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MINISTRY PROFESSIONS OF FAITH

DEC 11 COURT SQUARE 23
DEC 12 JAMES MADISON 14
DEC 13 CROSS LIGHT 00
DEC 12-15 MT. PL. BRETHREN 60
DEC 18 COURT SQUARE 23
DEC 20 CROSS LIGHT 01

God continues to move at our normal weekly events: downtown courthouse, James Madison University, and holding the cross. I have so many wonderful pictures and stories of people responding to the gospel.

Last week for three days, our ministry partnered with the Mt. Pleasant Church of the Brethren. We set up our booth and shared the gospel with people who were coming to view the live nativity Christmas scene. Johan Weiss, Karen Brooks, Pastor Dan King and yours truly helped 60 people at this event place saving faith in Christ alone.

I shared the gospel downtown this past Wednesday. It was a really special day. Because it is most recent in my mind, I will share the day with you. Enjoy.

TWO WHO WERE NOT READY

Braden was the first person with whom I shared. After hearing the gospel, he very politely told me that he was not ready to place his trust in Jesus, as he was not ready to 'give him the controls'. Braden was heartbroken that he had not been able to see his daughter in many years.

The only other person who did not want to receive was a young lady named Miranda. As we were going through the law (liar, thief, adulterer, murderer, blasphemer), she politely handed me the bracelet back and walked off. As Ray Comfort likes to say, "It was too hot in the kitchen for her." lol

The rest of my encounters were pretty amazing. Here goes...

STILL TRYING TO SAVE YOURSELF

Brenda told me she was 99.9% sure of going to Heaven because she 'believed in God'. Well, what does she mean by this? We have to dig a little.

She clarified, "God is real and He forgives."

Well, Satan believes that God is real, so that doesn't tell us much. Let's ask her, "Why does God forgive?"

"Because I am sincere and I am not mean."

Pay dirt. We now know that Brenda is basing God's forgiveness of her upon her own goodness.

What do we do now? Take her to the law (liar, thief, adulterer, murderer, blasphemer) and show her that she is not good. Then, take her into God's courtroom and show her that the penalty for her sin is death in Hell. Show her an electric chair with her name on it.

Brenda acknowledges her guilt and the penalty for her sin. Yes, she says she is concerned. What can she do now?

'Try to be a better person.'

The innate inclination to save oneself is deeply inherent. Boy, that's a mouthful. Makes me sound rather, erudite, eh? lol

In other words, the hardest thing for a human being is to finally get to the place where we really believe that there is absolutely nothing we can do to save ourselves. This is genuine repentance. We are helpless but not hopeless.

As long as I think that I can save myself, who then is my Savior?

Me.

So, I explained this to Brenda, and she acknowledged that she wasn't the Savior, only God was. However, she still didn't understand. Listen to her response to my following question...

"Can you save yourself?"

'Yes, I have to, he'll help me.'

In other words, Brenda is saying...

"I have to save myself. God will help me to do that."

No. God will save me only when I get to the point where I recognize that there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING I CAN DO TO SAVE MYSELF. THEN, AND ONLY THEN, CAN I PLACE ALL OF MY TRUST IN HIM. THIS IS GENUINE REPENTANCE.

So, I explained to Brenda that it was God who sat in her electric chair 2000 years ago. He was executed for her. He took her judgment.

Now, the litmus test question...I asked her...

"Is that enough?" (There was a really long pause here, as Brenda pondered the question)

I spoke up, "THAT IS THE ISSUE BRENDA, RIGHT HERE! IS THAT ENOUGH?"

I explained to Brenda that it was enough for God to justify her on that basis alone. He had risen Christ as proof that the payment was enough for Him...Paid-in-full.

Would Brenda let it be enough for her, or, would she in her human pride, think that she had to do something to justify herself in the eyes of God?

I am happy to report that Brenda humbled herself and let it be enough for her. It was enough for her to...

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."

Brenda prayed with me and said...

