I learned they had gathered for a graduation ceremony and now began filing in through the entrance. Would this be a missed opportunity?
The first person I engaged in conversation was Absalom -- who was previously employed by the judicial office of the Master of the High Court which deals with deceased estates. I was surprised to hear from him that he is no longer employed there. The topic of his retrenchment was the springboard of our conversation which led me into proclaiming the Law and the Gospel of Grace to him.I handed out the “2010” and “Do You Think You Will RIP?” tracts to the pedestrian traffic as they were going about their business and I broke into mini-preach sessions and also attempted to engage some parties in conversation -- some brief dialogues were exchanged, some not. Please, if I can encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ who evangelize and those who have just popped in to read this blog, not everyone takes a tract so what I do is greet everyone with a hearty “How you doing?”, “Are you having a nice day?” etc., lift your voice to let people know you are out there in a friendly capacity and if a person ‘snubs’ you I enquire loud enough for others to hear “Please do make sure you know where you are going when you die?”, “Please don’t think you are in control of your life?” From my experience it makes people within earshot more aware of the ‘urgency’ of taking a tract -- some do and then again some don’t, but some people do jostle to get their tracts.
Then Claude (pictured here) happened by and received a tract. He had gone on his way and was half-way across the intersection when he decided to come back. I was happy to see him coming back -- and from our conversation he told me he is a new Christian of six months standing. He has wanted to witness for Christ but was afraid and not sure how to go about it. We spoke at length and I encouraged him to join us when we are on the streets and we would also contact him next time we have a group session with new evangelists. From our conversation, with the Royal Law, he was also convicted of something’s he has not let go of and I encouraged him that it is the working of the Holy Spirit as we all go through convictions at numerous times during our spiritual growth -- our faith is one of continual repenting and we need to be open to the teachings and convictions of the Holy Spirit. The question was asked again of me -- where do I attend Church? I told him that I do home Church and we are the temple not made by hands and that we were having Church right there -- “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20) Claude left encouraged and I ask that we pray for this brother that he will have boldness to come out into the Lord’s harvest as a faithful laborer.There were further 1-on-1’s with --
Valentine and James -- who professed to be Christians, but they were not sure if they were born again (John 3:3, 7) and who also did not know the meaning of repentance or what it meant to repent.
Michael -- who happened to be waiting under the shade of a tree for the pedestrian signal to change in his favour -- was asked whether he was waiting for someone -- for his efforts he received the Law and the Gospel of Grace and was thankful for it. When one thinks he is just waiting, he never quite knows what he is actually waiting for :) Thank you Lord Jesus.
What a day so far -- enter on the scene Sam from Pennsylvania USA. The conversation opened with me noticing a Star of David symbol on a chain around her neck -- just to make sure I asked her what the symbol represented. -- Ditto -- So I asked her if she is a Jewess. In the affirmative. From this point on the conversation became fragmented. I referred to the Law of Moses and the Torah and from the conversation that ensued she said she didn’t believe in the Torah or God. I said she must be an agnostic; this was the only thing she actually agreed with me. So, I tried the reasoning of a building being proof that a builder exists, a painting having a painter and naturally Creation having a Creator; Sam’s darkened understanding of all of this was to call it ‘circular reasoning.’ She could believe in a builder and a painter because she had met other builders and painters!! The point is, Sam had not met the builder of the building I referred to or the painting I mentioned, and neither had she met the God of the Bible. I engaged her in the proclamation of the Law and by her own admission she is a liar and a thief, but the mention of the Messiah’s name, Jesus, when I referred to Matthew 5:28: but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart -- had Sam ‘roll her eyes’.
I gave Sam this blogspot address and hope that she will pay a visit to see what is proclaimed here. Sam, although you did not want to complete the conversation or take a Gospel tract from me, but readily posed for photographs, think for a moment -- you traveled half way around the world to hear God’s Law. The Bible says -- For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). As a sinner who has violated God’s holy Law the Bible says you will be found guilty on the Day of Judgment before an infinitely holy and just God. If the God that you do not believe in rightfully gives you the justice you rightfully deserve as a lawbreaker (1 John 3:4) you will spend eternity in God’s prison hell. I plead with you to think about your eternal destiny. That would be the bad news.The Good News is, the God of the Bible is so rich in mercy that He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ -- conceived of the Holy Spirit born of the Virgin Mary -- fully God and fully Man and without sin to take your wicked and evil sins, and those of all humanity, upon Himself. He died a painful and bloody death taking the punishment of the full wrath of God upon Himself in your place. You, as much as I, deserve to be crucified and be cast into hell as the evil and wicked sinners we are. But Jesus –- God in the flesh –- paid a fine He did not owe for crimes He did not commit. That is how much God loves you. Please humble yourself before God and acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your depraved sins to Him, repent of (turn away and forsake) your sins and believe and trust in Jesus Christ and put your entire faith in Him alone. Then read the Bible and obey and live out what it tells you. The Bible says: The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. (Psalm 14:1) Sam, if you had stuck around long enough to hear the preaching of Romans 1:16-32 you would have realized this is for you as much as it was for me when I loved the world and hated God.
Some other witnessing –-
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Rene and George (siblings) who attend the Old Apostolic Church (Notice a flea-market taking place behind them -- this is an every Saturday occurrence).
Taking an unnamed man through the Law and then the Gospel.
Preaching Romans 1:16-32 (see Scriptures below).
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in righteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God; that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. ~ Romans 1:16-32
How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!” (Romans 10:15; Isaiah 52:7)(NASB) (My son Chad took this photo without me knowing as are most of the photos -- the photos are not to solicit praise for myself but to give Glory to Jesus for using me. I also thank my wife Tammy for her participation in handing out tracts and taking some photos)
Cee-Jay our grandson was there too!! Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)Please brothers and sisters in Christ, pray for God’s Divine intervention that each and every person who received a tract, had an ear to hear the proclamation of the Law and the Gospel of Grace, that they will not harden their hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to convict and convert them unto salvation and eternal life.
I thank our Lord Jesus for a wonderful day of fishing... see you in Part 2...
