For some, it’s the first time you’ve read my Testimony. For others that have read my testimony posted in the past, this is a “do-over”. What do I mean by “do-over”? My previous testimony would have better been labeled “My lukewarm testimony” or at best, “My long difficult path to finding The Truth”.
For most of my life, I have thought of myself as a Christian. I shared in my old testimony that I believed I received the Lord when I was a child; but over the years, it became apparent, that I was a “Christian” only in name… I took on the name when it seemed to benefit me or when I was in some sort of trouble. Yes, I thought I believed in Jesus, but I lived my life like an unbeliever; I was a true bona fide hypocrite.
I’m sure you’ve experienced one of these so called “Christians”, hypocrites at best, living the opposite of what they say they believed. These kind of folks, I being chief among them, gave credence to what people say… ‘if that is what a Christian is, I don’t want any part of it.’ And, they were right-on. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I actually tried to live up to the name, but I knew deep down I wasn’t “all-in”.
What changed? Around 2004, knowing something was amiss and totally out of tune in what I said I believed versus how I actually lived my life, it started messing with my mind on a regular basis. The math was not adding up and I couldn’t reconcile living this hypocritical, flip-flop life. It was affecting everything I was doing. The guilt surfaced over and over until I decided to take a stab in the dark and start practicing what I said I believed. When I use the work practice, I mean it in the literal sense like practicing playing an instrument that you hardly know the first thing about, but do it over and over until you learn it; practice—practice—practice. Like the instrument example, I really didn’t know how to practice Christianity, so I started at square one: I started reading the Bible everyday and Praying. I got on one of those daily programs that promised if I kept up with the reading the Bible a little bit each day, I’d read through the whole Bible in one year. Surprising I did it.
I’d like to tell you that reading through the Bible in a year changed my life, but it didn’t; but what it did do was put a brighter spotlight on all my shortcomings. Honestly, it made me feel more guilty on how I lived my life. Fortunately, God didn’t give up on me although I was about ready to give up on Him. So, I kept reading until one day I realized it wasn’t about gaining knowledge as much as it was about application. I needed to mediate on what I was reading. All the knowledge of reading God’s Word was doing me no good unless I could apply it to my life. It seems coincidental, but now I know better, that I ran into a couple verses I had heard and read several times before, but this time, I really HEARD it. It’s like God spoke directly to me. In Revelations 3:15-16, the Bible says: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
Crazy as it sounds to me, now, I thought God was actually giving me an option to hang this Christianity up and walk away from it. I guess He was… He was clearly saying I had a choice. Either follow Him or not; but, stop being two-faced about it and choose. He was telling me, “I was making this God I said I believed in, sick.” It wasn’t but a couple days after this revelation that He gave me a mental picture of what this lukewarm life I was living looked like. He gave me a picture of Judas Iscariot … You see, Judas was a lukewarm believer. Judas was one of Jesus’s Disciples and was the keeper of the money for the group of Disciples. He was there and witnessed Jesus speak to the multitudes… he was there during the good times and he witnessed all of Jesus’s miracles… but, he was out for himself and was there for only what he could gain… he betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver; and in the end, Judas, the lukewarm believer, dammed himself to Hell.
Jesus speaking to Judas on the night just proceeding His betrayal in Mathew 26:24 said: “…but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” After Judas betrayed Jesus, in Mathew 27:3-5, the Bible says: ““Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He (Jesus) had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” “And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” “Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed and went and hanged himself.””
After getting this vision (picture in my head) that I was no different than Judas, I knew I no longer had an option, I chose Jesus and that’s when I started to experience real changes in my life.
Like most you, I was raised to believe in self-esteem, pride, competition, etc. The world rotated around me, it was all about me, me, me… that is what life was all about, right? But, God, in His Wisdom and through His Word, the Bible, was giving me a different way to live and believe: He was calling me to a new way of life, to be broken and dependent with humility and meekness; putting Him first in everything and all circumstances. To many of you, it must sound insane to choose such a path… I can only tell you that I lived most of my life the opposite of this, in a hurry, living for me and for what tomorrow might bring … yet, I never found fulfillment, much less any peace. Now, I live each day experiencing life abundantly; I have peace in my spirit… something I never knew or ever experienced before. I have an eternal Hope that only results from a true faith in Jesus; a faith that is demonstrated through action. (The litmus test for faith/belief is action … See “Investing in The BIG Deal” below.)