"HE SAVED ME...(MY HEART FEELS) GREAT...JOYED."

Then, we prayed at the end and she said...

"GOD, I JUST APPRECIATE IT. I'M GRATEFUL. I FEEL JOY IN MY HEART."

The pic is pretty special, isn't it?

"GOD FORGIVES ME BECAUSE I ASK"

Travis told me...

'All my friends say I'm a good person.' So, I asked him...

"What does God say?"

Travis agreed that God's opinion of his goodness was more important than his friends' opinion. So, we took the good person test...

We looked at five of the ten commandments...liar, thief, adulterer, murderer, blasphemer. Like the rest of us, Travis failed miserably.

Travis was not good. Then he blurted out...

'BUT HE FORGIVES!' So, I asked him...

"Why would God forgive you?"

'Because I ask'.

Folks this is the position of most people inside and outside the church. Multitudes are praying everyday for God to forgive them. All the while, they are trusting in their goodness.

God doesn't forgive us because we ask. God forgives us because we place our faith in Christ.

Travis didn't have faith in Christ. He had faith in himself.

So, I asked him, "How can you avoid the electric chair with your name on it?"

'I will change. I will do better.'

Who is the person mentioned in Travis' answer?...I Who is Travis trusting?...Self.

Travis, like everyone else, is trying to save himself. Who then, is Travis' Savior?

Travis.

It took a while for Travis to see this. Remember...

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Cor. 4:3,4)

When the light finally came on, came on it did. He saw that Christ had taken his place in judgment, and that all he needed to do was simply trust in Him instead.

When I asked him if it was enough, I received an emphatic...

'YES!'

We prayed and Travis told me...

'HE SAVED ME...(MY HEART FEELS) FULL OF JOY."

TRUSTING CHRIST AND MYSELF

James told me that he believed that Christ had died for him. However, he was only 90-95% sure that he would go to Heaven. What was the issue here?

I asked him...

"Is what Christ did enough?"

'No. I also have to repent and ask forgiveness.'

This can become a formula that people really seem to stumble over. We have already established that 'asking' doesn't save us. It is rather 'believing'.

What does he mean by 'repent'?

He told me, 'Stop sinning.'

So, I asked him...

"Is your salvation part you and part Him?"

'Yes.'

So, if I am in a courtroom let's say for a speeding ticket, and I promise to 'stop speeding', then will the judge release me?

No, the fine must be paid. If the fine is paid in full, then the judge will release me.

Turns out that James had received a $530 speeding ticket. So, I asked him...

"If you paid the judge $500, and then in lieu of the other $30, simply promised to 'not speed again' (stop sinning), would he let you go?"

No, of course not. James got the point. His salvation was not part God and part him. It was all God. James needed to trust in God alone.

James acknowledged to me at the end that part of his trust had been in God and part had been in himself...stop sinning. This is why he was not initially 100% sure of going to Heaven.

James wanted to truly repent...a.k.a...place his trust in God alone.

"HE SAVED ME...(MY HEART FEELS) FULL AND GRATEFUL."

STILL TRUSTING OUR GOODNESS

Kelijah told me that she was 85% sure of Heaven because she was 'not perfect'. This sounds like a humble response. It is not.

So I said...

"Kelijah, I know you are not 100%, because you have made some mistakes, but why are you so high at 85%?"

'I have done much good.'

Kelijah is trusting in her goodness to get to Heaven. She is 85% confident, because that is how good she thinks she really is. She is not 100%, because to say that, would be, of course, really arrogant.

That is, if you are trusting in your goodness...

BUT...

If you are trusting in Christ, then, 100% confidence is abject humility because...

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME! IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH CHRIST! AMEN!

Through the law, Kelijah saw that she was not good. Through the courtroom illustration, she saw that she had been trying to save herself, and needed instead to trust in Christ. She saw that what God had done for her was indeed enough.

She prayed with me...

'HE CAME INTO MY HEART.'

