The Amazing Story of Napoleon Munoz

Welcome to my show. This is Dr. Ray Self. I appreciate you listening, being faithful, and sharing this with your friends. Today's show is very interesting. I'm interviewing a student of mine from Syracuse, New York, named Napoleon Munos. His story is fascinating, and you know, I've talked so much about the schemes of the enemy. You know, we should not be ignorant of Satan's schemes, how to recognize and overcome a scheme. Well, this story is, is very interesting about how he overcomes schemes. And a lot of the story, um, comes from my book. He read my book, uh, Redeeming Your Past and Finding Your Promised Land, and it had a big influence in his life, and, and I just thought it was a fascinating interview. Listen to his story and all he overcame. I think it's going to inspire you. Thanks again for listening to Self Talk with Dr. Ray Self.

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Dr. Ray: Okay, welcome to, um, welcome to Self Talk. I'm Dr Ray Self, and I am so glad you're with me today. And, I have something very, very, very um, very special for us today. I have a very special guest, uh, Napoleon Munos out of Syracuse, New York. And this is our episode, 206th episode of Self Talk with me, Dr. Ray Self. And so I wanted to…Napoleon…and I want, I want him to share, but Napoleon's a very interesting guy. Been through a lot of challenges this year, some physical challenges, heart challenges, and uh, we, we've had to pray a lot for Napoleon. Welcome to the show, Napoleon. 

Napoleon: Thank you. Thank you for having me. 

Dr. Ray: So, Napoleon is a student with the International College of Ministry, you know, the college I'm, I'm very blessed to have founded many years ago. And um, has really been a blessing to our school. But what– we were talking a few months ago, and when you enroll in International College of Ministry, one of the required courses we have is a book that I wrote some years ago called Redeeming Your Past and Finding Your Promised Land. And, as an author, you know, you write books, and you put them out there, and sometimes you wonder if it's even having an impact. But, it's a book that uh, it's a book about get– how to get over all the obstacles in your life, how to get into what God's called you to do, how to redeem all the stuff from your past, see what's still in your present, and get into your future that God has for you. But um, you know, the book's always been very special to me because it's a lot of my story. But when Napoleon and I were talking a month or two ago, and he was sharing with me about the book, it really touched my heart, and I just wanted to talk to you about Napoleon. So, tell me what's going on, and tell me, you know, tell me what you've been telling me.

Napoleon: …okay…haha

Dr. Ray: Hahaha

Napoleon: Well, what I, I–

Dr. Ray: You can do it.

Napoleon: Yeah. Well, one– I just– one, I always just want to say thank you, um, for the opportunity for, you know, me attending ICM. Um…you know, that itself is, is a story in itself and how everything…You know, originally was supposed to be my wife, uh, doing it because she spoke with uh, Dr. Green and uh, so…And, and you know, they were– my wife was in a beauty supply store, so she met Dr. Green and then I got to speak with her and um, you know, just how that came about was just incredible how God, um, you know…just told me it was time for me to go to Bible school. And He said, “I want you to call the lady that you spoke to,” uh, Dr. Green, and then, you know…just start there. So anyway. But starting the course, she stood with me, you know, she, you know, coached me through a lot of things, everything. And, she was telling me the courses, you know. So, got accepted, started looking, and reading, and, and like, “Okay, I got a couple of books here.” And so, of course, I follow down in order, and then I come across this book called Redeeming Your Past, Finding Your Promised Land. I'm like, “Okay, this thing makes us think it's a small book,” a easy read, so you would think, you know. And uh, the moment I read chapter one, um…you know…it just stopped me in my tracks. And it made me– because one of my, my, you know, it's always about, you know, like, “Okay, Lord, what is my purpose in life?” We think about things, but it's like, the question now was “Lord, what is really stopping me from getting to my Promised Land?” You know, because, you know, in life I find it's a journey, it’s– there's a process.

Dr. Ray: Right.

Napoleon: So as I was en– en– encountering this book, which took me…haha…which…a small book took me at least from August and just finished it, uh, the end of December. 

