Good Morning! I am Bro. Bobot Baluyot from the Sports Ministry-Jabez. Every EXCEL service, I am truly inspired to speak because of the people who have testified the goodness of God in their lives. I once said to myself that I will also stand and proudly attest how grateful I am because of the Lord’s presence in my life. I want to start this testimony on how the Lord has amazingly transformed my life.
My wife and I grew in Tondo. In Tondo, we lived there peacefully. There was no existence of violence when we were living there, or no records of riots happened when we used to sleep there. But I knew that our place was full of different vices.
First, I would like to introduce my family first.
I grew up with liquor, cigarettes, and other vices. I came here to Dasmariñas that I was consuming three packs of cigarettes in a day. I was indeed a chain-smoker (a person who is unstoppable of using cigarettes.)
Also, I was in the level of drinking six liquor bottles in a day. If you want me to fall asleep, give me seven bottles rather.
Because of my eldest child, I learned things about God and became a Born Again Christian here in COG-Dasma. My son plays keyboards and a former instructor. He invited us to attend one church service. Before, we were sitting at the back. My first time to encounter Pastor Ronald was when he scolded me about using cigarettes.
I never knew that cigarettes are not allowed here and no ashtrays are available. Back then I did not continue.
Subsequently, I found myself crying at the altar of the Lord for the first time. When I became a Christian, I was struggling to stop my vices. Then I decided to be treated. Our company has executive check-ups to examine our health. I underwent sessions about discontinuing my smoking habit, and I spent PHP 27,000 for that. After a week, my vices were gone, yet it went back later on. I did not know that my wife and children were praying for me. Then, I prayed to the Lord to take away these vices from my life. I also asked Him to give me a minor illness. In just a snap, these vices that are difficult to remove were totally gone. That’s how the Lord has shown His grace, mercy, and goodness in my life.
Moreover, God has continued to work in my family. My family is not a perfect one, but He made it perfect.
All of my children are now serving Him. It is not easy to do it in this kind of family. We are also struggling. Hence,
I always say to my children that I will not hinder them to reach their dreams as to what school and course they want to take. Yet the Lord is the One who will help them to provide their needs in their studies. Despite the lack of finances to provide for their tuition fees, our children had studied and graduated from well-known schools. If it is impossible for me to do it, the Lord made it possible.
On the other hand, I had experienced a strange feeling last May 21. I was in pain. So I went for a checkup last May 24, and the doctor diagnosed me with hemorrhoids.
This illness is like menstruation. You would experience to see blood during a bowel movement. In my case, I was in Grade 3, which meant to be ready for surgery. The doctors said that there is no other option. It was too painful.
I could not sleep for almost a week because of the pain. During driving, I put the neck pillow in my driver’s seat to ease the pain. I also used it when I was at the office.
In addition, I was scheduled for surgery on May 30 and I needed to visit before the date to settle all the requirements and ready for operation.
However, I asked the Lord why I need to do this thing. I was also scheduled in midweek service of COG-Jabez with the same date, and my topic is Hallowed Be Thy Name. “Lord, what would I do?”
My wife insisted me to undergo the surgery since her sibling underwent the same operation.
But I strongly disagreed with her.
Furthermore, I have all the reasons to call Ptr. Ronald that I could not preach on that day, however, I did not do it. Even I was in pain, I truly believe that God will come with me to deliver the message and in worship.
While I was stepping up on stage, I felt a strong pain. I also had a fever at that time, but I did not tell anyone. When I came in the slide with this verse, from Numbers 20:12, when Moises did not enter the Promised Land because he did not believe the ways of the Lord. And that’s my topic, believing in His Name in any means. I declared, “Lord, I know and I believe that You are the Jehovah Rapha-You are my God and my Deliverer.”
While I was uttering these words, the pain was suddenly gone. The congregation never knew why I was crying
and shouting “Jehovah Rapha, You are my God.” I know after that, I am healed.
And I was not mistaken, a miracle happened. I did not know how, but I was no longer suffering the pain nor feeling the hemorrhoids. Praise the Lord! As I recalled the same song that the worship leader sang,” This is How We Fight Our Battles.”
We do not need to know how God did it but know only that He is indeed good. He knows our pain and He will move by His power. We only believe because all the glory belongs to Him. Praise the Lord! Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my story that shows the Lord is working in any situation. Praise the Lord!
