Friday Night Evangelizing (01/05/18)

Tonight was surely a blessed night to go out evangelizing for the Lord. Some nights, there are very few of us on the streets but tonight was different. Four people from the youth ministry decided to come out and join us. Which was amazing, indeed. Praise God. It was awesome to see their willingness to serve the Lord, in His harvest. They said that each of them encouraged each other to join us, during the weak. I am grateful to see them encouraging each other to come out. We need more people doing this. So we all prayed, a group of seven of us, including Chris, Keven and I, went out on the streets. Keven was anxious to get out there, so he went on ahead of us and did his own thing. But it was awesome to see his enthusiasm to go out and witness, even by himself. I’ve felt that many times before, when I just can’t stand still. I know God is leading me and I just got to get out now. So after talking with a familiar homeless man, and giving him some water, we went off. On our way, we saw this young homeless lady, sitting on the ground. She seemed very cold, so Chris offered her some mittens and a scarf. He got her some food as well. What a wonderful heart, Chris has. Anyhow, while he was off getting her some food, I was able to pray with her, with the youth. She was recovering from a meth addiction, so we asked God to break those chains and to lead her away from temptation. Then went Chris got back and also prayed for her husband, who is in jail. Her faith in prayer was wonderful to see.

As went further down the street, we met up with many people. I tried offering a pamphlet with the “Book of John” but only few accepted. People’s hearts appeared to be pretty closed off but the Spirit of God still had me continue to reach the lost. I didn’t want anybody that passed me not to know about Jesus and His love for them. No matter where they were now, in life, I allowed the Lord to reach them, through us. After witnessing to a few people about Jesus, the Spirit then led us to talk with a young homeless man, what was also sitting down. I had met this man, a few weeks back, and I remembered his love for the Bible. So after getting some water and Chris getting him some coffee, I asked him a few questions. Previously, he had been reading the Bible and I asked how that was coming along. Come to find out, he hadn’t been since, because he had put the Bible away in storage. So I gave him another. He then mentioned that his old Bible had lots of highlights in it and that he used to teach from it in church. I asked what church and he said the Mormon faith. I asked him if he still practiced it and he said not currently but was open to other religions. So, after hearing this, the Spirit led me to speak Jesus’s Name and the cross. I explained that the name, Jesus, or Christ, or Jesus Christ, was never used in the Old Testament. ²Jesus’s Name first surfaced in Matthew 1. Jesus was prophesied of but His official name was never known until the angel Gabriel told Joseph to name the baby, Jesus. ¹The Bible also teaches that animal sacrifices for sins was necessary until Jesus came. ³When Jesus died on the cross, He was the last offering for sin. We can now be forgiven by the blood of Jesus. After sharing this, he agreed upon this.

After sharing the fundamental Biblical teachings about Jesus’s Name and the cross, I mentioned how this relates to the Book of Mormon. Starting off with the timeline of the Book of Mormon (BOM) people, having lived from 600b.c to 400a.d. I mentioned how their writings don’t line up with the Bible. How there were dozens of references to the name Jesus, Christ or Jesus Christ before His birth in the Book of Mormon. Also, how in Mosiah 4:1-3 (BOM Book), they were being forgiven by the blood of Jesus, before His birth. Since we agreed, earlier, that Jesus’s name was not known, before his birth, this made these references not biblically sound. Also, the teaching of the forgiveness of sins before Jesus’s birth, is also not biblical and are therefore false teachings. He hadn’t thought about this before and I just asked him to think about this, which he said he would. He seemed very grateful for this knowledge. The youth then prayed for him and his safe travels to Texas. After speaking to this man, the youth had to go home, so we said our goodbyes. The rest of the night, I proclaimed to people the name of Jesus. And on the way to my car, I was able to share a better approach with reaching Mormons. By not just saying that they are wrong but explaining why. That is, because their book doesn’t line up with the Bible. It is contrary by having the name of Jesus and being forgiven by His blood, before His birth. As I left them, they said thank you for sharing that knowledge with them. Knowledge is power. I am truly grateful for this wonderful night. The Lord put His fire inside of me and I am so thankful.

Let us pray:
Lord, Your harvest is surely plentiful. Surely, many that are lost are not ready but few are. I am grateful for those few that we found tonight. Even if a few people’s faith was strengthened through prayer, that is enough. If You could use us to pray over people that they might find peace, I rejoice. For You had a hand in all of this. But Lord, You did more than even this. Your Name was proclaimed upon the hillside. Many people were able to know about Your great Name, because the Holy Spirit led us and opened our mouths. Thank You for putting in my heart the means to speak to a young man, that is Mormon. I knew that without You, I could not know how to get through to this man. But with Your love, I was able to present the gospel with truth and love. The truth of Your great Name and the cross is so important. It is vital that we find out Your truths and not be led astray. Thank You for helping me get through to him, through sharing the gospel. I am grateful that he received prayer as well. Lord, You did it all. You used each of us to declare Your great Name, this night. And it was beautiful, indeed. I love You. I trust In You above all. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

¹Leviticus 17:1-11 (KJV)
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, saying,
3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
4 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
5 To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the Lord.
6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the Lord.
7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
8 And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,
9 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the Lord; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.
10 And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

²Matthew 1:1,18-21 (KJV)
1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

³1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (KJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: