Lesson 18: Washing at the Cross - Seeing Jesus

Testimonies of Freedom

Ron's Testimony

During the past 30 lessons of the Setting Captives Free Purity Boot Camp course,  I have seen real change in my life.  Several years ago, I was part of Setting Captives Free (1.0) both as a student and as a mentor, but then I allowed myself to become so busy with life that I stopped seeking God through Bible study and prayer like I once was.  As I drifted farther from God, I slowly but steadily headed back into my old ways of sin.  Eventually, my sexual immorality became big while God seemed small. I found myself right back where I was before my Setting Captives Free years.  My heart had grown cold toward God, and my sinful sexual passion was burning hot. But God in His mercy showed me that I was in a dangerous place and invited me to return to my Father in Heaven and return from the far country where I had been living.  I had been living like the prodigal son that Jesus spoke of in Luke 15.  I knew I need to go back to where I had first found real help, and that was Setting Captives Free (now 2.0). During the 30 lessons of Purity Boot Camp course, I was reminded once again of the need for washing at the cross, walking with the Spirit, and warring against the flesh.  I am not yet where I want to be, but I am also not where I was before doing this course.  I am now getting back into my Bible and going to God in prayer.  I am learning to make this the highest priority in my day.  I have also been reminded again of the need to walk with the Spirit by seeking God's grace to apply in my life what I learn from His word - walking in obedience to His Word by the power of the Spirit. These are, once again, baby steps for me, but I am thankful for some real change in my life in this area!  I now see that warring against the flesh can be a painful and bloody battle against my desires and temptations, but it is part of what it means to take up my cross and follow Jesus. Even my wife says she sees the changes in me.  I have been more at peace, and this had greatly improved the quality of our marriage.  My wife has more than once asked, "Who are you, and what have you done with my husband?"  Wow, that has been so amazing and encouraging to me. Our love and intimacy for each other are growing and growing. I am once again seeking to make being part of my local church a high weekly priority.  I need to be part of my local body, serving in it, and fellowshipping with it.  Prayer, Bible study, and real fellowship with other believers are once again exciting to me.  I have even started to help co-lead a weekly Bible study group.  My whole mindset is shifting from being focused on the things and pleasures of this earth to be more focused on those things which are above where Christ is.  Praise His name! If you want to find freedom from impurity and to enjoy intimacy with Christ, I recommend that you take this course.