blister fell off my body!

Instead of being covered with patches of white and scar tissue, my skin was simply red and raw. It slowly healed, returning to its pre-shingles condition. When it did, I not only looked human, I looked like I did before I got sick, except for the scars that I still carry on my chest.

None of the doctor’s dire predictions came true. My eyesight was 20/20. My hearing was normal. My speech was unimpaired. I suffered no brain damage.

My healing was miraculous, swift and complete. I never suffered from lingering pain or any other complication. Not only did I have the worst case of shingles ever admitted to Toronto General Hospital , I also had the most miraculous recovery.

Jesus, the God of the Christians, showed up in the hospital room of a dying Moslem and healed me. But that wasn’t the greatest miracle He performed. The transformation that occurred in my heart was even more dramatic than the one that occurred in my body.

An international teacher and evangelist, Dr. Nasir Siddiki is the founder of Wisdom Ministries. He lives in Tulsa , OK with his wife Anita and their two sons.