SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Welcome back to Share Your Scripture, ladies and gentlemen. We appreciate you being here. We're here with another episode of another God story, another testimony of somebody I know very well who found their way to Christ. The way they found their way there was not ordinary. It was remarkable, it was extraordinary, it was supernatural. And that's the story we're going to share here today. So if you're new to the show, we share testimonies of Christ, things that have transformed lives. These are real people from real stories every day. The reason why we're here is because when you tell someone some of these stories, you might think you're a little crazy sometimes if you if you experience this yourself. So we're breaking it down and we're making it very simple because at the end of the day, God is real, God is true, and he exists. But I believe for the average person to understand how and what and how to reach him, we're going to accomplish that by hearing the stories and the testimonies of other people because they're more relatable. I just got done uh reading a book from a friend of mine that I've known for years. We've never connected like on this level, it's typically on business. Yes, we knew each other, we're Christians, but like most people in the world, we're chak, we're checkbox Christians. Yes, we like God, we believe in God, we go to church. However, did we really how deep was our relationship with them? Because there are different levels to your Christianity. And this gentleman just got done writing a book called The Dirty Disciple, which I could not put down, which is his testimony that we're going to hear today. So if you're new here, I want you to stick around to the end because when you first encounter the supernatural encounter you have with God, and there's many of these stories, there's no denying it. In Matt's case, he's sitting in a hotel room, one of the most broken times in his life, and he gets woken up to a bunch of angels singing to him. Now, no, Matt's not crazy, but this is the type of encounters that we're talking about because there is no denying the story. Like you can even make up what you're about to hear. I don't even think Hollywood directors would be able to make up the story because of how real it is. So I want to go ahead and introduce uh our guest here and thank you so much for sharing your testimony first. Without further ado, let's get into it and let's hear Matt's story. Uh, Matt Faggioli, hello and welcome to the show. And thank you for being here.

SPEAKER_01: 2:20

Mike, uh, thank you, man. I'm honored to be here. And uh it's so fun to connect. You know, as you said, we're old business friends, but uh to connect in this format, talk about Christ, talk about the this book and testimony is uh it's a wonderful opportunity. So thank you.

SPEAKER_00: 2:37

What's you're not an author?

SPEAKER_01: 2:40

It's your first book, right? Well, it's funny, you know, my part of my identity is author now, but I certainly would not have said that uh a month ago, no.

SPEAKER_00: 2:48

Because you're a very good writer, and your story comes out in here. I won't spoil it uh for people, but um God told you to write this book. You didn't just like pick this up, and wasn't it? I read that it took you this is an idea you had maybe seven or eight years ago, or maybe longer. I'm not sure you could clarify, but you didn't actually write the book until he actually told you to and told you exactly how to do it. Is that accurate?

SPEAKER_01: 3:12

Yeah, I think you know, um you you hit on the so many good things there, but the um the I've never written a book, never written anything longer than a business email. And, you know, um, you know, I think I'm a decent business writer, but just thought it was completely beyond me to write a book. And uh, and you know, I felt like in that in that encounter that you referenced three years ago with the angels singing and all that, like part of that encounter, I felt like God said, like, I want you to go write a book. And I'm like, I don't know how to write a book. And uh so I went down the road and just like failed and failed and failed and failed. And I'm like, I actually was right, God, I can't, I can't do this. And uh put it down for you know a long minute. And uh, and then um late last year, it was Christmas Christmas morning. Uh, like you said, I don't want to give away too much of the book, but Christmas morning, God just like gave me this like massive download. And it wasn't that I hadn't written anything in before, I had written tens of thousands of words, but it wasn't a cohesive book, like it wasn't a it was just a bunch of junk, and I'm like, this is garbage. Um, and so so I had a lot of content. I knew what it was, but it wouldn't come together. And and so crazy. It was like he gave it to me on Christmas, and that there was like this absolute epiphany of uh the whole thing, and and it was almost as if God was saying, like, you know what, I just wanted to make sure you knew that you couldn't do this, I can do it in a millisecond. And so, so it's God's book, he did it, it's gonna be whatever he says it is, and you know, so no, I'm not a writer. That was a long way to answer it.

