Beautiful Stories From Downtown

God has really blessed us downtown as we continue to share the gospel. Let me share some stories that are fresh on my heart, and then I will update you on the Ocean City trip which was most blessed as well. All glory to Him!

THIS FISH WAS RIGHT NEXT TO THE BOAT

As I approached my spot in front of the courthouse where I normally set up, I noticed a gentleman leaning against the wall. Before I even pulled my supplies out of my cooler, I asked him if he wanted a bracelet. Over he came!

Ricky's responses were textbook. He hoped he would get into Heaven because he was good. He understood he wasn't good after we went through the ten commandments. He thought he could justify himself inside of God's courtroom by 'not doing those sins' and 'not doing them again.'

I explained the person and work of Christ to Ricky. When did Ricky want to place all of his trust in Christ?...'Right now.'

"HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I PUT MY TRUST IN HIM."

His prayer to God at the end..."THANK YOU...FOR SAVING ME."

FROM DOWNTOWN TWO YEARS AGO

As if that wasn't a blessing enough, over came Amie. She seemed excited to see me. Go figure. Amie told me that I had shared with her two years ago. She agreed to review the colors with me.

Amie's response was also pretty textbook...'80% sure because she had a good heart and did good works.' Did she measure up? Was she good enough? We were about to find out.

The good person test (ten commandments) showed her that she wasn't. She understood the penalty was hell. What would keep her from God's electric chair? Surprisingly, she immediately responded...'Jesus Christ!'

Also surprisingly, Amie immediately knew that Jesus was God. I explained that if she lifted up her goodness as the basis of her acceptance with God, God would point out all of her sins and she would go to Hell. She needed to lay down all of her goodness recognizing that she was a liar, thief, adulterer, murderer, and blasphemer and only trust in the person and work of Christ alone.

When did Amie want to transfer her trust?...'Right now.'

'HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.'

Amie told me that her heart now felt happy.

FROM J.M.U. A WHILE BACK (A WHOLE LOT OF TEARS)

Our good Lord kept blessing me. A young lady came out of the courtroom talking on her phone. I did have a thought, 'Don't interrupt her conversation.' I ignored that thought. I am really glad that I did.

Jessica told me that I had shared with her before at James Madison University where she worked as an employee. Jessica also allowed me to review the message with her.

Jessica was 50/50 she would go to Heaven 'if she walked by faith and a few other things.' Did Jessica measure up? We were about to find out.

As we went through the law, I noticed tears beginning to form in her eyes. She actually commented, 'I'm going to Hell.'

What would keep her from God's electric chair?...'my behavior...change my behavior'. She actually kept coming back to this. I believe the Spirit was dealing with her heart. Did she need to change? Sure. Would that save her? No. Only Christ could.

God the Son had already sat in her electric chair. He had already paid her 'spiritual death' fine on the cross. When did she want to transfer her trust to Christ alone...'Right now.' More tears came from this precious soul as we prayed.

'HE DIED ON THE CROSS AND TOOK ALL MY SINS AWAY.'

Her prayer at the end really blessed me...'PLEASE GUIDE ME AND LEAD ME SO THAT ONE DAY I CAN BE RE-UNITED WITH YOU AT THE WEDDING YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME.'

THEY HAD JUST BEGUN PRAYING ABOUT A CHURCH

God orchestrates all of this. What a blessing to see Him work and to be an instrument that he uses. Dusty and Samantha told me...

'THIS IS CRAZY. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS. TWO TO THREE WEEKS AGO WE ASKED THE LORD TO GUIDE US TO A CHURCH. I JUST CHANGED MY WORK SCHEDULE SO I COULD GO TO CHURCH. HE'S COMING SOON AND WE NEED TO BE READY.'

Yes, God was drawing this precious couple but they still needed to hear the gospel from someone. Both initially thought they would make it to Heaven because they were 'good'. They thought they measured up.

The good person test showed them they didn't measure up. What would keep them from God's electric chair?...'We'll follow Him and we will confess.'