If you aren’t a Born-Again Believer or if you a lukewarm believer and would like to change, or just talk, I’m available and would love to have the opportunity to get to know you and to share God with you. You can reach me at BrennanLyle@gmail.com or by cell phone at (702) 592-4098.
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Investing in THE BIG DEAL
Many of you folks reading this are investors or looking to be investors… deal folks like myself. And, if think about it, everyone likes a good deal… whether it’s a big deal or small one… for me, I like real estate deals, but I still shop deals for everything I buy, I still compare gasoline prices, cell plans, restaurant prices, etc. Honestly, I have a real hard time passing up on any good deal, whether I need it or not.
Speaking of good deals, I’ve got what I think is a great real estate deal I want to run by you. (Hypothetical)
What if I came to you and told you I found a piece of land and have already tied it up in contract to buy it for $100,000. And, I have already completed the due diligence work and truly believe I can immediately resell the property for a minimum of $200,000. Did I say doubling my money at a minimum? … I really think I can get 4 to 6 times the money back I invested, $400,000 to $600,000.
And, although I don’t need any help from you to make this deal happen as I have the $100,000 already in my bank set aside to purchase this property, I’d let you into the deal at the same percentage (%) position I’m in it, allowing you the possibility of doubling or more the money you put in the deal.
Furthermore, I’m going to let you choose how much you want to invest in this deal up to the $100,000 that the land is costing to purchase it. And, wait the deal gets better… whatever the amount you chose to invest, I will open a money market account at your bank for the same amount you invest in the deal, in your name, and make you the sole beneficiary and the only signer on that account, thus, insuring that for any reason the deal doesn’t work out, at worst case, you’d get all your original investment back from the bank with bank interest on top of it. Of course, we would have the understanding, that if the real estate deal panned out and returned your investment at a minimum, you’d sign that money market bank account back over to me… right?
Sounds like a no lose proposition, a real gift! Too good to be true… right? … If this deal is for real, it sounds like I must really love you and value our relationship and want to see you succeed. Why else would I locate the deal, do all the due diligence work, guarantee your investment?… Right?
Now, there are always downsides in every deal. We’re human, Right? So, I must share the downsides of this real estate deal, however small or insignificant they may sound, it’s my disclaimer of sorts: First, there’s a maximum amount of money you can invest, a LIMIT up to $100,000; and, there are a few things I can’t insure or guarantee, like: if the real estate market or economy will still be good tomorrow or in the future, I can’t guarantee that the dollar won’t collapse and become worthless, I can’t guarantee either one of us will be alive tomorrow or before we see any return or profit in the deal, and I can’t guarantee that someone doesn’t litigate or sue us for whatever reason, etc. … in other words, even though this real estate deal sounds like the best investment deal ever…You can’t put 100% trust in the deal or 100% trust in me. We live in a chaotic and corrupt world and who knows what tomorrow will bring.
OK, I’ve shared my hypothetical real estate deal with you, now I want to share a real DEAL with you, The BIG Deal … GOD’S BIG DEAL. Folks, if God wasn’t in this deal, it would be totally unbelievable and too good to be true. Not only is He in The Deal, but in His Deal, He is offering a piece to everyone of us, individually.
Unlike my hypothetical real estate deal, in His Deal, The Dealmaker is 100% Trust worthy. He’s consistent, He’s got a history… He’s reliable… the same yesterday, today and forever. He Loves us and wants what’s best for each of us. Folks, let me be very clear here, He’s Sovereign, totally in control of His Deal; and, He doesn’t need any us to make His Deal work. The cost or “buy-in” to get in His Deal is a cost that none of us can pay, much less afford. Yet, amazing He’s already paid our Entry Fee — It’s His Free Gift to us, His Believers in His Gospel message!
(In case you not a Believer and don’t know understand what this Gospel message is about, you should continue to read on, but please get ahold of me by cell, text or email … I’ll try to answer your questions… and, for sure, if I don’t know the answers, I’ll find them out and get back to you.)
Again, the cost to us for the Entry Fee in His Big Deal is a Gift, from Him, if only we will accept it.
The Bible says in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” And, it says in Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
So now let’s talk a bit as to what does His paying our Entry Fee in His Big Deal look like.