SPEAKER_00: 4:46

It's it's it's crazy because uh you also write that it you did it in seven days, um, which is crazy. And honestly, folks, this is how this podcast gets started. This is a concept got put on my heart uh in 2015, it's 2026. Um, this is the second episode. It's been on my heart the entire time, but I didn't know what to actually do until about four or five months ago. And here we are um having this show. So I want to get into uh your story because when I tell people my testimony that think I'm crazy, um, until I actually tell them the story, and that's if they're willing to listen. Um, but when you have, there's different levels of, at least in my experience, there's different levels, I guess, of Christianity, I guess you could have. Um, we've gone through the stages where we just show up for church on holidays, right? There's a chalk box. However, um you and I shared a similar story in a sense that we were saved, but we didn't become these like super Christians until later. And I want to get into um what happened in your particular life when this switch went off, because there was a time where this all of a sudden you're like, whoa, what happened here? And this was when uh the angels, I believe in your story, started uh singing to you in the middle of a hotel room. So I want to break down sort of like because people are like, What do you mean angels are singing to you in a hotel room? This guy's nuts, right? So, and here we are talking about, and the guy wrote a book about it, so now he's super crazy. This guy's off the wall, like this guy's off the rocker. What the hell are we doing here, right? So I want to get into that because that story you can't make up. And I want to first start um about this moment in your life. And I want to, before the angels started singing to you, I want to know why they were singing to you. Where were you at in life at this time? What happened? Um, it sounds like you were down and out, but walk me through how bad was this, and I wanted to see the state of mind because I want people to relate um to this because there's a lot of people that are in this exact moment that don't know what to do in their lives. Where were you at before the angels started talking or singing?

SPEAKER_01: 6:52

I mean, well, you know, um, one of the things that I that I talk about in the book is just this idea of the walls that we hit in life. Yeah, all of us, uh, depending on how old you are, you're gonna hit, you know, over the course of your life, you're gonna hit wall after wall after wall that are like the monsters. I'm talking about the ones there's no getting over it. There's no getting like, oh God, I can't do anything. If you don't save me, I'm dead. Those walls. And so this was that, you know. I uh I'm happy to talk about it, but I don't think it serves the conversation too well um to go like deep. But it was it was bad, you know. I had a huge business failure, and um, but there was relationship failures, and it was just like all of this brokenness in that moment, and you know, I was really having a bit of an existential crisis about what I believed to be true. Um, and uh and honestly, I I would say now that I think that that's um kind of what levels you up in Christianity. Although I'm I'm not sure how I feel about the levels language, uh, or or how in the sense that we do anything to to earn those levels, but but you know, breaking reality, whatever you think is true, and being willing to accept what God says is true, that's probably not what you currently think um is how you go to a new place. And so I don't think we're as open to that uh other than other than in the broken, we're probably most open to that in the broken moment. So this was a very, very broken moment. And um, and I had a few days before the angels, I had been in a prayer group where people were teaching me this concept of like invite God in, ask him to speak and listen, and he's going to speak. And so it was like, I asked for it, and uh you know, I think that element's important that not that God can't do whatever he wants, but I had invited it. It just was days and days later in this hotel room. Next thing I know, there's this symphony of angels in my room. And you know, if it was a movie, yeah, people would be, you know, uh, my wife or anybody who was around, like, we should just put this guy in a padded cell.

SPEAKER_00: 9:00

He says, So you asked, you asked for help. I did. And how? Like, did you just say, God help me? Like, talk a lot, like because people are like, like, so he he you're telling me he responds and listens.

SPEAKER_01: 9:13

Yeah, well, God, God help me is great, and you know, it's a wonderful prayer, and everybody, a lot of people that pray pray that. Um, this was more, and I was taught this. You know, this is more of a, you know, I'm having uh if you're God, Mike, and I'm having this conversation with you, and I'm saying, like, Mike, here's the situation, here's my perception of the situation, God. Here's what I think is true, here's what I'm experiencing. I need help with this. What do you want me to know about this moment, God? What do you want me to do with this situation? Like, what do I what do I do next? And so you're you're asking as if you're actually expecting a direct answer. And uh, and you know, funnily enough, it turns out you can you can receive that and you will receive that if you're asking and you actually expect the answer, you're listening for it, it will come. It just doesn't always come it, you know, in the way that we think it's gonna come. It comes differently from everybody, you know. I've had to like learn what that sounds like to me. And so, you know, for for people listening to this podcast who've had that experience will go, oh yeah, like of course. But I would say the vast majority of people don't know what that is. And uh, and so the coolest thing is it's like, hey, you you can have that two day with God, and uh, and the you know, the purpose of the book title, Dirty Disciple, is like to say, like, it doesn't matter who you are, what you've done, what you think. You know, uh I make a joke in the book about uh people driving slowly in the left-hand lane. You guys are the only ones that are not invited. I think God excludes you specifically, but but literally any other sin other than left-hand slow driving uh will get you direct access to God today. And and uh and so so but he he this this situation was so profound, you know, the way like the way he met the apostle Paul on the road, it's like okay, I'm going to completely change, you know, the way I'm operating because this was just unmistakable. And and so uh it wasn't the only I've had other sort of burning bush experiences, but but that was the one that changed everything for me.

SPEAKER_00: 11:15

So where were you at when this happened again?

