Jesus Is Not a Genie: My Story: the Prodigal Son Returns

By Bob Maxwell

Bob Maxwell was inspired by God to write this book to help prodigals like himself walk a journey as a follower of Christ—and not just as Christians in name only.

The author abandoned God for more than twenty years. When he returned, he learned a powerful lesson: We can’t turn our back on God and come back to him when we are in trouble, rub the Jesus genie bottle, and expect Him to take our troubles away.

Prodigals chose to follow God and accepted His free gift of salvation and eternity in Heaven, but at some point, they became angry at God and left the relationship. They turned their backs on God and His teachings in the Bible.

Maxwell recalls his time away from God as well as how his life was spiraling downward so much that he considered suicide. Overwhelmed by drinking, drugs, and a failing marriage, God took a broken, lost soul and resurrected him into a strong, God-fearing disciple.

No matter what you are going through, you’ll be inspired by this testimony of a believer who turned his back on God only to find out that God had never turned His back on him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664220980

Bob Maxwell

Bob Maxwell is a small business owner in Southern California. Bob left the church and God when he was 17 years old only and return to God and the church in 1995. Bob has since launched an Internet Church called I-Praise Internet Church (www.i-Praise.org) where Bob minister’s to people that traditionally don’t attend a traditional church. Bob also has an I-Praise Group Facebook page which has over 1,500 Followers.

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DEDICATION

F irst and foremost, I dedicate this book to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; to my God in heaven; and to the Holy Spirit that lives in me.

Second, I dedicate this book to my amazing and Spirit-Filled Mom and Dad, Betty and Jack Maxwell. Thank you, mom and dad, for showing us the Love of Jesus through your loving actions and words. Your joy and happiness are missed but I will be with you again in Heaven one day.

This book is also dedicated to all the prodigal sons and daughters who left the church and turned their backs on God because they felt they were mistreated, talked about, bullied, or judged by Christians and possibly church leaders.

In Luke 15:1–7, Jesus is teaching about the parable of the lost sheep. This is a parable of the prodigal. I was part of the church family and followed Jesus for seventeen years, and then I left the flock—the church, Jesus, and God. I was the lost sheep, and Jesus searched for me for about twenty years until He put me on His shoulders and brought me safely back to His flock.

My prayer is you will find my book an inspiration and a road map to help with your journey back home to God.

This book is dedicated to Christians everywhere with a message to you: it is time to rise up and show the love of Jesus.

Jesus saved me again and welcomed me back into His kingdom and into His loving arms.

He can do the same for you.

Big Jesus hugs.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1     My Journey

Chapter 2     The Prodigal Son Returns

Chapter 3     My Friend Jesus

Chapter 4     Christians Judging Others

Chapter 5     Tired of Fighting the Daily Battle

Chapter 6     God Relentlessly Pursued Me

Chapter 7     My Ministry Begins

Chapter 8     I Sent You

Chapter 9     God’s Image Revealed

Chapter 10   How Great Is Our God

Closing

About the Author

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

T here are several pastors who have helped me continue my journey with the Lord. They have inspired me, given me direction, and led me through my spiritual journey through life.

Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances. (Proverbs 11:14 MSG)

Rick Warren was my pastor for at least fifteen years at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, and was the most influential person who saved my life and helped me return as a prodigal son to my heavenly Father. Rick is a pastor I can relate to, and I do not feel judged. He made my journey much easier and a lot more fun than I thought it would be. Rick’s books and teachings have inspired me and brought me closer to the Lord. I volunteered for several of the community programs Saddleback offered, and I found the heart of Jesus at Saddleback whenever I was on the campus. The classes, the volunteer opportunities to serve, and the opportunities to learn to live and be like Jesus are what Rick and the rest of the pastoral staff talked and walked. I still follow Rick on his daily hope devotional, and when I can, I catch him on his radio program about hope on XM Radio’s Family Life Channel, Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope. I have been following Rick for twenty-five years. I recommitted my life to the Lord in 1996 and was baptized at Saddleback Church on March 26, 2006. (I know: I’m a slow study.)

Greg Laurie is the senior pastor at the Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, and leads the Harvest Festivals. Greg holds this event at Angel Stadium each year, and I usually attend. Like Rick Warren, Greg does a great job sharing God’s love and teaches how we can use His teachings in our everyday lives. They are very practical teachings. Greg Laurie’s morning devotionals are amazing and part of my morning devotions. Greg is a great inspiration and is an important part of my learning to walk with the Lord. During one of Greg’s teachings, he mentioned that somebody listening to him had a book the world needed to read in their heart, and I felt a whisper: This is for you, Bob. I have been following Greg and his teaching for twenty-two years now.

I have been following Joel Osteen, the senior pastor at Lakewood Church in Texas, for the past ten years. I love watching Joel on TV, listening to him on XM Radio, seeing him at his Night of Hope events, and reading his books. Joel inspires me through his encouragement and examples of real people with real lives being changed by God. I listen to Joel’s messages several times a day because Joel is like a spiritual fluid keeping me energized. If I did not listen to Joel almost every day on radio or TV, I don’t know that I would have had the courage and confidence to write this book.

Jerry Dirmann is the cofounder of the Rock Church in Anaheim, and I decided to change churches and start attending the Rock in November of 2019. I felt that for my ministry, I needed a much deeper understanding of the Bible, and Jerry does a great job breaking down the Bible so it is easier to understand and I am able to apply God’s Word in my daily life. Jerry has a daily Bible study on his YouTube channel, where he covers a book in the Bible one chapter a day. I post his daily Bible study on my personal Facebook page and our i-Praise Internet Church Facebook group page. Check it out, and I know you will look at the Bible and God’s Word in a different light.

John C. Maxwell is considered the number one business leader in America. John was a pastor of a church for many years before he started his leadership training program. I have followed John since I met him in the mid-1990s. I became a certified trainer and public speaker with the John C. Maxwell organization in 2019.

Thank you to Christian music, XM’s The Message, FM’s The Fish, and K-Love radio stations! Many times when I am confused or feel the enemy attacking me, I start singing a Christian song out loud or in my mind. If I am afraid, I’ll sing Fear he is a liar from Zack Brown’s hit Fear Is a Liar.

Turn off secular talk radio stations. Turn on Christian music and Bible-based Christian talk radio so that you are continually getting refilled with the Word of God, the bread of life.

INTRODUCTION

T his series of books came to me in a dream. I believe that the Lord placed this dream in my heart, and God wants me to share Jesus Is Not A Genie My Story: The Prodigal Son Returns and the following series of Jesus Is Not a Genie books to help bring new believers, new followers, millennials, Gen-Xers, and prodigals like myself back to Jesus and to God for the first time.