Dr. Ray: Wow. So you…

Napoleon: So–

Dr. Ray: …just reading the book, you were doing– you were digesting the book. Oh, it, it was…Not only was I digesting, it was digesting me. You know, like engulfing me. And like…the sleeps at night, you know, just things that I was just thinking about, and I think the biggest chapter, uh, they all were great. But I believe before I start work– working on, you know, like entering into my promised land or entering into that next phase, was the chapter number five, Schemes. That chapter by itself…um…worked on me. Because it really made me see– because the lifestyle, you know, like the way I grew up, there…there was no…Christian. You know, there was no God. You know…You know, there was no Jesus. I didn't get introduced to Jesus, I mean, at least that I could recall, until my mother got saved, and that was when I was 15 years old. But by that time, I was living on the streets. You know, I lived in an abandoned building, you know, doing drugs, heroin, you know, all types of stuff. Everything. Uh, drinking, um, and you know, and she was saying that she got saved, and I was like, you know, saved from what? You know, I don’t understand that lingo, you know. And…you know, but I did see something different in her. You know, um…so through that, through the, through the years. And then you know, I eventually got saved, everything. Was going to church. But there was a time in my life where uh, I was 19, I was in a Christian program, and this is going to lead up to that scheme part. Um, there was something that was hindering. And I'll never forget. I was in a Christian program called Youth Challenge, and uh…very similar to Teen Challenge.

Dr. Ray: Right. 

Napoleon: Um…so I'm, I'm, I'm on discipline at this time. You know, which, you know, I just couldn't believe I was on discipline. But, I asked them about a certain closet, could I make it a prayer closet? It needed cleaning, and they needed stuff out of there. They were like, get ahead and do it. So I created this prayer close,t and because I was going to be on discipline for two weeks, I was like, I might as well just develop, you know, my, my prayer life even more, make use of my time. So I'm in this prayer closet, and the Lord shows me Jeremiah 1:5. And see, that's why I love this book because it really hits on that uh, uh, a lot on uh, Jeremiah 1:5 where it talks about, you know, “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord,” you know. So, you know, I'm, I'm reading the scripture and then all of a sudden, uh, I'm off discipline, I get a phone call, they said to me, “Napoleon, your mother's on the phone.” This is where it began. And, when she told me, you know, she's crying on the phone, and I'm just like oh my goodness. I'm like, you know, where we lived at, it wasn't a– it was a rough neighborhood. You know, living in the projects and stuff. And I thought maybe something had happened. I don't know…my brother did something or maybe he, you know, something happened to him, and she's crying, and she's like, she's asking me for, a–  forgiveness, and I'm like, “Ma, if anything, I, you know, I should be asking you for forgiveness.”

Dr. Ray: Right. 

Napoleon: And she told me, she said, “I tried to, I tried to kill you three times. I tried to abort you.” 

Dr. Ray: Oh, wow. 

Napoleon: …and yeah, exactly. Just exactly what you just did. 

Dr. Ray: She tried to… 

Napoleon: I was like, I just– but no words came out of my mouth. 

Dr. Ray: Hmm.

Napoleon: And I was just quiet.

Dr. Ray: Wow. 

Napoleon: And the only thing that came out of my mouth was, I said, “Well, I'm here now.” You know, I said, “Ma, I understand, you know, it was a time of your life, everything, you know, you…” you know. Just– it just threw me– like, it caught me off guard. But at the same time, I didn't want to, you know, uh…that wasn't a time for anything. That was just a time for me to kind of reflect and listen to what she was saying. And, so when I hung up the phone, I told the guy, I said, “Whoever's in the prayer closet needs to get out now,” you know, “I need to get up in there.” So I'm in there, and I'm just, you know, going before God. “God, what is going on? I don't understand.” And the Holy Spirit kept saying Jeremiah 1:5. Nope, I don't want to read nothing right now. I forgot about the scripture. I said, I don't want to read anything. And then that's when He show– He told me, He said Jeremiah 1:5. And then when I read it, He just showed me right there. He says, “Even though nobody else wanted you at that moment, I wanted you.” 

Dr. Ray: Amen.

Napoleon: And so right there…Because I was always wondering like, why didn't I feel wanted. Like, I, I always felt like, you know, I wasn’t loved, you know. Or I felt like, why am I always getting whoopings and why is, you know. And, and, just different things. But I know it was a scheme of the enemy to get me off track, to where it, it like really messed with me even in my adult life. 

