Battle Log

Saturday night in Brisbane city was awesome! There were 19 team members that made it out and over 50 conversations about the way to Heaven that took place!

Praise God for providing labourers and for bringing to the team people He had been preparing beforehand.

In this video you can hear Andrew share about a conversation he had with a Hindu couple who have come to Australia to do their PhD's. They had never heard the Gospel before and now said they want to know more.

Lee-Anne had a conversation with a young couple, where the guy professed to be an agnostic and the girl said she was a Christian. Through the law they saw their sin and came to an understanding of how one is made right before God.

Lastly, hear John share about how he was able to share who Jesus is and what He did to save us to a Muslim lady that stopped by to speak with the team.

Praise God for such encouraging conversations! Please be praying for those who heard the truth tonight that they would come to Christ and find forgiveness and freedom from sin.

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On Wednesday the team headed into Brisbane city. The cloud cover kept the temperatures down and made for a pleasant afternoon of evangelism. It must be noted that there is great encouragement in a local business man who spends his lunch time out in the city with the team. What a wonderful way for him to use the small amount of free time God allows him to have during the day.

The first conversation of the afternoon was also really encouraging. A local business man, Steve had been talking to his Catholic friend Akshay about the Gospel and even bought him down to speak with the team and he was taken through the flip chart and was challenged on some points. It was wonderful to see that this local business man was wanting his friend to hear the Gospel again, so not only has he been speaking about Christ himself but also was willing to encourage a dialogue with the team!

Please be praying for this pair as they have been encouraged to read Romans 3-5 together!

An exciting conversation was had with a Finnish lady named Taruk. She at first said she hoped to go to Heaven but wasn't sure if she would. She was taken through the law and saw her sin and then heard the Gospel. When challenged on what it meant to "believe" in Jesus, she said that she did. This changed the conversation slightly. It became apparent that she knew about God but seemed to be living her own way. She was challenged on a range of things and ultimately was encouraged to open up her Bible and read the Gospel of John and to start attending a local church with her housemate.

Please be praying that Taruk tonight would be bought into the kingdom of His marvelous light!

A conversation was had with Michael. It was a surprising conversation. He wasn't religious but believed in God. He was shown why God's authority over Creation is important, why God's goodness demands justice and why God's Holiness cannot ignore evil. A very exciting part of the conversation was that he seemed to have no-religious baggage. This meant that he understood the Gospel with ease.

There was no large amount of effort required to explain the Gospel different ways but it was a simple and clear presentation. He heard about Christ's sacrificial death on the cross and asked whether or not that means people can just sin as much as they want. Then he heard that we cannot because those who believe in the Gospel will be changed by it and will out of gratefulness to God, turn from sin. The conversation went like this for a while and Michael had no trouble understanding.

To finish off, the challenge was placed before him, "Who is your God"? (As this is what his name means).

Please be praying for those who heard the truth today. Also for those who took tracts or were even asked questions as they walked by. Please specifically commit these three who heard the Gospel today in prayer that God may work in their hearts and lives tonight.

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This week in Brisbane City the team headed out and had many conversations. One exciting stand out was a man who returned to speak with Trinity.

In the previous conversations he had mentioned past frustrations from the Church and was against going to Church and reading the Bible but by the work of God, it seems that his past pain is being softened and he was willing to read God's word!

Also hear Andrew encourage you, as he was encouraged and was able to encourage some local Christians to be obedient to God, despite fear of man.

Hear how you can be encouraged to be bold and to be a good witness for Christ, even though you may fear that you don't have the words to speak.

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Wednesday afternoon in Brisbane city was an afternoon with encouraging conversations but also a great reminder. Often whilst evangelising we can end up in "apologetics mode", when we are too busy trying to "prove" Christianity is right that we forget, that apologetics don't save people. It is also important to note that until someone actually understands the Gospel, they will be arguing to convince themselves that they are good without God and therefore don't need the Bible's rules.

This was the case during two conversations on Wednesday. The main aim was forgotten and much time was wasted in engaging with someone about the importance of Christianity when in fact, they actually had no idea what Jesus taught. This happens occasionally and it was always a good reminder as to why the Gospel is the most important part of any Gospel conversation.

These conversations happened with Sarah and Luke. Thankfully God is sovereign and can use conversations with purely apologetics to bring someone to a desire to speak to a Christian or to read a Bible in their own time. Therefore, please be praying that these two will consider the many places their current ideas about the world are faulty and therefore come to seek what God has to say. Also, you could take the moment to praise God for using faulty, fallible people to save others and glorify Himself!

A tough conversation was had with a young man. He worked in a local store. Most of the things he believed about God and the afterlife relied on things he had seen or experienced whilst on drugs. This wasn't a good starting point. He didn't care about God and wasn't interested in God's law, instead he loved sin. He happily acknowledged, later in the conversation that his love for the things God hates was the real reason for his rejection of God but he wasn't moved.

