Charles Spurgeon / John Wesley / George Whitfield

Listen to these quotes by these great men of God regarding gospel preaching...

"What marvel the devil does not love field-preaching! Neither do I: I love a commodious room, a soft cushion, a handsome pulpit. But where is my zeal if I do not trample all these underfoot to save one more soul?"...John Wesley

"No sort of defense is needed for preaching out of doors, but it would need very potent arguments to prove that a man had done his duty who has never preached beyond the walls of his meetinghouse."...Charles Spurgeon

"I believe I was never more acceptable to my Master than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields. Some may censure me; but if I thus pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. I never was more opposed and never met with so great success...The more I am bid to hold my peace, the more earnestly will I lift up my voice like a trumpet, and tell the people what must be done in them before they can be finally saved by Jesus Christ."...George Whitefield

"Be ready for subtle and negative words of "advice" from those who profess to love the Lord, but have no real concern for the lost. They will tell you not to elevate yourself, not to lift up your voice, and that it's "unloving" to condemn people by talking about sin. Call their bluff, by asking them to get up on the soapbox and show you how it's done, and they will usually back down.

The enemy's greatest weapon is discouragement, so make sure you memorize 1 Corinthians 15:58: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." Also, be familiar with the Book of Acts and how the disciples faced opposition at every turn to their preaching. You are an answer to prayer. "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." (Luke 10:2) Thank you for caring about the salvation of a dying world"...Ray Comfort

One day a lady criticized D.L. Moody for his methods of evangelism in attempting to win people to the Lord. Moody's reply was, "It is clear you don't like my way of doing evangelism. You raise some good points. Frankly, I sometimes do not like my way of doing evangelism. But I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it."...D.L. Moody.

What a high calling of God it truly is to preach the gospel! Here is how the Spirit moved last week. Enjoy.

I met Keith before I held the cross last Friday, May 22nd. Keith was very open and receptive to the gospel message. He didn't know where he was going to go when he died, but he wanted me to share how he could be 100% sure of going to Heaven.

Keith thought that 'changing' would satisfy God's justice. No. I explained to him that a payment needed to be made for that. That payment of course was God's blood with the resurrection receipt letting us know that it was paid-in-full.

Interestingly, after we prayed, Keith commented...

'HE CHANGED ME.'

Keith was staying at a local hotel. He separated from his wife of 22 years last June. He has stage 2 kidney disease and diabetes. When I placed my hands on his kidneys and prayed for healing, he told me that he felt 'warmth'.

Before I left to hold the cross, he shook my hand several times (no hugs right now), and told me with some tears in his eyes...(paraphrased)

"THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. I REALLY NEEDED THIS. I HAVE HAD SO MUCH ANGER, HATRED AND FRUSTRATION IN MY HEART AND HONESTLY, I HAVE BEEN ON THE VERGE OF EXPLODING."

The same day, as I was holding the cross, two young teens, Johnny (15), and Anthony (13), rode across the median on their bikes. I offered both of them a bracelet.

Johnny declined, but then proceeded to pull a few dollars out of his wallet. I accepted, wanting to be gracious and thankful.

I then explained that I really wanted to give him the bracelet, but at the very least, could I explain the colors? Johnny said 'yes'.

Both Johnny and Anthony were churched. They both were 50/50 they were going to go to Heaven. Both understood their sin as we went through the law. Both understood that they deserved hell.

Then Johnny spoke up, 'But that is what Christ's sacrifice is for...'

Yes, I then explained what God had done for them in Christ and how the work was finished and completely acceptable to God.

Both understood that Jesus is God, and that they had not been trusting Him alone for their salvation. Both repented (changed their minds) and trusted Him alone...

Johnny told me...

"HE ENLIGHTENED ME. SERIOUSLY, HE JUST REMOVED A BURDEN FROM ME. GOD ANSWERED MY PRAYER FOR A SIGN. I REALLY NEEDED THIS. BECAUSE OF COVID, I HAVE BEEN DRIFTING AWAY."

Anthony thanked God at the end in prayer...

"THANKS FOR ENLIGHTENING ME. I AM NOW GOING TO START TRUSTING YOU."

The very same day, later that afternoon, I was talking to my friend Jared Link from the church about how to most effectively minister to homeless folk.

I had just parked my ministry van downtown. As I was on the phone with him, I noticed a gentleman who kept looking at me and the side of the van, over and over again...

Jared agreed to pray for me and then he hung up...

I got out of the van and this man, Chris, asked me...

'What church are you with? I have a lot of problems, my life is falling apart and I really need someone to talk to.'

I told him that I had not had lunch yet (it was 3 p.m.), and that maybe we could talk over lunch. He explained that he did not have time for that right now.

So, I said, "How about if I spend a little time explaining what the colors on this bracelet means, that is the most important thing, and then you call me and we can talk at length some other time?"

