Jon Nicolas, who shared in Part 1 the story of his tumultuous youth, begins by reviewing his early life, including his abusive childhood home, joining a religious cult group, his relationships, marriages, and his children.While still married, Jon woke up from a dream one morning in a cold sweat, crying, feeling a weight lifted from him, and knowing that he forgave the father who had never been in his life. Jon credits God for lifting his burden. The marriage he was in was abusive, and he sought a divorce, which took two years. He started another relationship that didn’t endure.

 

Jon moved to Homestead, Florida to pursue a career in acting and comedy. He dreamed that Kevin Hart told him he wasn’t funny. So he got on stage in front of 60 people and “killed the set.” He entered one of the top comedy competitions in Miami, the Ultimate Miami Comedian. He did not win and he fell into depression. However, shortly after that, he did his first routine in front of 400 people in a well-known comedy club in Homestead. Within six months he did meet Kevin Hart but did not get recognition from him.

 

Jon took the advice of a friend and went to hear a motivational speaker talk about the greatness within. Something awakened in Jon that he heard God speaking to his spirit that he had greatness inside him, because of God.

 

Jon picked up his childhood Bible and found 1 Peter 3. When he read that chapter, the words came alive for him. At age 33, he realized he was a wicked sinner. The chapter made him realize what he needed. Jon shares from verse 18 through 20, realizing his own need for baptism and the resurrection and redemption of Jesus Christ. Jon talks about how his conscience had been seared, but that God broke into his soul through his recent experiences.

 

Jon sought out a church and he went to the pastor to confess. He took lessons and was baptized. Jon said he came out of the water a brand new man. Jon relates to Saul’s experience on the road to Damascus.

 

When Jon stepped out of the water, the girlfriend he was breaking up with took a photo of him. She was a member of the same assembly. They went to lunch and she asked about engaging back in a relationship. Jon had treated her so badly he did not feel worthy of being in a relationship with her. For the first time in his life, Jon offered a prayer promising that if he ever found real love, that he would follow God’s plan for him, follow the commandments, and not stray. He didn’t know where that prayer would take him.Jim reminds the listener that sometimes your plan — what you are to do next — is not clearly defined for you. Jim calls for you to email or contact him or Jon if you need or want some help with your plan. If you are brand new in your relationship with Christ, get help from some older men who have walked down the path you want to walk.Jon’s story is in a book, Jesus Changed our Lives. Jon can send you a copy of it if you contact him on Instagram.Jon tells how God responded to his prayer. A week later, Jon was driving for Uber in South Beach, Florida, and picked up a beautiful woman who would quickly change his life.

 

At the end of the ride and their conversation, they exchanged Instagram information. In a week, Jon contacted her and they met up and talked as though they had known each other for years. Jon told her he had a friend named Jesus Christ he wanted to introduce her to. If she could get to know Him, then Jon could get to know her better. Her reply was yes, she would love to get to know Him!That woman. Alicia, accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior six months after Jon met her, and she became Jon’s wife. Alicia’s story and testimony are also written in the book and she is on fire for Christ! She speaks to other women about Christ and is a powerful woman of God.Jon quotes Acts 2, about the rushing wind and tongues of fire, and speaking in tongues. Jim reads Acts 2:2–4. Jon recalls the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3 and how the hearts of the multitude were affected by the Word in Acts 2:37 and 38. Jon talks about being on fire from God by the power of the Holy Spirit.Jon shares some examples from his life of being on fire by the power of the Holy Spirit. God delivered him from the marijuana he was still smoking and the alcohol he was still drinking. His new girlfriend, Alicia, was praying for him to have those things removed from him and for the people he was hanging around with to be let go so Jon could pursue Jesus.Some people were offended by Jon’s new fire. Jim talks about the heat and fire that refines us. Heat is needed to refine metal and produce tools from raw materials.

 

When Christ came, His own people rejected Him. When you have the Holy Spirit in you, people who are not ready for a relationship with Jesus Christ will reject who you are and what you stand for. You are the reflection of Jesus. The point of becoming a Christian is to reflect God, who is the Perfect Man. We are to decrease daily so that Christ may increase. Put down the worldly things and pick up the cross. Jon claims Progressive Christianity confuses people about Jesus Christ and His holiness.

 

Jon was trained under a motivational speaker but he later learned that change in the world can only come through Jesus Christ. It’s not something you buy at a motivational event.

Jim talks about the tendency people have to extinguish what is set ablaze (with all due respect to firefighters) because it consumes. People fear being consumed by the Holy Spirit.

 

As Jon increased in his love for Jesus, his bad behaviors fell away from his life. He became a disciple of Jesus Christ trying to be a good servant and to multiply the gifts Jesus has given him. Jon stands for truth. Jon talks about the blessings that come when a disciple is attacked for following Christ. Jon invites people who are offended by the word of Christ to have a discussion with him.

 

Before Jon knew Christ, everything was on the table. He broke many commandments without worry. When Jon was baptized he accepted that what Jesus stands for opposes all that Jon used to stand for. Jesus wants holiness for you. Jon talks about an episode of The Chosen and where The Chosen can be seen for free. Jon keeps drinking the word of God to stay “intoxicated” with the “new wine” of the New Covenant, and he shares it with everyone he can. Jon has a favorite praise song, “Refiner,” by Maverick City Music, that he credits for helping refine him.

 

Jon talks about real worship led by the Holy Spirit. Jim talks about how some assemblies are afraid of the Holy Spirit in their worship services. We need to be encouraging each other to blaze for the Lord. When your congregation is set ablaze, it cannot be controlled.Jim affirms Jon for being ablaze by the Holy Spirit and it’s why he invited Jon to the podcast.Jon talks about leading an assembly by the Holy Spirit, not by a sermon.Daily, Jon gives thanks to the Father when he wakes. He praises God, he worships God, he prays to God, and then he gets into the word, which becomes alive to him through the Holy Spirit in him. Then Jon goes into his day, as a reflection of what the word of God was telling him to do and glorifying the Father throughout that process. At the end of each day, Jon shares with his wife what he learned. He has also spent significant time with his wife and with his 12-year-old, Aniya. He teaches his daughter according to her understanding at her age. When Jon lays down his head, he makes sure the sun does not go down on his wrath and he has forgiven whomever he had to forgive. He has loved his wife and gotten her approval of the job he did for her and has sung to his daughter as she loves for him to do. He and his wife pray over each other in bed and they talk about Jesus constantly. Then he sleeps peacefully. He gets visitations in dreams from Jesus, because he is communing with him.

 

Jim thanks Jon for the application points. Men need to do more to follow Christ. Jim asks Jon to pray on the podcast by the Holy Spirit. Jon also wants to remember the women who need help with their husbands, citing 1 Peter 3, that they may win their husbands to Jesus by their holiness. Husbands, don’t let your wives seek after Jesus more than you do! Run after Jesus!

 

Jon prays for the podcast and the listeners in the name of Jesus Christ.

Call to Action: Jim invites listeners to email him or Jon your questions about what you need and to listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and all major platforms, hit that five-star review, subscribe, share it, and help get this word out and look for the next episode.

See our Website: MenBuildMen.comEmail: [email protected]

Marks of a Man on Facebook

Jim Nicklas on Instagram

 

Jon Nicolas on Instagram: @JonNicolasMCA

Tacen TV Network on YouTube

Jesus changed our lives: Stories from the heart to enrich your faith

The Chosen

“Refiner,” by Maverick City Music