He was taken through God's law and at each moment tried to use some sort of argument to change the topic, to take away the sting or the reality of what He had done but at each moment as it was bought back to the law, the guilt was displayed. It reached a point when realised the problem he was in, that the law had revealed his sin and he knew he was guilty. At this moment, he left, in an attempt to flee from the reality of sin. Sadly, he never got to hear the Gospel because he loved his sin, despite knowing it was wrong.

Please be praying for this man that he would not be able to numb or sear his conscience but would be drawn by his guilt to the only one who can take it away!

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On Saturday night in King George Square the team had a wonderful night of outreach. An early conversation was had with a SDA man.

This man, named Fernando, professed that he was a teacher of God's word and that he knew what he was talking about. The problem, he wasn't really teaching God's word but his own ideas. He was challenged on the Gospel but was unwillingly to acknowledge it. At this point it was decided to cut the conversation short, encourage him to read Romans 3-5 and pray that God would us His word to change this mans heart because he wasn't listening to what was being said.

Another man who was a local church-goer named Ricky, professed to be believing in Christ and justification by faith alone. Yet, he was unsure if he would get to Heaven because he did a lot of wrong things.

This is a surprisingly common issue. There are so many "Christians" the team run across, that profess (as protestants) justification by faith but live as though they are made right before God on the basis of how good their lives are.

Ricky was taken through the law, shown that he had no righteousness of his own and was explained the Gospel. The beauty of double imputation was even shared and Ricky seemed to, for the first time in his life, understand that we are made right before God, entirely on the basis of who Jesus is and what He has done. It was a moment of great joy.

Please be praying that his knowledge of God changes Ricky's life and that he can now live in freedom and joy in Christ.

Two other conversations were had with Stephen and Ashish. They both had other religions as their background but had just ultimately made up their own ideas. These men were challenged by the law and the Gospel and were left with the choice, trust God and what He has done, or perish eternally. Sadly at this stage both chose to continue to worship themselves and their ideas.

Please be praying for all those who heard the Gospel that they will be humbled by God's love and come to a reliance upon Christ, being adopted into God's family.

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On Wednesday in King George Square, there were many conversations. Some longer than others, some people more receptive and some just unwilling to talk.

There were two business men, sitting on the same bench who at different levels declined to talk. The first said he didn't want to think about his death and briskly walked off almost straight away when asked, "What do you think will happen to you when you die?". The second engaged in a few questions, had his core beliefs challenged simply by being asked the question, "What has convinced you that is true?" to which a number of times he had no answer but to say, "I just feel like it". He too then had to leave quite quickly.

A man spoken with soon after was a Kiwi, named Brendan. He rightly pointed out the glaring hypocrisy of many false Churches, from the Catholic church to the Word of Faith movement he rightly criticised them and was angry that they would so openly misrepresent God and yet people would still follow them.

But the sad part was that Brendan had used this as his justification against believing in God. He had rejected God on the basis of wicked men who claimed to represent Him. It was pointed out that this wasn't a very good reason and he was shown the law, that he too preached a better message then he lived and therefore he needed the Saviour.

The Gospel was explained and Brendan took a tract as he headed back to work. Please be praying that the challenge placed before Brendan would be one that he would consider.

A conversation was had with a business women, Zoe. She at first declared that people love religion because they love answers and so religion is now losing its hold on people because science can give us answers. Then when she was posed with a few questions, she responded that science didn't have the answers to these big questions. Then she went on to say, that she didn't need answers to these things. It was clear that she was grasping at straws and contradicting herself but she couldn't see it.

Then she said that religion is for people who need assurance about an afterlife. She said that people aren't smart enough to comprehend non-existence, therefore we need to believe there is something after we die, that there will be some reason for this life. It was point out to her that the opposite is true. She was hoping that there was nothing, so that she could convince herself there is nothing to worry about, no accountability and therefore she can live however she wants.

Zoe sadly was blinded by her pride and her love of self. She couldn't understand the irony in her comments and was sure what she was saying was consistent. Then she was shown the law and heard the Gospel and said, "you won't change my mind, I just want to live my way". It was a sobering thought that she was willing to ignore things that were directly contradictory about what she believed, simply to try and quieten her conscience to the reality of God's judgement.

Among other conversations the final conversation of the afternoon was with Charissa. She had some sort of Christian background but didn't know the Gospel. Over the discussion she heard many explanations for who God is, why He must be a being, why He cares about justice, how He must punish wickedness and therefore what He has done so that the wicked can be forgiven. She came to understand the Gospel and was strongly encouraged to consider what God had said.

Please be praying for those that heard the Gospel today, or even an introduction to it. Please be praying that God would be working in hearts and lives so that they may come to understand what God has done and to trust in Him!

Praise God that He uses feeble messengers to preach His Gospel and even consider joining us sometime!

An encouragement in this area is that a local Christian business man, comes down during his lunch hour to join the team in sharing the Gospel! During his hour on the street yesterday he had three Gospel conversations! Imagine what God could do through you if you joined the team during your lunch hour!

