Prostitution – not a topic often posted about on Facebook by a pastor, but the Bible speaks much about it. This message is an important one- it speaks of the incredible pursuing love and power of God to transform lives and bring us into close relationship with Himself, regardless of where we have been.
We started a 2nd house church in 2016 on the near SE side of Indianapolis: Bates-Hendricks, Fountain Square and Garfield Park. I was told that this area included the highest density of sex offenders in the state. In addition, several told me that in the area they lived, there was easily one drug dealer within a block throughout the area. God’s message to us as we began ministry there was a scripture, “Where sin abounds, grace abounds much more” (Romans 5:20). Our fellowship has had among its regular attenders the last 5+ years several who had been involved in prostitution, and the Lord Jesus Christ has transformed many of their lives and given them a passion to lead others to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I wrote a gospel tract 2 years ago called “Freedom from Addiction” that included a testimony, which addressed both substance abuse and the sexual immorality that went along with it. Jessie’s story, as one who had been in our fellowship, was included:
“There I was, 20 years old, waiting on my first client. I’ll never forget the smell of that hotel room. How did my life end up here? I’ll tell you how, a lot of poor choices and negative influences. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Thus I started down a road of destruction escorting (prostitution). In the nine years of being in the “game”, I racked up numerous criminal charges, lost custody of my children, and ultimately almost lost my soul, Psalm 1:6 says “the path of the wicked leads to destruction.” I had guns pulled on me and received death threats from unhappy clients that I swindled – nothing stopped me. Proverbs 4:19 was me, “But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.”
After nine years of escorting I was tired and fearful for my life. Now pregnant with my third child I decided to have a family member put me on selling drugs. I figured it would be much easier than escorting. In the midst of all of this, my mother started pleading with me to attend church with her, so I did. I didn’t realize God would start a heart transformation, as Ezekiel 36:26 says, “I will give you a new heart, I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” All of a sudden selling coke started to bother me. I would pull up to make a sell and little children would be outside playing. I started to feel remorseful. I came to eventually believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior but I was living a double life, I hadn’t yet surrendered my life to Jesus Christ.
I heard a message at church about Jesus Christ coming back to judge the world and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 was preached, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” The fear of God pierced me- I had broken every one of those! I never went back to the “street life” again.
God opened all the doors needed to leave my past behind- I obtained employment even with a lengthy criminal history working as a waitress for $2.13/hr plus tips, which God used to humble me and teach me obedience regardless of cost. A year later I was blessed at work with my 1st of 3 promotions as I became an HR hiring manager- God taught me faithfulness, Colossians 3:23 says, “Work as if working for the Lord.” I also regained custody of my twin daughters in 2013.
I now have peace and a purpose in life, I experienced Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” and Isaiah 61:3 “The oil of joy instead of mourning.” I experienced love instead of rejection: Psalm 27:10 states “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” Everything the devil stole from me God restored, I experienced Joel 2:25: “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.” That void I tried to fill with money, sex & drugs had finally been filled with God.”
Contact Info:
Facebook: Jessie Nicole
Phone: 317-932-1666
Website: www.womanatthewell.info
Email: womanatthewell.global@gmail.com
Prostitutes Entering the Kingdom of God Before you:
A few days before Jesus was crucified, He challenged the religious leaders that the tax collectors and prostitutes were entering the kingdom of heaven ahead of them, because when they (the tax collectors and prostitutes) heard the truth, they embraced the truth and turned to God, but you (the religious leaders) didn’t (Matthew 21:31-32). The scriptures say that God longs that none would perish but all would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), trusting Jesus as their Lord and Savior and coming to humility before God- we are all in the same predicament, sinners in desperate need of a Savior. Luke 7:37-50 demonstrates this- it records how Jesus was invited to a religious leader’s house who had little respect for Him. A prostitute, filled with gratitude over Jesus’ forgiveness, came into the home uninvited and washed His feet, anointed Him with expensive perfume and kissed His feet. The owner of the house whispered condemnation for Jesus being such a dope to let her do that to Him, but Jesus turned to the woman and declared that her faith had saved her and to go in peace. Elsewhere we read in Hebrews in chapter 11 which reviews heroes of the faith, of the prostitute Rahab who didn’t perish because of her faith- later it would be recorded that she, as well as Tamar, were two prostitutes honored to be in the lineage of King David and Jesus Christ.
Jesus, Friend of Sinners:
One of the titles the religious leaders gave Jesus, mockingly, was “Friend of Sinners”. The gospel of Matthew in the Bible was written by an ex-tax collector. Jesus called to Matthew “Follow Me” (Matthew 9:9) and he left his tax booth and hosted a party at his house with Jesus to celebrate with friends including fellow tax collectors and prostitutes. Outside the religious leaders were complaining to Jesus’ disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 9:11) Jesus is ready to “dine” or fellowship with you, will you invite Him into your life? Luke wrote, “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Him [Jesus]” (Luke 15:1)- are you drawn to Jesus? I want to hear Him! I’ve got no goodness of my own- I owe my life, my all to Him! I’m needy, every day, of Jesus’ leading, forgiveness, love and power in my life, and He abundantly overflows my soul. Come to Him, cry out to Him right now in prayer with sincerity and don’t stop till you hear and receive from Him. Let go of your pride. Be willing to let go of your sin as He shows you how- surrender everything over to Him and He will change you from the inside out. Unless you humble yourself, you will never find God and die in your sin.