Blessed At Ocean City...

Next week, it looks like we have the beach house again and thus, Lord willing, I will be heading back to Ocean City. I covet your prayers.

Last week was a taste of Heaven on earth for me. What a blessing! Thanks for your prayers!

To share the gospel with multitudes on the boardwalk and see them respond was blessing enough.

But when we get to do it with other evangelists it is definitely icing on the cake. Thankful for our team here and Erik's team there!

Did I mention living together in the same house for four days? Singing together, eating together, praying together, and sharing together...

Well, that was the cherry on the top.

Erik Dressel brought his team from Baltimore: Bill and Donna, Sam and his daughter Emma, Gerald, Pirijo, and Val. Paul came down from New Jersey. Others had already come and gone by the time I arrived, this group including another evangelist friend also by the name of Paul.

Erik preached up and down the boardwalk as led by the Spirit, with his microphone, 'real deal Brazil' hat, and speaker. Erik's preaching, unlike some other open air preachers, is very 'rosie, fresh, and winsome' in accordance with the Hebrew word for 'good news' in Isaiah 52:5. His preaching, and that preaching there referred to, is a 'proclamation of victory'.

Bill and Donna faithfully handed out countless fallingplates.com light blue wristbands. One day, Bill placed a large bag of ten individually wrapped containers of caramel corn next to me to give to people as I shared the gospel with them. Thank you Bill.

Sam told me a story of two young men, who, after hearing the gospel and the invitation from him, dropped their heads in surrender and said, 'It's time'. Sam stood next to me and helped me share quite a bit.

Gerald followed the leading of the Spirit. Some days he passed out bracelets. Other days he played his guitar in worship. One day I looked up and he was carrying a cross down the boardwalk! Amen!

Paul from New Jersey had a large sign: COME TAKE THE HEAVEN TEST! Many came and heard him proclaim the gospel. One group of three listened to him two days in a row, and then listened to me the next day. Having heard it three times, they were ready to trust in Christ.

I sat on my pull behind cooler and shared the gospel with many. This time, I brought three chairs which were set up in front of me for people to sit down in and listen to the gospel. I had our bracelets adorning a 'wooden display tree', which I held out to people as they passed by proclaiming...

"Would you like a free bracelet?"

Here are my favorite stories from the time we shared. Typically we shared for two to three hours in the afternoon. Then, after returning for dinner, we would go back to the boardwalk and share for a few more hours at night.

FORGIVE ME FOR NOT BELIEVING...(John 16:8,9)

The very first two that I shared with were young men, Adam and Seth. They were so receptive and hungry that I probably spent 30 -45 minutes with them. The seed really seemed to sink in.

Both were initially unsure of going to Heaven: 60%, 99%. Basically, like many people, they had done some bad things and were 'hoping' their good would outweigh their bad.

Adam and Seth humbled themselves when they heard the law: liar, thief, adulterer, murderer, blasphemer. They admitted they had done these things, but still thought they might get into Heaven because 'I still think I'm better than others'.

James 2:10 to the rescue, "For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws." (NLT)

Even after hearing that, they still thought that 'their good deeds would outweigh their bad'. To address this, I offered two ideas...

One. If you got a speeding ticket just on one day, and told the judge that you hadn't sped the other 364 days in the year, what would he say? Remember, that's 364 to 1! That's a lot of good outweighing the bad, isn't it? (Sorry, guilty.)

Two. "Our best efforts are grease stained rags." (Isaiah 64:6) (Message)

So, on the one hand you have all the bad...liar, thief, adulterer, murderer, blasphemer. On the other hand you have all of your good...which is just a 'grease stained rag'. Is God going to accept this? (Certainly not.)

Adam and Seth got the point. They had nothing in and of themselves to commend themselves to God. They needed to place their trust in another: God the Son.

So, I preached the person and work of Christ to these two young men. Then, I gave them the dessert story...

"If I bought your favorite dessert at Walmart and gave it to you as a gift, would you try to pay for it again? If you did, what would you be saying about my initial payment? (Not enough) How would that make me feel?" (Not trusted, bad)

Adam and Seth understood the gospel. They understood that they had been trusting in themselves. Both needed to 'repent' and trust in Christ alone.

I gave the invitation..."When do you want to trust Christ alone?"

'NOW.'

ADAM: 'HE SACRIFICED HIMSELF FOR ME.'

SETH: 'HE SAVED ME.'

When we prayed before they left, I was blessed by their prayers...