SPEAKER_01: 11:17

I was in I was in Italy in the middle of this, you know, crazy on a vacation. Yeah, I was on this big trip that I shouldn't have gone on. Like the business has imploded, like all these terrible things are happening, but we had this big vacation pre-planned, and so I went and so yeah, I'm in the middle of Italy, uh, you know, drinking all the wine and like you know, drowning in my sorrows and uh uh you know, which you know, alcohol is a whole nother conversation. I, you know, have set since quit drinking, and uh that's an interesting, that's an interesting conversation as well, um, which I don't really talk about in the book, but but at that time, uh I spent most of my life as a professional drinker, and uh and I I I I was attempting to drink all the wine in Italy at that time.

SPEAKER_00: 12:00

So with time of the night, was this like in the middle of the night when you had this experience? And uh walk me through if you can't even describe it. I know it's probably hard to, it's like a supernatural thing, right? You're like, I don't know what just happened, but something happened. And uh uh can someone like please report on this for me, please? Um, but what did your wife say the next morning, like when you wake up and like and then uh we'll go into what happened after that?

SPEAKER_01: 12:23

Yeah, well, the good thing is my wife, you know, we've been at that point we'd married 34 years, and so she she knows I'm a little nuts anyway. And uh, but um, but also, you know, again, like I'm I'm up still uh decades into my faith at this point, and she knows she knows I'm a believer, she's a believer. Like it's not super crazy to be like, hey, I had this God encounter, um, but the the magnitude of it was significant, and and uh, and I think you know, the the the punchline of the story of that is is just to go like God made himself so big in that moment, you know, I think, in order to then deliver a bunch of other things that he said to me and instructions that he's given me and things that have happened, the progression that has happened from that. There's nothing about the moment that we haven't already described, it's just that it was so profound that it shook me and was like, okay, I'll yes, sir. Like I literally will do whatever I don't care what's next, you tell me, you know, and and to have that. So it's it's a blessing and a curse. It's like the scariest thing ever, but it's like, well, you know, no doubt in my mind, what I'm doing next is whatever, you know, whatever the Lord says. And uh and so, you know, what I try to do in the book, you know, yes, it's a testimony, and I'm I'm using my stories to illustrate a framework and that I've been taught and now have studied extensively. And it's like, this is how you do it. Like, if you you want more experience of God in your life, okay, like here it is. There, here's the framework. These are the things you have to do, should do. Have to the have to is a terrible word, you know. You get you get to do these things which get you more of God, and it's just you know, sort of a a tune-in process. And and uh, and so and what I discovered as I was, you know, learning and from all these other people and you know building this framework is that oh, I'm not the first person who came up with that. I'm just reporting it in a language that I hopefully is you know understandable to people.

SPEAKER_00: 14:24

It's very relatable, I think, for the average person that is is new um to their walk in faith. Um I think you can really understand um the story here and uh follow it pretty easily because I think uh the biggest problem with so many people is you you think of church as this like religious event and this religious context, and there's all these ceremonial things. I I go back to Catholic Church, which I just never could really relate to personally, um, and therefore I wouldn't go, right? Um so I think that it's gonna resonate with quite a bit of people. But here's what I also found really interesting in your book was that you're like like you're you weren't an author before, and then all of a sudden you got and download how to write a book. And and I'm not like and I'm not here just trying to toot your horn. This was a really good book. Um, like I didn't put it down, I finished it in two and a half hours, and your writing skills were amazing, but you also credit those writing skills not to your own but to God in the book, which I thought was was really remarkable. Can you walk me through how this book even happened after this experience? Because this was something that without that experience, does this book get written?

SPEAKER_01: 15:27

No, no, and you're you're absolutely right. And I I really glad you brought that up that way, Mike, because you know, lots of people it can be a little trite to say, well, like God did this, but he made it so clear, uh, and even clearer to those around me that I was incapable. Um, and then he sort of just delivered it all. And so it was, yeah, it's almost like a joke. It's like, okay, you you made your point, God. Like I can't do this, and everybody around me knows I can't do it, including my poor wife. And uh, and then boom, here it is. So I come off the Italy thing, God said, you know, write this book. I'm like, I don't know how, but I did, I made spent ridiculous amounts of time and money, wrote tens of thousands of words. Um, and uh, and actually I guess I skipped over this a little bit in the book, but uh the way I started was I said, Well, I'm gonna write a newsletter and in order to try to build the muscle of writing. And so I wrote a newsletter every day for 180 days, and uh, and so I'm like, okay, uh, now I can write that much and whatever. So anyway, but did a retro writing, but I could not get the book out, and I was incredibly frustrated, and I just felt like, you know, this is complete failure. And so I put it on the shelf and I knew I kind of knew that it would come back, but I'm like, whenever God says this is gonna go, that's when it's gonna go. And uh man, fast forward. So three years later, Christmas morning 2025, uh, I'm I'm in bed. It's two o'clock in the morning, which seems to be my thing with God, and uh, and he just like gives me this download. I think it started in the bed, but then I went in the shower, and it was just crazy. But he literally just like gives me all of the the missing pieces to the puzzle, and I just started blasting writing and using AI and all this stuff, which is a whole nother that's a whole nother podcast about what that looks like. Um, you know, every single word in that book is mine and my endorsement, but um, but I you know, I used a really uh AI heavy process to to get the draft. And um, and so but then I started saying, I said, okay, well, New Year's Eve, before New Year's Eve at midnight, I'm putting I'm publishing this book. I don't care what what. So I didn't show it to anybody, no one read it. There was no draft, there was, I mean, there was no editing, there was no, like nobody looked at it except for me. And I just hit publish. And I went through this arduous process with Amazon, whatever, but two hours before the strike of midnight on New Year's Eve, I had it approved on Amazon. And um crazy. And then so since then there's been edits and all that stuff, but um, but yeah, so literally like just gave it to me all at once, and after proving to me for certain that I was not going to do it without him.

