I Want To Talk To You How You Got The Way You Are

 

I Want To Talk To You How You Got The Way You Are

Ministry Update December 8, 2019

While I was open-air preaching at Missouri State University on Wednesday, a student politely interrupted me and said, “I want to talk to you about how you got the way you are.” I assured him that I’d be happy to talk to him, but I was just getting ready to share my testimony and that would answer his question. Since I wanted all the students nearby to hear, I would go ahead and tell everyone how I became a Christian and then we could talk one to one. Surprisingly, he agreed and stood around for the next few minutes.

Before this young man came up to me, the first encounter of the day was the no one is listening mocker. I had forgotten my body camera, so I was setting the voice recorder on my phone and dropped it in my coat pocket. You never know what someone is going to claim you do or say, so it’s important to have some kind of documentation while open-air preaching. As I put the phone in my pocket, the young man yelled, “You aren’t supposed to use technology!” So I replied, “Why not?” He said, “You said so.” Then I had to explain that I’ve never said that and he must be confusing me with some other street preacher. The apostle Paul said by all means save some, so I believe in using technology. It is one way of many in  reaching lost souls with the Gospel.

Encouraged By Bicycle Ben

Immediately after that, I was pleasantly surprised when bicycle Ben stopped by. I said Hi to him and told him that I was surprised to see him. (Sometimes I see him when I’m witnessing downtown). Ben told me that he was off work that day and he was just out riding his bicycle. He didn’t want to interrupt me, but wanted to say Hi. I told him that he wasn’t interrupting me and that I’m always glad to see him.

Before he rode off, he told me that he wanted to show me something. Then he pulled out his phone and showed me where he prays for me and the ministry every Monday. He just genuinely wanted me to know that he prays for me every week. I can’t tell you how encouraging this is. I thanked him and told him that I really appreciated it and asked how I could pray for him. He told me and then he rode off.

After I shared my testimony with the students, I talked to Gilbert once again. He wanted to talk about how my “perception” interfered with others and he pointed out that what I do is confrontational (and it is). Then he proceeded to tell me that he’s not a religious person. Later on, he described himself as an atheist, even though he doesn’t like labels. So I explained to Gilbert that just like I said when I gave my testimony, that I walked an aisle, repeated a prayer and asked Jesus into my heart when I was a kid, but that I wasn’t really saved. Then when God saved me 12 years ago while reading the Bible, at that time, I repented of my sins and put my trust in Jesus. That’s what compels me to share the Gospel with others.

Do You Consider Yourself To Be A True Christian?

Gilbert then asked, “Do you consider yourself to be a true Christian?” “Yes I do”, I replied. His next question was “Why?” “Because I have repented from my sins and put my trust in Jesus Christ for my salvation.”   I explained to Gilbert that in Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus says that not everyone who claims to be a Christian, really is one. That’s why Jesus says, Depart from Me you worker of lawlessness, I never knew you. Jesus said that we will know His disciples by their fruit or works. Works don’t save us, but works follow salvation. Not to try to earn favor with God, but we do works when we are really saved, out of our love for God, who first loved us.

Gilbert said, “How do you know that?” “The Bible says so. The prosperity gospel says come to Jesus and your life will be all roses. This is a false gospel. We know this, because Jesus said that we will suffer trials and tribulations. So anything that goes against Scripture is false.” Then he made the observation that I talk in absolutes. So he wanted to know what church or who I follow. I told him that I follow the Bible. Then he protested that other people like the prosperity preachers say the Bible says something different. So I explained that’s why you have to read it yourself. If what someone says doesn’t line up with the Bible, then it isn’t true.

What About People In Other Countries?

Then Gilbert wanted to know about people in other countries who aren’t raised Christian. I used the example of Muslims to answer his question. God still reaches some Muslims. Romans 1 says that we can look around at creation and know there is a Creator. Then I reminded Gilbert that he told me that he is an atheist. I told him that Romans 1:18 says that he suppresses the truth in unrighteousness.

Gilbert shook his head yes, when I asked him if he had ever lied, stolen, lusted or coveted. I said, “You don’t want to be accountable to God, so you suppress the truth in unrighteousness. You know right from wrong because you have a God-given conscience. But you don’t want to acknowledge that you have sinned against God and that God is Holy and you are not. So you suppress the truth and say God doesn’t exist. That’s why you need to repent and trust Jesus”

When I offered Gilbert a Bible, he refused one and told me that he has plenty at home. I encouraged him to read it, if he’s searching for truth. He told me that he isn’t searching for truth. He’s just curious what people believe. I told Gilbert that my hope and prayer is that one day he will read the Bible humbly, asking God to reveal Himself to him. That he will want the truth and wrestle with questions like: Why are we here? What’s the purpose of life? My prayer also is that God will send other true Christians to Gilbert who will share truth with him and then one day, he will say, “Now I get it!” Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God will reveal His Holiness to Gilbert and show Gilbert his unrighteousness and that Jesus is the only Savior.

Pleasant Night Witnessing Downtown

Friday night was a very pleasant night witnessing downtown. There weren’t any mockers while open-air preaching. In fact, I had a couple of encouragers. One woman yelled encouragement from across the street. Then a couple was walking in front of me while I was quoting John 3:16. The man looked up at me, smiled and said ,”Amen.” After I finished the message, I handed out tracts. Many refused tracts, but several others took one. Deidra came up and encouraged me. She thanked me for being out there, then shook my hand and after that she hugged me. I handed her a tract and she thanked me and offered me a cookie.

As she walked away, she read the Bible verse on the front of the tract where Jesus said come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest. She turned around and told me that she’d had a rough day and this was what she needed. So I asked her if I could pray for her and she said sure. She walked back over and I prayed for her. Then she hugged me again. Deidra appears to be a Christian, but if she’s not, I pray that God will save her. If she is already saved, I pray that God will grant her peace and draw her closer to Himself.

(These updates are given to encourage Christians to share the Gospel with others)