N.C. State Fair

Greetings beloved. I returned two weeks ago from Raleigh, North Carolina where I spent six days sharing the Gospel at the state fair. Much thanks to the Christian Farmers Outreach for the provided opportunity and the plethora of 8 volunteers who came out to share the Gospel including dear brother and friend Johan Weiss.

During those six days, 199 souls professed faith in Christ alone after hearing me share the Gospel. Favorite stories and pictures follow. Enjoy.

DAY 1

'I AM A GOOD PERSON...I WILL BE A BETTER PERSON'

Victoria and Elaina had the giggles. They also had the same problem almost everyone else has: they were hoping they would get to Heaven because they were 'good people'.

Use the following:

"Do you know the problem with what you just said?"...'No'.

"Do you know how many people tell me that they are good?"...'Almost everyone.'

"Is everyone good?"...'No.'

"Who really knows if we are good?"...'God.'

"Does God think that you are good?"...(Most people say 'yes'.)

(Say with a big smile)..."Are you sure about that?" ...(Most people still say 'yes'.)

"When is the last time that you took a test?"...'1 week ago.'

(Say with a big smile)..."Let's take this test from the bible to see if God thinks that you are good!"...'Gulp.'

I went through the test with Victoria and Elaina. The test is the ten commandments. After taking the test, I had them read...

'No one is good except God alone.' (Luke 18:19)

The girls spoke up...

'We got it...'

"Would you be innocent or guilty?"...'Guilty'.

"Do you know the penalty?"...'Hell'.

Let's see if they really got it...

"So, how sure are you now that you would go to Heaven?"...'30%'

"Help me to understand. If you know that you broke the commandments and are guilty, and the penalty is Hell, why are you still 30% and not 0%?"

'Faith in myself.'

"What do you mean by that?"

'I will be a better person.'

Use the speeding ticket illustration:

"Let's say you got a speeding ticket for $100. If you told the judge, 'Judge, I will be a better person and not speed again'... Does he let you go if you don't pay the fine?"...'No'.

"Being a better person doesn't pay God's fine of spiritual death."

"So, how sure are you now that you would go to Heaven?"...'0%'

"Wonderful. You are now understanding. So, how do you get out of God's electric chair?"

'Faith in God'.

"Wonderful! Let me explain what that means."

At this point, I preached the person (God) and work (sufficient) of Christ to Victoria and Elaina.

Both understood that they were trusting in themselves and instead needed to trust in God alone to be saved. This is repentance for the unbeliever. They turn from trusting in self to trusting in Christ.

When did they want to do this?...'Right now...all the time.'

Victoria and Elaina professed Christ alone and we prayed.

"Now, how sure are you that you would go to Heaven?"

'1000%!

A REALLY COOL TESTIMONIAL

After sharing the Gospel with Flower, she told me...

'YOU OPENED MY EYES AND EARS. THANK YOU. I'M 100% NOW. HE PAID MY FINE.'

MOM BROUGHT TO TEARS

Heather (mom) and step-father were already sure. Son Harrison said, 'Hopefully, 100%.'

After sharing the law and the Gospel with Harrison, he understood and wanted to trust in Christ alone.

After Harrison prayed, mom said...

'I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M CRYING.'

A FACIAL TRANSFORMATION

Daniel and Briana were both 90% sure they were going to Heaven. After preaching the law and the Gospel, both wanted to trust in Christ alone.

Daniel...'HE ENTERED MY HEART.' (Daniel was glowing.)

DAY 2

NOT READY...READY!

"May I explain the colors of the bracelet to you?"

'I am not ready for that...to be saved.'

At this point, just be quiet. Let the Holy Spirit work.

I think DeShaun shared a little at this point. Then I tried again...

"Would you like for me to explain?"

'Yes.'

DeShaun was 75% because he was a 'good person.' After sharing the law, he understood that he wasn't good. After sharing Christ, DeShaun wanted to trust in Christ alone and prayed...

'HE SAVED ME. I TRUST HIM.'

He prayed...

'THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING...TAKING MY SINS AWAY AND GIVING ME ETERNAL LIFE.'

He thanked me...

'THIS WAS REALLY GOOD. YOU HELPED ME OUT A WHOLE LOT. YOU TAUGHT ME SO MUCH.'

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE

What keeps many professing Christians from being absolutely sure of going to Heaven?

Works. (The works they are trusting in.)

Dan and Alyssa were 'pretty sure'. How sure?

'99%...He died for me and I try to do my very best every day.'

She should have stopped with the first four words...'He died for me.'

What isour very bestto God?

"...verily every man at his best state isaltogether vanity. Selah." (Psalm 39:5(c))

So, I asked them...

"Is your salvation: (1) What He did (2) What you do (3) or both?"

'Both'

"How well have you done your part?"...'Pretty good...I try.'

"Let's take a test to see how well you have doneyour part."

We went through the ten commandments. Yes, they failed miserably like the rest of us. Luke 18:19 and James 2:10.

Both Dan and Alyssa understood that they were guilty in God's electric chair with the penalty of Hell.

How would they get out?

'Please forgive me.'

Alyssa actually said this several times even after I explained the inadequacy of this response. Scrambling, she resorted to 'I'll admit' and 'I'll change'.

Paul tells us in Galatians 5:3, 'For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.'

That is, if you add one work to the finished work of Christ as the basis of your justification you are left scrambling...one becomes two becomes three etc...

You are left trying to satisfy the law and that is just impossible. You must come to theend of the law(yourself) and trust in Christ alone.

'For Christ is theend of the lawfor righteousness to every one that believeth.' (Romans 10:4)

What is theend of the law?

Christ!

'Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.' (Galatians 3:24)

Back to Dan & Alyssa...

"With a speeding ticket of $200, would...'Please forgive me...I'll admit...I'll change' do anything if you didn't pay the fine?"

It took awhile, but eventually they saw that there was nothing they could do to get out of the chair. Our end is God's beginning.

The law brought conviction. The electric chair brought frustration and eventually surrender. Christ brought relief, release, and peace.

He already paid the fine.

It is really cool when you take people through this process and you can literally see their entire expressions completely change. Amen.

Dan and Alyssa both became 100% sure by trusting the person and work of Christ alone.

IT TOOK AWHILE...'I BELIEVE MY GOOD OUTWEIGHS MY BAD.'

Bryce was 90%...'I help people and I'm a nice person.'

Katie was 100%...She already understood.

"Bryce, doesGodthink that you are good?"...'Yes.'

"Let's find out!..." (Big smile)

After going through the commandments and reading Luke 18:19, Bryce confessed that he wasnot good. Bryce also understood that he wasguiltyand the penalty wasHell.

How sure was henowthat he would go to Heaven?

'90%' (What is the problem here?)

So I asked him, "Bryce if you really know that you are guilty, and you really know that the penalty is Hell, why are you still 90% and not 0%?"

'Because I believe that my good outweighs my bad.'

Nowwe are getting down into the heart. Nowwe are seeing what the problem really is and what he is trusting in: self.

I asked him if he had ever gotten a speeding ticket and what was the fine?...'Yes...$200'

Use something like this:

"Bryce, if you told the judge, 'There are 365 days in the year and I only sped on one day. That is 364 good days to only 1 bad day. Let me go. What would he say?'"

'Pay the fine!'

"Right! So how sure are younowthat you would go to Heaven?"

'0%!'

Sometimes I tell people the following:

"If I gave you a life preserver in a baby pool, what would it mean to you?"...'Very little'

"If I gave you the same life preserver in a raging ocean, what would it mean to you?"...'Everything!'

If we give people Christ (life preserver), without really showing them their true condition (criminals heading to Hell), it won't mean very much.

I preached Christ to Bryce and Katie. Bryce and Katie actually confessed that Bryce had a problem trusting people. I encouraged him that this was not abouttrusting people, but abouttrusting God!

At the end, Bryce understood that he had been trusting himself and he wanted to only trust in Christ alone. We prayed and he told me...