Both commendable things but both things they thought would save them. If a criminal said, "I will start dong the right thing and I will admit to all my wrong' would that justify him?

God the Son had already done it for them...His person and His work. What was their part?...'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.' When the invitation was given, I received the same response...'Right now.'

'HE PAID FOR OUR SINS.' (Samantha had tears in her eyes)

Their prayer at the end...

Samantha...'THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR ME.'

Dusty...'THANKS FOR SAVING US TODAY.'

All of this happened last Thursday. Let me share some of Wednesday's stories as well. They also were beautiful. I am so blessed.

UNAMENABLE TO AMENABLE

Just like Thursday, when I showed up Wednesday there also was a fish right next to the boat. Wednesday's fish was not as amenable as Thursday's fish. Turns out, this fish had already been caught.

When I offered this lady a bracelet, she declined. When she declined, it seemed like she was a little bit offended and irritated with me. My thought in my heart was also less than holy, 'Here's someone else that doesn't understand what I do and doesn't like me.' I guess I was judging her as well. 'Love thinketh no evil...'

The good Lord was merciful to both of us. Here is what happened...

She walked up the courthouse steps and stayed there quite some time. Long enough for her to watch me share with a young girl eight years old. This changed everything.

The little girl wanted a bracelet and mom gave me permission to share with her. Mom actually told me that she taught the colors in her church as a youth leader. When I asked the little girl why God would let her into Heaven, mom answered for her...

"Remember the good things that you did for your friend yesterday...'

Many people in the church, even leaders, don't understand the gospel. I just focused on the little girl, thankful that mom gave me the opportunity.

I shared the children's presentation. I noticed that the lady who did not seem to like me began to warm up to me. She was even smiling. I thought, 'Well, it is probably because I am speaking to a child and most people smile around children.'

It is interesting how insidious the flesh is. I really was feeling good now because this lady appeared to be appreciating and even liking me. When I got to the point about hell as I was sharing with the little girl, I was tempted to 'tone it down' not wanting to lose the approval of my audience. Phooey on me.

I am glad that I didn't. I just used the word 'hell' as the punishment for this little girls sins. Mom didn't yell at me. Other lady seemed unfazed.

Well, the little girl understood that she had been trusting in her good to go to Heaven. If she wanted to go, she needed to instead trust in Christ alone. When did she want to do this...

'Right now.'

This little girl prayed and told me...

'HE CAME INTO ME HEART.'

Mom and daughter left and then almost immediately Chris came out of the courthouse. The lady on the steps got to witness this encounter as well.

Chris was a very humble man. He actually crouched down in humility as I began to talk about the gospel. Chris was a very special man who was just confused.

He talked about how he 'had changed' and 'had a personal relationship with God.' He also talked about 'doing better' and 'spreading His Word'. However, Chris was not sure that he was going to Heaven.

What was the problem? Chris was mingling works with faith as the basis of his justification with God. I didn't know if he had already been saved but was mired in Galatianism, or if he had never been saved at all. It's best not to ask the question. Just share as you normally do.

At one point after going through the law, when we were in the courtroom, Chris became frustrated. He didn't know the answer of how he could be justified with God. It's best not to give them the answer too soon or they won't understand the gospel.

Chris got up from his crouched position and spoke up...

'I'M VERY SORRY SIR BUT I AM GETTING CONFUSED. YOU ARE A VERY NICE PERSON AND YOU NEED TO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING. THE PROBLEM IS ME. I HAVE 'ADD' AND I JUST CAN'T COMPREHEND. I NEED TO GO NOW.'

Usually, when someone wants to leave, it's best to let them go. However, my heart went out to Chris as I knew that he was very sincere. I knew that if I just went a little farther with him he would probably understand and we would have our breakthrough.

I spoke up, "I'm sorry Chris. Anyway you could give me just 2 more minutes?"

Chris actually crouched down again and allowed me to finish. We went through the person and work of Christ and he began to understand. Chris was to trust in Christ's work alone to be justified with God.

