Battle Log
Monday 13 May 2019
Posted 17 May 2019, 2:27 PM by Matthew Andersen. Permalink
On Monday at Capalaba the team of four went to their usual business of finding people with whom to speak about the glories out our God and King. The afternoon was filled with colourful conversations and characters and some exciting moments as people for the first time comprehended the gospel!
A conversation with Monique took place in in the early afternoon. She had some simple Christian background but hadn't really understood it. Monique was taken on a simple journey of questions, showing her that God exists and why it matters. How God's standards leaves each of us guilty, therefore that we are helpless to save ourselves and yet God in His love offers forgiveness, as a gift, to those who believe, purchased by His sacrifice on the cross.
Monique at first was saying, "There's a lot of pieces here but I am not sure I follow fully". The struggle with the gospel is that it is so counter intuitive to our normal ways of thinking that it is hard to explain. But as more questions were asked, the picture became fuller and suddenly Monique understood it! In a moment, all the pieces fell into place. She then had no trouble answering the checking questions and it seemed that she comprehended justification by faith alone.
Then it was time to talk about counting the cost, as the Christian life will cost something. Not that we have to do something to get in but once a Christian our love for Christ will cause us to want to serve Him more than anything or anyone else meaning there will be times when we must make great sacrifices in this life because Jesus is better. Monique heard all of this and actually was making some suggestions herself. Then at the end of it all when asked, "When will you trust in Jesus?" She responded, "Today, I don't think there is any other choice". She was encouraged to head to a local Church and to read her Bible each day!
Later there were two back to back conversations with people who had previously spoken with the team who had some partial memories of the conversation but weren't quite sure about the way to Heaven. God was kind to these men, Trey and Tony and enabled them to have another opportunity to comprehend the simplicity of the gospel. They were both then challenged with the seriousness of this knowledge, as to do nothing with it will spell out a worse time on judgement day but if they will trust in Christ, they can have an eternity rejoicing in Christ as their King and Saviour!
These men were encouraged to count the cost, strongly consider what they've now understood for various reasons an important one was that God has been kind to them, offering them two opportunities to hear and understand His gospel but they may never be given another chance to repent, so today is the day of salvation.
There were some other silly moments through the day, a young couple declared that they didn't want Jesus because they love Satan and will enjoy ruling people in Hell with him. But it was pointed out that this is not the case both because they will not be apart of the ruling in Hell, as it is God who rules and punishes those in Hell, not Satan. Secondly, that there is no hope in Satan, as Jesus is already risen, Satan has lost. These two were shown the foolishness of such a hope as Christ is the victor and He owns history.
They were then shown God's law, revealing their guilt and need for Christ and were pointed to Christ as the only way that sinners can be forgiven.
Please be praying for all those who heard of Christ this day, that God would use these conversations, these challenges and their new understandings to lead them to a saving faith in Him! Please be praying for those who took tracts or whose conversations were cut short by buses that God may use that to bring a hunger and a desire to know more of Christ.
And why not find a time to come out and share Christ with the people of this world?
View previous Capalaba (QLD) report (29 April 2019)
Capalaba Team (QLD)
Meets 2-5pm every Monday afternoon (except public holidays) at the bus station between the two shopping centres (next to Noeleen Street).
Contact Ryan Hemelaar for more information.