'I HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...RIGHT NOW AND FOREVER...100%.'

'HE TOOK ALL MY WORRIES AND WASHED EVERYTHING AWAY.'

He told God...

'THANK YOU...I LOVE YOU.'

A GREAT TESTIMONIAL

Chris was ready to trust in Christ alone. After understanding the Gospel and praying with me, he told me...

'I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS. YOU TAUGHT ME A LOT.'

NOT UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE GOSPEL

Taylor, Kennedy and Angel sat down to hear the Gospel. (16 - 17 year old's) One of them spoke up...

'I KEEP REPENTING OVER AND OVER AGAIN...IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING ANYMORE.'

Most people understand 'repenting' as...

'God, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I will try to do better.'

As long as I see it this way, I am caught in this endless cycle.

When I truly repent, this is what I see...

'I AM A GUILTY CRIMINAL IN GOD'S ELECTRIC CHAIR. I CAN DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO GET OUT. I DESERVE HELL. THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO.'

When a person truly sees that, they come to an end of themselves. Then, when you present Christ to them (He took their place in the chair), they simply rest and trust in His finished work.

This is repentance: a transfer of trust from myself to Christ alone.

Now, when I really understand this: (1) I was heading to Hell and (2) Christ took my place...

then my heart changes and I fall in love with Him. When I fall in love with Him, I love what He loves and I hate what He hates.

This is true Gospel conversion. Only God really knows the ones who truly get it. When they truly get it, everything changes.

Taylor: 'THANK YOU THAT YOUR SON TOOK MY COAT AND ALL MY BURDENS AWAY.'

Kennedy: 'THANK YOU FOR ETERNAL LIFE.'

Angel: 'THANK YOU THAT YOU TOOK ALL MY BURDENS.'

NO PICTURE

MORE 'GOOD', 'KIND', AND 'NICE'.

Caroline was already there. Nate wasn't.

"Nothing damns a man but his own righteousness, nothing saves a man but the righteousness of Christ." (Charles Spurgeon)

After using the law to show Nate that he wasn't 'good, kind, or nice' in God's eyes, he told me that he still thought he would go to Heaven.

Why?

'Faith in God.'

This is a great answer, but you need to unpack it.

"What do you mean by 'faith in God'?"

'I go to church.'

Use the aforementioned speeding ticket illustration with 364 days of no speeding compared to 1 day of speeding...

"Look at my good (going to church) judge and let me go!"

'Pay the fine!'

Nate got the point that his good (going to church) would not pay the fine. If he paid it (spiritual death), then he would go to Hell. How would it get paid?

Already done. God in the person of His Son. Rest and trust in Him alone. Amen.

Nate got this point and wanted to trust in Christ alone...

'HE TOOK IT ALL AWAY. I GAVE IT ALL TO HIM. IT'S ALL ON HIM. HE HAS THE PLAN AND RESPONSIBILITY. HE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.'

FLUSTERED, FRUSTRATED, AND UPSET

The night before I shared with Chelsea and her fiance Chad. She was already at 100% (professed believer), he wasn't. I focused on Chad.

Chad was really seeming to grasp the truth when Chelsea chimed in. She was upset about the fact that 'God can't simply forgive'.

That is, if a judge let guilty people go free without a punishment, what kind of a judge would he be?

Unjust.

The very nature of justice demands a penalty. How can God be just and simultaneously justify guilty sinners?

This is the heart of the Gospel.

Unfortunately, many professing Christians are completely ignorant on this front. Some get very upset.

Spurgeon, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, others, referred to (Romans 3:23-27) as the acropolis of the Christian faith. The fortified city, the city set on a hill. Many theologians have said that if they had to lose all the bible and could keep only one text, it would be that text because in it is a portion, a fragment, a seed of the Gospel:

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." (Romans 3:23-27)

How can God be just and justify guilty sinners?

Christ.

It's not 'please forgive me.'

It's 'all the punishment, all the wrath, all the Hell was placed upon Him'.

