Thursday, Mar 29, 2007

Tough Love Encounter

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But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

1 Timothy 1:8-11


Should I have shared the Cross with this self-righteous young man? Let me know...

Posted by Ambassador at 2:36 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Thursday, Mar 29, 2007

A Spiritual Punch in the Stomach

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This is a four and a half minute excerpt taken from Paris Reidhead’s sermon entitled “Ten Shekels and a Shirt.” It’s one of my favorites. If you have never heard it, I highly recommend it.

The first time I heard it, it was like a spiritual punch in the stomach. I personally was a bit taken back by what he had to say – so be ready for it. I would like to hear your initial reaction to it too. Tell me what you think. Does what the preacher say in this excerpt square with the Scriptures? Let me know. apeek33@yahoo.com

If you would like to download the entire sermon, you can download it here:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonsspeaker&sermonID=10180222445

Posted by Ambassador at 2:05 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007

Jeff and Nicole at 2005 Pismo Car Show

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Jeff was from the valley. I met him on Wednesday night at the pier. He was humble and very receptive to the Gospel. Because Jeff wasn’t from the area, I didn’t anticipate ever seeing him again – at least on earth.


On Saturday of the same week, during the Pismo Car Show, a friend of mine was open-air preaching to a crowd of people when I looked over and saw Jeff standing there listening. I thought, “hey I know that guy.” When my friend finished preaching, I approached Jeff. After getting reacquainted with Jeff, he introduced me to his girlfriend Nicole.


Jeff said he had been thinking about the discussion we had on Wednesday night and that he was glad that he and Nicole was there to hear the message. He asked me to share with her what I had shared with him on Wednesday night. What a privilege!


Jeff and Nicole both had gone to youth group and church. But, they indicated that the church they tried to go to wasn’t very open to new visitors. That’s sad….


This encounter was different from others that I’ve had. It has only happened a few times. This young girl came under such deep conviction that she began to cry (I have edited it from the audio). I pray her tears were tears caused by godly sorrow. Because, “godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation…” 2 Corinthians 7:10


This is an older encounter. In it, you’ll hear me use John 3:16 and insert Nichol’s name in the verse. “For God so loved Nicole….” Have you ever heard that? I heard a pastor do this before and I started doing it when I shared the Gospel. However, I stopped shortly after I started doing it because Jesus didn’t say, "For God so loved Nicodemus, that he gave his only begotten Son, that if Nicodemus will believeth in him, Nicodemus should not perish, but have everlasting life." What do you think? Do you believe we have the liberty to stick people’s names in verses like this? At this point, I don’t think it is wise, but tell me what you think.


Christian, there are many blessings that come from street evangelism. When Christians are deliberate about evangelism, it keeps you on your knees. We ask God for divine encounters as we “go.” We know that our Great God is a God of ultimate providence – we know He can and does bring prepared hearts to hear the Gospel. So when we go out, and God brings about encounters where people do in fact hear the Gospel, it causes the Christian to praise, worship, adore, experience His faithfulness, and trust His Word.


In addition, the Christian communicates the Gospel over, and over, and over, it never gets old. The Christian is continually reminded of Christ’s work of redemption to save sinners! Oh Christian, do you remember what He has done! When we engage our community on the streets, being deliberate to communicate the Gospel, praying and trusting God to direct the encounters, we continually live the Gospel - what a blessing.


Who should we share the Gospel with? Just to the people we “feel led” to share with? I’m not sure what it means to “feel led.” My feelings change from minute to minute, so I look to Mark 16:15 to answer this question.


Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15


If you wait to “feel led,” to share the Gospel, if you’re like me, you won’t share it very often. We should attempt to share the Gospel with “every creature,” unless God tells us otherwise.

Posted by Ambassador at 11:45 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Saturday, Mar 24, 2007

Sam in Oceano

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This is an interview I had with a very nice young man named Sam – we met in the Oceano beach parking lot Thursday afternoon. Sam was very cool in allowing me to ask him questions about what he believed. I counted it a privilege to share with Sam the fact that Jesus Christ is in fact his Messiah.