Dr. Ray: Let's, let's read, let's read Jeremiah 1:5 real quick just for our listeners. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” But the key thing is God knew you before you were even in that womb, and He was not going to allow you to be killed. Your mother tried to literally, bless her heart, tried to kill you how– three times? 

Napoleon: Yeah. 

Dr. Ray: B– wow. 

Napoleon: Yeah. And you know, me and her, we have a great relationship. That's, you know…irregardless– eh…like– Once again, I understood why. You know, because as you get older and you, and God starts revealing things…you know, um, you know, you just look at life, and you just be like you– But I can't dwell on it, I can't stay there. But I knew it was a scheme of the enemy to not…to– he put the thought in my mother's head. 

Dr. Ray: Right. 

Napoleon: You know. And trying to keep a pattern because there was just so much that has transpired in my life, even from when I was born. There’s so many different things that, you know, when you’re seeing a drug life, when you're seeing uh, hurt. You know, like my mother hurt, being in rel– different relationships, you know. Um, you know, so you, you exposed to a lot of things. And, and when you look at it, you're just like…I mean, I'm looking back like from now…from then. This book was able to help me to understand a lot better that the schemes that the enemy had in play was to take me out. And this is the thing, if…because my father wasn't in my life, my grandfather, didn't know any of them. But my father, um, who died early, but wasn't really in my life. There was no uh, guidance until God, you know, um, you know, intervened and put certain men in my life to help point me in the right direction. 

Dr. Ray: Well, let me, let me interject here, real– too, for the people listening to the show. One of the key messages that I have in ministry, and the book talks about this, is schemes. You keep mentioning schemes,

Napoleon: Yes. 

Dr. Ray: and um, the Apostle Paul said we should not be ignorant of Satan's schemes, okay? He also said, “Put on the full armor of God so you can stand firm against the schemes of the enemy.” So I write about schemes, I've taught about schemes, I've ministered on schemes. A scheme is a systematic plan to destroy you and to keep you from your promised land because God's got a call– there's a call of God on your life, and the reason Satan wanted to take you out is because of what God has created you to do. And so, in the– Paul was telling us– the Bible says don't be ignorant of these schemes. These are plans. And so we, we, we talk about it, and we list the different types of schemes. But once you become aware of the enemy's schemes, then you have the power to– well, you always have the power to defeat it, but becoming aware of it is a, is tremendous advantage– 

Napoleon: Totally different, yes. 

Dr. Ray: Tremendous advantage. And so, and…All Christians. I mean, everybody's got a scheme against them. I mean, Satan is after you. He's not really– he's not wa– wasn't trying to kill Napoleon, he's trying to, to kill the reason. “Before you were born I knew you in the womb,” and God ordained you for something. So Satan was after your purpose; he was after your call. See, that's the way he attacks God, by trying to destroy God's purpose in God's people. And so he tried to take you out through abortion, probably through all kinds of other things too. But when you become aware of the scheme, you can defeat the scheme. 

Napoleon: Right. 

Dr. Ray: And it can be defeated. And you, you just need to be aware. And that's what the Bible was talking about. So we talk about that in the book, and we, we teach about that at International College of Ministry. I've ministered, I've actually ministered, done conferences on schemes all over the United States. And um…if anybody listening wants more information, that'll be great. Anyway, I just wanted to interject that for our listeners, but go, go ahead. 

Napoleon: Yeah, no, no, which is great because matter of fact, I even have like, the book. And I love your, your um…You put a statement there that was just, think– for me. It was just incredible. You said, “Each scheme or plot has its own characteristic designed for a particular person.”

Dr. Ray: It is. 

Napoleon: That alone was like, you know…I mean– 

Dr. Ray: It's custo– it's custom designed. 

Napoleon: It is…right. It's just like a suit. Just like wearing a tailor-made suit. 

Dr. Ray: Yeah. 

Napoleon: It, it just fits your body, your shape, your size, everything. And I just saw that, you know, like in the Bible, you know, like, you know, even in like when you're dealing with deliverance, or you're dealing with different things, there's familiar spirits that are assigned. Just the same way God has His angels encamped around you, the enemy also has his demons. And you know, and he has, you know, whoever he can use to help keep you in that pattern. 