According to God’s Word, the Bible, He has only given us a glimpse of what He has in store for those of us that are in His BIG Deal:
- We’ll get New bodies that never wear out…
- He take away all our pain and He will wipe all our tears away …
- He gives us a new name that hasn’t been tarnished and trashed with all the mistakes we’ve made in this life…
- He gives us a place or environment to live for eternity that is amazing, unfathomable, premier Real Estate. We all agree our National Parks are beautiful, but I think we are talking about a place of beauty we can’t even comprehend. I’m talking invaluable, irreplaceable, one of a kind Real Estate… Location, Location, Location… again, a place beyond all our all dreams! Entrance Gates made of giant pearls, streets made of gold, a mansion or possibly mansions with many rooms.
- It’s a place where we will meet up again with old acquaintances and we’ll get to meet the Hall of Fame Biblical Characters.
- And, Best of All, we get to hang out and worship the Creator, our Heavenly Father. I’m talking about an eternity in Heaven with the Deal Maker, God, The King of Kings…
Even though we just get a glimpse of being in His BIG Deal, it’s overwhelming to think how much this God must Love us, to let us be part of His Deal.
I assume most of us here have already accepted this amazing Gift, but if you haven’t, don’t wait any longer, do it now. Don’t miss This Big Deal, it is the biggest Gift you’ll ever receive in your lifetime. And, if you don’t know how to ask for this Gift or you have questions, like I mentioned above, ask me or I can direct you to some folks that can answer your questions.
Ok, for now, I’m assuming “you in!”
But Lyle, you said something about us Investing in The Big Deal … what’s up with that?
Gentlemen, was my assumption correct that all of us here have truly accepted His Free Gift? And, how does Investing in God’s Big Deal tie-in or correlate to His Free Gift?
Now for you Believers, I pose a question: “Do you believe what you say you believe is really real?” Again, “Do you believe what you say you believe is really real?”
And, if you do, how are you living out your Belief?” Are you investing your Belief by wagering your life “all-in” in God’s Big Deal? His Deal doesn’t have any LIMITS! All we have to do is have Faith and trust Him.
Do you really believe that eternity exists and that this life is just a vapor of time in the scheme of eternity? Do you believe that our life here is a dress rehearsal for our time in eternity? … That what we do here makes an appreciable difference in what our eternity looks like?
Do you really believe that investing your life in His Big Deal pays incalculable, eternal Returns on your Investment?
God’s Word, The Bible, The Ultimate “How-To Invest Manual”, provides us a litmus test as to whether or not we really are Believers and are vested in His Big Deal… for sure, it provides the instructions on how to get a bigger piece of the Pie.
I’m only providing just a few Investment qualifications and strategies, as there exists many. I suggest you put the time in and Study this Investment and act upon the instructions you receive. The more front-end research and preparation you put in this How-To Invest Manual and act upon, the greater Return On Investment “ROI” you likely receive.
Let’s check out some of the Investment qualifications and strategies in the “Manual”:
2 Cor 13:5
[5] Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
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Mathew 3:8,10
[8] Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. … [10] The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every
tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
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1 John 3:6
[6] No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him.
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Mathew 7:19-23
[19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. [21] “21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ …
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Rev 3:14B-16
[14B]These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.[15] I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other![16] So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
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1 John 2:3-6
[3] We know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commands.[4] Whoever says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.[5] But if anyone obeys His Word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him:[6] Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.
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Mathew 10:32-33
[32] “Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. [33] But whoever disowns Me before others, I will disown before My Father in heaven.
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James 1:12
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
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1 John 2:24-25
[24] As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.[25] And this is what He promised us—eternal life.
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John 14:21
Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show Myself to them.”
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Eph 2:10
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
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I challenge you to invest everything you have in God’s NO-LIMIT BIG Deal, including, but not limited to: your health, your spouse, your children, your homes, your cars, your toys… your things and all your money. We need to be “all-in”. Because, if what we say we believe is really real, it’s all His anyway.
“When you invest in things of the temporal, there is always risks. But, when you invest in things eternal, the rewards eclipse the sacrifice. “
To contact me, you can reach me by cell phone or text me at (702) 592-4098 or reach me by email at BrennanLyle@gmail.com. And, if you’re interested, email me and request a copy of my Devotionals I email out, daily. You can stop them anytime, but I think it will Bless you with real life situations and how to deal with them… I’ve described the Devotionals “Where Christianity meets the pavement”. I Pray God will Bless you with His Wisdom, Mercy,