Enoch
Enoch is from Nicaragua and is a very special person in our bible study group in Cot/Irazu because he was the first to be invited to the group by people in the group. Shortly after his coming, he received Jesus as his one and only Lord, Savior, and Intercessor. In the U.S. bible belt area we don't normally include "Jesus as our one and only Intercessor" in the requisite of being saved, however in Catholic societies, it is important because Catholics normally have the saints and Mary included as intercessors. In the Bible we find in Romans 10;13
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
In most all Spanish translations, we find that to call on is translated as to invoke.
In the dictionary we find the following definition for the word Invoke: call on (a deity or spirit) in prayer, as a witness, or for inspiration.
synonyms:appeal to, pray to, call on, supplicate, entreat, solicit, beg, implore;
In the dictionary we find the following definition for the word Invoke: call on (a deity or spirit) in prayer, as a witness, or for inspiration.
synonyms:appeal to, pray to, call on, supplicate, entreat, solicit, beg, implore;
In conclusion, we can easily understand that whoever you bow your knee to and pray to(invoke) is your savior and God. If you bow to pray to Mary or the "Saints" then they are who you have made your god and you can have no part with Jesus because he is a jealous God and demands us to chose this day whom we will serve(Joshua 24:15). Those that call on(Invoke) the name of Jesus are the ones that will be saved.
It has been a joy to see the faithfulness of Enoch to the bible studies and his growth in the Lord. Please pray for Enoch that the Lord will continue to do an incredible work in him.
The following is Enoch's testimony in English and then in Spanish:
Enoch's Personal Testimony
I write this as the story of my life, how God changes one completely and the great love that I have in my life. Cocaine began to direct my life as I went to parties with my friends and I became addicted while passing the days and years doing Cocaine. I was destroying my nostrils and I had coagulated blood coming out and then I was invited to do an even worse stone(drug). Well, I started trying a new drug and continued doing it as the days and months passed. I was sinking down to a very low position with my addiction to this rock(drug) and was leaving my children without food and the whole paycheck was spent on me and my addiction. I could not manage this life by my own strength and I could not leave it as well but then a friend invited me to his house to hear the word of God. From that time my life changed completely and I thank my God all powerful to see me out of that big addiction that I had. Sometimes when the following day would come, I would realize the reality of being without money and my children had nothing to eat but God never abandoned me because he was always there. Jesus always took care of me and when I approached Jesus Christ, I felt Him change my life little by little. Every day my life was changing and His love for us is so great that it does not compare to anything or anyone. I am so grateful to God and am not ashamed of my testimony. The Devil wanted me to fall into drug addiction again but I felt the power of God as it was manifested in me and I also thank my wife for support in these difficult moments that pass. Friends seek God, He is the only Savior who can liberate one from where they are in their sins. God is love, peace and He is everything.
El Testimonio de Enoch
Escribo esto como bueno es relato de mi vida como Dios le cambia a uno por completo y el amor tan grande que tengo yo en mi vida. Mi vida comencé a dirigir coca me iba a las fiestas con mis amigos y entre más fueron pasando los días y los años más y me iba metiendo al vicio de allí como la coca. Me estaba despedazando las narices y me salía sangre cuajulada y después me invitaron a la piedra otro vicio peor. Bueno, comencé a probarla y me fui metiendo poco a poco pasando los días y los meses. Ya estaba bien hundido en la piedra y dejaba a mis hijos sin comer y todo el sueldo me lo gastaba. Ya no aguantaba esa vida yo por mis fuerzas no podía salir y me invitó un amigo a la casa de el a escuchar la palabra de Dios. De ese entonces mi vida cambio’ por completo y le doy gracias a mi Dios todo poderoso de a ver me sacado de ese vicio tan grande que tenía. A veces llegaba al día siguiente y me daba cuenta de la realidad y yo sin plata y mis hijos no tenía nada que comer pero mi Dios nunca me abandono’ porque siempre estaba allí. Jesús me cuidaba siempre y cuando yo acerque a Cristo Jesús yo sentí aquel cambio en mi vida poco a poco. Día tras día Dios me fue cambiando mi vida y el amor que Él nos tiene es tan grande que no se compara con nada ni con nadie. Yo estoy tan agradecido con Dios y no meda pena en decirlo mi testimonio. El Diablo me quería hacer caer en el vicio otra vez pero yo sentí el poder de Dios como se estaba manifestando en mí y también le agradezco a mi esposa por el apoyo en esos momentos tan difíciles que pase. Amigos buscan de Dios, Él es el único salvador que los puede sacar de donde esta uno. Dios es amor, paz y Él es Todo.