Spurgeon Quote of the Day 11-28-12

“When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said,

‘What have I to do with You, Jesus, You Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.’ ” Luke 8:28.

IF we understand these words to be the exclamation of the evil spirit which tormented this poor demonian, they are very natural words and one can very readily understand them, for the Presence of Christ is such a great torment to the Prince of Evil, that he might well cry out, “Are you come to torment us before our time?” If we would put Satan to rout we have only to preach the Lord Jesus in the power of the Spirit, for this is the Hell of devils. Hence it is that he roars so much against Gospel preachers—

he roars because the Gospel makes him hurt.

But if these words are looked upon as the language of the man himself, they are most extraordinary. In fact, they are so singularly mad and foolish that we can only account for them by the fact that though it was a man who spoke, yet the devil was in him—for surely none but a man possessed with a devil would say to Jesus, who alone could bless him, “De- part from me!” or say, “Torment me not!” And yet there are tens of thousands of men in this world who are saying just the same thing! Thousands of persons appear to be far more anxious to escape from salvation than to escape from eternal wrath! They avoid Heaven’s love with scrupulous diligence and the prayer of their life seems to be, “Keep me, Lord, from Heaven! Prevent me ever being saved! Give me the full swing of my sins and let me live so as to ruin my soul!” 

C.H. Spurgeon- "Plain Words with the Careless"

Evangelism Humor

Preachin' In The Rain 11/17/2012

 

David led the team of Deans 1 & 2,  Mark (recovering, by God's mercy, after his heart procedure), Jack (the new guy, arrived later), and Old Steve.

 It was a great night for movie references as the teen cult vampire film "Breaking Dawn" opened at the Burbank Media Center Mall. Many who are new to the area heard the Gospel being proclaimed for the first time.  Some were so offended by the Good News that they couldn't resist shouting at the Brother on the Box. One man could hardly contain his umbrage as he returned many times to confront the preacher. Sometimes people react with intense hostility to a presentation of the Law.

 Two women stopped to condemn David for being "judgmental." His response, "I am only sharing what the Bible says. Are you not judging me?"

Later, a woman named Nikki, who professed to having led many to Christ, was angry with David for preaching "doom and gloom," (i.e. the Law), and not the "goodness of God."
"How many salvations have you had?" she said. Nikki is not the first to challange us with this question. However, since God is sovereign in salvation, then perhaps a better question might be, "Are you being faithful to preach the word delivered once for all to the saints?" Nikki's question implied that it is the anger of preachers, not the pridefulness of men, that keeps them out of heaven. Yet the Apostle Paul said that the Law is the schoolmaster that leads us to a knowledge of sin, and thus to salvation.

We do see fruit in the form of many Bibles received, and countless opportunities, both on the box and one-to-one, to sow the seed of the gospel, knowing that His word does not return void.

Chillin' In Burbank 11/10/2012

It was a surprisingly chilly night in Burbank as Mark, Steve, David, Jack (a new guy, sent by Tony the Lawman!), Ruth, Dean, Sai, Clint and Steve hit the streets to proclaim the glorious Gospel. Mark was so cold his teeth were chattering, partly due to some new medication. (Please pray for this brother's heart procedure this Friday.) It was so cold that none of the hecklers would stand still, blurting out something in a mocking tone, before disappearing into the night. We call these "Drive-By" Hecklers.

Ruth and Sai, faithfully witnessing with tracts. Several people stopped by to encourage the team, including a man named Matt, who kept affirming statements, made by Dean, with a hearty "That's right!" and "He's correct!" He said that he attends a large Baptist congregation in Los Angeles.

We took turns holding up Bibles. It provides a subtle affirmation of the message coming from the box, and offers greater opportunity for one-to-one interaction with people who may be too shy to approach the heckler mic.

As always, the evening ended with a consensus, among the team, of having witnessed the hand of the Lord at work in countless small interactions, conversations and providential moments. The joy received greatly warmed the cold night air.

"If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified."  1 Peter 4:14

Post Election JMAC!

Everyone needs to hear this post election BAMM!! from John MacArthur: 

http://www.gty.org/Blog/AB121113

For all those who are faithfully going out on the streets to share the Gospel... KEEP GOING!

Halloween Hollywood 2012 Follow-Up

Spurgeon Quote of the Day 11-5-12

“The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” 1 Corinthians 15:26.

"When Christ died He suffered the penalty of death on the behalf of all His people and, therefore, no Believer now dies by way of punishment for sin, since we cannot dream that a righteous God would twice exact the penalty for one offense! Death, since Jesus died, is not a penal infliction upon the children of God! As such He has abolished it and it can never be enforced.

Why do the saints die, then? Why, because their bodies must be changed before they can enter Heaven. “Flesh and blood,” as they are, “cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” A Divine change must take place upon the body before it will be fit for incorruption and Glory! And death and the grave are, as it were, the refining pot and the furnace by means of which the body is made ready for its future bliss. Death, it is true you are not yet destroyed, but our living Redeemer has so changed you that you are no longer Death, but something other them your name! Saints do not die now, but they are dissolved and depart.

Death is the loosing of the cable that the boat may freely sail to the fair havens! Death is the fiery chariot in which we ascend to God! It is the gentle voice of the Great King who comes into His banqueting hall, and says, “Friend, come up higher.” Behold, on eagle’s wings we mount! We fly, far from this land of mist and clouds, into the eternal serenity and brilliance of God’s own house above! Yes, our Lord has abolished death! The sting of death is sin and our great Substitute has taken that sting away by His great Sacrifice! Death without a sting abides among the people of God, and it so little harms them, that to them, “it is not death to die.”

C.H. Spurgeon- "Christ the Destroy of Death"


But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?"
Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain--perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. - 1 Cor. 15:35-38


"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." - Jhn 12:24