One Day On Courtsquare

Even though, because of Covid-19, we don't have any formal festivals and fairs scheduled, the Lord continues to open doors for us to share the gospel wherever we go. I have been sharing quite a bit at the gym and around town as the occasion presents itself.

We continue to share downtown in front of the courthouse and also as we hold the cross on route 33 here in Harrisonburg. Let me share with you what happened as I shared the gospel on Thursday, November 12th. If you are pressed for time, just scroll down to the featured story for the day. Enjoy. God's grace to you all.

With many of these stories I was not able to write down the details after my encounter with the person, because there was another person waiting on the wings ready to hear the Gospel. I was able to see 18 people profess Christ alone as their Savior. Thank you Jesus!

SAVED FROM HERSELF

The first person I spoke with was Justine. She initially was very sure she would go to Heaven because 'I do all the right things.'

So I asked her, "Are you sure about that?"...'Yes.'
"Do you think you measure up to God's standards?"...'Yes.'
"Are you sure that you are good enough to get in?"...'Yes.'
"If you stand before God and find out that you weren't, what is going to happen to you?"...'Hell'.

"Let's find out today so we can make an adjustment if you fall short!"

As we began to go through the ten commandments Justine was trying to justify herself...'little lies, only when I was younger...etc.' As we went on, I believe that she surrendered herself to the truth about her own righteousness.

Had she done all the right things?...'No!'
What was the penalty?...'Hell'
Did that concern her?...'Yes.'

What would she do now?...'Please forgive...I repent...I'm sorry.' Justine is still thinking she can do something to justify herself.

God can't forgive her unless there is a payment made. Justice must be satisfied. Her idea of 'repentance' is that she would 'try to do better.' 'I'm sorry' doesn't satisfy God's demand for justice.

The mirror illustration showed her that she was relying upon the law (what she was doing) to be justified. She needed to rely instead only upon Christ (what He had already done for her).

Justine wanted to repent...'change her mind and only rely upon Christ for salvation.' When did she want to do this?...'right now.'

I liked what she said to me when I asked her what God just did for her...

"HE SAVED ME FROM MYSELF BECAUSE I BELIEVE."

Then at the end she told God...

"THANKS FOR SAVING ME."

FEATURED STORY

I smiled at a lady exiting the courthouse and offered her a bracelet. She responded enthusiastically...

"YOU KNOW ME!"

Well, truth be known, I did not recognize or remember her. Sometimes if you are quiet you can get out of this. She spoke up...

"DO YOU REMEMBER MY SON?"

Be quiet again...blame it on her son's face mask...

I finally spoke up, "MAYBE IF HE PULLS DOWN HIS MASK?"

He did. Yes, there was something about him that struck a chord but I couldn't place him. They both came over and then she told me who they were.

Twenty five years ago I had a gym in the area called MIKE'S GYM. It was located in DUKES PLAZA shopping center within walking distance of a local housing complex called MOSBY COURT. This mother Kris and her son James both lived there at the time.

James, who was now standing before me at the ripe age of 31, used to come into the gym as a little boy of six years old. In fact, 5-8 boys would come into the gym regularly from this housing complex. To them, all of the equipment was like a jungle gym for them to play on. To me, the boys were an opportunity for me to share the gospel.

Well, the admission price was a daily gospel lesson from yours truly. I remember having the boys memorize scripture. "Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it."

So, here was one of these little boys standing in front of me now as a grown man. I was blown away. In some way I felt like he was a son to me. So I asked him, "Do you remember any scripture verses that I taught you?"

Like an automatized robot James blurted out...

"Romans 3:23...All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

Wow. I was smiling. So was James and his mother Kris. Kris said that she sees me quite a bit holding the cross and always waves at me. James nodded in agreement.

Oddly enough, when he was quoting the verse it was like I was hearing the same little boy's voice from 25 years ago. It was the same little voice. Amazing.

I offered both of them a bracelet and shared the gospel with them. Both wanted to place their faith in Christ alone as Savior. I was blessed.

James told me at the end, "Back then your influence in my life kept me from going down the wrong path and making a lot of bad decisions. Thank you very much."

This encounter caused me to remember another story that happened back then which I want to share with you all right now.

There were two other boys in this group that used to come to the gym by the name of Pierce and Kevin. These two boys were a couple years older than James. I was able to share the gospel with both of them at that time and both wanted to receive Christ as their Savior. Both prayed with me at that time.

Well, maybe a few weeks after that, both came back into the gym one day. Pierce was troubled that day. He told me that he had a dream the night before in which he had died. I had already shared the gospel with him, but because he was still troubled about dying I shared with him again. I really wanted to make sure that he was really trusting in Christ alone, since quite possibly this dream was a warning from God to get him ready.

