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Rejoice. Now this is a word that the average person doesn’t use very often. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of rejoice is: 1. To give joy to or 2. To feel joy or great delight. Again, I’d say this is a word the average person probably doesn’t use or doesn’t use very often. But my friends and I are Christians, so chances are we probably use this word more often than non-believers. [Read more…]
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Does God hear your prayers? A lot of people pray to God. Some people claim to be spiritual and they’ve told me that they pray to God. Even professing Christians who after talking with them for a while, even they figured out that they really weren’t saved. That they had never truly repented of their sins and surrendered their lives to Jesus. Sometimes these same people fall back on, “I pray to God after I sin and He forgives me.” But is this really true? Does God hear their prayers? Does God hear your prayers? [Read more…]
Non-Religious Person Takes A Tract
Friday night was such a blessing to witness downtown with Chase, Austin, Joshua, Conner and his two kids, Michael and Matthew. At one point I tried to hand a tract to a young girl and she refused it and said no thank you. I normally don’t do this, but I asked, “Why did you refuse a tract?” She replied, “I’m not a religious person.” I told her the tract was for non-religious people. She looked quite surprised and took the tract. I hope and pray that she reads it. [Read more…]
Downtown Springfield, MO
In Mark Chapter 14, the Bible tells us of a woman that anointed Jesus before His death on the cross. The apostle John tells us that the woman who does this is Mary, the sister of Martha. I’ll read several verses shortly, but I’m asking you to notice that Jesus says these words: Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached.
Mark 14:3-9 states: And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat (a table), there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence (about a year’s wages), and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
First off, Jesus tells us that when this true story is relayed, the fact that Mary anointed Him with ointment before His burial should be retold as a memorial to Mary. This is important to Jesus. Mary did this to honor our Lord. It shows her love and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of her life. She poured a whole year’s worth of wages of ointment out upon Jesus. Can you say the same tonight? Those of us who profess to be Christians, do we have this kind of devotion to our Lord and Savior?
The second point is Jesus’ words: Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached. Jesus expects the Gospel to be preached, to be shared with others. How many times have you heard good-intentioned professing Christians say that they live their lives so others can see Jesus? In other words, they don’t have to share their faith in Christ, others will just see how they live and “know” that they are a Christian and somehow that’s going to also cause the other person to become a Christian.
But is that what Jesus said? Did He say just live your life and others will automatically come to Me too? No He did not! Jesus said, “Wheresoever this Gospel is preached.” This Gospel. Preached. Jesus expects us to use words and for us to share the glorious Gospel with others. This is what Jesus says to do. Yes, true believers are to live holy lives, but we must share the Gospel with others.
What is the Gospel? The apostle Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit tells us what the Gospel is in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
The Gospel is good news and that good news is that Jesus died for our sins just like His death was predicted in the Old Testament. Christ Jesus was buried and rose again from the dead on the third day, again, just like the Scriptures predicted in the Old Testament. The good news is that Jesus, the sinless Son of God took our punishment, the punishment that we deserve over our sins and He bore them as He hung on the cross where God poured His anger over sin out upon His own precious Son. People, like to talk about love (when they really aren’t talking about love at all), but this is true love!
Jesus takes your sins and carries them upon His shoulders as he hung on that cruel cross and God now imputes or credits you with Jesus’ righteousness. In other words, God no longer sees you or I as a wicked, vile sinner when we surrender our lives to Christ Jesus. But God commendeth (demonstrates) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
Salvation is offered freely even though it was a very costly gift, but you must receive it. You are not automatically saved just because Jesus suffered, bled and died in the place of guilty sinners like you and me. No you must receive this free gift.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
Romans 10:8-15 says: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek (Gentile): for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
The last two verses work into the third point, Jesus said, “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world.” Again, Jesus expects the Gospel to be preached or shared and he also said throughout the whole world. Sometimes we catch grief for sharing the Gospel in downtown Springfield, MO and at other places in this area. But Jesus said throughout the whole world. Springfield, MO is part of the world,
I have a friend who just spent several years in China with his whole family and they shared the Gospel while living there. It’s my understanding that they want to go back some day. I have another friend who has made several trips to Ukraine during the war with Russia and he’s also getting ready to head back there. Praise God for these men and many other Christians who are called and obedient to God to share the Gospel around the world. There are others of us that God calls to share the Gospel locally where we live. But share the Gospel we are called to do if we are true believers.
In Matthew 24:14 Jesus says: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. The apostle Paul says in Acts 13:47: For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Paul also states in Acts 20:19-24: Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
To me, the clearest directive from Jesus about sharing the Gospel with all the world is His words that He spoke after His resurrection. This is when Jesus told his disciples: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:15-16). Folks, this is the bottom line, if Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, then you are ALREADY damned! Judgement Day is not hearing date. No, it’s a sentencing date. Don’t continue rebelling against God.
