Alo

Hi everyone! I've so glad to have found this site and this forum! Lot's of good stuff.

So a little about me. I'm 18, I live in Raleigh North Carolina, and I am a sophomore at NC State University studying electrical engineering. If anyone knows of a prayer filled church in the Raleigh area, please let me know.

Now the important stuff...

Although I've grown up in the church, I'm a relatively new Christian. If you ask my family or anyone else who knows me though, they would say I've been saved for years. I was the kid in youth group who everyone looked to for the answer, I taught numerous Bible studies, taught Sunday school, led street evangelism teams (having evangelized probably 200 people myself and was never without tracts), organized community service projects, captain of the Bible quiz team, sang in the choir, directed a summer camp for kids, ect., you get the point.

But I was not saved.

I lived in habitual dark secret sin - I was addicted to pornography. We all know what the Bible says about immoral men. Furthermore, I did not pray or study the Bible. I was arrogant and prideful and selfish and idolatrous. I hated my family at times. In practice, I had a complete disregard for God and His laws. I didn't take Him or His word seriously.

It's really hard to say when I was saved, but it was within the last 8 months - that's how long I've been free form immorality. My life is truly turned upside down now. I don't know where to start, lol! God is so good! He has taught me so many things - like the gospel! The wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ which says that in order to live you must first die. The only way to true life is crucifixion with Christ. Repent, turn from your evil, and turn fully to Jesus Christ! Give Him your WHOLE life - hold nothing back.
Follow Him. Obey Him. Worship Him.
Not only is that the way to eternal life, that is eternal life itself!

Always before I had used God as a means to and end. I didn't serve God. I served my own pleasures. I couldn't care less about God, I just wanted the pleasures of heaven.

I used to ask, "How can I get to heaven?"
Now I ask, "How can I be freed from my sin?"

I truly hate sin and love purity. I hate evil and love good. Praise God for that! Let Him be glorified in everything!

I guess that about wraps it up, hehe. I didn't mean to write that much.

In Christ,
Matthew Miskiewicz

p.s.
My username comes from my middle name, which is Nile.

What an awesome testimony! Praise God! Hating sin and loving God and man is what it's all about, brother. I'm looking forward to your posts.

Brother Paul

I used to ask, "How can I get to heaven?"
Now I ask, "How can I be freed from my sin?"

Dear brother ...

A warm welcome to you. This has the hair standing on my arm's even as I write. What an incredible testimony ... there has been a few that we have heard like yours even those much older than yourself. Praise God that you have begun once again ... with the Spirit.

Thanks to all for the welcome and encouragement! I'm so glad God has shown this site and this forum - it is an increasingly rare thing for me to see like-minded people! (increasingly rare because I am always increasing in holiness)

I assume from your comments you have already listened to Ten Shekels and a Shirt. May God bless you and continue to overcome and walk in victory brother.

Yes I have! It's an awesome message, it really shook me the first time I heard it.

Welcome young man

Your testimony has a familiar ring to a lot of us older posters that can relate personally with the prodical son. Will be my pleasure to watch you as we grow in charity.

Eddie

Hey, Matt!

Are you a first born son, to get that name?

I wish I had learned to hate sin before I got my fill of it, and asked to be delivered from it.

Just watch those professors - they are smart in worldly things, which you need, to survive in this world, but they are deadly for Christians!

Make it your goal not to succeed in college, but to survive to graduation still seeking Christ. I speak from experience, and the devil was not, at the time, taking as much ground as he is now.

If we can pray you through a difficult time, just ask. Most of us remember how bad it was.

To get through so few years of sin before seeking Christ seriously is a blessing. When you get the chance, read SermonIndex's testimony on the prayer page. He's closer to your your age than I am, or many of us, but I don't think we ever forget the depths we sank to, even with Christ holding onto us.

Welcome, and keep coming back. This is shelter in a storm!

Blessings,