I distinctly remember after sharing the second time that Pierce told me that he now had peace in his heart. His troubled heart was now filled with peace from God. I also remember checking this day with Kevin again to make sure that he was okay. Kevin had a peace that he was going to Heaven and did not need me to share the gospel with him again.

Not too long after that Pierce's dream came true. Kevin was walking across a frozen pond and the ice gave way. Pierce tried to rescue his friend and went under with him. Both died that day.
I remember attending the funeral back then at the Spring Creek Church of the Nazarene.

All of this came back to me on Thursday after I shared the gospel with James and his mom Kris. I am humbled and grateful.

Share the gospel. Share the gospel. Share the gospel.

HOLLERING ACROSS THE STREET

Curtis was walking on the other side of the street. You would be surprised at the number of people who respond to my hollering across the street to come over to get a bracelet. Curtis was one of them.

Curtis said he had a 'good heart' and was 'nice' as the reason that he was going to Heaven. Curtis frequently used the terms 'striving' and 'trying' as I shared the law and gospel with him.

Curtis appeared to understand the truth that he was trusting himself and wanted to trust in Christ alone. We prayed and he told me...

"HE OPENED MY HEART, EYES, AND MIND."

He said something at the end which raised a red flag so I talked to him some more and he said to me, "No one can be 100% sure."

I had to really stress to Curtis that the fine has already been paid. If I paid his $200 speeding ticket and the receipt said 'Paid-in-full', could he leave the court? Sure.

God the Son had already paid his 'spiritual death' fine on the cross and His resurrection proclaims..."Paid-in-full!" Curtis was finally able to proclaim that he was 100% sure because of Christ alone. Self-righteousness is a hard nut to crack.

ATTENDING CHURCH AND THE MOSQUE

Next came Savo. She too mentioned 'helping people, being kind and nice' as the reason she would go to Heaven. At the end she even mentioned the fact that she went to both the church and also the mosque.

Savo told me she was confused about the divinity of Jesus. I went through the Trinity a few times with her and she was able to agree with me that Jesus is God. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

Savo understood that if she only trusted what God did for her at the cross she could be saved. She wanted to trust Him...'right now.'

"HE SAVED ME. HE DIED FOR MY SINS."

Listen to her prayer at the end...

"THANK YOU FOR DYING FOR MY SINS THAT I DESERVED TO DIE FOR. I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE LIFE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME."

BELIEVING IN JESUS AND YOUR GOODNESS

Next came Lori. She was '90 some' percent sure she was going to Heaven because she 'believed in Jesus and was a good person.'

If you mix your righteousness with His as the basis for your salvation you will never be 100% sure. Salvation is trusting in Christ alone.

I actually asked her at the outset the following question...

"Is salvation part you and part Him, or is it all Him?" She of course answered that it was 'part her and part Him.'

I shared the same law and gospel with her as I share with everyone else. At the end, Lori understood that her salvation was 'all Him'. She wanted to trust in Him alone...'right now.'

Her testimony at the end blessed me...

"HE FORGAVE ME BECAUSE I BELIEVE AND TRUST IN HIM."

It was actually coming up on noon at this point and I was thinking about going to the gym for a workout. A group of five mostly young adults approached the courthouse...

A GROUP OF FIVE

A young lady (don't remember her name) was there with her husband Chris and her mother Rhonda. Josh was a friend whose wife was in the court, whom they all were supporting. A friend named Tim who was deaf was there as well.

This young lady, her mother and her husband stood up front to listen while Josh and Tim were behind them. Because it was a large group I used the jokes as ice breakers. No one was initially sure of going to Heaven.

The young lady engaged in most of the conversation. Her mother appeared to have tears in her eyes. Josh actually helped me preach the Trinity to the group...'God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.'

This young lady understood that she was trusting in herself instead of Christ. I gave the invitation to all who wanted to pray with her. I heard several voices praying. God knows the details.

At the end this young lady prayed...

"THANKS FOR SAVING ME AND COMING INTO MY LIFE TODAY." Mom said the same thing and then everyone else said..."DITTO."

WALKING ACROSS THE STREET

Out of the courthouse came an older woman named Mary. She told me that I had spoken with her on a few different occasions. She was initially not sure of going to Heaven and allowed me to share.

We only got halfway through when an older lady started yelling at her from her car parked on the other side of the street. Surprisingly, she agreed to allow me to continue sharing as we walked to her car.

The yelling got louder and more intense. I remember thinking, "What have I gotten myself into. Maybe I need to leave."

This lady gradually calmed down when she heard what I was sharing with Mary. We got to the end and Mary wanted to trust in Christ alone. People need to hear the gospel over and over again. The lady in the car professed to already being a believer.

STANDARD RESPONSES

By now it was approaching 1 p.m. and I thought it was about time for me to leave. Well, over came a Hispanic man named Kilmar. His answers were standard. He was trusting in his goodness. Same law and same Gospel shared by me.

Kilmar's English was sufficient so I got to share the Gospel with him and he wanted to trust in Christ alone...'right now.'

"HE SAVED ME BECAUSE HE DIED ON THE CROSS FOR ME."

MOM AND HER TWO CHILDREN

Over came a young lady named Stephanie. She was really interested in hearing the message and I sensed she was ready. It was 1:18 p.m. and her court hearing started at 1:30 p.m. I was torn between sharing now or sharing when she came back out.

I settled on sharing until 1:25 p.m. and then letting her go. Again, she gave the same standard answers of trusting in herself and I shared the same law and Gospel. She wanted to trust in Christ alone. We prayed and she had to go into the courtroom.

She actually came back out an hour and twenty minutes later. I was wondering what she would remember since she had a court hearing in the interim. I asked her what God had done for her today and she said...

"HE SAVED ME. I NEED TO TRUST IN HIM AND NOT MYSELF."

Stephanie has two younger children to whom she wanted to give bracelets. I gave her the bracelets and two tracts and she told me she would share with her children. Jesus, please save her kids Sadie and David. Amen.

GOSPEL TRACTS

Speaking of Gospel tracts, I probably gave out 8 - 10 to mostly Spanish folks and also to one or two Americans who didn't have time to listen. Ministry friend and partner Rob Gilmer gave out two tracts to a Hispanic man last week. This man read both tracts intently and then tapped his chest with his fist two times to indicate he received the message. Rob said that this man's countenance had changed. The Gospel tract had done it all.

HE SAT DOWN ON THE GROUND TO LISTEN

Do you know that just as I was finishing up with Stephanie a young man came and sat down on the pavement in front of us? He was waiting for me to finish sharing with her so he could hear the message.

I remember this young man from last week. One of his arms had been removed at the elbow. It always extra special to share with people who are handicapped. Your heart goes out to them.

Jared's responses were refreshing. He knew that he wasn't a good person. He told me that he had made a lot of bad decisions in his life. In the courtroom we got him down to 0% sure that he was going to Heaven. At times you are able to strip away all self-righteousness to help them trust in Christ alone.

Halfway through the gospel presentation he had to go out to his car which was parked across the street, and give the driver some instructions. He came back to hear the rest of the Gospel. The car circled court square maybe half a dozen times waiting for me to finish sharing with Jared.

Jared wanted to to trust in Christ alone and prayed with me...

"HE SAVED ME BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST. (MY HEART FEELS) FULL."

At the end he prayed...

'THANKS FOR YOUR SACRIFICE FOR ME.' (I think he said his uncle was a preacher so you have to believe a lot of prayers have been going up for this young man.)

Just about the time that I was finishing up with Jared the city construction crew showed up. They are placing a new light post in the ground. This of course required a jackhammer. Reverend Jackhammer preaches louder than Mike Barko.

When this started about 2 p.m. I thought that this was my cue to call it a day. Before I did, I asked if I could go out and share the gospel with the driver of the car that had been circling court square waiting for Jared. Jared agreed. The car was now parked across the street.

WE WALKED BACK TO HIS CAR

I didn't write down the details here but I know that she was initially 50/50 that she was going to Heaven trusting in some form of works. Anyone who is less than 100% is usually trusting in some form of works.

Ashley sat in the car as I shared the law and the Gospel with her. Again, I shared the same law and Gospel. At the end Ashley indicated that she wanted to trust in Christ alone...'right now.'

"HE SAVED ME."

Her prayer at the end...

"THANKS FOR SAVING ME AND MAKING MY HEART FULL."

I was very thankful to be able to share with Ashley across the street because of Reverend Sir Cacophonous Jackhammer. Jackhammer voices are persistent and don't tire out.

Walking back across the street to my spot I knew that it was time to go. Or so I thought...

WAITING ON ME AS I RETURNED

There was a lady standing next to the courthouse doors who appeared to be watching me the whole time I walked back across the street from sharing with Ashley.

I couldn't leave when someone might really want to hear the Gospel. Yes, this lady Amy came right over when I offered her a bracelet.

Amy gave the standard 'good person' answer. We laughed quite a bit as I preached in competition with Preacher Jackhammer. This guy was incessant. I would try to say a lot when he was quiet and then let him preach and not try to preach over him as that was nearly impossible. It did provide some levity as I shared with Amy and we both laughed together.

At the end Amy seemed to really understand that she was not good and that she needed to trust in Christ alone. As the others she wanted to do that 'right now'...

"HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I HAVE FAITH IN HIM." She said that her heart felt 'WONDERFUL.'

THE OTHER PREACHER WAS LOUDER

Competing with preacher Jackhammer was wearing me out and it was now time to go. Or so I thought...

Ana was a young Hispanic lady whose English was excellent. Yes, she was initially trusting in herself. This is basically the condition of everyone who is not saved. Remember what Spurgeon said...

"NOTHING CAN DAMN A MAN BUT HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS. NOTHING CAN SAVE A MAN BUT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST."

I shared the same law and the same Gospel. There were several times that I thought Ana was going to leave because of the overbearing noise. My humor was gone because I was tired and honestly I was preaching with a lower voice, tired of competing with my fellow minister.

Several times she had to ask me repeat what I had said. Maybe this actually kept her from leaving. This was the most difficult encounter of the day.

As the others, Ana wanted to trust in Christ alone 'right away.'

"HE GAVE ME ETERNAL LIFE BECAUSE HE DIED FOR ME AND I AM BELIEVING IN HIM."

About this time the city crew began shutting down for the day. I guess I had 'out persisted' Reverend Jackhammer. Surprise, surprise. The reprieve offered was motivation to stay still longer...

I hollered at a young man walking across the street. He came over with a handful of duct tape and another work item. He was working a job next door. He really wanted to hear the message, but we both agreed that it was not a good idea to get him fired. He would come back later as he was able.

I'M ALREADY A CHRISTIAN

Not too long after a gentleman named Vadim came out from that same building over to where I was sitting. He offered to buy me dinner but I had just consumed a smoothie so I declined but heartily thanked him.

He then spoke up, 'You don't have to share the message with me because I am already a Christian.' Having heard this many times over the years, I knew that I still needed to ask the two diagnostic questions.

How sure was Vadim that he would go to Heaven?...'90%'
What was the reason?...'I try to follow everything that He's telling me to do.'

Had he followed everything that God was telling him to do?...'I try to' This spirit is so prevalent in the church. People are 'trying to live right' and 'trying to keep all the commandments' so they can go to Heaven.

I remember a young man at J.M.U. who was a regular attender of a well known campus ministry...

After I shared with him, here is what he told me...

"I thought salvation was: (1) Jesus died for me and (2) I accepted that and (3) then it was up to me to sort of earn my way there by what I did for the rest of my life."

This is probably what a lot of people think. Maybe not on the surface, but underneath it all. Eternal life begins the moment we put our faith in the person and work of Christ alone. It is a present possession.

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:13)

"...in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." (1 John 5:20 (end))

Jesus Christ is (1) the true God and (2) eternal life.

"Who is in your heart now?"...'the true God.'

"What is in your heart now?"...'eternal life.'

When you trust in Him alone, you thus have the true God and eternal life dwelling in your heart...right now, present possession. THANK YOU JESUS!

After sharing the law and Gospel with Vadim, he changed his mind (repented) and became 100% sure because of Christ alone.

It wasn't what he was doing (following everything I'm told to do...the law)...

It was what God had done for him already in the person of the eternal Son...(grace)

At the end he told me...

"YOU PROVED YOUR POINT...I'M 100% NOW."

After prayer he said...

"HE FORGAVE ME BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN HIM AND NOT MYSELF."

Wow. When we are trying to get to Heaven by what we are doing, who are we really believing in?...'OURSELVES!'

Guess who was over the job being worked on next door?...Vadim! Guess who was the young man's boss?...Vadim! Guess who I got to share the Gospel with at the end of the day?...the young man!

I'VE CHANGED

Before I shared with the young man (he had to finish his job first), I got to share with Aaron. Aaron was hoping he would make it to Heaven because he 'had changed'.

So many people I talk to are also right where Aaron was. Many people have changed, but they really haven't trusted in Christ. I can be doing bad things, turn from those bad things, and then start doing good things. Certainly this is commendable, but this doesn't save me.

In essence this is...(1) At one point all I had to offer God was my bad deeds, but now that I have changed (2) I am offering God my good deeds.

No, we must only offer God His work as the basis for our acceptance, remembering that my righteousness is a filthy rag.

Aaron understood this as I shared with him and he prayed and told me...

"HE SAVED ME AND GAVE ME ETERNAL LIFE BECAUSE HE PAID FOR MY SINS."

THE YOUNG MAN HEARD THE GOSPEL

Not too long after this Vadim came out with the young man as they were done with their job. Vadim had purchased me a nice hamburger and french fries and allowed me to share with his employee.

This young man heard the law and the Gospel but was not ready to place his faith in Christ alone. Jesus, please save this young man.

It was a great ending to a marvelous day of sharing the Gospel in front of the courthouse.

SOLI DEO GLORIA!