Ocean City The Third...

OCEAN CITY JULY 28-30 PROFESSIONS OF FAITH 90

God has blessed the last few weeks with many more opportunities as we continue to share His glorious gospel. We have shared downtown several times, at the local fitness centers, and around the community wherever we go.

For now, let us focus on what our Lord did as we shared three weeks ago at Ocean City. At the last minute, the renters who were scheduled to use the beach house this particular week cancelled, opening up the opportunity for the evangelists to come.

I received the invitation from Erik Dressel, evangelist from Baltimore, on Friday July 24th. One of the board members of his ministry owns the beach house. At this point, I was not sure if I was going to go.

The next day I received an email from Jim Domroes. Jim, who receives our email newsletters, requested that he might come to Harrisonburg where I live so that he might sit next to me and observe as I share the gospel. It was then that the plan started to come together.

Jim and Angela live in the Richmond area with their two children Gracie and J.J. This December the entire family will be moving to Paraguay where they will serve the Lord as full time missionaries. Why not invite them to the beach house where they could train and also enjoy a nice family get away before leaving the states?

Angela and Gracie stayed behind for mother daughter time while Jim and J.J. were sent forth for father son time. Both arrived Monday evening July 27th. Erik and I had arrived a few hours earlier. Here we are the next morning at the breakfast table...

We really had a great time together. At one point, we all were marching around the house single file to a song Erik's dad used to play for him when he woke up early every morning. We ate together, prayed together, laughed and cried together. I really enjoyed being around J.J., who did not grow tired of my 'incessant childish humor'...a.k.a...'What's that on your shirt?'

Jim and J.J. got to spend some quality father son time together. Yes, they also spent much time sitting and watching as I shared the gospel. Jim already leads people to Christ. He just wanted to learn some new techniques. J.J. began to contribute some towards the end of our time together.

All in all, we saw 90 people profess saving faith in Christ alone. Thank you God.

We decided to rest the evening of our arrival and all went out together Tuesday afternoon July 28th. The second couple that we shared with that afternoon turned out to be one of my favorites over the next three days of sharing.

PURIFIED, CLEANSED, HEALED... AND HE RETURNED

Jeffrey came over with his girlfriend Mary. Both were homeless, having arrived not too many days previous to the Ocean City area. Jeffrey was very outspoken, whereas Mary was the quiet submissive one.

Jeffrey spoke up that he was 100% sure that he would go to Heaven because, 'I follow the Lord.' Mary just sort of parroted his answer in agreement.

You have to be careful with the answer, 'I follow the Lord.' Is Jeffrey genuinely saved, resting only in the finished work of Christ? Or, like many others, is his 'following the Lord' an attempt to be made righteous based upon his obedience?

I believe he even mentioned the word 'saved' in the beginning. Having shared with thousands of people and having heard this answer before, I just sensed that I needed to share. When in doubt, share the gospel.

The red flag came up in God's courtroom. We had already addressed sin through the law (ten commandments) and the penalty, spiritual death in Hell. Key question: "What is going to keep you from the electric chair with your name on it?" The answer lets us know what the person is really trusting in.

"I will keep the commandments."

Mirror illustration to the rescue. Having played in the mud as a little child, what would the mirror tell you? (Dirty) How to get clean? (Use the shower)

God's law, the ten commandments, is a mirror according to Romans 3:19, "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."

The law reveals our guilt. It reveals the fact that we are dirty. How to get clean? Read verse 20, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

Jeffrey was relying upon 'the deeds of the law', or obedience to the ten commandments, to 'be justified in his sight'. He's taking the mirror (ten commandments) off the wall and trying to clean himself with it (them). Sorry, won't work. 'For by the law is the knowledge of sin'. The mirror reveals sin, it doesn't cleanse it.

I actually explained this to Jeffrey and I asked him the question again, "What will keep you from the electric chair?"

'I will follow those.'