SPEAKER_00: 18:06

So and the framework you outline, I think, is very awesome, like in the book. It's it's it's common sense, like to me, it it flowed really, really easily. I want you to walk us through that um in a second on here. But since this encounter happened, um you know, like we wake up every day, like many. Let me tell you if you tell me if you relate to this. Like, oh, we wake up, we have things to do. We have but we're like, what's our purpose? So many people have that. Like, what's your purpose? What's your purpose? Like, what's your purpose in life? Um after this encounter and after this book, what is your purpose?

SPEAKER_01: 18:41

Honestly, it's so interesting to talk about right now because I wanted for the last three years, I have wanted this book and the message that comes behind that book to be my purpose, to be in the world, talking about what this looks like to go, you know, you know, to level 10 with God. And by the way, I have to qualify that by saying, like, I think there's a thousand or a hundred thousand levels, but you know, to level up to this place where you sort of have the one of the one of the things I've learned, and I love the description of having a tree of life experience. So, you know, if you're what you're walking through life and you're seeing this wonderland of color everywhere and opportunity and the bigness of what it must have been like to walk in the garden, um, that's tree of life living. And uh, and so, you know, I want to, I want to spend my life talking about that. And so, you know, I have lots of other, you know, business interests and stuff like that, but um, but I wanted this book to be everything and I couldn't get it out, and I was so frustrated. And so I'm like, well, that whole thing's on hold. So now that the book is in the world, which was just an overnight, seemingly, I know it's a I guess it's like I know you used to be in a band, it's like the overnight success of the band, right? 10 years of 10 years of pain followed by two minutes of whatever. But so the book's in the world, and I mean, you know, my purpose is to talk about it. You know, God gave me a vision to, and I don't I don't get visions, and I didn't say the word vision. I have powerful dreams, but I don't use the word vision. I had a vision a couple of weeks ago of walking through an airport handing this book out to people, and uh, and I'm like, God, what was that? Like that. So this is you know an interesting sort of idea of you know how God communicates. Like if you if you hear something in your head and it you know it's not your idea, and it brings you joy, it's probably got. And so that's a good example, right? Like, I get this vision of walking through the airport, you know, handing out these books, and I'm like, that's awesome, that sounds great. And that's way, you know, way more selfless mission than I would have put myself on. So it wasn't me. And uh, you know, so that's God's voice.

SPEAKER_00: 20:52

That's um, I was asking myself something similar. Like, I'm like, how do you know it? Tell me if you uh agree with this. And folks, I'm still figuring out too, okay. I'm not an expert here, I'm not a preacher or anything. I just know there's something real, and I'm learning every day. But I feel like it when you're like when you how do you know he's talking to you? And it it's like an idea that won't go away. You don't know why it's like clinging in your brain, and we don't even know why it keeps coming up. It's nothing that was there before, but for some reason it just keeps popping up. I I know for me personally, I get a lot of messages through like it's crazy. I'll be driving down the street and I'll like I'll just like think of something out loud. And then, like one time, I'm driving down the street, I'm I'm broken, I forget why I was broken this time, but something bad happened. Um, and then I just pull up behind a truck, and on the truck in the dirt says, Jesus loves you, it's okay. I get downloads through little messages. I'll get an instant message, but I personally get it through other people. People come to me and they'll tell me a message. I'm like, why'd you say that? And I'm like, holy crap. Literally, like 20 minutes ago, I was asking for the answer that. And then here's this roundabout way of me getting this answer. And it's just crazy where it's so it's not after it happened so many times, you guys, it's no longer a cool. Coincidence. Um, and you have to start looking like inward and and deeper. So um, for you, um that I think you write in the book too. You're like, you get yours in the shower, like you get these downloads, like where you're just constantly getting them, but you've learned um to understand the difference between a crazy idea and like God speaking to you. Can you talk on that a little bit? Like, yeah, how do you know that? Like, how do you confirm that? I guess is my question because you're it's crazy.