Father, according to Your unfailing love, according to Your great compassion, according to the finished work of Jesus Christ – may Sam come to saving faith and say, ‘nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy Cross I cling.’ Please Lord God, Grant Sam repentance and faith in Your beloved Son Jesus. Father in heaven, reveal Yourself to Sam that he might also confess of Jesus, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” AMEN

Please pray for Sam’s salvation…

Posted by Ambassador at 12:09 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Saturday, Mar 24, 2007

Surfs Up

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This is an encounter with three young surfers I met in Pismo. Their names are Tyler, James, and Cory. Please pray for them.

Saints, you can do this. If we say we love God, if we know that God is THE merciful Savior, if we know that God is the only One who can save them, if we believe in the Resurrection power, if we believe that the Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation, if we believe that God has commanded us to "GO", if we believe that lost sinners are condemned to an eternity in Hell, shouldn’t we do everything we can to obey God and warn them? Even when it takes us out of our comfort zone? You can do this! Face your fears and share the Gospel today!

I love what C.H. Spurgeon said:

“If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and un-prayed for.”

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Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007

A Wolf Sighting

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Pismo Pier is a strange place to see a wolf. One day, right after sharing the Gospel with a Jehovah’s Witness, I turned around to see a very large man – his nickname is Wolf. Wolf was probably in his late fifties and like I said a BIG guy. One of his hands could have covered my whole head.


This is an encounter I had two years ago when I was just getting started in trying to share the Gospel – it’s not polished that’s for sure. I said something in this encounter that isn’t necessarily theologically sound. I know you’ve heard it before too – maybe you’ve said it. I said, “You need to accept Jesus.”


As Christians, we all know what that means, but the unbeliever doesn’t. As I listened to this again, I thought to myself, ‘Ok Allen, let’s drop the modern Christian lingo and just stick to what Scripture says.’ Instead of saying, “accept Jesus,” say what John 1:12 says, “…receive Him…” “Accepting Jesus,” is a man-centered way of trying to communicate God’s truth. Jesus doesn’t need to be “accepted” by man, man needs to be accepted by Jesus.


Here is some more modern Christian lingo that we should loose, “ask Jesus into your heart.” Have you heard that? Can you find it in Holy Writ? Nope! It’s not there… How about this instead. “Repent and believe the good news" (Mark 1:14), “…turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:20-21, also see Hebrews 6:1-3).


There is something else that you’ll notice missing from this Gospel presentation; the Resurrection of our Risen Lord.


My point is this. When you start sharing the Gospel. It’s not going to be perfect. You’re going to get tripped up a bit here and there. You will more than likely have a few ‘disasters.’ A disaster, from our perspective is bad, but I believe the tough encounters are helpful for our training.


If someone asks you a question you don’t have the answer to, be humble and admit you don’t know - that’s ok. Go home, pray, and study to get the answer so you’re ready next time.


This is a short encounter but seeds were planted – Salvation is of the Lord.


Saints, if you’re not already sharing the Gospel – you can do this! God gave me a gift so I can evangelize – maybe you have this gift too. Go stand in front of your mirror. Do you have lips, a mouth, and a voice? Great, God has gifted you!


Oh yea, are you weak? Do you have fear? Do you tremble at the thought of sharing the Gospel with you next-door neighbor, a family member, or a stranger? Then you qualify!


And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5


If you desire to go out to the streets for some training (be a fly on the wall) with us, please feel free to contact me at apeek33@yahoo.com May God alone be honored.

Posted by Ambassador at 7:37 AM |  2 comments  

Tuesday, Mar 20, 2007

A Bit of Conviction…With a Punch-line

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This podcast isn't for the faint of heart. If you like to be convicted about NOT sharing the Gospel, then this podcast is for you.

Listen closely for the punch-line at the end. It's a bit long (12+ minutes) but its well worth it.

Posted by Ambassador at 8:05 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Monday, Mar 19, 2007

Pierside Evangelism

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Five of us spent the afternoon in Pismo Beach on Sunday. It was another beautiful day and there were lots of visitors to our Central Coast.


One young lady from a local church has been faithfully meeting us at the pier to pray for the souls of the individuals we speak to. The other four were sowing seed, engaged in one-2-one witnessing. We even spent some time preaching open-air to the crowd God gathered.


Before starting, we prayed that God would gather the people to hear the Gospel, that He would save souls, and that His name would be honored and worshipped for who He is and what He has done.


God gathered a large group to hear the open-air Gospel presentations. We have experienced God prepare hearts in this atmosphere of prayer, His Word being read aloud and proclaimed in the public arena.