"He was crushed for our iniquities;
"But the Lord was pleased to crush Him," (Isaiah 53:5 (part), 10 (part)

God can be just and justify us because someone took our punishment. He can't forgive without a penalty, as that would violate His justice.

Chelsea really was getting frustrated and upset at this point, before I revealed Christ as the one who solved the problem. If you give them Christ right off the bat, they will simply agree but really won't get the point. They have to struggle some here. I kept encouraging her to hang in there, as it all would make sense in a bit.

She told me that her parents never taught her this and I think she said that her dad was a pastor. She was rightfully confused.

She and Chad eventually came around and Chad wanted to trust in Christ alone. I really wasn't sure at this point if she just gave in or if she really agreed with what I was saying.

Well, I went home that night and prayed. I told the Lord that I did not want to be 'too easy' on the people, but I also did not want to be 'too hard' on them either. I asked that he would show me. He did, the next night.

As I finished sharing with someone, an older couple came right into the booth and sat down. It is unusual for fish to just 'jump in the boat'.

I turned to my left and a younger lady removed her glasses. It was Chelsea! She had brought her mom and dad back because she wanted them to hear the message!

That was confirmation!

Yes, mom (Pam) and dad (Eddie) had the same problem that Chelsea had as they were the ones who had taught her. I spent quite some time with this couple, and was able to get Pam down to 0% before helping her get to 100% sure.

She really seemed to understand the Gospel now and her entire expression had changed. Chelsea was with me the whole time, pulling for me and enjoying her parents answers. There was much grace here was we laughed together throughout. I really felt a lot of love in my heart for these precious folks.

Eddie told me that he now understood but needed some time for all of this to sink in. You can see the joy on their faces! Digging up hard ground is very difficult and sometimes sparks do fly!

ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES GOT SMOOTHED OUT

Jamal, Torre, D-Wade and Kat came in and sat down. Jesus loved hanging out with the sinners because they were real and probably were fun to be with. I can certainly say that about this group. It was a joy to share the Gospel with them.

It was a greater joy to see their expressions change as the truth of the law and Gospel sank in. They all appeared to come to a very solid understanding of the truth this night. We probably spent upwards of 45 minutes together. After I had finished they continued to sit there.

It was like they were so blown away by the whole experience that they didn't know what to do next. Bewildered and smiling.

DAY 3

ANOTHER NEAT TESTIMONIAL

After professing Christ as His Savior, Tony told me...

'I GAVE HIM THE REIGNS.'

A PRETTY ROUGH DUDE

I certainly don't know this, but the sense that I got was that Diego had a pretty rough past. What a joy to bring Christ to him and his friend Ian.

Interestingly, even people in this condition still consider themselves 'good people'. After seeing that he was guilty and now '0%' sure that he would go to Heaven, he said...

'I will prove myself'

Again, people think they have to do something to be saved. People must be convinced that they can do nothing...absolutely nothing.

Then he mentioned 'redemption.' What did he mean by this? I asked him and he replied...

'Good works'.

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." (John 6:29)

Eventually both saw that God had already done the work and both wanted to trust in Him.

Ian: 'I TRUST HIM. THANK YOU FOR FORGIVING ME.'

Diego: 'HE SAVED ME. THANK YOU FOR FORGIVING ME AND TAKING MY PUNISHMENT, TAKING MY SINS, AND YOUR REDEMPTION.'

HIS COUPLE STAYED FOR OVER AN HOUR AND A HALF. THEY REALLY OPENED UP TO ME.

Both Tony and Kayla were initially unsure they would go to Heaven, trusting themselves just like most everyone else.

Both heard the Gospel and wanted to trust in Christ alone...

'HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I TRUST HIM.'

Kayla then looked at Tony and asked...

'Should I tell him?'

He agreed and then left the booth to give her more freedom to share. Kayla shared something very traumatic that had happened to her about a month previous. In fact, it had caused her to pray this very morning before she met me...

'GOD. PLEASE FIX ME.'

So, I asked her if she was now 'fixed'. She said...

'YES. I WAS STRUGGLING BECAUSE I WAS TRUSTING MYSELF AND GOD. NOW I AM JUST TRUSTING GOD.'