Dr. Ray: Yes. 

Napoleon: And that is what really, like, set things apart because I started looking, I started finding myself reliving these patterns. And one of them was, um, well, to feel unwanted, like I'm not worthy. 

Dr. Ray: Right.

Napoleon: Um, um, even though I, I, I was born now, I didn't feel worthy. I was always picked on or bullied or you know, just so many different things. But then I find that it's– now that he…he has my mind a certain way…Now, what it did was throughout the years, it started making an impact, and I started sabotaging, started making poor decisions, whether it's in relationships, you know, whether it's with jobs. Just so many different things to where it, it, it hindered me. I always like this saying, was, “The devil can't stop you, he could only hope to contain you.” 

Dr. Ray: Yeah, it's true. Well, to me, the most common scheme, and you're describing it, I call it illegitimacy. And so if you're illegitimate, that means you're not worthy, uh, you don't measure up, and you, and you spend your whole life trying to prove yourself that you are worthy. Uh, you see young guys because of this Spirit of illegitimacy, they'll join a gang. Because gang gives them–

Napoleon: Exactly. 

Dr. Ray: Uh, legitimacy. Um, they, they try to do something to make themselves legitimate and, and I have– I'm just going to be blunt here. This scheme is, is very prevalent, uh, in the African-American Community a lot. I mean, it's prevalent all over the place, but it's been especially prevalent in the African-American Community, um, because of the call of God, uh, because of God's plan. Satan wants to illegitimize people, and then we respond to that by trying to perform, trying to prove, trying to measure up, but underneath it all, we never feel worthy, we never feel wanted, we never really feel loved. It's a huge, huge, huge scheme. There's a lot of schemes, but uh…And then he– like, you're right, he tailor– it like a custom-made suit. And he'll even use your friends, your family, to reinforce the scheme, not realizing they're doing it. 

Napoleon: An– and, and that's a that's a big point right there because a lot of times people will always remember your past but can't, they can't– I learned…I remember one time where I said, you know, and like I said, this is me, not throwing no shade on my mother, nothing, because she, she– I love her. 

Dr. Ray: Yeah. 

Napoleon: You know. And I, and, and I think it's because of her I'm able to be where I'm at. But I remember one time, and, you know, was just like um, you know, my– I just– I know there's a call on my life. And sometimes when other people don't understand that, they may see you as a nuisance or, you know…but because when there's a calling, you're kind of separated from everybody…

Dr. Ray: Yeah, you’re different. 

Napoleon: …it seems like you stand out a little bit more. And I never forget, my mother was just like, “Everybody got a call on their life.” You know, she was just mad at the situation because they were kicking me out of the program…And, and I would just…they couldn't tell me downright why. And I was just like, I don't understand that. And I remember when the Holy Spirit just said to me, He says, “Because I have to send you away because of the call I on your life.” And you know, and you know, it was just so much, but it's just that–

Dr. Ray: But separ– God separated you. I mean, He continually separated you. 

Napoleon: Basically. That’s–

Dr. Ray: You know, the word sanctified means to be set apart. He literally set you apart from different places. 

Napoleon: Right. 

Dr. Ray: And He'll do that. 

Napoleon: Yeah. 

Dr. Ray: Also, you mentioned something, too. Sometimes, because of the call of God on your life and the purpose, and you have the schemes, it's almost like you never quite fit in because you're, you're in this world but you're not of this world. And so you're almost like a duck out of water wherever you go. 

Napoleon: Exactly. I remember seeing a–

Dr. Ray: Fish out of water, excuse me. 

Napoleon: Yeah, fish out of water, yeah, you know. I mean, a duck, I mean, works well ‘cause a duck loves the water, you know? 

Dr. Ray: Yeah, that's true.

Napoleon: But, I’ll never forget, I was watching this movie and God - you know, I'm a movie guy, you know, and the Lord, like, I don't know, just one of the ways that He, you know, He, He gets my attention on things. And I’ll never forget when uh…you know, it’s…this…I don't know, this type of movie, and…But it was what this young man said to this young lady. He said, “A leader is never meant to fit in; they’re meant to stand out.” So…I find myself being in situations where I couldn't fit in. 

Dr. Ray: Yeah. 