ADAM: 'I AM SORRY FOR NOT BELIEVING IN YOU. I TRUST YOU NOW.' (And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin...Of sin, because they believe not on me;) (John 16:8,9)

SETH: 'GOD, I'M GOING TO DO BETTER NOW. THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO. I TRUST IN YOU.'

FAVOR FROM MOMMA BEAR AND FOUR CUBS...

Next was a group of four young teen aged girls: Alicia, Alex, Tila, and Catherine. All were less than 100% sure...75, 60, 60, and 50. Three had no idea why God would let them into Heaven. Tila said, 'I love God'. (We must not trust in our love, we must trust in His blood.)

All were excited to get a bracelet and hear the message. At one point, momma bear came over to check me out. Apparently I passed, as she smiled and nodded approval as I shared with her girls.

Alicia teared up as I shared. God had been dealing with her, and she said that someone had asked her these questions before in New Jersey. Mom seemed pleased that I was sharing with her.

I asked them, "What are some sins we do?" They mentioned lying and stealing, but said they had never stole. I asked, "Ever cheat on a test?"

'YEAH!' There was an openness and a joy as we shared. "What does that make you!" They exclaimed, 'THIEVES!'

When I explained that hatred was murder in the heart before God, one of them shouted...

'WE'RE MURDERERS! I'M DOWN TO 30%!'

None understood that Jesus was God. They acknowledged him as 'the Son of God', understanding the trinity as 'God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit'.

Upon expounding on that..."GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT', and sharing John 1:1,14, they professed that He was indeed God. Mom was still pleased.

What would keep them from God's electric chair? They said 'change'. If mom came to punish them after they did wrong, would promising to change get them out of the punishment? No.

I preached Christ. He had already paid for their sins on the cross, and the resurrection receipt proclaimed, 'PAID-IN-FULL!"

Did they each understand that they had initially beentrusting in themselves? Yes.

Were they ready to repent, that is,transfer their trust from themselves as Savior, and only trust God as Savior? Yes.

We prayed. The girls told me...'HE CAME INTO OUR HEARTS AND WE TRUST HIM.'

When we closed in prayer, the girls each individually told the Lord, 'I TRUST YOU'. Two added, 'I LOVE YOU TOO.'

THE 'ARK' GOT SAVED!

The last one of the night was really special. Ark, (real name Noah), Isaiah and Jay sat down to hear the message. Isaiah and Jay were already saved and were mentoring Ark, who was not yet saved.

At one point, sensing the Holy Spirit, Isaiah and Jay moved aside so I could focus entirely on Ark. Ark had been raised a Catholic and had lived a very rough life. He mentioned that the Lord had taken two very special people from him: his grandmother and his best friend.

Ark confessed that he had lived on the streets all of his life and that was the only life he knew. He actually went to prison for two years because he 'wouldn't nark on his friend'. This is the one who eventually died.

I managed to get through the entire gospel, which took some time, as Ark was sharing a lot along the way. This soul, which was most precious to Jesus, shed quite a few tears along the way. When we got to the end, and I gave the invitation, Ark had a lot more to share with me. One of the things he said was...

'YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I'VE SINNED.'

I listened as Ark unburdened his heart. I explained that those who had sinned were qualified to be saved, and in fact, those who had sinned the most were in a sense the most qualified to be saved. The only unqualified ones were those who thought they were 'good enough'.

When I gave the invitation again, his response was a joy to my heart, wanting this suffering soul to experience the love of Christ...

'YES'

After prayer, Ark enthusiastically proclaimed that he was now '100%!' sure. I asked him 'when' he had eternal life, to which he again responded with overflowing joy...

'NOW!'

Ark went off rejoicing with his mentors Isaiah and Jay. They would take it from here.

Oh, and I almost forgot, guess who turned 21 this day? Ark! So, we got to sing him 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' twice, once for his physical, and twice for his spiritual. He actually blessed me with $5, but I decided to bless him more on his birthday with $21. (Ark's in the middle of the pic)

THE MIRROR ILLUSTRATION

Cam was a 25 yr old Marine who had served for 5 years. He was 85% sure he would go to Heaven because 'I have lived a good life.'

Was it good enough? To find out, we took the good person test. After looking at five of the ten commandments, Cam acknowledged that he indeed fell short.

What would he do now?...'Do better'.

As I have shared before, the default setting in the human heart is 'trusting self to be saved.' Use the mirror illustration...