After Kayla shared her heart with me, Tony came back and indicated to her that he wanted to share something with me. She nodded and then he told me something maybe even more traumatic that happened to him when he was seven years old.

After he shared everything, I counseled them on their relationship and then we prayed together. I was very honored that they would trust me with such personal information!

'LET EM HAVE IT!'

Dad directed these words to me as he dropped off his three kids for me to share with: Sutherlin, Layne, and Jessica.

All were around 50% sure of going to Heaven telling me...'I share the Word, I'm kind, I'm kind.'

After hearing the law and the Gospel, each was eager to trust Christ alone as Savior...

'HE SAVED ME...I TRUST HIM.'

Sutherlin: 'THANK YOU'.
Layne: 'THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE PUNISHMENT I DESERVE.'
Jessica: 'THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR ME. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT COST YOU BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW I'M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.'

A VERY PRECIOUS ELEVEN YEAR OLD GIRL

Little Lilly sat down to hear the message. Dad chimed in...

'She's saved and baptized!'

I hear this a lot. Unfortunately, when you ask the children questions, they don't really understand.

Lilly told me that she was 100% sure of Heaven because...

'He forgives.'

Me.."Does He forgive everyone?"

'Yes.'

Me..."So, everyone goes to Heaven?"

'No.'

Me..."Lilly, why would He forgive you?"

'I don't know'.

So, I shared the law and the Gospel with Lilly. Lilly came to understand that God would forgive her because someone had taken her punishment. She needed to trust in Him alone.

Lilly actually shared something very personal with me. She told me that one day an angel had come to her. The angel told her to confess something that she had been doing to herself to her mom and dad.

We got to the end and she really seemed to understand the truth. I asked dad if I could pray with her and he said that I could. I could tell that dad really loved his daughter.

Listen to what Lilly told me...

'HE FORGAVE ME BECAUSE HE DIED FOR ME AND I TRUST IN HIM. (MY HEART IS) LIGHTER, LIFTED, AND FREE. HE SHOWED ME THAT I'M NOT GOD. HE IS. I'M NOT THE FOCUS. HE IS. I SHOULD ONLY TRUST HIM, NOT MYSELF.'

PENTECOSTAL MOM AND DAUGHTER

Mom (Pamela) said, '100%! I'm saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost!'

Daughter (Alyssa) said, '100%??? I obey the law, keep the commandments and ask forgiveness.'

Alyssa was getting her theology from her mom. As I would discover, her mom really didn't understand the Gospel either.

Unfortunately, what Pentecostals gain in the gifts of the Spirit, they lose in their understanding of the Gospel. I have seen this over and over again.

As I began to share with Alyssa, mom would answer the questions incorrectly, although she continued to think her answers were correct until we got to the end.

Both were able to see the truth:

1) They had not kept the commandments. They were not good.
2) They deserved punishment in Hell. 'Please forgive me' wouldn't cut it.
3) Christ was God. He had satisfied the justice of the law for them.
4) They needed to trust in Christ, not themselves, in order to be saved.

Both wanted to trust in Christ alone and prayed with me:

Daughter (Alyssa): 'THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY LIFE MANY TIMES AND OPENING MY EYES A LITTLE TO WHAT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AND TEACHING ME A LOT.'

Mom (Pamela): 'THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME. (GOD) RENEWED A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME.'

This was all the more special because daughter Alyssa had gotten a little frustrated during the presentation and had even blurted out...

'I'VE NEVER BEEN 100% AND NEVER WILL BE!'

I gave mom $20 to go celebrate her daughter's spiritual birthday. Alyssa was blown away by the simple gift. Mom told me...

'THIS WAS THE BEST PART OF THE FAIR. I THINK I'M GOING TO CRY. THIS WAS THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO US.'

DAY 4

THREE GENERATIONS GET THE GOSPEL

Gabriela (mom) sat down with her daughter Jessica, her husband Hector, and their two daughters Samantha and Jaelyn. None understood the Gospel.