The breakthrough came when I shared the dessert illustration...

"If I paid for your favorite dessert, and you tried to pay the cashier again, what would you be saying about my payment?"...(Didn't value it)

"Who has already paid for you sins?" (God) When you try to pay with anything you do, what are you saying about his payment?...(Didn't value!)

The light came on for Chris and he actually hopped up off of the ground...

'I GET IT NOW SIR! I UNDERSTAND! THANK YOU!'

Chris went to shake my hand and to leave. I didn't want him to go without the close. I told him I was almost done. Chris understood that he had been trusting in himself and that meant hell. He needed to trust in God alone.

I asked him, 'When do you want to trust in God alone?" (His response blessed me)

'About 3 minutes ago.' (With the heart man believes unto righteousness...

I still wanted to pray with him...(with the mouth confession is made unto salvation)

Chris prayed and then told me...

'HE SAVED ME. I HAVE ETERNAL LIFE RIGHT NOW. MY HEART FEELS GREAT...PEACE'

Chris was really happy and thankful when he left. If you look closely in the picture, he has tears in his eyes. What a precious soul!

By now, the lady on the stairs really seemed to like me. She came over and said something like...

'I'm sorry sir. I didn't know what you were doing here. This is amazing. I was just telling my husband on the phone what was going on.'

I told her that I was sorry for having wrong thoughts about her as well.
This story would get even better.

Not too long after, a young man came out of the court and began talking with this lady. I knew that I now had her favor. Both were looking over at me as they were talking.

I asked the young man, a J.M.U. student, if he wanted a free bracelet. He was excited to get one and came over. Long story short, after hearing the gospel Stephen wanted to place all of his trust in Christ alone. He told me, "GOD SAVED ME.'

Well, as you can imagine, by now I really had favor with this lady. In fact, she had been on the phone again while I was sharing with Stephen. I imagine that she was reporting to her husband again what was taking place.

The story would get better...

A short time later, out of the courthouse came three other young men, also J.M.U. students. All went over and talked with the lady. Yes, I offered them each a bracelet. Yes, they all came over to hear the message. Stephen stayed talking with the lady.

One of these young men was her son, Ben. The other two were Isaac and Reese. All had gotten into some sort of trouble at J.M.U. These three were very eager to receive the bracelet and also really wanted to know how they could be 100% sure they would go to Heaven.

Ben had a Christian background but was not sure he would go to Heaven. The other two mentioned their goodness as the reason they would get in. All heard the gospel and when the invitation was given told me...

'Right now'

They told me, 'God saved me' Their prayers at the end really blessed me...

Isaac...'THANKS FOR LEADING ME HERE AND LETTING ME TRUST YOU AS MY SAVIOR.'

Reese...'THANKS FOR SAVING ME AND I'LL SEE YOU IN HEAVEN ONE DAY.'

Ben...THANKS FOR THIS WONDERFUL MESSAGE FROM THIS MAN. THANKS THAT I PUT MY TRUST IN YOU TODAY.'

Needless to say, by this time mom really seemed to like me.

Here is Malachi. After putting his trust in Christ, he said...

'I GAVE MY LIFE TO HIM. MY HEART FEELS OPEN, HAPPY, AND PEACE.'

ONE THOUSAND PERCENT SURE

Here is J.C. He came right over to talk with me. He was so ready. He said initially that he needed God to, 'save me from my sins.'

After hearing the gospel and the invitation he replied that he wanted to trust Christ...

'RIGHT NOW.'

'HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.''

How sure was he now that he would go to Heaven?

'1000%'

Listen to his prayer at the end...

'THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE AND I'M SO GLAD THAT I PUT ALL OF MY TRUST IN YOU.'

The previous week downtown was blessed as well with some amazing stories too, but I have shared enough for now. Lots of love to all. Thanks for your support.

ALL GLORY TO GOD!

I AM BLESSED.

AMEN.