I wonder if I may take a liberty and tell a story.
When I got saved and heard that christians go preaching in Hyde Park London of a Sunday, I grabbed my bible and doubled down the Edgeware Rd full to bursting with excitement.
When I arrived at the park I froze like Sylvester cat in front of the steamroller. I suddenly remembered I have never been able to speak publicly, my mind goes total blank, I can't even remember my name. So there I was among the heaving crowds with a wooden tongue crying to the Lord inwardly, how on earth was I to get a crowd?
About 50 yards away a drill sergeant was doubling with half a dozen squaddies and he spotted my bible, he came at me like an angry wasp with his squaddies in tow.
He turned the air blue cussing me out, "so and so christians, so and so know it alls can you tell me why I gotta go and get shot at tomorrow in Ireland?" It was the time of the N. Irish troubles. Suddenly I had a crowd, nobody wants to miss a preacher being decked right?.
I said "sir have you ever been angry?" what a laugh he was ready to spit bullets, a big blue vein stood out on his brow. "Angry? of course I've been angry"
"well the same seething hate that's in you when you are angry is in those people over there, I've come here to tell folks how God can take all that rage out of people's heart and how He put it all on Jesus on the cross ... and here God gave me knowledge to see that this man was really. really frightened ... did you know that God has promised that there is no weapon formed that can harm you if you will trust Him"
He was the typical drill sergeant, big barrel chested and heavy moustache but suddenly his chest deflated and I saw the eyes of a small boy as he took hold of my arm "please sir will you pray for me?" he suddenly remembered his squaddies who were gathered around and drew himself up, "hep" he cried and the squaddies jumped to attention, "hep" he cried once more and they resumed doubling towards the gate with me doubling behind them with my bible "Jesus loves you, only believe, He will be with you."
That was the start of my outdoor preaching.
When I got saved and heard that christians go preaching in Hyde Park London of a Sunday, I grabbed my bible and doubled down the Edgeware Rd full to bursting with excitement.
When I arrived at the park I froze like Sylvester cat in front of the steamroller. I suddenly remembered I have never been able to speak publicly, my mind goes total blank, I can't even remember my name. So there I was among the heaving crowds with a wooden tongue crying to the Lord inwardly, how on earth was I to get a crowd?
About 50 yards away a drill sergeant was doubling with half a dozen squaddies and he spotted my bible, he came at me like an angry wasp with his squaddies in tow.
He turned the air blue cussing me out, "so and so christians, so and so know it alls can you tell me why I gotta go and get shot at tomorrow in Ireland?" It was the time of the N. Irish troubles. Suddenly I had a crowd, nobody wants to miss a preacher being decked right?.
I said "sir have you ever been angry?" what a laugh he was ready to spit bullets, a big blue vein stood out on his brow. "Angry? of course I've been angry"
"well the same seething hate that's in you when you are angry is in those people over there, I've come here to tell folks how God can take all that rage out of people's heart and how He put it all on Jesus on the cross ... and here God gave me knowledge to see that this man was really. really frightened ... did you know that God has promised that there is no weapon formed that can harm you if you will trust Him"
He was the typical drill sergeant, big barrel chested and heavy moustache but suddenly his chest deflated and I saw the eyes of a small boy as he took hold of my arm "please sir will you pray for me?" he suddenly remembered his squaddies who were gathered around and drew himself up, "hep" he cried and the squaddies jumped to attention, "hep" he cried once more and they resumed doubling towards the gate with me doubling behind them with my bible "Jesus loves you, only believe, He will be with you."
That was the start of my outdoor preaching.
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