This of course indicated that Jeffrey still did not understand. So, I pointed out to him...

"Who is the person mentioned in your answer...'I will follow' and 'I will obey'.

Jeffrey answered 'God'. I was patient and had to go through this several times. Repentance is a change of mind and must be initiated by God the Holy Spirit, not by me telling them something. The person must see the truth. The light must come on.

Eventually Jeffrey saw the truth that it was he not God. Jeffrey saw that he was trusting in himself not God. If Jeffery was trusting in himself and not God, then who was Jeffrey's savior?...

Jeffrey! (This took a while as well, but eventually he saw it. The intensity of the struggle brought veracity to the revelation.)

Eventually Jeffery told me, "I understand.' I sensed a change in Jeffrey. I preached the finished work of Christ: His person and His work. Jeffrey understood that he had been trusting himself as savior and that meant hell. Jeffrey wanted to transfer his trust to Christ alone as his Savior.

Romans 3:21,22 "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested...Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:..."

We prayed. Mary went along with everything and prayed as well. When I asked Jeffrey what happened to him he responded...

'HE PURIFIED MY HEART.'

Then, at the end, I invited Jeffrey to pray and listen to what he told the Lord...

'THANKS FOR OPENING MY HEART. THANKS FOR CLEANSING MY HEART. THANKS FOR HEALING MY HEART.'

These are heavy words. These are powerful words. We really don't know what truly happens to the person, only God does. Before he left he said to me, 'YOU'RE HIS MESSENGER.' (Jeffrey actually came back two day's later with a testimony. See below.)

DUMBFOUNDED AND SHOCKED

Another good one that afternoon was a young man named Luke. Jim commented that this one was his favorite. Luke was hoping he would go to Heaven because, 'I try to be good.'

What is God's standard for admission? Did Luke measure up? Is he good enough?

Good person test to the rescue...

The ten commandments showed Luke that he was not 'good enough'. "No one is good, but God alone." (Mark 10:18)

Luke still thought that his good would outweigh his bad. I used several illustrations to address this. If you got a speeding ticket and said to the judge, 'Judge, I only sped on one day of the entire year! That's 364 to 1! Let me go!' Sorry.

How about ten good eggs and one spoiled egg in an omelette? What would that taste like? Ugh.

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.'

It took awhile for the change of mind (repentance) to come. But when it did, it was neat to behold. He actually exhaled and just sat there for awhile, dumbfounded. Then he spoke up...

'WHEW...I'M SHOCKED.'

I preached the finished work of Christ as the second person of the Holy Trinity, God himself manifest in human flesh. Luke wanted to trust in God alone and prayed. He told me...

'HE SAVED ME.'

Then he prayed at the end...

'THANKS FOR SAVING ME.'

THE ANIMALS WANTED TO GET SAVED TOO...LOL

Erik, Jim, J.J. and I went home for dinner and came back later that evening. Here was a group I really enjoyed sharing with. This was Darrin, Cameron, Keshontay, Kesheona, and Crystal. There was much joy as I shared with them. At the end, they all wanted to place their trust in Christ alone...'RIGHT NOW'.

Even the stuffed animals wanted to get saved...(lol)

ANOTHER DUMBFOUNDED ONE (ALL THE WAY FROM J.MU.)

This is Eve. She was shocked to see me. Me as well. Karen actually shared the gospel with her at J.M.U. last year and brought her to church that Sunday. What is the chance of seeing her again at Ocean City? God. I reviewed message with her to solidify her faith.

THE RAIN BROUGHT THE SPIRIT

It started to rain later on in the night. Then, it started to pour. I hunkered down under my umbrella with all of my supplies. Most people had cleared out. It was raining so hard that if I moved I would get even wetter. I just waited.

I actually had 2 or 3 groups of young ladies who came by who were already drenched. They got excited at the prospect of receiving a bracelet and hearing the message.

