Yesterday I posted a blog about Mario and Ricardo, who we’ve met through our ministry at Salim Iglesia. Read it here if you haven’t yet.
Sunday night there was a new development to the story.
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“For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
When Mario went to the altar tonight, he didn’t want us to see his tears. He wiped them away on his sleeve, trying to hide them from me and Natalie, who stood behind him, praying. We cried out to the Lord of Lords to come in POWER in this young man’s life, to cleanse him from all unrighteousness, to break the power of addictions in his body, to protect him from violence that might result from leaving his gang, and to become GOD in his life.
There is a long road ahead of Mario. Many chains attaching him to his old self need to be broken by his belief and confession of the word of God in his life. Praise be to God that Ricardo is willing to step up to become this man’s friend, brother and discipler. We World Racers will only be here for another week, but Ricardo and Salim Iglesia will be here!
Pray for Mario. Pray that the truth will truly set this captive free, and that freedom will reign in his life by the power of the blood of Jesus. Pray for the breaking of addictions to drugs and alcohol, the breaking of binds to his gang, the breaking of condemnation from his past. Pray for the word of life to take root, that his faith may grow and he may become strong in the Lord.
Pray for Ricardo. Pray that God will give him insight, wisdom and an anointing to teach his new brother in faith. Pray the Lord will protect him from whatever might come his way (like gang members from Mario’s old gang). Pray he is able to show Mario the love of Christ.