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You can be encouraged from the conversations the team had on Saturday night. Hear Lee-Anne share about a lengthy conversation she had with two Muslims and how they came to hear and understand the Gospel for the first time!

Hear Fynn share about a conversation he had with a Catholic who came to understand that the Bible talks about being made right before God, entirely on the basis of faith in what Jesus did for us.

Hear Matt share about a reminder of the importance to focus on the Gospel in a conversation and to be wary not to be sidetracked with intellectual arguments at the expense of someone missing out on hearing the Gospel.

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The outreaches in King George square are usually filled with less conversations but longer ones.

The first one of the night was with three Muslims. They were challenged by God's law and the need for a Saviour. The struggled with Muslims is to keep the Gospel the centre of the conversation. It can often be lost in rabbit trails and other discussions.

In an attempt to keep the conversation on tract the attempt was to ask them to answer the question, "What has God done, to pay the penalty for sin, so that sinners can be forgiven?"

This question was bought back over and over and the reason it was focused on is clear, the "god" of Islam hasn't done anything. Where as the true and living God has acted in history and taken the judgement for sin on the cross, for those who trust in Him.

Jam, Yas and Wassim through this conversation were openly lusting after girls that walked past, pointing each other to look. In the end they left saying they would search out what had been said and would talk with the team another day.

Another conversation was with Cody, who said, "three people have spoken to me about this in the last three days". It was pointed out that God was clearly trying to God his attention. He was taken through the law and its penalty and through the Gospel and its beauty and then left with the very serious thought that God had now given him three chances to hear the message of hope and to respond and God may never ever give him another chance.

Lastly, the team was about to speak with Yance, a European Doctor, who lives in Australia. He mentioned that on Sunday of the previous week at Wellington Point a kind gentleman had given him a tract, talked with him briefly but he had to leave. (This was another 513 team member).

Yance noted at the end of the conversation that he was very grateful. He now understood the Gospel, had many of his questions answered and even noted that the conversation was not intrusive and he was happy to have had the conversation.

He said that he would seriously think about what had been said!

Please be praying for those who were challenged by the law and heard the Gospel this Saturday that God would use this to draw them to Himself!

 

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The Christmas outreaches of 2018 in Brisbane have concluded and we praise God for what He has done through the team over these past 2 weeks.

With 47,000 gospel tracts going out into people's hands, as well as 500 Christmas children's DVDs and hundreds of gospels of John, please be praying that God will save many. Thank God that He sustained our voices, our bodies and that He used us for His glory.

Please consider joining the team for any of our outreaches in Australia, NZ, or the UK: https://www.operation513.com/street-evangelism-teams/

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What better way is there to orient your mind to rejoicing in Christ, the Saviour, this Christmas than to spend some time declaring to others who He is and what He has done to save sinners like us?

For this reason, you're invited to join us in Brisbane City tonight, at 6:30-9:30pm for the final Christmas outreach, and you're invited to join us on Boxing day from 1-5pm.

As the Christmas outreaches draw to a close it is exciting to see how many conversations the team has been able to have as well as the amount of tracts that have been handed out! Here are a few highlight conversations from the last few days.

One scary, yet exciting conversation was with a man named Abinar. He (and his wife) are from Brazil and have come to Australia for a while. They have grown up in a Church back where they came from but sadly had completely missed the Gospel. As the conversation began he was asked, "Will God let you into Heaven when you die?" Adinar responded, "Yes, because I have tried my best to be good".

He was then taken through the law, showing the desperate state he is in before God and was lead through the Gospel, that God's solution isn't for sinful people to try harder, rather for a Holy God to deal with sin, so that those who trust Him can be forgiven, on the basis of what God has done.

Abinar after hearing the Gospel said it made sense and said he would read Romans 3-5 with his wife and seek to understand what Paul is saying about how one is made right before God! Please be praying for this young couple, that God would have used this short conversation to bring them to a saving knowledge of the truth, for the first time in their lives!

Another encouraging conversation was with a young man named Luke. He had a SDA background and had left the church there are while back and had ended up in agnosticism, just living his way. The Gospel was prioritized with Luke, so that he could understand what God had done to save sinners and how they can be made right with Him.

This was followed by many of Luke's questions being answered. He came to understand God's judgement and Hell, the sinful state of a human heart, the miracles and prophecies and their role in the Bible, among other topics.

Please be praying that Luke comes to Christ, the Christ of the scriptures and that in doing so he may receive eternal life!

Lastly a conversation was had with Alice. She had a Catholic background and had rejected the Catholic church and was now just living the life of a pagan, doing everything she wanted or desired and living her way. Alice was challenged with the Gospel, left with a clear understanding of what she deserved and God's only solution and was left with the question, when would she give up her pride-fueled rebellion and come to trust in God's Saviour.

These three conversations are quite typical of the Australian streets, people who have some sort of religious background but little to know understanding of the Gospel. This is why is it so needed and such a privilege to be out on the streets, being able to explain to anyone God brings along, what God has done, said and promised.

Please keep the team in prayer over the next few outreaches and even consider joining us yourself on the public holidays!

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