On Saturday may 29th 2010, all around the country, and possibly the world, people went out among the masses and openly read Gods word and proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Project Ezra is a Facebook group that is dedicated to openly reading Gods word in public, and I am blessed to be a part of this very important work for the kingdom! We have our local farmers market on Saturday in Sunnyvale, CA. As of present, it is in the Cal train parking lot while our downtown is being renovated and has been a fun and exciting place to hand out tracts, and proclaim Gods word. On this Saturday, we were committed in reading Matthew 5,6,7 and I chose this location for my reading. As usual, I was on my knees in prayer for courage and that His word would be heard and understood (funny how you can't feel your knees shaking when your down upon them!) As I proceeded to the farmers market, with my step stool in hand, I was looking for the best place to set up and read and crossed into the market and made one quick walk through; as I was looking at all the people I was overwhelmed with the thought that all these people were Gods creation and if they haven't repented and put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation, they will perish. This motivates me to get past my fear and do as God has commanded and preach the Gospel. I noticed a modest size group of people sitting in the train station bench area, near where people gather to eat lunch on a small lawn area (which was filled) and met a man dressed in a santa hat handing out goodies to the kids, I introduced myself to him and I told him I was going to read Gods word, and he said "Oh I know alot about the bible" I said " Oh, good then you'll let me know if my theology is correct" we both laughed and I got up on the wall near him, opened my Bible, hands shaking, and asked the crowd for their attention.
I introduced myself to the crowd and said I was with a group called Project Ezra and was going to give them the opportunity to hear the Good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by a bible reading. As I turned to Matthew 5, and started to read, some people left right away, as they often do, but a man stood up walked toward me yelling "why are you doing this? Look at all the people leaving!" He snatched my bible away from me,(which he did three times) and I calmly told him "you know, that is assault,sir?"He said "No it's not!" and handed me back my bible, I opened it back up to Matthew 5 and continued reading. This man was angry and on a tirade, he was asking me, what religion I was in, that he had been an alter boy and this is not the right way to act and that I was ruining his day, and no one wanted to hear what I was reading as well,although there were quite a few who were still there and engaged, as well as the people on the lawn, and in the farmers market! I continued reading, even though he got up on the wall and was so close, I could feel his breath on my face as he was yelling at me, I just kept on reading as he got louder, I read on. I have to tell you, our God has blessed me with a voice that can talk over a passenger train, so as this man got louder, I just read louder. People need to hear Gods word even if this man was bent on stopping me! I read on.... At one point he even blamed me for causing him to lose his phone.. (actually If he didn't come back to yell at me, he wouldn't have found it again!) His wife got involved after trying to get him to leave yelling at me "Why are you doing this? Why don't you go to church and do this?" I wanted to tell her that church if for church people and that the lost need to hear Gods word, but I didn't. Thank you Holy Spirit! I finally reached the end of chapter 7 and the man, although away from me, hadn't left yet.. I wondered if he was listening or planning something.. Oh well.. I then gave the crowd, (which seemed to have grown in size) a short Gospel presentation, the Good News, and Gods plan of salvation. I thanked the crowd, many who were listening and engaged and grabbed my step-stool and left.
As I was leaving the Farmers market (unfortunately I had to get ready for work) I felt worn out and quite dejected... I knew I had opened Gods word for the hearing, and I don't expect to feel a sense of accomplishment or anything, but this time I felt so dejected. I sensed in my spirit the remembrance of a passage I had just read Matthew 5:11
"Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Even knowing this, was still worn out and feeling quite badly.. I now now that the enemy was trying to steal my joy and as I headed home, I plopped down in the bed for a much needed nap before work! Now talk about a word in due season, in church the next day.. what was the teaching? Matthew Chapter 5! Wow! I was blessed by our Pastors teaching and could kind of review the previous days events in the light of the Gospel and not my own understanding! Beloved, I relate this story to you, not for any effort on my part, as this should be our daily activity until we are called home, but to encourage you by His Grace and Mercy, that He will make His word known.. and it isn't by mans standard but HIS! We must proclaim the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world, no matter what it takes.. truly what is our small pain compared to the pain that Jesus suffered to save the world, may you be encouraged by this account as I am, remembering it is ALL for His glory, and may our Lord and Savior truly receive the full recompense for his suffering on the cross for us!
Have a blessed week!
Until the nets are full and the counting accomplished!
Robert