NO IDEA WHY?

Steven did not know where he would go if he were to die. On top of that, he had no idea why God might let him into Heaven.

Steven was a Marine who lived in Manassas, Va. He was coming to the courthouse to pay a speeding ticket. I got to use that illustration as I shared the gospel with him.

I thanked Steven for serving our country. The law showed Steven he was not good. The courtroom/electric chair showed Steven what God had done for him. Steven wanted to trust in Christ alone and prayed with me...

"HE LET ME PUT MY TRUST IN HIM."

"GOD, THANKS FOR LETTING ME TRUST IN YOU TODAY. I APPRECIATE IT AND I WANT TO GROW FROM HERE ON OUT."

I am thankful that I got to give back to someone who gave so much to me.

MORE TRUSTING SELF

Kevin told me...

'I try to do right. I will fix what is wrong. I will change.'

Who is Kevin trusting?...'I'

Through the law, Kevin saw that he had not done right. Through grace, Kevin saw that God had already fixed what Kevin had broken.

Kevin decided to trust in Christ alone and prayed with me...

"HE SAVED ME. THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING."

"I WILL PRAY 10 'OUR FATHERS'!"

Efren said he was 100% sure of Heaven because...'He forgives.' Then he said, 'God forgives all'.

No, God doesn't forgive all. Some people go to Hell.

Why would God forgive Efren?

'Because I make the right decisions.'

Now we know who Efren is trusting.

Through the law, Efren saw that he had sinned and was guilty before God. God's penalty was spiritual death in Hell.

What would pay Efren's penalty?

'I will pray 10 Our Fathers'. (Efren obviously was a Catholic)

I explained to Efren that God liked it when we prayed, but that praying would not pay for his spiritual death penalty.

Listen to his response...

'They didn't tell me that.' (No, unfortunately they didn't, but I am sure glad that I did!)

"So, what is going to pay, Efren?"

'I will change.'

Yes, like everyone else, Efren is trusting himself as the Savior, thinking that he can save himself. Sorry, won't work.

Good news. You don't have to. Already done. Just trust Him.

"HE SAVED ME...(MY HEART FEELS) REALLY GOOD."

"YOU HELPED ME TO CHANGE MY PERSPECTIVE." (Remember, repentance is a change of mind. He thought he could save himself. Then, he realized he couldn't. So, he trusted Christ instead)

"GOD FORGIVES ALL!"

Rose (daughter) and D (mother) gave me the standard answer...'He forgives.' Then, they followed it up with, 'He forgives all.'

Nope. Sorry. Again, there is a place called Hell. Those people weren't forgiven.

Yes, Rose and D, like the others, were basing God's forgiveness on the fact that they were...

Good.

Yes, through the law they both saw that they were not good. What was the penalty for their sin? Yes, spiritual death in Hell. How could they pay that penalty?

Surprise, Surprise...

"I will do good and ask forgiveness." (Gee, where have I heard that before?) The speeding ticket illustration showed them the futility of this argument.

You know, when I asked Rose if she could save herself, she said...

"Yes, with His help." (Gee, where have we heard that before?)

Nope. Sorry. Only without your help at all. Only your simple faith.

Both saw that they were trying to save themselves, and needed instead to trust in God to save them. Both prayed with me and said...

"I PUT MY TRUST IN HIM. (MY HEART FEELS) HAPPY."

Both requested that I not share the picture.

COMPLETELY ORCHESTRATED BY GOD

Sean's encounter was pretty special on two fronts.

One--the light that came on when Sean saw that he was trying to save himself...

"Who is the person mentioned in your answer?"...Me

"So, who are you trusting?"...ME! (It was like he got hit 'right square between the eyes!'...AHA!...NOW I SEE IT!)

Two--that right at this point he said...

'I've got to go. I will be back in a bit.'

Yes, he came back and here is the amazing thing. He returned as I was sharing with Rose and D, right at the point of the presentation where he had left!