I recently heard an excellent quote from Scottish preacher, George McCloud: “I simply argue that the cross should be raise at the center of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles but on a cross between two thieves – on the towns garbage heap, at a crossroads so cosmopolitan they had to write His title in Hebrew and Latin and Greek. At the kind of a place where cynics talk smut and thieves curse and solders gamble. Because that is where He died, and that is what He died for, and that is what He died about. That is where church-men ought to be, and what church-men ought to be about.”


After the Gospel is proclaimed and God’s Word is read, the one-2-one conversations seem much easier. All you really have to say is, “hey what do you think about what that guy said?” And you’re away! These individuals are not monsters they don’t bite and they actually seem to appreciate having someone talk to them about spiritual matters.


Having said that, and as I said in a previous post, my fears still nag me. I saw a couple approaching and they “looked” like they were going to eat me alive. I thought, “Maybe I should just let them pass by and not say anything.” But it happened so quickly. The first “monster” was female and she looked ferocious. The second was a male and appeared to be thirsty for my blood. Their expressions terrified me as they drew closer.


I held my breath, smiled and put my hand out, offering a tract and said, “hey did you get one of these?” The female took the tract without taking my hand off. Lori was receptive to the conversation – I was so relieved.


The other “monster," David was a bit reluctant to say anything. But he did say something like, “dude, you got the wrong guy to be talking about God and religion…” He refused the tract and his body language made it obvious that he wanted to get away fast. I thought for a moment that he would walk away leaving his girlfriend Lori there with me – he didn’t.


Lori and I began talking about her background. She had some sort of Christian background but she had “no use for church or church people.” David jumped in and said that he had many family members who were Christians. He also indicated that they were always “bugging me about going to church.” In an agitated way, David said he believed in a god and Heaven – but not Hell.


David was extremely self-righteous and very hard to reason with due to the fact that he continued to justify himself with the typical arguments. ‘I don’t think God will ultimately punish me because I’m not that bad…, There are so many hypocrites in the churches…, How can you believe the Bible…, etc.’ These are the same arguments I used before God saved me. David said, “yea, I’m a sinner, but so is everyone else.” He didn’t understand His personal sin before God.


It is imperative that the Law proceeds Grace to a proud, self-righteous individual like David. Open up God’s standard – the Ten Commandments to them: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28 & Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer 1 John 3:15


Even in light of God’s standard of righteousness, David and Lori both stayed very hard (as least as far as my eye could see). I didn’t speak of God’s mercy, love, or forgiveness through the sacrifice of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Why? Because they didn’t see their need for Him or forgiveness. Why? Because they figured, in their spiritual blindness, that they at heart are “good.”


We continued to talk about God’s standard – I emphasized our immense guilt before an eternal, infinite GOD, who is holy, righteous, good, and that He can’t just let us get away with sin.


After explaining God’s law to them for fifteen minutes or so, they were silenced. They stopped trying to justify themselves. Even the hardness of David began to soften. At first David was blasphemous, and very agitated about the topic of our discussion. The same hard to talk to, hard to reason with guy, was silenced under God’s law and maybe for the first time felt guilty before God.


Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Romans 3:19


What made this obvious was a few soft words form David’s mouth. You want to know what he said? At the time, it almost brought tears to my eyes. David said softly, with his head literally hanging down, “so what was that that you gave to Lori?” He was speaking of the gospel tract. I choked a bit and with pleasure gave him a tract AND… A Bible…Can you believe that?


I then had the greatest of all privileges - sharing the Gospel with this couple. I magnified the LOVE AND MERCY OF GOD, FORGIVENESS OF SINS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, repentance, and faith toward THE one and only Savior Jesus. With great passion I poured it on as best as I knew how. David and Lori, those two big “monsters” heard the gospel on Sunday and in the end were very receptive.


Maybe it wasn’t the first time they heard it, or second time, or the tenth, it doesn’t matter how many times, what matters is they heard it and have the opportunity to respond in repentance toward God. HE is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.


