Battle Log

• Battle Log
• Wellington Point (QLD) Team

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Wellington Point Team (QLD)

Meets fortnightly 1:30-3pm on Sunday afternoons at Wellington Point Reserve.

Contact Ryan Hemelaar for more information.

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Your amateur reporter is back after a partial recovery from a sizzled modem router. Thankfully God's good news is unchangeable as is our Redeemer, Heb. 13:8. Wellington Point was somewhat lacking the usual number of  tourists. As always, God led us to contact those thar He wished to be spoken to today.

     Ryan & Fynn had a long conversation with an Argentinian man (a first from that country at W. Pt.) Initially, he claimed to believe in God and he was cruising through life doing more good than bad. When he was able to see his need for the Lord Jesus Christ, he offered an array of excuses for not dealing with Him. Finally, he was happy to receive a gospel of John: may the Father draw him to the Son and the Holy Spirit regenerate him.

    Lee-Anne and Railee met a variety of people including a lass who attends a prosperity gospel gathering and who understands the gospel. When asked her assessment of the teaching, she said it was fine. A few more questions had her telling that she seldom opened God,s word. She was encouraged to start doing so regularly.

     I was encouraged by meeting with Sophie, Jan and Esther from a local Korean congregation. Jan had met a op513 person before who had challenged her claim to be a Christian. Having been a regular at Hope Reformed Baptist church, Jan answered well. Sophie's dad is involved in outreach and she received her Aussie name from Rev. Dr. Matthew Kim. (He taught me at the Theological Hall in the 1980s. They were likewise encouraged and as they were leaving, Railee who had just joined us, gave them some tracts to pass on. They liked them, especially the "Which One is Right?" tract.

There is more to pray for but hopefully this whets your appetite to see God bring His elect children home until they are all safely in the one fold under the One Shepherd. 

We went home rejoicing.

To God be the glory, great things He always does.

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A  hottish type of day somewhat ameliorated by the afternoon breeze and shady spots where we witnessed today at Wellington Point:

   .First with 2 J.W.s, Eric and Igor under a large shade tree with a breeze filtering through. The older one, Eric, seemed spiritually deaf, We were able to take Igor through the mini-flip chart and explain how we used Romans as a means of communicating the truth, e.g. he had never heard of the Reformation and the key doctrine of justification by faith alone. Still when all is said and done, we have to call on the Lord our God to work, even to granting saving faith to His people. Jn. 16:8 "...He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment"...

     Second, With Rodney & Michelle parents of 5 boys in a roofed picnic table area on the waterfront. He, being Roman Catholic we took them through the flip chart. He is still hung up on Purgatory but  she is working on this issue. The sufficiency of Christ's atoning work seems so difficult for those in cults to accept.

    With a few more tracts handed out, we headed home rejoicing. Pray also for the 2 John's gospel in a see-through plastic bag that I dropped; God's will use them for His glory.

For now and for ever and ever, to God alone be the glory.

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Various providences resulted in Fynn being the team at Wellington Point and later at Capalaba bus stop. The Lord gave him time with a former seminary student who had the old liberal habit of believing some parts of the Bible. He was not open but was presented with the gospel before leaving him in the Spirit's custody.

       There were also some encouraging chats at the bus stop. The response of one person leads us to pray that the Spirit  would bring him into the King's everlasting kingdom. 

     When Gabriel told Joseph, "You shall call His name Jesus for He will save His people from their sins," He gave us a certainty to evangelizing. To Him be the glory and praise. If He chooses to save someone by 1000 evangelists or 1, He will do it.

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From 1 month ago - You who are alert will have noticed that I should have included another clause. I am sure you will agree that
Jesus  return will be far better than any present day service we may do.

     There were not the usual number of tourists today and many God did not want us to converse with today. As always, God gave us the ones He wanted spoken to.  

      Fynn had 2 groups of his former school acquaintances passing by. The 3 young men had forgotten what they had heard at school earlier and were quite careless about it all. A larger group wanted to go through the flip chart. 2 of them appeared to be 'counting the cost' after a thorough chat.

          - Fynn also took P., a young woman, through it all. She stated that she would get 'a round toit' So she was asked, "If you were offered $1000000 and told this condition: "When you die you will go to hell", would you accept the money? She got the point. Pray she receives God's only Saviour & Lord in saving faith.

     Ryan was able to help a Dutch lady rightly divide justification and sanctification in her understanding.

