I didn’t want to go street preaching today. I actually couldn’t think of
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anything less I’d rather do. I felt so oppressed, almost like I had been drugged. I had to go though, if only to show Metro-man that he hadn’t won and pushed us out of the area by calling the police on us last time. I wondered though if this may be the last time I went in.
This is how my brain was working this morning. Oh God, I’m going strictly in obedience to You and the vision You gave me. Please give me some encouragement. I can’t do it without You.
….I can never do it without You….
My friends, I am here to tell you that God is a God of encouragement. He knows when we need it.
My tactic when I get into the city (after prayer together) is always to immediately begin to preach. This is because if I wait and consider the people I will be preaching to, there is a danger I will chicken out altogether.
So I preached the gospel. The full gospel. And the oppression I’d felt all morning was immediately broken.
God one by one sent other Christians to us to encourage us. One guy was a homeless man called Tony who lives by faith. I tell you what this guy was full of the Holy Spirit and knew the Bible inside out. He said this morning he prayed that he could somehow preach the gospel.
There’s the microphone, I said.
Tony preached. He shared that he was a former drug addict and murderer (of the heart) but Jesus had found him and pulled him out. It was amazing.
Another young guy with a guitar came and encouraged us. He is also a street-preacher/singer.
Then another guy came over to us. He was a vision impaired man in a scooter who sings gospel songs on the bridge. He said that nobody preaches the whole counsel of God anymore and was encouraged himself that we were actually preaching repentance from sin, hell, God’s coming judgment as well as the gospel of Christ and the love of God.
Well then he got on the microphone and preached too. Then off he went and came back and blessed us with McDonalds for lunch for all of us.
God certainly provides for His children.
God used a homeless man, a blind man and a young man to bless and encourage us today. And I believe that they in turn were also blessed. God is good God. So very, very good. We must always remember that. He is faithful, ever faithful and He always, always, always honours the preaching of His Word.
Needless to say, that is NOT the last time I will be going to the streets. I am back baby.
The lines from this old Christmas carol was the theme God gave me to preach on today:
“Hark the Herald Angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King!’
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinner reconciled”
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20
Grace and Truth 