Father, in order that Your great name be honored, praised, and eternally worshipped, save David and Lori. You are a merciful God and You sent you Son Jesus Christ to do the work of redemption for the souls of men. Great God of Peace, forgive their sins and call them out of darkness into Your marvelous light. And Father, please forgive my initial attitude towards David and Lori – they are not monsters but lost people. Remind me to continue to intercede for them and increase my love for them. Don’t let my weak mind forget this great lesson. AMEN


I met another very nice couple on Sunday. Listen to this podcast of a wonderful conversation I had with a very nice young lady named Jenae. Her boyfriend Mark was also by her side, although very quite. Jenae’s father is in the background too – you’ll hear him make comments every so often in the background.


Jenae is from San Luis Obispo and hasn’t much of a Christian background. She was very kind to participate and be interviewed. Jenae said something that I have heard others say before. Like I said, Jenae hasn’t had much of a Christian influence in her life but when I asked her “What do you think God is like?” God’s Words are true beloved! Her response was straight from Scripture. She said, “powerful.” What passage of Scripture does that remind you of?


For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse: Romans 1:20


Saints, please pray for the salvation of Jenae and David.


Please also pray for Richard. Richard is 27 and just got out of prison because he was using and dealing heroin. His mom and dad are Christians and are heartbroken over Richard’s choices in life. Richard is a very bright young man with an eight-year-old son. Pray for the salvation of his soul. Pray that Satan and his drugs would be kept from Richard so he can work to provide for his son and be a father for him.

Posted by Ambassador at 10:30 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Saturday, Mar 17, 2007

Friendly Neighborhood Pismo Witches

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Here is another short encounter I had with two very friendly individuals who identified themselves as "witches.” One of the two guys indicated that he had been in the occult for 16 years and is now a 4th level high priest. He said he was “called by the goddess,” to this position.


For more details on their beliefs see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca


Their pagan background was mixed with “a little bit of everything,” one of them said. In addition to speaking of Karma and such, they quoted the Bible and the Lord Jesus Himself – “In the beginning was the Word,” and “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” These poor lost men are dead in trespasses and sins – it is just so sad. I so wanted to share the Gospel with them.


Listen closely, at one point one of the two says, “I am a god,” and goes on to say later that, “I can forgive your sins, raise the dead, heal the sick, etc.” It’s shocking to say the least. Make no mistake about it, these guys are in it deep, and God has called His children to move out in the midst of these lost individuals and share the Gospel (Mark 16:15) and intercede for them (1 Timothy 2:1-8). Although I wanted to take them to the Cross, the encounter ended abruptly after sharing just a few of the Commandments.


Paul said in Romans 7:7 that, “I had not known sin, but by the law…” He also said in Romans 3:20 that, “for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”


Even though it’s my hearts desire to introduce them to the Savior Jesus Christ, sometimes the encounter may consist of Law-work only. You don’t want to sow good seed on hard soil. So what do you do? Till or plow it up a bit to break it up so the seed will find softer soil. This encounter, like the previous podcast was sharing what God’s standard is (Romans 3:23).


What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9


“They had done their work well and faithfully, But the real work was the Lord’s. God was causing the growth. No man, not even the best farmer or the best horticulturist, can give physical life or growth to a plant. How much less can anyone, even an apostle, give spiritual life or growth to a person. The most that men can do in either case is to prepare and water the soil and to plant the seeds. The rest is up to God. Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. The human instrument is not anything but a tool. All the honor for the accomplishment goes to God.” - John MacArthur

Posted by Ambassador at 1:50 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Friday, Mar 16, 2007

How should Christians Witness to Muslims?

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Each witnessing encounter doesn’t always go the way you would like it to. Sometimes the individual will feel the sting of their conscience and abruptly walk away. It’s just something Christians have to get used to. When this happens I’m reminded of (Matthew 19:16-22) the guy that came to Jesus and “said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”


Jesus proceeded to use several of the Commandments to help the man see his personal sin before the ONE GOOD GOD. Jesus said, “no one is good but One, that is God.” In his self-righteousness the man said he had kept the Commandments Jesus listed. Jesus was not setting forth terms for salvation, but rather exposing the young man’s true heart.


The man was not blameless as far as the law was concerned, because he was guilty of loving himself and his possessions more than his neighbors. The man also lacked true faith, which involves a willingness to surrender all to Christ. Jesus was demanding that this man obey Him. Was the man willing? Sad to say, but, “he went away sorrowful.”