I passed out the umbrellas and they listened. I can't explain it, but the Spirit of God came down in a very tangible way and cloaked all of us under His presence. All listened and all were drawn in. Maybe all the distractions around had been removed because everyone else was gone?

Whatever the case, when I gave the invitation, almost everyone said...

'RIGHT NOW.'

Here is one group of young ladies...

SET FREE

Finally, the last one on Tuesday night was Maddie. Maddie was 75% because she had 'fallen away.' She came from an 'Apostolic Church' where they had many rules and regulations...hair length, jewelry, etc.

Thank God that I was able to share the simple gospel of grace with this dear lady. She really responded well and lit up like a Christmas tree when she put all of her faith in Christ, even before she prayed the prayer, trusting in the person and work of Christ alone.

She walked past me on the last night and was still grinning ear to ear...

"I'M GOING TO JAIL!"...THEN HE BROUGHT HIS GIRLFRIEND BACK

We went back out late Wednesday afternoon and just decided to stay out till late that night. Here is Ahmad and Ahmir. They were '78% and 87%' sure of going to Heaven. Ahmad said, 'I've sinned. I'm not perfect.' Ahmir said, 'I have faith.'

What does it mean when someone says, 'they have sinned and are not perfect' but are still 78% sure they are going to Heaven? They are basically saying they are 78% good and 22% bad. So, they are still trusting in their goodness.

What did Ahmir mean by, 'I have faith'. So I asked. He said, "He's there'. God's omnipresence is not necessarily his saving presence.

Did they measure of to God's standards? Were they good enough?

Good person test again through the ten commandments. I was blessed by one of their responses...

'I'M GOING TO JAIL!'

Then, in the courtroom, what would keep them out of their electric chair? "I'll tell the truth and I'll change'. Having gotten a speeding ticket and not paying the fine, would that work with the judge? What would work with God, and what would pay their spiritual death fine?

They were dumbfounded. When they saw that they were trusting themselves, and that God had already provided the payment in the person of His Son, I again was blessed by their response...

'WOW!'

Both wanted to place all of their trust in Christ alone...'RIGHT NOW.'

"HE SAVED ME.' (Guess who came back later on with his girlfriend? Read on.)

LARGE GROUP

Here is a large group (Taj, Joe, Daldin, Sierra and two others) who all heard the gospel and wanted to place their trust in Christ alone...

TINGLY AND HAPPY (VIDEO TESTIMONY)

Josh and Tyronne gave standard answers...'80 and 90%' because 'we do good stuff but everyone still sins.'

Did they measure up? Were they good enough? If they fell short, what would happen to them? (Hell) How important was this?

Again, the good person test with the commandments. After taking the test, I was blessed by their response...

'YOU SHOWED US 4 OUT OF 10 (WE BROKE). IF THAT WAS A TEST, WE WOULD HAVE FAILED.' (All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.)

Just like the others, in God's electric chair, Josh and Tyronne erroneously believed they could do something to be saved...

'KEEP THAT! (Ten commandments)
'CHANGE!' (Do better)

The mirror and speeding ticket illustrations showed them those things were a no go with God. What would work?

Stop trusting themselves to be saved, and only trust God...

The person and work of His Son.

Both prayed and told me...

'HE SAVED ME' (They said their hearts now felt...TINGLY and HAPPY)

Both prayed at the end...

Josh: 'I GAVE YOU MY LIFE'.
Tyronne: 'I TRUST YOU'.

These two young really seemed sincere and touched by the Spirit.

Here is a one minute video after they prayed...Josh says, "NOW I GIVE MY HEART TO GOD."

LOVE LIFTED ME

This is Spencer. After hearing the gospel and professing Christ alone, He told me...

'HE JUST LIFTED A LOAD.'

ONE BIG 'NO', ONE BIG 'YES'

I remember two young girls. The first seemed to be getting it and the second seemed disinterested. After hearing the law, I believe the first got offended and the second was drawn in.

At the end, it was the second who said 'RIGHT NOW' to the invitation.

After prayer, the first removed her bracelet, placed it on the chair, and walked off. The second took that bracelet from her chair now as her own, and then walked off. The sense that I got was that while the first was rejecting, the second was accepting and now even confirming her decision by taking her sister's bracelet as well.

ONE OF THE MOST ANOINTED TIMES...

I can't explain what happened the rest of the evening. The next two and half hours was one of the most anointing times I have ever experienced sharing the gospel. It wasn't so much the numbers, as it was the way the Spirit drew the people and the strong presence that He manifested.

There is 'understanding the gospel' and then there is 'really understanding the gospel'. These people fell into the latter group. In fact, I was not able to write down the particulars of each presentation after I shared because there was another group waiting in the wings.

Here goes...

"I FEEL LIKE A BRAND NEW PERSON..." (VIDEO TESTIMONY)

It all started with Praise and Patrick. They actually were walking by directly in front of me, J.J. and Jim. Patrick had a little boom box whose sound contradicted it's size.

I invited. Surprisingly they came over and removed the bracelets, boom box still blaring. Wait on the Lord. Yes, Patrick turned off the sound.

Again, I was not able to write down the particulars because of the next group waiting on the wings. Both were trusting themselves and after hearing the gospel both wanted to trust in Christ alone. Again, the presence of God was thick.

I was able to write this down after prayer...

'MY HEART IS OPENED...RELIEVED...I FEEL PEACE.'

Here is a three minute video of Praise and Patrick, after professing Christ. Patrick actually says twice in the video...

'I FEEL LIKE A NEW BORN PERSON RIGHT NOW...I FEEL LIKE A NEW BORN PERSON.'

THE MISSING KEY...(VIDEO TESTIMONY)

Just as I finished, there was Owen and Chris. Again, a very strong presence of the Lord and a great understanding of the gospel with both wanting to trust Christ alone...

'I PUT MY TRUST IN YOU.'

Here is a three minute video. In it, Chris actually says...'YOU GAVE ME THE MISSING KEY...'

AHMIR BRINGS BACK HIS GIRLFRIEND WHO WEEPS...

Do you remember Ahmir and Ahmad from earlier in the day? Well, guess who came back with his girlfriend? Ahmir. Guess who came back several times, waiting for an opening to hear the gospel? Ahmir. Guess who finally was able to sit down and hear? His girlfriend.

Again, I had no time to write down the particulars. However, I do remember his girlfriend Jordan crying quite a bit, even to the point where she was not able to answer the questions because of her persistent weeping. Thank you God.

This young lady wanted to put all of her trust in Christ.

THEY BOTH WAITED TEN MINUTES...

Then there was Bri and Stephanie. Both were currently enrolled at Emmanuel college in Georgia. They actually sat down in two of our empty chairs and waited probably ten minutes as I finished sharing with Ahmir's girlfriend Jordan.

Yes, both really seemed to understand the gospel and both wanted to trust in Christ alone. Amen.

RIGHT OUT OF THE WORLD...

Then there was Julie and Kaylee. Both sat down and were definitely 'of the world.' God's strong presence came, and I sat amazed at how they responded to the gospel. Both really seemed to get it and enthusiastically wanted to trust in God...'RIGHT NOW!'

One of them walked by the next night as I was sharing with a group and yelled...

'I TRUST GOD!'

BIG SIS BROUGHT LITTLE SIS OVER TO HEAR...MORE WEEPING...(VIDEO TESTIMONY)

Again, two more who were standing behind the chairs waiting for me to finish with Julie and Kaylee so they could hear the gospel.

Both sat down. The older sister Kayla spoke up, 'I'M HERE FOR SUPPORT. MY SISTER ZAYLEE WOULDN'T COME OVER WITHOUT ME. I BROUGHT HER OVER.'