Oh, don’t continue going through life with God’s wrath abiding on you. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36). Don’t continue barreling down that broad road to Hell. Instead, turn to Christ and live. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Cry out for God to have mercy upon your soul. Repent of your sins and surrender your life to Jesus. Do this today and be saved. Then, share the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ with others.
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfied, MO on September 2, 2022)
Chase And Austin In A Conversation
It rained all day Friday but quit around 5:30 pm or so and we only had few drops of rain while out witnessing and it didn’t start raining again until I was headed home. Chase, Austin, Joshua, Reed, Tyail and Michael joined me witnessing Friday night. Before we got started, Chase and I talked about him brining a message after I brought one. But the night was full of great conversations and Chase didn’t even get a chance to open air preach. But he was ok with that because Chase understands that we open air preach to get people to come over and talk to us and he had so many conversations that he didn’t get to preach.
Joshua In A Conversation While Tyail Holds Her Jesus Sign
I had a couple of drive by mockers while I was open air preaching and Michael was nearby handing out Gospel tracts. During that time, Joshua was in a conversation across the street and Tyail was holding her Jesus sign nearby. Reed was on another corner handing out tracts and Chase and Austin were handing out tracts and talking to people on a different corner. During my message, a guy walked up to me and said, “Take the bag.” I replied, “What’s in it?” He repeated take the bag and that time I told him that I wasn’t taking the bag. Then he smirked and said it was full of dog poop.
One Legged Woman Knocks Over Witnessing Sign
Friday night was one of those stranger than fiction nights and it’s hard to know where to even start. There were eleven of us witnessing downtown Friday night and there were several strange events, but one that I’ve never seen before was a one-legged woman walked up and knocked Trevor’s witnessing sign over with one of her crutches. The sign was leaning against a pole. The sign said Repent From Your Sin Turn To Jesus Christ. As the woman crossed the street, I yelled, “What did you do that for?” She said something along with claiming that she’s a Christian. I told her there’s no way that she’s a Christian. No true follower of Jesus would knock over a sign that says turn to Jesus Christ. She just kept mouthing off as she walked away. [Read more…]
Photo by John Thomas on Unsplash
Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). The perfect, sinless Son of God never sinned, not one time. Yet, He willingly laid down His life as a ransom for many. God poured His wrath over sin out upon His own precious Son as Jesus hung on the cross. Jesus died, was buried and rose again victoriously three days later. That’s right, Jesus rose from the dead. On the morning of His resurrection, several women came to anoint His body with spices and an angel asked the women this question: “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” [Read more…]
Photo by Diana Vargas on Unsplash
Toward the end of the night Friday night two couples walked by us and all four refused the tract I offered them. One of the ladies turned around and said, “Jesus loves you.” I said, “How do you know that?” She laughed and replied, “Jesus loves everyone.” Again, I said, “How do you know that?” I told her that Jesus said you must be born again (John 3:7) and He also said unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:3). The Bible doesn’t say that Jesus loves everyone. In John 14:21, Jesus says, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
Then the woman’s husband jumped in and said that he’s been baptized, that he goes to church and we are being judgmental. Please note being baptized doesn’t save you. Going to church doesn’t save you. Trevor was beside me and he tried to talk to the man, but the man just repeated what his wife said, that Jesus loves everyone and kept walking. This is exactly why we do street evangelism. Too many people believe in a “hippy-dippy Jesus” of their own making. They don’t believe in the real Jesus, the Son of God, the Jesus of the Bible. Jesus warned that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8). If Jesus loves everyone, why is there a real, literal, place of torments – Hell? There’s a literal, real Hell and all unbelievers are headed there. [Read more…]
Springfield, Missouri is the birthplace of Route 66. The city held it’s 10th annual Route 66 Festival celebration this last weekend. This was after a two year hiatus because of covid. I didn’t get to witness Friday night due to health concerns, but Trevor said that he, his wife Elly and their two girls witnessed at the event along with Chase and Michael.
Elly provided the following update of the night on a Facebook post: Thank you for praying for the Gospel outreach! Once the police came we spoke with them for probably over an hour while we held signs & continued Gospel tracting, especially the girls were little super tracters. The police spoke of the area being permitted but we kept on reminding them that it is open to the public and we are members of the public, no one had complained, and we weren’t selling anything, and many had thanked us for being there and many more took tracts (hundreds). I ultimately talked to the main officer until it was time for us to go anyways, and we tried to be amicable and respectful, and the officers were to us as well. A lot of tracting and sign viewing happened, praise the Lord! This pic taken at the beginning of the evening.
(Praise God for the update and favor with the police. These updates are provided to encourage Christians to share the Gospel with others)
Photo by Joshua Woroniecki on Unsplash
Most people have heard of Jonah and the whale. How God to Jonah to go witness to a large city of 120,000 people who were enemies of the Israelites and how Jonah disobeyed God. Then God sent the whale to swallow Jonah and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the whale. Again, most people know this true story. But do you remember which city Jonah was supposed to go witness to? Do you know what happened to that city after that? These are important questions because they point to the holiness and wrath of God.