Napoleon: Even when I was trying to– and this is gonna be funny right here, but. When– I’ll never forget when I, I got into like, I was getting like, really get into selling drugs, you know. And I'm not here to promote– you know. But I remember going up to New York City with this other person, right? And the person knew where to go, everything. So we're, we're up in New York City. So we get to this destination, I'm in the car. I'm maybe about…maybe like 100 feet, if that. Maybe 80 feet away. Like, I'm on a street, and then you have what is called a bodega, which is like a, like a store. You know, that's what we call them down in New York City, in Jersey, bodegas. Okay? 

Dr. Ray: Bodegas.

Napoleon: Gro– the grocery store, like little convenience stores. 

Dr. Ray: Okay. 

Napoleon: So, went over there. She was telling them, “Hey, I have this guy,” you know, “this is what he’s trying to get involved in,” and everything like that. The guy looked at my car and looked at me, and he looked at her, and he said, “No.” And she said, “But he's not a cop.” He said, “I know he's not a cop,” he said, “but there's something about him…” 

Dr. Ray: Hmm.

Napoleon: “...that…I'm not going to sell to him.” And that was just– and right there in my mind I was just like…I said, “God, I see you trying to…”

Dr. Ray: So you were– what were you trying to buy? 

Napoleon: I was trying to buy crack cocaine. 

Dr. Ray: You were trying to buy crack…And the guy wouldn't sell it to you because there was something about you. 

Napoleon: Yeah. There was something about that. He looked right at the car, and he just said no…

Dr. Ray: …something about you.

Napoleon: ‘cause she came in the car and told me. She was like, “You're not going to believe this,” I said, “Try me, I bet ya I would believe it.” And when she said that, I just looked at her. She said, “What is it about you?” And I just didn't say anything.

Dr. Ray: This is before you–

Napoleon: I was, I was in my backslidden stage. 

Dr. Ray: Oh. So you got saved and backslid. 

Napoleon: Yeah, I was backslidden at this time. 

Dr. Ray: Yeah, yeah, me too. I, I, you read my story, I backslid big time. 

Napoleon: Yeah. Yeah, I was doing a backstroke, everything, you know?

Dr. Ray: Backstroke, hahaha. Backstroke.

Napoleon: Haha. And yeah, I mean, there was just plenty of opportunities where…I mean, I will be in a position where we– It's like a group of us and we're just, you know, doing the things we're not supposed to be doing and…all of a sudden somebody just starts talking about something– We talking about life and all of a sudden the gifting just started coming out, and I'm just encouraging. And they were like, “Man, you should be a preacher something, or like a counselor or…like you– what you saying is…” they were just like, “We want to hear more,” you know. And we all high in the room. 

Dr. Ray: Well, it's funny, even– like when I backslid, and I went into some bad stuff. But it's like the call of God never leaves you. The gifts and callings of God are irrevocable. And even though it's kind of a perverted version of your gifting, the gifts are still evident. Uh, because I have a really strong prophetic gift and I remember my prophetic gift operating, you know, even when I was do– partying and doing things there's no way I should have been doing, and the gift was still operating, although it was twisted, haha. And it wasn't, it was…it was a twisted form of the gift, but it was still there. Um…

Napoleon: Yeah.

Dr. Ray: Now, I mean, it just never leaves you alone. So, so you had the scheme, your mother tried to kill you three times in the womb, and your father left you, you had illegitimacy, “I don't matter, I'm not worthy,” 

Napoleon: Right. 

Dr. Ray: All this kind of stuff, you name it. And…

Napoleon: That’s right. 

Dr. Ray: …you get saved, then you backslid, then you, you come out of it, right? 

Napoleon: Yeah, oh yeah. Yeah, to where– Okay, so I was living at Jersey at the time. And this was uh, back in 2001. 

Dr. Ray: Uhhuh. 

Napoleon: And I never forget August 17th, 2001. I rededicated my life back to the Lord. The night before, I had a lot of drugs, different things. I was ready to end stuff, and I'm just– I said, “Lord, if I survive, I'll serve you.” Because see, there was one thing about me. Um, I never straddled the fence. I don't know what it is to walk in a gray line. It's either I'm serving Him, or I'm not. 

Dr. Ray: Right. 