Chris thought that was a good idea. I explained sin through the law (ten commandments) and he was humble and receptive to the truth...liar, thief, adulterer, murderer, and blasphemer.

He understood that he deserved hell, and like Keith, thought that if he 'changed', God would let him go. When I explained that would not work, he told me, 'I'll do better.'

Chris understood the person mentioned in his answer...'I'll change, I'll do better', was himself, and thus he was trusting in himself to get to Heaven.

Was he the Savior?... 'No.' Could he save himself?...'No.'

I preached the work of Christ to him, His death and resurrection, and he understood the person of Christ, that He is God incarnate.

Chris understood that for him to be saved, he needed to transfer his trust to Christ alone. I asked him when he wanted to do this...

'TODAY'.

I asked him, "Are you serious?"

'YES.'

So we prayed. After the prayer, he looked a little bewildered, and when I asked him what happened he said...

'I DON'T KNOW. BUT I FEEL DIFFERENT.'

I sensed in my heart that there was a change. I asked him when he had eternal life and he told me 'today', when he was 'born again'.

Then he told me...

'I HAVE SEEN YOU AND YOUR TRUCK HERE THE PAST WEEK. SOMETHING KEPT TELLING ME THAT I NEEDED TO TALK WITH YOU AND TODAY WAS THE DAY. THANK YOU.'

I just happened to park right next to him this day. Thank you for the prayers Jared.

My next encounter was the following Tuesday, May 26th. It was a rough one. It was a group of 3 who were in their early to mid 20's. Two were religious and claimed to be saved, but did not understand the gospel and were trusting in their works.

The other girl apparently had no religious training at all, and because of this, she was the one who was most interested and receptive. In fact, she quietly listened the whole time, but at the end, the unbelief and objections of her friends dragged all three of them away.

The next day I approached a group of five girls in their twenties in the downtown parking lot. Three were interested in the bracelet, while two stood off to the side and tolerated the whole thing.

Two said they did not believe at all (Amber and Madison), while Julianna said she was a skeptic. I sensed that her answer was because she wanted to fit in with her friends.

All three were gracious in allowing me to share the gospel with them. We talked about sin and hell. Julianna spoke up, 'We have to go now!'

I implored her to give me just enough time to share the solution with them. They did, and they allowed me to share Christ with them.

When I gave the invitation, Julianna said 'yes', but when she realized she had to pray in front of her friends, she declined.

As they were walking away, one of them spoke up...

'I GUESS WE ARE GOING TO HELL NOW!'

I spoke up, "YOU DON'T HAVE TO! TRUST HIM! HE LOVES YOU! BYE!"

Two hours later, as I was exiting my downtown office, I came back into the same parking lot...

and the Lord blessed me with the best one of the week.

Vans (young man) was sitting on the back on his truck. I approached somewhat sheepishly as I had been humbled by the three girls.

Vans was very kind and accepted the bracelet. He allowed me to ask him the million dollar question...

"O-100, how sure are you that you would go to Heaven?"

Vans did not know, but he said that he had 'started to do better.' I told him that I had some great news for him, but that I would only share with his permission.

Permission granted. In fact, he indicated that he really wanted to know. This always blesses my heart.

Vans said, 'Isn't it asking Jesus in your heart?'

I explained that it was, but that he really needed to understand some things regarding this, so that it would all make sense to him.

I needed to explain what that really meant. So many people who talk about 'asking Jesus in their heart', have no understanding of the gospel.

I explained sin through the law. Vans, like Chris, humbly received the truth, with no resistance. He understood that the penalty was hell, and that we all deserved that.

What was the solution for Vans?

He said, 'Ask Jesus in my heart?'

So, again, I told him that I would explain what that meant, and then he could be saved.

Vans told me that he had been 'starting to do better'. I explained that was a good thing, but that if he had gotten a $150 speeding ticket, and told that to the judge, what would the judge say?

Pay the fine. Vans 'doing better' would not get him out of the penalty of hell. It was what Christ had already done for him, when he paid his fine with his blood and rose again to give him the receipt...paid-in-full.

Vans needed to trust in Christ alone to be saved. Vans understood that Jesus was God, and that he had been trusting himself when we first started talking.

Vans wanted to trust in Christ alone and he prayed with me...

'HE FREED MY HEART AND PUT ME ON THE RIGHT PATH.'

Vans has a co-worker who has been talking to him about the Lord. He agreed that he would tell this lady, Gloria, what God had just done for him.

If you look at the back window on his truck, you will see a sticker...VANS. Notice his shirt...VANS. His shoes...VANS. He even told me that he had...VAN GO socks.

I spoke up with a big grin...

"WHY ARE YOU DRIVING A TRUCK? GET A VAN! COME ON MAN!"

We laughed. What a blessing to share with this young man. Thank you Jesus.

My next encounter was the very next day, Thursday, as I was walking out with the cross to the median. There was a young lady sitting in her car with the window rolled down.

