Street Preaching

I realized this morning that I would have the opportunity to go to a catholic church and preach the Gospel for the first time since I received the burden to do so. My first attempts ended when the church I had selected, for some strange reason, did not have services at the times they normally did. My schedule was prohibitive from that point until today. As I prayed in my closet this morning, that realization hit me, and I prayed for boldness to do so. When gathered with the praying men from our church, in the midst of my praises to God, I again prayed for the same thing. Today He put me in front of the church I had attempted to preach at three times earlier but this time people were arriving for mass.

Was I scared? I can't say with certainty that when Paul told the Corinthians he was with them not in excellency of speech or wisdom, but in weakness, fear, and in much trembling that he was nervous, but I can say that I identify with that passage in my own weakness, fear, and trembling. Never-the-less, God gave me grace to open my mouth with boldness and preach to the small groups that were arriving. Praise God! What a moment!

It was well below freezing and the wind was blowing. During the brief moments that no one was approaching I was chilled to the bone and regretted not having anything to cover my ears, but when people showed up the heat was on! I was stunned that the Gospel of peace was not well received. I knew people would be in a hurry to get out of the cold, but mean and nasty?! Are you kidding? Not all of them were, but I think I now know why God had me do this on a bitterly cold day. It just may be the chill that kept those mean ones from staying outside and working to hold the truth in unrighteousness. At any rate, the message was always cut short in their ears as they entered the synagogue of satan.

"Synagogue of satan?" Sound harsh? I don't know what else to call an organization who will draw people into it promising heaven, and delivering them to hell. The Bible is very clear, if you don't know for certain you're going to heaven, you're not going. These folks are being made to believe that they can be good enough to get heaven on their own righteousness. I know that's a fact because that's what they tell me their counting on to get into heaven. It's satan's oldest trick. he started in the garden of Eden, "...ye shall be as gods, (Gen 3:5)," and he continues deceiving people with same lie wrapped in a slightly different package.

Tomorrow may be a new opportunity to do the same thing. I pray that next week will be. My message truly is the Gospel of peace and not one of condemnation or judgment. It is not my goal to be offensive to these people, but that they may see the love, grace, and mercy of God. I know the Gospel will offend and divide. I know Noah preached well over 100 years without a convert, and Jeremiah managed to double that number in less time. Will I have the patience, faith, and fortitude to do the same if it be God's will? If it is His will, I trust He will supply the grace.


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