Napoleon: I'm not going to make mockery. Even when I was in my backslidden stage, I said, “Lord,” I said, “If I die in the midst of all of this, I can't fault nobody but myself because you've been too good.” 

Dr. Ray: Right. 

Napoleon: I never discredit Him, but I also knew that what I was going through, the hurts, the schemes, believing a lie, everything was just– And I, and I knew it was an attack. Even the person that I was with at the time, I knew that she was assigned by the enemy to take me out. 

Dr. Ray: Right. 

Napoleon: That's how serious that like– I mean, I was seeing in the spirit world. You know, seeing certain things that I was like– and, and God is like, “I got my hand on you.” But I knew it was coming to a place– …she said, “but the Lord is telling me to tell you that if you don't stop doing what you doing, he will kill you himself. He said because that's how much he loves you.” And right then and there, it was like, I didn't want to give that expression to my mother, but I knew right then and there. I said, “God is for real.” And, I, you know, I'm just like…standing there like, like, “Oh my goodness.” But the next week I rededicated my life back to Him, um…and my life has never been the same ever since.

Dr. Ray: Wow.

Napoleon: I remember that day, August 17, 2001. And then, um…But I had to leave out of Jersey. The Holy Spirit got me out of Jersey. 

Dr. Ray: Right. 

Napoleon: He says– He said, “Don't look back.” I remember when we were in the vehicle, and we're leaving, He said, “Don't look back because you're not returning.” And uh, He reminded me of Sodom– not Sod– uh, Lot's wife… 

Dr. Ray: Yeah, right. 

Napoleon: …from Sodom and Gomorrah, right. You know. So, “Don't Turn back.” Said, “Don't look back.” And I tell you, I have not look back. Not just, you know, not moving back to Jersey, but just in life itself, that, you know, as far as like returning to drugs or alcohol, any of that stuff. That wasn't the issue. The issue was me not, not understanding and fully knowing how the enemy was working in the scheme to draw me back. Or to try to get– he said, “Okay, I'm not gonna be able to do certain things, but if I could keep him off focus or if I can,” you know, uh, “just use other people, different things to where he cannot receive the fullness of what God has for him.”

Dr. Ray: See, you, you said something–

Napoleon: “I got him.”

Dr. Ray: You said something really critical there.

Napoleon: Uh-huh.

Dr. Ray: If you had realized what the enemy was up to and there was a plot against your life, and you had been aware of that, that would have helped you tremendously. And… 

Napoleon: Right. 

Dr. Ray: Same for me, too. If I had understood what God had created me for and what the enemy was trying to do to me through all kinds of weapons– I mean, I did the drugs and stuff– 13 years on that stuff, um…

Napoleon: Right.

Dr. Ray: …and what he was trying to do to me. And how he was distracting me, tempting me, illegitimize me, you, you name it. Of course, I struggled with, “Ray, you don't matter. Ray, you don't count, you don't matter.”

Napoleon: Right. 

Dr. Ra: And really, even after all these years, I can still, every now and then, pick up that scheme trying to, to, uh, reinvent itself or re-energize itself. But I'm aware of it.

Napoleon: Right.

Dr. Ray: But the point was, if we know and understand what the enemy is up to, we can defeat him. 

Napoleon: Yes. 

Dr. Ray: And um, I, I, I use the example of history. In every major battle, all generals, one of the main things they want to know is what is their enemy planning. They send out spies, they have, you know, counterintelligence, all this kind of stuff just to see what the enemy is planning. Because they know if they understand the enemy's plans, they can more easily defeat him. 

Napoleon: Right. 

Dr. Ray: And so, that's critical in our life, and you're describing it so beautifully. And what I see, and I'll say this to encourage you, the, the scheme against your life was so powerful, so strong, so malicious, so evil, that it tells me the plans God has for you must be incredible. Ha Ha Ha. The anointing upon your life, the call upon your life, must be spectacular, or the enemy wouldn't have tried so hard. You're a big threat to the enemy.

Napoleon: Yeah. 

Dr. Ray: a blessing to God. 

Napoleon: Yeah, yeah. And, and you know what, and…you know, by you saying that, it just, it– So the enemy couldn’t get me at birth, he couldn’t get me through the drugs. And I remembered, one of the last prophetic words that I received from uh, the church that I was attending, from Apostle E [Weroget], and he said to me, he said, “The Lord is telling me, He's showing me that you are tempered steel.”