We were at Pismo Pier. A couple approached, walking pretty quickly. I offered a gospel tract; I was surprised they stopped. I was so taken back that they stopped that you’ll notice I didn’t even get to ask their names. I believe the couple was one their way back to their car because it was getting cold.


They indicated that they were Muslims. ‘How are Christians to witness to a Muslim?’ The good news is you don’t have to understand the all of Islam’s deepest doctrines. You don’t have to have “all the answers.” Why? Because, the majority of the time the conversation will never go in that direction. Even if the conversation does veer into the intellect, quickly move back to the conscience using the Ten Commandments – the way Jesus did.


After listening to this encounter again, I realized that I felt rushed. It seems I lacked a tone of compassion – rushing quickly to the Law. Usually I like to relate to the individual a bit more before going into the Law. But at the time, I knew I didn’t have much time with them. They need to hear of the bloodstained Cross of the Savior.


You’ll hear the encounter ended a lot like the encounter Jesus had with the man in Matthew 19. Maybe it was the cold. Maybe it was the Holy Spirit’s rebuke (John 16:8) against their guilty conscience. Either way it ended just as I started to turn the corner to show them the Cross. This happens a lot actually. But Isaiah 55:11 says, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” We have to trust that if we sow His Word (God’s Law in this case), that God can bring another Christian to sow His Word (His grace) at another time. God is Sovereign! Praise Him Saints! Salvation is of the Lord!


Share this glorious Gospel with everyone you can. Jesus Christ died to deliver it to His Church. The Message is precious to Him and it must be precious to us. Be passionate about the Gospel – it’s “Ok” to be a fool for Him.


“God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble”

Posted by Ambassador at 2:06 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007

Nick at Pismo Beach

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I had a wonderful conversation with a gentleman named Nick the other day. He was enjoying the sunshine on the beautiful Pismo Beach coastline. It was an awesome day. I explained to Nick that I recently setup a web podcast where I’m uploading audio recordings of conversations I have with individuals about spiritual matters. I asked if he would be comfortable with sharing his religious background, his perspective of who God is, the afterlife, etc. Nick graciously agreed to participate.



As you will hear, Nick is agnostic (one who doubts that there is a God or life hereafter – Webster’s). I must admit, I wish I had been a bit more prepared and had some better questions for him. However, Nick and I had this wonderful conversation, where God opened Nick’s heart to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.



Father, Nick needs Your salvation! Please grant Nick repentance that he might turn to Jesus in faith and cling to Jesus alone for the saving of his soul. Who else can he turn to for salvation Father? You, and You alone are the Savior. Help Nick understand the seriousness of His sin before You. Also help Him to understand Your lovingkindness and Your tender mercy extended to him through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth – the Son of God. Save Nick Lord so he will worship You and for who You are and what You have done. So that he too can say that he is “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself…” Titus 2:13-14

Posted by Ambassador at 7:29 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Sunday, Mar 11, 2007

Mark in Front of Starbucks

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I was passing out tracts in front of Starbucks on Grand Ave in Grover Beach CA. Mark was one of the first people I talked to. After breaking the ice with a "Million Dollar" gospel tract, Mark and I talked about death and the after-life.


It is refreshing to meet someone like Mark. In that he was pretty humble already. Using the Ten Commandments to bring about the knowledge of sin (Rom 7:7) helped but Mark seemed to have a good understanding about his personal sin - although maybe not the extent of it (Romans 7:13) before a Holy, righteous, and just God. Mark, like the rest of us, in his sin is, "exceedingly sinful."


In that light, Judgement and Hell became reasonable. It was easy to share this truth with him – because it makes sense. And I pray that the Law acted as the "schoolmaster" (Galatians 3:24) to bring Mark to Christ.


The glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ shines like the brightest of lights. When one stops to contemplate the wickedness that has proceeded from our hearts from birth, the multitude of sins, what we really deserve (the deepest part of Hell for eternity), when we begin to get a glimpse of the holiness of God, and the substitutionary death of the God-man Jesus, this seemingly "foolish" message truly is GOOD NEWS.



Lord God of all heaven and earth, Father, please, please save Mark. His need for salvation is great – even beyond his understanding. For Your honor Father be glorified in the Mark’s salvation. Lord, he will suffer greatly in this life and in the life to come without you – spare His soul. The finished work of Jesus Christ is sufficient even for Mark’s sin – forgive him Father. Amen.


In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

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