February 10, 2003
Huge crowds hear Cruz at Hispanic Baptist event
___By John Hall
___Texas Baptist Communications
___SAN ANTONIO--A relationship with Jesus Christ empowers people to overcome "phantoms" of their past and bring others into relationship with him, evangelist Nicky Cruz said at the Texas Hispanic Evangelism
Conference.
___The Baptist General Convention of Texas-sponsored event was held at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio Feb. 2-4.
___Demons of drugs, alcohol, divorce, loss of self-esteem, abuse, pride, improper relationships and lack of forgiveness haunt many people's lives and work to prevent spiritual growth, Cruz said.
___Satan dredges up past emotions and experiences to cloud the truth of the gospel and the reality of Jesus, Cruz preached, explaining Satan uses any means of deception available to increase doubt, confusion, fear and anxiety.
___"There is a reverent fear of God, but there is a fear that can hurt us," Cruz said. "When we take our eyes off Jesus, he becomes a phantom and our lives become ineffective."
___Many people have not truly experienced forgiveness and have difficulty releasing the sins and mistakes of their past, Cruz preached. He reminded the audience God did not save humanity so it can dwell on its past, but to live in accordance with the Bible.
___"I am tired of Christians giving more credit to Satan than Christ," Cruz said. "That's why we're in the past."
___Cruz recalled being raised by non-Christian parents who baptized him and his siblings in animal blood. Neighbors considered the family cursed and beyond help, he said. His mother abused him verbally and physically.
___He became a leader of a New York gang and was "serving the devil" until "God breathed life" into him, he recounted. A pastor who had been terrorized by Cruz's gang shared the gospel with him, and Cruz became a Christian.
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| AN OVERFLOW crowd heard evangelist Nicky Cruz speak during the Texas Baptist Hispanic Evangelism Conference at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio. |
___Shortly after his conversion, Cruz was stabbed by a rival gang member and entered the hospital. Although he wanted to seek revenge, he remembers bumbling through a prayer forgiving the person. Cruz cast aside his destructive lifestyle and followed the footsteps of Christ, he said.
___Since then, Cruz has become an internationally known author and speaker, leading multitudes to Christ through revivals and crusades. His early years and conversion are depicted in the movie "The Cross and the Switchblade" and the book "Run, Baby, Run!"
___"God could not have saved me to think about my past," Cruz said.
___Satan's deceptions, which Cruz called phantoms, are just that--illusions that cannot combat a truthful Christian foundation, Cruz said. Believers need consistent time with Jesus through prayer and Scripture reading to fight the onslaught of demonic powers, he said.
___"He is real. We need to have a relationship with him."
___People responded in droves to Cruz's sermon each night. They came from as far as Mexico to wedge themselves into the church sanctuary and then line the walls. Many sat in the foyer to hear the message transmitted over speakers.
___People wanting to make decisions for Christ crowded the altar and filled the walkways between the pews when Cruz made an invitation both nights.
___"Our greatest purpose is to bring people to the Lord," Cruz said. "If we are going to reach Hispanics in Texas, we must not tell the Holy Spirit what to do, but let the Holy Spirit tell us what to do."
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