The open window makes it easier, but you still have those thoughts...

'She doesn't want to hear. Leave her alone. Don't bother her.'

Thankfully, I was on the phone with my friend Rob Gilmer, and with that accountability, I knew what I needed to do...

Like Vans, Ileia, was very gracious and receptive. She told me that she was '70%' sure she was going to Heaven.

She told me that she had done bad things in her life, but was now doing better, which is why she was up to 70% sure.

Right away, what does this tell you that she is trusting? In her own works. Ileia is trying to cover her past sins with her present works. She just needs someone to explain the gospel to her.

A sinner's sins have been paid for. Their works haven't. We are called to 'repent from dead works.'

Like Vans, I asked permission. Permission granted. Unlike Vans, I tried something different at the suggestion of Rob Gilmer...

I told her that God really loved her and so desired that she become a part of His kingdom. Then, before I shared the law, I talked about how we all took medicine as a child. The medicine didn't taste good, but that it was good for us. I told her, 'Don't spit the medicine out!'

Then we talked about how parents make airplane noises and move the teaspoon of medicine around like an airplane to get the child to open up...

We laughed. I was having fun. Here comes the medicine Ileia!

She humbly received the medicine, the law revealing sin. No objections. She understood the penalty was hell and it was rightfully deserved.

Just like Vans, Ileia was trusting in her 'doing better' to get her to Heaven instead of trusting in what God had already done for her on the cross. Thus, she understood that she was trying to save herself, instead of trusting in Christ as her Savior.

Did she want to trust in Christ as her Savior?...'Yes'. Did she understand that Jesus is God?...'Yes.'

We prayed and she told me...

'HE CAME INTO MY LIFE AND HE'S ACTUALLY STARTING TO CHANGE ME EVEN NOW. MY HEART FEELS A LOT LIGHTER.'

Ileia told me that she was attending a local church. I believe that she had already 'repented for her sins', but that she needed to 'repent for her unbelief'.

God had prepared this young lady for this day.

A little while later, while holding the cross, I met Keeley and Nick. When I asked about them going to Heaven, they told me....

'We don't know. We're open. We're decent people.'

Maybe decent in the eyes of man, but what about in the eyes of God?

So, we took the 'good person test', and like the rest of us, they failed miserably. There was a lot of joy here, as I used the medicine/airplane children's illustration with them as well.

I shared Christ, and Keeley wanted to trust in Him, but Nick declined.

When I arrived downtown later on that day, I called a dear friend from the church, Scott Rhodes. Our men's prayer meeting that morning on ZOOM had prayed for him and I wanted to check in on him.

Well, guess who happened to be downtown at the same time that day? Yes, Scott.

As we were fellowshipping on the sidewalk, the Lord sent some folks to us. The first was Anthony.

Anthony is a young man (18) who recently graduated from high school. He attends the catholic church downtown with his aunt.

Anthony was confident that he would make it to Heaven because he 'didn't do drugs like his friends and was a good person'.

Anthony was humble enough the receive the truth that he might have been better than others (relative righteousness), but unfortunately, when compared to God (absolute righteousness), like the rest of us, he fell woefully short.

What was the solution? Trust in the righteousness of Christ, instead of his own righteousness.

"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith;" (Php 3:9)

"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." (Rom 10:3)

"Nothing can damn a man but his own righteousness; nothing can save him but the righteousness of Christ." Charles Spurgeon

Anthony wanted to trust in the 'right righteousness', and prayed with me...

'HE SAVED ME.'

Anthony thanked me several times before he left.

After Anthony, the Lord sent two homeless men, Ian and his friend. Both sat on the pavement and wanted to hear the gospel.

Ian opened up to me and shared some of his life with me. It was a blessing to hear about him. Ultimately, he was not ready to trust in Christ, so I prayed for him and his friend, whose name escapes me right now.

His friend had just listened the whole time, making a few comments. Well, before they left, I prayed for them. Then, I said...

"Ian, do you want to tell God anything?"...'No'

Then, I asked his friend...

"How about you?"

He prayed...'God save me.'

AMEN!

Finally, the next day, Friday, as I was heading out to the cross, I ran into a precious lady, Lecritia, whom I had seen previously on quite a few occasions.

Lecritia, like so many others, was not sure of going to Heaven, but wanted me to share how she could be sure.

She thought she might make it to Heaven because she 'was God's child'. So, I asked her how she became God's child and she said...

'I was born God's child.'

I had to explain to her that we are not all God's children, but that some belonged to Him, while others belonged to Satan. So, I shared the gospel with her.

She told me at the end that she wanted to be saved and place her trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

After we prayed, Lecritia then told God what was on her heart...

'THANK YOU GOD...FOR SAVING ME.'

I had five ones in my wallet. I gave her three, and figured I might need two.

SO THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE THE GOSPEL AGAIN. THANK YOU GOD.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!