SPEAKER_01: 22:30

Yeah. Well, it's what's really cool, it mike, and and again, I you know, gotta I give so much credit to a bunch of smart people, mentors, pastors, friends, authors, you know. Uh I I dug deep and just like learned all this stuff. And so everything I'm sharing, I just learned from other people. But the the truth is that there's a process there, and that's again if the framework that's laid out in the book, it's it's hiding a little bit behind the stories, but um, but it's not. I mean, if you just take all those chapter titles in in a row, um, they're there in that in that order for a reason. And there's so there's this process that you can go through to go, here's how I get to the point where I know what God's voice sounds like to me, which it's different for everybody. Uh, I know exactly when God's talking to me, I know what that voice is, and I know how to confirm it. Uh, I and there the you know, there's a process there. And so I guess I'll I'll stop on that piece just to sort of, you know, I don't want to be in, I'm not trying to be intentionally vague, but it's it's not easy to talk about in in a short forum. But sure, you know, but basically, so God tells you, uh, well, we we already used the example a minute ago of you know, God told me or gave me this vision of walking through the airport handing out these books, and I'm going, okay, well, what was that? That was the thought that I'm I'm sure it wasn't my thought. And so if somebody there was it came from somewhere else. So, okay, is it a good thought or a bad thought? Like, what what feeling do I get when I have that thought? So if you get a thought and it makes you angry or makes you feel guilty or makes you feel shame, or like those are those things are not of God. Like you read the scriptures, God doesn't do those things, even though lots of people's misunderstanding of of scripture might say that. But if you actually read the gospel, that's not what it is. So if you have a thought and you're pretty sure that thought wasn't mine, like where'd that thing come from? And it brings you joy and peace and excitement, you know, that's God. And so, but then then you can affirm that. So, how do I figure out? Well, I think I heard that, like, how do I know that's true? Okay, well, you go through this process and go, okay, well, does it agree with scripture? Is there anything in scripture that conflicts with what I just thought or heard or said or whatever? Yes or no? Doesn't conflict with scripture? Boom, go to step two. Well, and before you leave step one, A, it doesn't conflict with scripture, and B, uh, are there examples in scripture of God talking like that? Like, does God say stuff like that? And you know, very often you go, you know, lay down by a brook and I'll have the these you know ravens feed you. He does, he says stuff like that, so cool. So anyway, so you pass it through scripture, then you you know you ask, you know, smart friends who are, you know, um, you know, have the Holy Spirit. So, you know, your pastor, hey, Pastor, I think I heard this, you know, yes or no, is this and and and you're not asking him, is it a good idea? Should I do this? You're asking him, does that sound like God to you? Whatever. So, anyway, so that's kind of a uh a short version, but there's a there's a really specific process, and you build this muscle. And so I've spent the last three years building this muscle, and I'm just like, now I know exactly what his voice sounds like. I know intuitively, you know, in most cases, like, oh yeah, I think that was God. And uh, and so it's just really interesting. And this to me is what I think Jesus meant by follow me. Follow me translates to, oh, you learn to walk this way. My sheep hear my voice. Okay, well, okay, I heard your voice. What do I do with it? I'm not sure. What do I how do I test that? You know, and so yeah, dude, I could talk and talk and talk. So keep me on the rails.

SPEAKER_00: 26:10

And your book, uh your book basically at the end of the day is a process to learn how to really hear his voice and follow him. I'm that's what it right, like you're just like, okay, um, can we go um can we sort of go through that a little bit? Are you alright with that? Yeah, totally, dude. Absolutely. So this so I just want to do a quick rerind. You've been a Christian for seven to ten years, um, but at some time you your whole life, but 20 years, but you started getting saved, but you and you still thought you were you had faith, right?

SPEAKER_01: 26:40

Like, but yeah, I mean, I accepted Christ and was as baptized in my 30s, so now 20 25 years ago.

SPEAKER_00: 26:47

So you think you're doing everything right, not realizing that you could go deeper. All of a sudden, angels pop up and you're broken in one of the broken times you've had in your life, and also an angels pop up and you're like, Oh, whoa, I need to go really deeper. You start doing a bunch of research, you pull you publish a book in six days, um, none of your own doing, and you come up with this process, which is really just like your own testimony, which is beautiful. Um, walk me through this process because, like, uh, I think what Matt's gonna share with us right now, guys, is gonna be um if you want to hear God's voice, here's how he did it. And this is something anyone can uh applicable, I think, to anyone because there isn't um God doesn't pick people based on your color, your race, um, your the amount of money you make or the amount of bad things you've done in your past. Um it you just need to have the you just need to be able to accept them in your heart and turn your heart posture to say, Lord help me, send me, bring me, talk to me, speak to me, be there for me, show me, teach me, guide me. But you've simplified that because most people don't like if I talk to my friends about this stuff, like I'm just talking like my my college friends, my frat bars, right? Hey guys, uh here's what you need to do. They're gonna laugh at they're not gonna take me seriously, right? Um so walk me through this if you can. And uh I want to hear this process because I think this is what people need to hear.