Dr. Ray: Hmm.

Napoleon: He said, “You acting like tempered steel.” So I automatically looked up tempered steel because I was like, you know, I'm the type of person be like, okay, Lord, what is in all of this, right? So, there's a process. So I said, oh, Lord, here we go.

Dr. Ray: Uh oh.

Napoleon: Little did I know that it was preparing me. 

Dr. Ray: Yeah. 

Napoleon: Because in 2020, um, on Father's Day, at church, that's when my arteries erupted. Ao– it's called your Type One A– Aorta.

Dr. Ray: Right.

Napoleon: So that is the artery that goes to your brain.

Dr. Ray: Yeah. 

Napoleon: That erupted. So they had to perform major surgery…

Dr. Ray: Bless your heart.

Napoleon: …to save my life. They said only 10% survives. 

Dr. Ray: Right– oh! 

Napoleon: Then– yeah, only 10— and I was just like, “Lord, I thank you.” So…and this was during Covid, so nobody could visit me in the hospital. Nobody…it was just like me and God, like, I'm not understanding. And let me tell you, was in my dark place because it was like, “Lord, why? What did I do that was so bad?” Or, what is it?” Anything like that. And I wasn't getting the clearness, but the only thing I knew how to do was worship. You know. And, and I'm worshiping God no matter what. I wouldn't curse like Job, I wouldn't curse Him, I wouldn't put Him down. None of that because I know that through this, there's a purpose behind everything. Don't understand it, don't like it…But, but four years, like, you know, in between this time, I had four surgeries. I had the, the first one, then the second one, uh, they try to go through my legs to fix the other arteries below what they call around the belly button. But it was too far up, so they had to go through my side, open up my side, and take out part of my rib to fix the di– they call it the dissection. So they had to fix the other arteries. Then that's when they caught me on the uh…they did a CAT scan, this was last year, with the open heart double bypass. 

Dr. Ray: Wow.

Napoleon: So– right. So, I was just more or less like, I said, “Yeah, devil,” I said, “You,” I said, “One, you had to get–” See, now I'm wiser. I said, “You had to get permission,” right? So I'm like, “Yeah, you trying to take me out this way,” I said, “because nothing gets past God.”

Dr. Ray: Yeah. 

…

Dr. Ray: This is an incredible story. So, so tell me a little bit more about your surgery and, what– how do you want to conclude this? 

Napoleon: Sure. Um, one of the things I never forget on Father's Day, uh, 2020. My first surgery, uh…um…my arteries erupted, pain that came on my chest. I knew it wasn't a heart attack ‘cause I didn't feel on my heart. But it would just, up and down the middle of my chest, and just dropped me to my knees. 

Dr. Ray: Oh.

Napoleon: But the words that kept coming out of my mouth was, “I will live and not die.” “I'm not dying like this today.” “I'm not dying.” And only I could do is remember, like when Abraham, Isaac, you know, they determined when they were going to pass away. You know, because I wanted to bless my grandkids– something that wasn't done to me, certain things. So, had the surgery. It was a Type One, uh, uh, they said Type One Aorta, um, which is basically your main artery going through your brain, is what they had to fix. They had go through my chest, what they call the breast plate, so they had to go through my chest fix that. But the other artery’s downward because it was hard for me to like, really walk for a long period of time, uh, on my next one, so I had that surgery the next year. Then um…the last one I just had was uh…was open heart, double bypass. That was down in New York City…

Dr. Ray: The enemy…

Napoleon: …down in New York Presbyterian Hospital. 

Dr. Ray: The enemy was really after you, man. 

Napoleon: Yeah. And, and you know what? And that's something that, that was key because I said, “He tried to get me at birth, couldn't get me. Couldn't do it during drugs, all of that. So he tried this.” 

Dr. Ray: Right. 

