https://youtu.be/6l7A4cQHxuY
John Ramirez never doubted there was life after death. A satanic priest, he’d accepted that he was going to hell when he died. Until he came face-to-face with the devil.
Growing up in an abusive home, John always longed for a relationship with his father. To get the attention he desired, John began participating in the satanic spiritualism that dictated his father’s life.
John’s involvement with Santeria escalated quickly. After the first “worshiping” ceremony he felt like he had been stripped of his childhood.
“My whole personality, everything I had stood for my whole life, it was no longer there,” he said. “I felt like someone took a black blanket and put it right over me—spiritually.”
Both of John’s parents were heavily involved with Santeria. The more he practiced, the more powerful he felt.
When John was 13 years old, his father was murdered in a bar fight.
“I’d be up at five in the morning, calling out to God, saying ‘help my mother,’ and no one showed up. But the devil showed up, because he killed my dad.”
John believed what the devil had said to him: “No one loves you, but I love you. Your father can’t provide for you, but I am your provider…I’ll give you anything you want, just ask.”
James 2:19 says, “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”
Even the demons believe in one true God. Satan doesn’t appeal to our rebelliousness, he appeals to our godliness. The devil said to John what God says to us. “I am your provider, I love you.” And John was sold.
Satan became the father he’d never had, and John was completely devoted to him.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
John was sent on missions to “steal, kill and destroy” souls, as the devil does. But he says something interesting about his spiritual travels:
“I would speak curses into the neighborhood, speak things I would want to happen, into the neighborhood. Sometimes I would go into neighborhoods, and I would see groups of people on the corner, praying. They were holding hands, heads bowed, praying up a storm. There was no accomplishment in that neighborhood. That neighborhood was sanctified, blessed through prayer. You couldn’t touch it.”
Even the devil knows he has no hold on those whose hearts and souls belong to Jesus. Satan can’t stand against the almighty conquerer. He can’t even try.
God doesn’t steal souls like Satan. He doesn’t have to.
So it’s no surprise that when John started dating a girl, she invited him to church. Her parents would talk to him about Jesus. He knew what he believed, but their Christianity was amusing to him, and “harmless.”
John continued to go to church to please her, but had no intention of leaving the life he knew and lived. Until one morning when the pastor offered up a call for salvation. John stepped forward, but never expected what was about to happen.