Just like Ahmir's girlfriend, Zaylee spent quite a bit of time weeping. She had reached a point of desperation in her life and was coming for rescue.

Yes, at the end, Zaylee was ready and eager to trust God...'RIGHT NOW.'

Here is a two minute video. During the video she says, fighting back tears...

'HE GAVE ME HOPE.'

Again, the last few hours I witnessed an incredibly powerful move of the Holy Spirit. Thank you God.

LAST DAY STRUGGLES

Finally, on our last day, Thursday, we shared again from late afternoon and all through the night hours. Amazingly, as anointed as Thursday night was, Friday afternoon and evening was very difficult.

A lot of people just didn't seem to be getting it. Some were leaving at critical points. Some were being dragged off by friends when they were ready to trust in God as Savior. Parents would allow their kids to listen, and then as they were understanding, were told they had to go.

Why the Spirit moves amazingly one day and then differently the next day is beyond me. Yes, way beyond me. I am called to trust. He is the Savior. What a joy to share, whether they get it or not. Is it more encouraging to see the one? Absolutely! But whether I see it or not, He is Lord. I am grateful. Maybe I need to be humbled. Amen.

I did have three very encouraging stories this last day which I will briefly share.

JEFFREY CAME BACK!

Do you remember Jeffrey and Mary, the homeless couple from day 1? They came back! Jeffrey sat down and told me something like...

'GOD HAS BEEN MOVING IN ME SINCE THE DAY YOU AND I TALKED. HE IS SPEAKING TO ME AND GUIDING ME. HE IS MOVING INSIDE OF ME AND I CAN FEEL IT. I ACTUALLY JUST YELLED AT MARY AND I HAD TO APOLOGIZE TO HER.'

Jeffrey sat and watched as I shared with several other groups. He would speak up at the end and say something to the group like...

'I GOT SAVED HERE THE OTHER DAY JUST LIKE YOU JUST DID RIGHT NOW. GOD IS FILLING ME AND CHANGING ME. IT IS AMAZING.'

ERIK PREACHED POWERFULLY...

Things might have been rough for me, but Erik's open air preaching was incredibly anointed. The Spirit that empowered me the night before was on my dear brother this night. After hearing him preach, I wanted to get saved all over again! LOL!

FEARS REMOVED...

The last two of the night were very blessed. Jordan was 85% sure of going to Heaven because, 'I live for Him.'

Did he measure up? What if he fell short?

Yes, we live for Him once we are saved. However, we must never trust in that for our justification. We must trust in His work alone, and then as a result, once justified, then we live for Him.

When Jordan understood this, God took his fears away...

'THANKS FOR THIS NEW START. I FEEL FEARLESS NOW.'

LITTLE GIRLS SEES THAT JESUS IS GOD...

Last but certainly not least was a little girl whose name I forgot to write down. I could tell her parents were solid precious Christians and they were allowing me to share with their daughter.

This little one wasn't sure she was going to Heaven and did not know why. Mom initially kept jumping in trying to give her daughter the right answer. I was patient and waited. Eventually mom understood she was making things more difficult and hushed up.

It was really neat to see this little one understand. She did not know that Jesus was God, and we struggled through that for a time. Mom and dad were very patient. Several times when I asked, she said 'no' that He was not God.

When she finally understood that Jesus was God and finally spoke it out, she lit up like a Christmas tree. Her change and understanding testifies to the importance of this essential truth: the divinity of Christ.

This little one wanted to trust God alone...'RIGHT NOW'.

Before the family left, dad came over to thank me. He told me something like...

'I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO EXPLAIN ALL OF THIS TO MY DAUGHTER BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN IT AS WELL AS YOU DID. THANK YOU.'

THANK YOU GOD. I LOVE YOU.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT. I LOVE YOU TOO. AMEN.

LORD WILLING, WE HEAD BACK NEXT FRIDAY AUGUST 28TH - SEPT 4TH. PLEASE PRAY.