SPEAKER_01: 28:13

Cool, yeah, absolutely. Well, um, you're absolutely right about everything you said, and and you know, it's not to take anything away from you know, every everyone that's preaching the gospel, and you know, some are some are on an amazing track and some of them are out in left field, but there's lots of great preaching in the United States, and I'm part of an incredible church in Atlanta that you know I give great credit to uh Kevin Myers, the pastor of our church, who I named in my references in the book. But um, but yeah, this this is just a different way to understand the gospel. You know, we one of the things I've learned is that we as Americans read the gospel through the lens of our you know, you know, capitalistic American brain. And it wasn't written that way. It wasn't written to that audience. It was, it doesn't mean exactly what we think it means. And, you know, what I'm saying right now is sort of heresy to, you know, lots of lots of you know important Christians would take exception to what I'm saying. But um, you know, it's it's become crystal clear to me. He made it crystal clear to me, uh, that the mechanism, and you touched on this, is all you have to do is say yes, listen, try to hear his voice, be willing, be and then become obedient. And that's you know, further down in that framework is obedience, but but it starts with ding ding ding. I'm open, I'm open to hear his voice, is what it starts with. And when you if you if you can open that door, and and you know, you honestly, I mean, God can do anything, but it's a whole lot better if somebody helps you that knows how to do that, and people helped me that know deeply how to do that, that spent their lives doing that. So you learn you learn to hear God's voice a little bit, and then uh what God does is He talks to you about you, He's uh, and that's identity. And so, you know, a lot of these things, as you go through the framework, you go, Well, those words have been kind of hijacked and like used for all kinds of people say all kinds of things about what identity is, but identity is comes from God, you know. You hear all through scripture, God's calling people by name, he's changing their name, um, but he's saying, This is who you are. And most often those people would not agree, they'd go, uh, don't you know that I'm a tax collector and a sinner and I'm a you know, I'm a prostitute, and I'm, you know, and you know, he meets the woman at the well and he starts telling her about her six husbands. Like, God knows exactly who you are. And so when you start hearing his voice, what the first thing he's gonna do is tell you who you are. And so identity comes next. So you you have to start to understand like this is who God calls me, and um, and that's also another really clear process that you can learn. You know, what is what is what is he gonna call you? He's gonna call you the thing that was most true about you, and you kind of knew it, but it's been hidden, it's been covered by the lies and the sin and the enemy and and all these things. But when he calls you by that name, you're gonna go, eventually, you're gonna go, oh yeah, that's that's exactly who I am. And so all the rest of the stuff comes after that. But what I've told you so far doesn't get taught in the American church, right? It's just say yes, say the prayer, you're not going to hell. Congratulations. And you know what God's saying is, I want to be with you all the time, constantly having this conversation, showing up for you, bringing miracles, like everything in your life all the time. And that's not the conversation that we have, right? So that's the you know, the sort of the part of the message.

SPEAKER_00: 32:01

And when you say identity, uh, I just want to make sure we're we're following you. You're talking about like your God-given gifts, like who you are as a person. Um, are you talking about like what you're what you're what God wants you to do? Or are you talking about because I I I personally believe that we all we all have a superpower to unlock. Um, I don't know what you I don't know what well, I do know what yours is because I read your book, but like for me, it's storytelling. Um I just want that's why we have this podcast called Cheer Scripture for a reason. It's to tell stories of others on their walk to Christ, and that's what God unlocked for me. That but that was like that just recently happened within the last year. So um, when is that what we're talking about here? So he says unlock your identity. Is it like unlock your God-given super gifts or your superpower? Because we're all born with them, at least um I think we are.

SPEAKER_01: 32:45

So what you're you're talking more about calling, and uh, and so and that comes after identity. So identity, identity is who you actually are, and so you know, you alluded to it, but you know, the the identity that and there are pieces of identity, but the thing that got called me first and most is cliff jumper. And so that doesn't mean anything to anybody else, but to me, that is the truest thing about me. Like, I am a cliff jumper, I will do, I will do anything, take any reasonable risk, and I mean in business and all these other things, and and that's gone on to mean other things. He's revealed other things to me about what cliff jumper means to me. But the thing is, is that it it's incredibly descriptive of exactly who I am and how he built me. Now, what a cliff jumper goes and does in the world could take a lot of different forms. You know, I could be an architect or or you know, uh a professional bowler, it doesn't matter. I that's calling or you know, vocation, uh, and those things are important, but that's comes behind identity. But and when you really start having these conversations with God, he's gonna start talking to you about you, who you really are, uh, what's going on, and and also, you know, all the other things like what's going on in your life, and like, you know, hey, like, you know, uh cliff jump cliff jumpers who love Jesus don't do X, Y, and Z, and you know, all that kind of stuff. But uh, well, and that you know, that the way I presented that is a little bit inaccurate because it, you know, it's not again, there's no there's no fear, guilt, or shame. Sometimes fear, there's no guilt or shame that comes from God. And fear is another really important part of the framework. Um, and so there's you know, there's sort of use fear that's used well and fear that's not. Um, but uh, but yeah, so so identity, you know, comes next, and then he starts talking to you about you know who you are, and then you know, then we get down to like, well, what's okay, what got what has God called you to do? Um, and that becomes apparent. And it's not necessarily uh, and I would say, I would say more often than not, is not everything, it's not like oh my god, I'm gonna become president of the United States or whatever it is, you know. So in my case, he started talking about this book, like, bro, you're we're we're gonna go write a book, but I'm like, No, we're not, you know, and uh and so so it's basically that you've never been scared to do anything else and you haven't done before in the past. Right. Well, I just like I don't know how, but but my point, and that's a good example of like how you know again back to you, how do you know God's voice? Well, I had no desire to write a book, don't know how to write a book, never entered my mind before, ever. And uh, and next thing I know, I'm like, I need to write this book. Where's where's that coming from? So, but it's but there's no there's mostly felt filled me with joy. There's no fear, there's no guilt, uh, or excuse me, there's no shame, there's no guilt. The fear thing, which I guess we should address is that yeah, you know, um, fear is a big, big, big topic, and you know, we could talk about it for a long time, but because the vast majority of us, and I would put myself in this group, um, when if if you're really be able to unpack it honestly and your review your entire life, you'll find out that the vast majority of the decisions that you've made have been based on some level of fear, um, even though you wouldn't have described it as that, and it might take you a long, long time in therapy to process, but um we all make fear-based decisions. And so, so there's a reason why do not worry and do not fear are you know the words in the Bible that far exceed every other word in the in the scripture. And it's because he's trying to get us like with a billboard to go don't do that, like don't make decisions out of fear, you make decisions out of faith. And so, well, what does that look like? Well, you know, it's going to be crazy. I'm not gonna, you know, I'm not gonna know what to do. I, you know, if if you're waiting for it to make sense in the physical world, well, that's you're just not in the faith realm anymore. And so, so the worst fear-based decision in the world is well, I need more data, or that's not practical, or I have to be reasonable. Like, those are all actually fear decisions.

SPEAKER_00: 36:59

So anyway, so just because you have this encounter, you're telling me that life doesn't all of a sudden like everything has a go your way, you're still gonna have obstacles, you're still gonna hit brick walls, you're still gonna have um things come up in life that aren't like things you look forward to, even, but um, with your framework, um you know what to do when that happens.

unknown: 37:21

Right?

SPEAKER_00: 37:22

So walk me through that. I love the way how you put that out in the book. Like you're like, and I'll I'll give people an example. So um it could be uh a business idea. Okay, it sounds like a really good idea. You don't know where it comes from, right? Be like, this has got to be a god idea, it's gotta be a god idea because it's not of mine. But then you're like, but there's how am I gonna overcome this big challenge to get to that idea? And you bring that idea to God and you let him answer it for you. Um, I want you to walk us through that part of the process.

SPEAKER_01: 37:57

Yeah, and this this is a great conversation for uh us as as business people, and I bet a lot of your audience will be business-minded people, and uh, and so you know, if you're like me, you have a million great ideas and you want to just go jump and and do those things, like oh, I got this great idea, I'm gonna go do it. And so, and that's where that's where this conversation comes in of going, well, okay, do I want to first of all, did God is this God's idea or my idea? Is God inviting me into this, or did I just come up with it? Um, or did it just come out of left field, or you know, and what's my motive? Is am I chasing money or am I am I trying to serve people or like you know, what's the heart of where this idea is going? And uh so yeah, step one of I got this idea is well, okay, let's test, let's ask him, you know, and then let's also evaluate like, well, what's my feeling when I have this idea? Does it bring me joy? You know, and then you know, you're gonna the we we kind of didn't quite get there on the this part of the fear conversation, but when fear is productive, is that whatever God invites you into is going to scare you. So that's sort of the good fear, is going like, oh, this scares me? Might be God, you know. Um, and so so that's kind of good fear. The bad, bad fear is when I, you know, I'm making my decisions based on that fear. So you want to recognize the fear and go, okay, what is this? And is this God? And am I afraid because God's inviting me to something that I don't have the power to execute? Hey, that's fine, that's great. Okay, that's probably that probably is God, you know, or but am I afraid that I'm not good enough? I'm not capable, I can't like okay. Well, now you're that's guilt and shame. That's not God, right? So so fear is this mechanism that takes a lot of uh a lot of work, and I certainly I certainly don't have it all, but that is the that is the battleground um to keep me on track, Mike.