Napoleon: And I just said, “Lord,” I said, “whatever it is, I know that there's a group of people–” ‘Cause you, you're not assigned to everybody, but there's a group that God has just allowed you to, to reach. Uh, whether it's through books, whether it's through uh, you know, through audio, whether it's through uh, you know, or just speaking, you know, different – like, podcast, things like that. So I know that God has a call on my life and I know that, you know, like you said, many are called, but few is chosen. And I look at that and just like, man, Lord, why me? But the only thing that I could really think about…my uncle, he just passed away maybe like a year and a half ago. One of the things that I like that he had was this ship– I wish you could, you know, like, I wish you could see it, I know this is a podcast. But there's a scripture in the Bible where it talks about that we are God's workmanship. And, so this ship represents my life because if we break down the word workmanship, it’s really three words in one, which is work - faith without works is dead. There's a work that we got to do. I'm a man - or if you're a woman. But it's a workman, so that means I have to do my part, my due diligence in this Christian walk. And the ship portion is just the direction that God has me, that He's the captain of my ship. So I just look at–whenever I see that scripture or read it, I am God's workmanship. That means He's got me going to a certain destination, there's a work that I must do. I must man up. And just like he told like He told Job, gird up your loins like a man, you know. So, with that, um, you know, just to conclude. You know this that, you know, the work He began in me, He will complete it to the day of Jesus Christ, and that no weapon formed against me shall not prosper.

Dr. Ray: A–

Napoleon: Every tongue that rise up in judgment shall be condemned. It is my inheritance. Mine.

 Dr. Ray: Amen. 

Napoleon: You know, to experience all that He has for me.

Dr. Ray: Yeah.

Napoleon: And uh, I just want to thank you, you know. This was, you know, I think real, real good for me, you know. But this book, if you can, please. Redeeming Your Past, Finding Your Promised Land. Please let it be a– let it be a book in your house. Something– or a gift to someone. Believe me, it will make a, a lasting impact like it did on my life. 

Dr. Ray: Thank you so much, Napoleon. You know, uh, hope you guys understand the story here of all the attempts of the enemy to destroy this man of God. Uh, you know, abortion. Three times to be aborted, uh, drugs and all that horrible stuff that comes with that lifestyle. And then all the physical challenges through, you know, open heart surgery, artery surgery, incredible surgeries, but no weapon formed against him will prosper. Now we're aware of the schemes of the enemy. These schemes are serious, I mean, these schemes are out to destroy us. Being aware of these schemes and fighting these schemes, and rebuking these schemes, and claiming the blood of Jesus and doing spiritual warfare is very, very, very, uh, important. And so, I want to thank you. Uh, the name of the book again, folks, is Redeeming Your Past, Finding Your Promised Land by Dr. Ray Self. It's on Amazon.com. Uh, God bless you so much, Napoleon, you've been such, such a treat. The enemy was attacking during the show, actually. All kinds of stuff happening…

Napoleon: Yeah, ha ha. 

Dr. Ray: …and it just dawned on me, this is an important show because I was being hammered with all kinds of stuff in the background that had to be taken care of. I'm going, “All right, stop this in Jesus’ name, this is an important show.” So you know, you've been a blessing, so thank you so much, Napoleon. 

Napoleon: You're welcome, sir. 

Dr. Ray: And uh, Ma– Napoleon Munos, Syracuse, New York, a student of International College of Ministry. Lord, we thank you for this time together and for everyone listening to the show. I pray this will be a blessing to them. Amen and amen. Thanks, everybody, for listening.

[Music]

Thank you for listening to my– episode 206; hard to believe we've done that many episodes. I really love Napoleon, he's been through a lot because he was sharing the story of his past and his redemption, and how God was faithful to him and how God delivered him out of so much stuff. Also, he's had incredible health problems and uh, heart surgery, open heart surgery, and uh, he is a survivor. I love his humility, I love his dedication, and of course, you know, as an author, it's really cool to hear him talk about my book and how many people hemshared it with. So thanks for listening. Matter of fact, if you want a copy of my book, Redeeming Your Past and Finding Your Promised Land, it's easy to get on Amazon.com. I appreciate you listening to my show. Please, please, please subscribe. Write a review, that helps us a lot. Uh, make sure, uh, you download and share this with your friends, um, that helps tremendously. If you'd like to contribute, we are a 501c3 nonprofit, the easiest way to do that is through my website, icmcollege.org/donate. Thank you so much for listening to Self Talk, and I am Dr. Ray Self, and may God richly bless and keep you. Amen.