There’s No Debating It

These twin brothers are like sons to me. They both were Chippendale dancers, lost and battling drug addiction. Then it happened!

An evangelist approached them on Venice Beach, and told them about the Father’s love for them. They received Christ—and their lives would never be the same.

The twin’s powerful transformation reminds me of an amazing story that happened 100 years ago.

Famed evangelist, Harry Ironside, was preaching to a large outdoor crowd in San Francisco, when an agnostic challenged him to a debate. Ironside responded, “I accept your challenge, sir, but on one condition!”

“When you come to the debate, I ask that you bring with you two people whose lives have been changed for the better by agnosticism. Bring a man who for years was under the power of evil habits from which he could not deliver himself, until he was set free by agnosticism’s power. Bring a woman who was once a poor, wrecked, characterless outcast, the slave of evil passions, and have her tell us how becoming an agnostic set her free!”

“And sir,” Ironside concluded, “if you can find two such individuals, I will be happy to debate you. And when I come, I will gladly bring with me one hundred men and women from this very city whose lives have been transformed in just those ways by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ!”

After the agnostic heard Ironside’s challenge, he turned and walked away. He knew that agnosticism had no power to change lives. JESUS changes lives.

I love that story! Several of my closest friends are former drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, strippers, and criminals. Today, all of them will attest that Jesus alone has the power to turn a sinner into a saint. And He does it through the blood of Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Friends have told me, “I tried the self-help approach and realized, I didn’t have a problem. I WAS THE PROBLEM! I didn’t need self-help. My SELF was my problem!”

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live. Christ lives in me!” Galatians 2:20

When we die with Christ, deny ourselves, and let the Holy Spirit fill us and control us—chains break, hearts and minds are renewed, and the guilt and shame from a lifetime of sin is removed.

Agnosticism is powerless to do all that.

Only Jesus can.

There’s no debating it!

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone—a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭

8 thoughts on “There’s No Debating It”

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    1. Hi Marcus. I read your message. Let’s talk today ok? The phone number you gave me has three too many numbers. Can you resend it? Thanks. I love you brother!!!!

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  5. Hey Brother Walt,

    I’m reaching out for a couple of reasons. First and foremost I just want to say I truly appreciate our friendship in Christ. Having the opportunity to fellowship with you and your family was nothing short of a blessing. As soon as entered your home I felt the atmosphere of Love. The Lord Jesus Christ presentence was flowing through your Home as well as fellow believers. I reached out to Gerald concerning my Bible study attendance so moving forward I shared with him that I’ve been practicing willful sin and I need to truly. develop a lifestyle of repentance. I also communicated how You, Gearld and Wayne or more mature in your walk with Christ and just more mature as men period. However, I’m not by any means making an attempt justify my behavior, iniquities, transgression. I don’t know if I shared this with you Walt but I fell from Grace. The Lords original plan for me was to go to UC. Davis and to marry a God fearing woman Busiyo in Africa. I was on fire for the Lord life was beautiful my future is looking bright. I won a huge victory for the Lord in the land where I have been residing. Rephrasing that Jesus won the victory I just believed in what He said walking by faith in a hostile land with giants’ haters. I mention the Jezebel spirit allot due to the fact it targets me. Because of my past which involved drugs, small time criminal and sexual immorality this principality has study me sense I was a little boy. Being that it may my story is similar to the prophet Jeremiah the weeping prophet. He was set apart in his mothers womb, he was poor, persecute and unpopular. I can relate to Jeremaih story in fact God was relieving partially some of my identity by connecting me with my God brothers Joseph and Jeremiah.

    The truth of the matter is the black community knows I’m set apart. The white community doesn’t. The Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to experience many different cultures and social/economical levels. Nevertheless, so sense there is a vast amount of witness to my faith let me shake out every sin that weights me down and cause’s me to stumble. The Jezebel spirit is a spirit of immorality and idolatry. So as it relates too ( before in knew Christ) my past I didn’t even know I was set apart so quite naturally I comforted to my environment (the ways of the world). Unfortunately the majority of black male in Richmond California During the 90’s were involved in the street life which leads to jail or death. So me having family ties to the street via ( Father ,cousin, uncles, brothers etc.) which could lead you into darkness. For me it was difficult to navigate through the environment with no positive male remolds. So in my formative years I made the choice rebel against the Law of the Land in an attempt to earn the respect of my peers. Not to mention the influence gangster rap had on young impressionable minds.

    In closing my life can be described as bitter sweet. I Love all people due to my relationship with Jesus. However, being set apart has it’s challenges, people at large will reject you, hate you for no reason , persecuted you, talk evil against you, suffer for being misunderstood. Corinthians 1:27-28 states, God chose the foolish of the world. The weak of the world, the lowly things of the world and the despised things of the world so that no Man can boast.

    Has for my changing my number so much shows inconsistence. I didn’t think that I was better than anyone else and I’m not ” I’m just set apart from everyone else” My first introduction to the Lord didn’t come from people who looked like me. Asian and White folks showed me the Love of Christ something I didn’t received from my community. As I reflected over my life I never truly obeyed Christ. Like the children of Israel after God delivered them out from Egyptian bondage into the wilderness they complained and murmured. Although Israel was free from Egyptian captivity some of there ways a customs still resembled the Egyptian. In other words Israel knew Gods acts/power and Mose knew God’s Character his Ways. Mainly I’ve been like Israel I’ve witness God power his acts delivering me from Egypt (the world) However, I didn’t necessary change my sinful ways. I pray that I grow and learn obedience. ” Even Christ had to learn Obedience threw suffering”

    Thank You Brother Walt for showing me the Agape Love of Christ. Your, walk and experience with Christ may differ from mine and different level of maturity in your walk a still you never rejected me and always reach out when ever you get some time despite my shameful behaviors and shortcoming. There’s not many (Bay Aera) Holy spirit filled blood bought believers who have experienced the Kingdom of Darkness like I have. That’s why I’m attacked frequently, he knows I could do damage to his Kingdom I was there. To the world it may appear my troubles and difficulties are self exposed/inflected. There is some truth to this assumption. However, if you want a fair assumption you have to look a the totally of my life my childhood because that’s when the enemy began his attack plot.

    I will leave with this 1. If you don’t know who you are and don’t know who your enemy is- the result is your being dominated/controlled 2. If you know yourself but don’t know your enemy- you will gain some victories, also suffer some defeats 3. If you know yourself and know your enemy- You will have many victories and will not suffer lost or defeat. My true identity was always hidden in the personhood of Jesus Christ.

    P.S. Brother Walt I want to recommend a book that uncovers the truth about this Principality that I’m facing. It’s called ” The Spiritual Warriors Guide To Defeating Jezebel How to Overcome the spirit of control idolatry and immorality” By Jennifer LeClaire If you have somewhere I can send it I would be more than happy to forward it too you!

    God Bless You Brother and Your Beautiful ! Love your friend Marcus

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