     He also had 3 children seem eager  to receive Jesus. It appeared from conversing with their  parents that they had a Pentecostal church background. The mother, E., had a shallow knowledge of the gospel and apparently did not teach their children at home. He would not engage with us. Sad!!!

     I met my former J.W. door-knocker and his new co-worker (they sit in deck chairs?!?) . No apparent progress today but God works while we sleep.

To Him be the glory and praise. We went home thankful and rejoicing.

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To save you having to wait, let me tell you now that at the end we went home rejoicing! Think about it. What could be a better way to serve Him than asking for grace to glorify Him as we thankfully obey Him and then experiencing that grace as we tell forth His great good news? However, we have limits and we ask for prayer for Lee-Anne as she seeks healing for a pain. 

     Our 2 ladies had 2 highlights to share with us:

        - about 8 young adults heard God's standard of righteousness per the 10 commandments. They were able to see how desperately they needed the Lord Jesus alone "to save them from their sins" (- Mt. 1:21 part of the revelation dealing with Jesus miraculous conception)...

          - S. & S., a young couple, ended up agreeing that  this was God's appointed rendezvous. She received a Bible and what a wonderful Christmas present if they receive Jesus, Jn. 1:12,13 (A. W. Pink comments that receiveas used here has the connotation of saving faith). 

Fynn was treated to taking 2 of his former school acquaintances, L. & S., through the flip chart. They had heard the gospel previously from Fynn, but 'shelved' it. How blessed they were to hear it again - while they still have time to respond - favorably, we pray.

  As we were preparing to close in prayer, a man and 2 teenaged daughters started looking at the flip chart by themselves. Fynn returned and escorted them through. At the presentation of the consequence of their sin was hell unless... the man said it was a nice story as they walked away." Where can I flee from Thy Spirit "

In general, many received tracts and most were 'extra' polite.

Thank you Lord for equipping us and using us for Your glory and we humbly ask that you would continue to build Your church against which the gates of Hades cannot prevail - as You have promised- You cannot lie!

 

 

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Why didn't I think of this: Jesus ascension was necessary to prove that our human nature was now fit to abide in God's presence Because T. V. Moore had already published this insight in 1858. Praise God for the insights He gives to various leaders at various times.

     We had a willing team of 6 today. There seemed to be more Buddhists around than usual but none of the contacts seemed to lead to serious questions. Only one couple did the whole flip chart . He reckoned he would get into heaven even though he admitted to lying and lusting. Anyways they heard about the Substitutionary Atonement and know they need to trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Others were more open to learning more about God but showed no urgency in the matter. 

     There was M., a R.C. man from Portugal who heard the Good News but seemed to be stuck in self-love and pride about his own goodness. 

     There was D. who had been praying to god and when he parted company, he had a Bible and was excited. 

     There was P., a  Greek Orthodox man, who would only say that at death one is buried. However, after refusing to take anything from Ryan or myself, he freely chatted with Paul as they strolled away for quite some time.

      There was 2 'first-timer' J.W.  young ladies who were well trained in causing confusion but they were challenged enough by the truth presented to them so as to close off the chat with our 2 ladies. 

     Fynn also had a long chat but as always we have to leave all these contacts in God's prayerful keeping.

     It was a wonderful time of teamwork and we give God all the glory knowing that no labor in the Lord is in vain. Yes! We went home rejoicing. 

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Twas a delightful Lord's day afternoon with a breeze wafting across Wellington Point as we embarked on the Lord's mission for a brief time.

     We prayed and left our praying post.

     Lee-Anne and Railee barely made it past the J.W.s 'bad news' stand, when they engaged Samuel, Connor and Jayden. They listened to the law and gospel and interacted in a manner that suggested that they may have had some background 'church' experience. Jayden needed and received a Bible.May our Lord bring His word to bear in their lives that the fruit of righteousness may result.

     Later, a young Indian couple were offered a tract but produced a 'Law tract' that they had received earlier from another team member. They offered to return it but instead were challenged with their own goodness according to God's standard of righteousness. They showed no concern for their sins as their 'god' was different. They were given the court room analogy where the person charged with offenses tries to persuade the judge to let him go if he promises to do better from now on, The judge cannot let him go unpunished as long as his record of guilt stands. They were shown the need for Jesus to be their Substitute as only He is perfect, or absolutely righteous,  and only His death satisfies the demands of God's justice, 2 Cor 5:21.  They kept the tract. May they forsake their false god and receive God's salvation. God help them.

