Proverbs 27:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
There is always someone who knows more than you and there will always be someone who knows less than you. This is how iron sharpens iron. We all need each other to grow and learn.
Some notes about Brandon’s Testimony:
- Brandon grew up going through the motions of church. Once in High school he completely stopped going.
- While in high school Brandon began using drugs and alcohol.
- Once Brandon met his wife he began to dip his toe back into the church but wouldn’t fully commit to the lifestyle.
- Brandon tells how his family’s life revolved around his job and his drinking habit.
In 2019 Things reached a peak. Brandon and his family were building their "dream home". The added stress from house decisions, politics, Covid, Work and family consumed him. Brandon used his drinking to cope with the stress. His drinking got so out of hand that he found himself basically living in the basement of new home by himself, drunk.
Behind the scenes.
- Brandon mentioned in 2018 he was forced to work out of the Higginsville office while the Oak Grove office was under construction. During that time Brandon was directed to work out of the same truck as a linemen named Scott. Scott wouldn’t shut up about Jesus. He would consistently invite Brandon to the Men’s Encounter. They would take turns playing songs on the radio and of course Scott would play Christians song.
- Brandon didn’t want any part of what Scott preaching, but he really liked Scott and enjoyed being with him.
- Mallory, Brandon's wife, was praying for him. Mallory kept a journal of all her prayers.
Mallory had enough.
- Brandon’s actions got to a point where they could no longer be excused. And after a nasty fight on a Saturday which led to the police being called, Mallory asked to separate from Brandon.
- Brandon thought his kids and his wife would be better off without him. He believed he too would be happier.
- While alone Brandon realized that he can’t stop drinking. He also realized that his wife was planning on moving on. Everything Brandon had was about to be gone.
Brandon gives it to God
- Brandon had broken things to a point that he alone could not fix them. Brandon asks God to just take away the alcohol. He also told God my life is yours, whatever your plans are, let it be done.
From that point on Brandon’s life changed. God changed Brandon heart from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh. Various things began to play out in his life that rebuilt Brandon as a man and rebuilt Brandon’s family.
Things Brandon had learned.
- How to forgive and ask for forgiveness
- Embrace my brokenness - God doesn’t want you to forget your pain. "its how I came to God."
- The boys. - Brandon wished they hadn’t seen what they saw, but he's glad they did. The boys got to see who their parents turned to in their toughest time and where that led them. They witnessed God change their dad, rescue their parents’ marriage and re-unite their family. They witnessed a miracle.
God gave Brandon a craving to learn more.
- Read the bible daily, the bible has as answer for any problem in your life.
- Find a church that you can truly feel connected to.
- Get in a life group. Find the time and the men that will meet and keep you accountable.
- Men’s encounter – it’s a great experience
- Pray
Philippian 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.
- Feed the fire or it will fizzle out.
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ
Romans 5: 12-21
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.