SPEAKER_00: 40:04

Love it. Um so this process you go through and each chapter of the book outlines each uh stage of the process, and uh as you read it, you'll um you'll see all of these different um stages. But what I also thought was a good was really good is that people like you still have life you face too, right? It's not like it's oh great, God spoke to me, I had angels sing to me, and now everything's just gonna be hunky-dory. Um, no, you're still gonna have challenges. Um, but it woke you up, it appears. And uh I love how you um just bring everything to the Lord, uh, your business, your relationship issues, whatever it may be, and you ask him, and then he guides you. Um and it sounds so simple, but yet so many people don't know how to access it. And um I this framework that you've laid out, and just to just just to show you guys like how this isn't just like some crazy guy who saw Angels singing, this framework, uh ladies and gentlemen, is exactly what I experienced. Not to the T, but very similar. And as I unpack every chapter, um it's very, very, very close. Uh um no doubt. And I'm like, this is like that's how I know you're on to something here. Um, because me and you never talked about the book. I don't think you even knew I was gonna read it before we got on the show. Um, I don't think you knew I was gonna buy it, but I did. And I did because um I don't know why, I just bought it. Um, it was a message, uh, it's one of those things, right? But as I read through it, I was like, whoa, this is right on. And it just affirmed a lot for me personally. So I'm gonna encourage anyone listening to this. Um, this is the best couple hours you'll ever spend, um, especially if you're new and you walk with Christ. I'm encouraging you guys to go ahead and pick it up, the book, because um, it is deep when you when you think about depending on where you're at in life. And there is a process, though, that you have to follow. And Matt's not the first person I've spoken to this with, just so ever just so we're clear. There's millions of stories, just like mine, just like Matt's, and they all have the same thing in common. I feel like, because I I talk to people in church about my testimony and all this stuff, and they all go through this. A lot of them, right? It's it's the same process as an extra crazy experience. You're like, well, I gotta take this seriously. And then slowly but surely, as you become more obedient, things start to unlock, and then they become very clear, and then there's clarity.

SPEAKER_01: 42:32

That's right. Yeah. And you know, and again, it's you know, Mike, it's not my framework and it's not Mike's experience. It's, you know, when you actually do the work and and dig through it, we find that um this is the gospel, and this is the experience of millions and millions and millions of Christians. It's just been lost a little bit, uh, the truth of what it looks like to be in relationship with Christ and follow. Uh, it doesn't look like, you know, be a good boy, go to church on Sunday and go to heaven when you die. That's not the gospel.

SPEAKER_00: 43:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 43:06

Um, so anyway, dude, I I really appreciate you uh having this conversation with me. And uh, you know, is there anything else that I can share?

SPEAKER_00: 43:14

No, I think you nailed it. I think the only thing left to do is tell people where they can get this book um should they want to learn more about this process. Um, show them where they could connect with you to continue to follow um your story.

SPEAKER_01: 43:26

Cool. Yeah. Well, uh, you know, I'm Matt Fadzioli on all the socials, and uh I'm sure you'll put that in the show notes. And um, the book is on Amazon, Dirty Disciple. Um, you know, there's uh we're building assets on the website, but the book came out so fast that that's uh that's a new experience. Uh so but the book's on Amazon. Would love for you guys to read it and uh and give us a review and reach out, you know, to me in the DMs if uh if it if it strikes you. I've heard such amazing stories from people already. Uh it's been so fun and just interesting to hear everybody else's. And how they relate to mine. And so anyway, Mike, I really appreciate you, bud.

SPEAKER_00: 44:05

Appreciate you, and we appreciate you listening to another episode of Share Scripture. Folks, if you have a story, if you have a testimony, bring it out to the world. Message me, DM me. I need more of these stories. I want to tell them. I want to share them. I want to bring them out to people because the most effective way to learn anything is not through statement, it's through story. And when you tell stories, people can not only relate to them, but they can consume them and more importantly, remember them because it's just the way God made our brains, right? The whole Bible itself is one big story. It's a lot of stories, but it's essentially just stories, right? Storytelling. And that's all we're doing here at Share Your Scripture. Appreciate you, Matt. Appreciate you guys listening. Check out the rest of our episodes. Follow our social channels, and let's see where these convos take us. God bless. See you next week.

SPEAKER_01: 44:51

Appreciate it.