     The latter part of our time was spent talking with 2 of the Maltese ladies we have befriended over the years. They got a bit excited when told they were bad (semi-Pelagian teaching). However we were able to show how they were good but not good enough to get to heaven. Did they hear savingly this time? God knows and He knows that we are unable to change their rebellion against Him 

We give God the glory for He alone is worthy of all praise. Yes! we went home, a bit weary, but rejoicing.

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Pink in "Practical Christianity",p. 160, "Love is the fulfilling {not a substitution for, still less the abnegation} of the Law,."  - on Rom. 13:10 for it inspires its performance."  

     Fynn had a long chat with Z., a young Muslim man. Although Z had some knowledge of Christ's death, he did not seem to progress. Perhaps he did but with his father sitting beside him, it is unlikely that he would have let on.  Regardless of our analysis, God arranged the rendezvous and He has a glorious purpose in everything He does.

     Meanwhile Railee and I handed out tracts but had not one protracted conversation. Still, we took what opportunities came along to plant a seed of doubt in a young atheistic mother's thinking. We also had a little time with a Indo-Fijian Hindu from Labasa, Fiji  where we began our married life a few years ago {But a very short time of married life, if it is possible to compare it with eternity ) This man 'tears up' every time he hears the gospel. He teaches comparative religion in private schools.

     We left rejoicing knowing that God always has His word do His inimitable work. As always, we thank him for the privilege of serving Him - such a privilege - and to Him be all the glory. 

 

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We welcomed Janet to the team today for our post-hallowe'en witnessing time. Our gracious Lord provided an interesting variety of people to talk to. We remember these particularly at the throne of grace and hope you will supplement our petitions:

     - M. & R., a young couple who were open to hear the whole law and gospel challenge and departed with a N.T. each. May the Father draw them to the Son, Jn. 6:44...

     - S., a Philipino man who needs  a translator to understand the tract and likewise 2 young Chinese men.

     - C. a nominal Hindu who wanted to fulfill his mother's dream. After participating in  the law and gospel conversation, he was challenged to trust Christ alone and forsake Hinduism but he balked at that. May God soften his 'heart'.

      - 2 young Muslim men, H. & G., who were approached separately talked freely  of their beliefs When one of us was asked if we believed in the prophet Muhammad, the negative reply was given. Why? We said that his message disagreed with the preceding prophets. H. took contact details and will research Sura 5 . Pray the conversation continues.

We thank God for all the opportunities He provided for us today. We praise Him for how He builds His Church. We give Him all the glory. We went home rejoicing. 

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Arriving at our prayer spot, we noticed UQ, marine science tents in the lifeguard area. Following prayer the ladies headed there and were:

     - encouraged as they met 2 South African men, C. & P., who were 'on the Lord's side'.  They were invited to and may attend a local reformed congregation which is only 10 minutes from where they are living.

     - moved to compassion by G., an Indian man who was quite content to let them have Jesus but He is not for G. G. said that he had asked God, if he was there, to do some magic to prove it, so he thinks he is okay. G. was pointed to his need to 'test the spirits' to ensure he was not deceived. God does not do magic. Then he heard that we are all sinful and how Christ alone provides an atonement that satisfies God's righteous requirements so that the one trusting Christ alone can be reconciled to God.. Although G. had never read the Bible, when he heard Jn. 14:6, he said that Jesus never said that. Please ask God to deal with him through the "Which one is right' tract or whatever He wills.

Meanwhile, the 3 men at the jetty had various chats with:

     - 2 Iraqi Muslims who were cousins with the same name, R. But they were chatted to individually as we 3 engaged them.

One R. said that he would not trust Mohammed if all the previous prophets  had told different messages. Pray he does distrust Mohammed and receives Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. (He had expressed unwillingness to 'let' someone else pay his sin debt, but changed his attitude after he had been challenged him twice, by different team members, on that point.)

The other R replied to the opening question by saying that  he would  go to hell as he had done many bad things. He listened to the gospel but was not that clear in answering the checking questions. They have both been encouraged to attend a Bible church near where they live. Pray they will go and hear the voice of God speak to them individually.

There is always more happening than can be told, so thank you for praying. Please keep doing so. For our part, we will keep going out as He enables us and to Him alone be glory and praise. He also enables us to go home rejoicing. How beautiful He is and unchangeably so.

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