After sharing the law and Gospel, all seemed to really understand the truth and wanted to trust in Christ alone.

LITTLE BOY BREAKS DOWN CRYING

When the parents allow you to share with their children, you never know what you are going to get. One challenge is the tension of sharing the law with the children.

It seems that the more people understand their sin (they are not good), the more they seem to understand their need for Christ. People cling to a life preserver in an ocean, not in a baby pool.

So, when the Father is listening to you share sin with his children, it can be challenging. How hard do you press here?

Papa let me share with his daughter and son. As I was sharing the law with son Silas, he actually began sobbing. I thought that dad was going to get mad at me.

Dad didn't get mad. He didn't leave. He even didn't try to coddle his son out of the spiritual moment of conviction. He just held his hand through it.

This freed me up to continue sharing the Gospel. Thank God for this papa! I was able to help his son Silas and daughter Zella understand the Gospel and profess faith in Christ alone.

MORE SUPPORTIVE PARENTS

Shane, Brianna, and Cameron were 'churched' but didn't understand the Gospel. Mom and dad listened attentively as I shared with their kids.

Among other things, the kids did not understand that Jesus is God. It is amazing to me that the really little ones almost always realize that He is God. The older we get, the harder it is to understand this truth.

At the end, the kids understood that they had been trusting themselves (kind, honest, religious) and needed to trust in Christ alone. Mom and dad evidently learned as well because they were praying too.

Shane: 'I TRUST YOU'.
Brianna: 'I TRUST YOU'.
Cameron: 'I TRUST YOU'.

DAY 5

'FAITH IN GOD?'

Shane and Natalie both initially told me, 'We try the best to live a good life.'

After sharing the law, they understood they hadn't lived a good life.

What would get them out of the punishment (electric chair) they deserved?

'Faith in God'

I decided to ask them what they meant by, 'Faith in God'?

'Faith in God and He puts His faith in me.'

So, I asked them, "What do you mean by 'God putting His faith in you?'

'He hopes that I live a really good life too.'

Wow. People's ideas of God are so convoluted. Even after realizing they weren't good, they still thought that God was really pulling for them to be good. In other words, God is hoping they will now be good enough to make it to Heaven.

I had to explain more thoroughly that it was faith in God alone. He puts no faith in us. We must put all of our faith in Him alone.

I was able to help them get down to 0% (no hope in themselves), and then get to 100% (all hope in Christ).

Shane & Natalie: 'THANK YOU GOD FOR SAVING ME AND ACCEPTING ME...'

SHE BROKE DOWN CRYING

Sarah and Maria were 60% and 80% sure of Heaven. They gave a mixed answer.

A mixed answer is when you mention Christ and yourself as the reason you go to Heaven. Both told me they were 'good people'.

As I was sharing the law, Sarah began to cry. When I shared the Gospel, she began to cry more as she understood that she wasn't trusting in Christ alone.

Both understood the person and work of Christ and wanted to trust in Him alone.

MORE TEARS (PERFECT TIMING)

Interestingly enough, the last girl I spoke with who also began to cry was also Sarah. This Sarah had come by earlier in the day and saw what we were doing. She decided to come back that night and was the last one I shared with before I went home!

I actually was planning on leaving but she walked right up and into the booth. I don't remember the particulars, but like everyone else, she was trusting in her works and did not know where she would go.

After hearing the law, Sarah became 0% sure. After hearing the Gospel, she became 100% sure.

Sarah cried at the end and then told me something like this...

'I CAME TO THE LORD YEARS AGO BUT HAD FALLEN AWAY.'

Sarah really seemed to be a very genuine soul who had just placed all of her trust in Christ alone. She was very solid that she was now back with the Lord at 100% because of Christ alone.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

Here is a young man standing outside of an adjacent hotel when I left to return home on Friday. I actually drove past him and up the street quite a distance before coming back and sharing with him.

He had recently starting going to church with his friend. This day, God showed him the Gospel and he wanted to trust in Christ alone.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

THANK YOU LORD JESUS FOR YOUR SALVATION!