SALVATION IS OF THE LORD! (RIGHT ON TIME, BABY!)

We got to the end and Sean wanted to trust in Christ alone. He then told me that he left because he had to go back into the courthouse for a pretty serious charge against him. He said that it turned out really well, and that he was leaving town to move to Maryland to live with his mother and start all over.

God saved him right before he was to 'start over'. Pretty cool, eh?

"I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW RELEVANT THIS IS. GOD HELPED ME WITH SOME THINGS I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT. I AM NOW TRUSTING GOD...100%!"

HERE IS A ONE MINUTE VIDEO TESTIMONIAL...

THE MORAL MAN CONDEMNED

Daniel was hoping he would get into Heaven because of his 'good morals'.

Nope. Sorry. Won't work.

After hearing the law and the gospel, Daniel decided that the work of Christ was a more sure foundation than the work of Daniel.

"HE SHOWED ME THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY. HE SAVED ME AND GAVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE. I'M TRUSTING GOD."

MOMMA GAVE PERMISSION

Madison had just come out of the courtroom. Her mom was in the car. She was 14 and wanted a bracelet.

I asked her to call her mom and ask permission for me to give her the bracelet and share the message.

Permission granted...

Thank you God!

Yes, Madison was trusting in herself...her own goodness.

Yes, Madison heard the law and the gospel and wanted to trust in God instead...

"HE SAVED ME AND CHANGED ME. I LOVE HIM AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT I PUT MY TRUST IN HIM."

THE TRUTH BROUGHT TEARS

Yes, believe it or not, I had another young girl also named Madison. However, this time she exited the courtroom with her mom and dad.

She left them and came to me to get a bracelet. I asked both of them for permission, and yes, permission was granted.

Salvation is of the Lord. Thank you Jesus!

Madison told me, 'I have done bad things, but I do well enough to fix them.' (Who is she trusting?)

As we were going through the law, Madison was making excuses and trying to justify herself. Dad would have none of it, and told her daughter...

'You've never lied? Come on!'

Madison saw that she had broken God's laws. I asked Madison...

"Can you save yourself?"...YES...YES...YES...(Then she saw it...

NO!

When I gave the invitation to receive Christ, not only did Madison pray, but mom and dad did too.

Madison actually began to cry before she left. I think she had gotten into some trouble, which is why she was at court this day.

'HE SAVED ME AND CAME INTO MY HEART.'

'THANKS FOR SAVING ME AND COMING INTO MY HEART.'

A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Listen to David's prayer, after trusting in Christ...

"THANK YOU FOR PAYING MY DEBT. I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU EASING MY MIND."

"I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING BAD."

The court closed at 4 p.m., and it was 3:53 p.m. Somehow, I was able to share in five minutes, so Jennifer could make it in time.

Jennifer told me, 'I haven't done anything bad.'

I said, "Why don't we find out what God says about that, because, if you have, what happens to you?"...Hell.

Well, after going through the ten commandments, Jennifer understood that she had done something bad.

Because she had done something bad, she was now a candidate for God's forgiveness...

If she would place all of her trust in Him.

Jennifer understood, and prayed with me...

"HE SAVED ME AND FORGAVE ME BECAUSE I'M TRUSTING HIM."

I didn't take the pic so she could get inside court before they closed.

DO YOU MEASURE UP?

Finally, I spoke with another young teen named Tyrese. He told me...

'I've done good things.'

So, I said...

"Have you done enough good?"

'I don't know.'

"Well, let's find out if you have, because if you don't measure up, what happens to you?"

'Hell.'

So, we looked at the commandments and Tyrese understood that he did not measure up to God's standards.

I then preached Christ, and Tyrese understood that he could measure up, if he only trusted in Him.

Yes, Tyrese wanted to trust in God alone and prayed with me...

"THANK YOU FOR THIS MAN WHO TAUGHT ME TO ONLY TRUST YOU."

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!