Battle Log

Saturday, 13 April, 2019

Posted 18 April 2019, 12:55 PM by Matthew Andersen. Permalink

On Saturday in Brisbane City out came the team to tell of the glories of our God and King. There were twelve members out and many conversations had. Like usual some newer members tagged along with more experienced members and learnt some techniques and answers to improve their evangelism.

An early conversation took place with a tall man, who was very proud. He declared to know all about the different religions, followed by declaring that Christianity is the same as the rest. Invalidating his original claim, to know about all religions. He was shown God's law and very hesitantly he engaged but not without protest as he didn't want to be shown his guilt. He tried a lot to get out of guilt by declaring that he had "repented of all his sins". When asked what that meant, as usual he declared, "asking God for forgiveness and trying not to do it again". He was shown firstly, that this is not what repentance is, rather it is a change of mind, and secondly that it has no ability to atone for sin.

He carried on and never got to hear the gospel because he was too interested in his own ideas, to proud of his own discoveries that he wanted nothing to do with the real Jesus. He left proclaiming that after day of positivity the team had ruined his day with all this negative talk. He was reassured that the intention was not merely to condemn but that he didn't acknowledge guilt so there was no reason to share with him the cure.

A similar conversation took place with a man who had a Hindu background. He at first tried to distract the conversation by declaring that Jesus went to India between the ages of 12 and 30. But was shown via Mark 6:3-4, that the people who Jesus was ministering to, knew Him as one who had grown up locally. Then he was taken through God's law and shown his guilt but this man didn't want to consider it either. He then gave some "sincere advice" as he called it. He said, "If you didn't talk about sin, judgement or Hell more people would be willing to listen to you". To which the response was given, "But if those topics were never raised there would be no reason to talk to anyone".

Lastly a more encouraging conversation was with Pablo. He declared that he was a Christian but thought his entry to Heaven was on the basis of his obedience to God's law. He saw his guilt and its penalty and then for the first time in his life came to comprehend the gospel! He was moved and challenged. He said that he was so thankful to have talked to now understand the good news and now he will have to think about trusting in Christ.

He too was emphasised with the seriousness of trusting in Christ. Without trusting in Christ, Easter is simply the reminder that God's wrath is yet to be appeased. Please be praying for Pablo that he would not hold onto anything, seeing that nothing else can save him and instead that he would cling to Christ as his only hope for life and to honour God!

Please also be praying for the tall man and the Indian man, that God would humble them, show them that the things they are holding onto are foolish and have no ability to pay for their sin. Please pray that God would be gracious and cause them to turn to Him for salvation!

Lastly, whilst it is holidays, why not find a time to come on out and step out of your comfort zone to tell others of who Christ is and what He has done!