Had Cam ever played in the mud? (Yes) What did the mirror tell him? (Dirty) How did he get clean? (Take a shower)
Would he ever take the mirror off the wall and try to clean himself with the mirror? (No!)

The ten commandments are simply a mirror, revealing the fact that we are dirty. (Romans 3:19,20) Don't rely upon the mirror (commandments) to be clean, hop in the shower! (Jesus)

I preached the shower to Cam, the person and the work of Christ. Cam wanted to trust in Christ alone to be clean and we prayed together.

'HE PAID. I TOOK A SHOWER.'

'I TRUST YOU.'

WHY WOULD GOD FORGIVE YOU?

Nate and Jack were hoping to get to Heaven because 'God forgives'. Does He forgive everyone? (No, some are in Hell.)

Why would God forgivethem? They had no idea, but the answer would get them to 100% sure.

Their friend kept trying to call them as I shared. At one point, they spoke up...

'OUR FRIEND CAN WAIT.'

If they got a $100 speeding ticket, and said, 'Please forgive me', but didn't pay the fine, would the judge let them go? No.

God had paid their 'spiritual death' penalty at the cross, and the resurrection receipt proclaimed, 'PAID-IN-FULL!'

God would forgive them, not because they 'asked', but because they 'believed', that is, they 'trusted' in Christ alone.

Both wanted to trust in Christ alone and prayed...

They told me...'HE FORGAVE US. I TRUST HIM.'

They told the Lord...

NATE...'THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. I BELIEVE.'

JACK...'I WAS GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING.'

Both were very thankful...

THEY HEARD IT THREE TIMES...

Friend and fellow evangelist Paul Collins had shared with Andrew, Riana, and Jonathan two nights in a row before I shared with them.

As I went through the message with them, it was as if they had heard this before. Yes, indeed they had, twice to be precise. Thank you Paul.

All were initially unsure about going to Heaven, but after hearing it the third time, they wanted to place all of their trust in the person and work of Christ alone.

'HE SAVED US.' (They understood that they had eternal life, 'now'.)

IF THE 'ARK' GETS SAVED, SHOULDN'T THE ANIMALS AS WELL?

Sometimes I get into a rut. That is, I say over and over again, 'Would you like a free bracelet?"

When I relax and have fun it works better. Sometimes I say, "Nice shirt.' Or, 'Can I have one of your french fries? Just kidding.'

This group, Shaquelle, Xara, and Wanda, actually had already walked passed me but I still gave it a shot...

'I'll trade you a bracelet for one of your stuffed animals!'

They came over!

I started using our ice-breaker jokes again. Joy came. Freedom. We all had a blessed time here.

None were initially sure. All heard the law and submitted. All heard the gospel and wanted to trust Him alone.

We were having so much fun that I asked Shaquelle and Wanda if their stuffed animals wanted to get saved too.

They asked the animals and told me they wanted to get saved too. (lol)

'HE SAVED US'.

HIS JOY BROUGHT MORE...

When the joy came, it brought others. I had a group of four that really seemed to be understanding. Again, the freedom and joy were out of this world.

This joy brought four more. I had a decision to make. Continue sharing with the first four, or go back to the beginning and start over for the second four.

I chose the latter. Well, the second four had question after question, even becoming argumentative. At some point I lost the joy.

The first group of four walked off. Then, this group walked off. I felt bad. It wasn't so much that they had walked off, as it was that I had seemingly lost the joy.

A lady named Lita who had recently moved with her husband to Ocean City had been watching us share the gospel for several hours. When she saw the first four walk off, she knew they were ready to receive, so the Spirit prompted her to go over and finish sharing the gospel with them. Lita was able to lead these four to Christ. Amen!

Two more came, Madison and Shelby. Madison sat, Shelby stood, very apprehensive. At some point I thought they each were going to bolt.

So, at the end of sharing the gospel, I just threw it out there...

"WHEN would you like to put your trust in Christ alone?'

"RIGHT NOW."...That was Shelby!

The next day the joy came back. Ice breaker jokes. Diagnostic questions. The law and the gospel were shared. I had several groups of four and five.

Some wanted to receive. Some declined. But, all were thankful. Even the ones who said 'no' shook my hand and said 'thank you'. Some looked me right in the eye with much sincerity and told me they really appreciated it.

There was joy and love. Whether or not they received was not the issue. I had shared the truth with love and joy. I was edified and encouraged and they were too.

GOOD ENOUGH FOR GOD?

Gavin, Seth, Storm, and Cali all thought they were 'good persons' In fact, two of them were so confident of that, they were 100% sure that God would let them into Heaven because of that.

All admitted to being 'good' in their own eyes. They also admitted to being 'good' in the eyes of others. Were they 'good' in the eyes of God? Good enough in the eyes of God? Were they 100% sure they were 'good enough' to get in?

We took the 'good person' test. Like everyone else, they failed. If they asked God to let them in because they were 'good', they now understood that they would not make it.

They needed to repent. They thought this had reference to their sins. No, it had reference to their goodness. That is, the goodness they were trusting in to get to Heaven.

They needed to acknowledge that they were not good and were not able to save themselves. Instead, they needed to trust in another: God the Son. Change their minds, transfer their trust, and let Him save them.

All four heard and all four wanted to trust in God alone. We prayed...

'HE SAVED US.'

Listen to what they each told the Lord in prayer...

'THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. YOU HAVE MY HEART.'

'THANK YOU FOR ETERNAL LIFE. I LOVE YOU.'

'THANKS FOR ETERNAL LIFE.'

GREAT DEPRESSION ILLUSTRATION...

Dejuan and Trey were both hoping they would get to Heaven because 'God forgives'. Why would He forgive them? No idea.

Share the law and the penalty for sin. Then, use the Great Depression illustration to bring clarity.

"During the Great Depression, a grandmother stole a loaf of bread to feed her three starving children. The judge loved her and really wanted to forgive her. However, the store owner objected, stating that they needed to be punished according to the law. If not, everyone would steal. A good judge must punish in accordance with the demands of the law."

"God loved Dejuan and Trey. God really wanted to forgive them. However, He had to punish them (spiritual death) because they had violated His law. 'Please forgive me' would not pay this debt."

The solution? Dejuan and Trey did not know.

"The judge looks at the store owner (the law) and says, 'How much for the bread?' '$10' "The judge pays the fine for the woman! He now can forgive, not because she 'asked', but because THE FINE WAS PAID!"

"Who paid your 'spiritual death' payment?"...GOD THE SON!

"Why can God now forgive you?"...HE PAID!

"What do you need to do?"...TRUST HIM!

Fellow evangelist Sam had been watching this encounter. He saw the same thing I did. As soon as they both grasped this truth, you could see the light bulb come on as understanding came. You could really see it with Trey...like a two by four between the eyes.

Both professed faith alone and prayed...

Both thanked God...

'THANKS.'

'THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW AND GIVING ME UNDERSTANDING TO TRUST IN YOU.'

"WHAT'S GOING ON OVER HERE?"

Jordan, Eve, and Liz came over and spoke up...

'We've been watching for awhile, and want to know what this is all about!'

Again, the Holy Spirit of love and freedom was moving and people were being drawn over.

I spent a lot of time with these girls, confident the Spirit had drawn them. We methodically went over the law and gospel, point by point. There was joy and love. I began to call Jordan 'River', Eve 'Garden', and Liz 'My sister' (I have a sister named Liz.)

At the end I gave the invitation...

"WHEN would you like to place all your trust in God?"

'Now! Right now. now.' (There was an eagerness and strong desire to get saved.)

After profession and prayer, the subject of 'guys' came up. In a nutshell, I explained how guys would tell them that they 'loved them', but they really only loved them 'for the physical component'.

Liz spoke up, "I'M GOING TO CALL HIM NOW AND TELL HIM NO!'

River...'I HATE THOSE KIND OF GUYS! I'M TIRED OF THEM!'

Good ole Sam was there, helping me to share...

BRING THE LITTLE ONES TO ME...

Finally, three young ones came over and wanted a bracelet. I hollered to the parents who were far off, explaining what we were doing and asking permission. Permission granted. What a blessing to be trusted with someone else's children.

Children don't buck the truth. "Let the little children come to me." They are not hardened and proud as adults are. When they hear it, most believe it and receive it.

Sin. They all understood. Penalty. Understood. They even understood that they had been trusting themselves and not God. (I am good. I will do better.)

Spiritual truths are understood with the heart, not the intellect. This is why many times children understand and adults do not. Years ago I shared with a four year old and was blown away by her understanding.

Jared, Dasani, and Kiera wanted to stop trusting in their 'good' and wanted to trust in Christ alone. They all understood that He is 'God'.

Mom, dad, and the really little one joined us for the picture...

SOLI DEO GLORIA! (JOHN 15:5)