God wanted Jonah to witness to the city of Nineveh. Jonah didn’t want to witness to them because they were Israel’s mortal enemies. The Assyrians (Ninevites) carried away captives out of Israel and Judah when they overran their countries. Jonah didn’t want to warn the enemy of God’s impending judgment.
No, Jonah wanted God to judge them and destroy them. So warning them was the last thing Jonah wanted. But after three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, Jonah decided to obey God. So Jonah went to Nineveh and it took him three days to walk through a city of 120,000 people and he warned them that God was going to destroy their city because of their wickedness. But from the king on down, they repented of their sins. They humbled themselves by putting on sackcloth. God did not destroy the city at that time.
This was approximately in the 8th Century B.C. But do you know what happened approximately 100 years later in the 7th Century B.C.? Nineveh was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar – by the Babylonians. They were God’s judgment against the Assyrians. The point is, the repentance of Nineveh did not last. They repented when there was danger of impending doom and destruction, but when they perceived the threat was over, they went back to worshipping idols and back to their wicked way.
Just because God doesn’t judge you today over your sins, doesn’t mean that you’ve gotten away with it. God is Holy and God does punish sin. The holiness and wrath of God is very real. Please listen to these words found in Nahum chapter 1: God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies. What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry (Nahum 1:2-10).
These verses clearly show the holiness and wrath of God. When the Bible says that God is a jealous God it doesn’t mean that he’s jealous like a jealous teenager over their boyfriend flirting with another girl. No, it means that we are to have no other little g gods before God, we are not to worship little g gods. We are to worship the one true God, the God of the Bible. These verses also say that God revenges. Vengeance is mine saith the Lord (Romans 12:19).
Oh do not be deceived tonight. God hates all workers of iniquity (Psalm 5:5). God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11). The soul that sins, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:4). The punishment for sin is death. We’ve all sinned and we all will die. You have a day that you were born and you will have a day that you will die. You and I cannot cheat death.
But as bad as dying is, dying in your sins dying as an enemy of God is the worst thing you can do. God punishes unrepentant sinners and those who die in their sins will suffer God’s righteous anger for all eternity. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape (Proverbs 19:5). Revelation 21:8 says: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but most people don’t fear God. Oh if Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, you should be very afraid. You should tremble and sleep should depart from you. Hell is real and everlasting damnation is real. Do not foolishly die in your sins as God’s enemy. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God (James 4:4). is
I hope that by hearing these Bible verses tonight that you realize that there is wrath to come. Don’t continue sauntering through life with God’s anger abiding upon you. God’s wrath over your unrepentant sin is very real. Flee the wrath to come. Repent and believe the Gospel.
Not only is God’s wrath very real, but so is His Holiness. The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein (Nahum 1:5). The mountains quake sounds very similar to when God descended down to Mount Sinai and gave Moses the 10 Commandments. Exodus 19:18 states: And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke (covered with smoke), because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Why does the Bible describe Mount Sinai as being covered in smoke and fire ascending as a furnace? Because God is Holy! Folks, most people don’t realize how Holy God is. A lot of people mistakenly bring God down to our level and/or elevate themselves to God’s level. In other words, they make themselves their own God. But this will not work in the end. God is Holy and it’s time that people recognize and understand this.
God is Holy. I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel (Psalm 71:22). For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour (Isaiah 43:3). I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King (Isaiah 43:15). Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? (Habakkuk 1:13).
More verses about God’s Holiness: There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God (1 Samuel 2:2). But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15).
Folks, there are many, many more verses in the Bible about God’s Holiness. Do not be deceived. God is Holy and without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). God is Holy, righteous and just. Because He is these things, He cannot tolerate sin. The only way to be in the presence of God is perfection. None of us meet this test. For we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.
That’s why we need a Savior and Jesus Christ is that only Savior. Jesus walked this earth 2,000 years ago and He did what you and I can’t do – He lived a perfect, sinless life. He is the only perfect, sacrifice for guilty sinners. Even though the Lord never sinned, He took the punishment, took the place of guilty sinners. That is for guilt sinners who repent and trust Him.
Jesus died on that cruel cross, was buried and rose again three days later. Oh, salvation is for all who repent and surrender their lives to Jesus. Will you do this tonight? Will you recognize that your sins have offend our Holy God. There is nothing that you can do to wipe out your sins. You can’t earn favor with God. You and I are guilty sinners and our only hope is to fall broken over our sins at the feet of Jesus.
Cry out for God to save you. Repent and believe the Gospel. Do this before you die in your sins and you find out about the Holiness and wrath of God when it’s too late. Those who die in their sins will spend eternity in Hell. Don’t do it. Come to Jesus and be saved. Turn to Christ and live. Then you receive God’s mercy and His grace. That’s grace and mercy that you do not deserve, yet you receive nonetheless, if you repent and trust Jesus to save you.
(This message was proclaimed in downtown Springfield, MO on August 5, 2022)