Hello Friends!

Since research shows that only 2% of all Christians share their faith on a regular basis, I am very concerned for this country and this world. Why do we just keep the hope and the forgiveness that Jesus Christ has shown us, hidden inside of us? What a selfish thing to do!!! Who are we to not share what Jesus has done for us? What is the Church doing? What are followers of Christ thinking, while they know that their co-worker, father or mother, friend or even spouse would spend eternity in hell and suffering once they die? And even more I wonder what Jesus thinks about the Church right now.

As we know 10 out of 10 people die. 150,ooo people die every 24 hours. Most of them without knowing Christ.
We can no longer hide this hope and faith but must share it with a lost world that needs a chance of hope and a life in Jesus! If we do not show them, who will??? Jesus himself gives us this commandment, "Go ye in all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

For the longest time I was afraid of what people would think of me, when the truth is, that doesn't matter one bit. It matters what Jesus thinks of me. We are not trying to impress people, but to share the hope with others that Jesus gave us. We are not better then anyone else, just FORGIVEN! I can not and will not hide the hope of an everlasting life with Jesus from others, but I have a desire and obligation to share this with the rest of the world!

"Have you no desire for others to be saved, then you are not saved yourself, be sure of that."
Charles Spurgeon

"Let your light so shine..."

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  Matthew 5:16

Brothers and sisters of the SWAT Team, another weekend is before us!  Time to share the light and truth of Jesus on the streets.  Though I know the Lord has given us divine appointments throughout the week, I always get excited to participate in this ministry.

I recall last Saturday, especially when right around 11:30 all four of us on Alvarado St (me, Mitch, Dean, and George) all began strong conversations with four competely separate men who the Lord brought to us all within the space of a minute!  That was really awesome.  It truly is better to give than to receive.

It can be hard to talk with those who declare themselves Christians but then criticize us for the works the Lord is doing through us out there.  But be encouraged!  Ours is a mission of sanctification as well as salvation.  As iron sharpens iron, let the sparks fly!

God bless you all this weekend.  Let's share some posts on here in the coming week of what the Lord is doing in our lives, and how this ministry is being furthered, amen?

Your brother in Christ,

Maxx

Oh yeah, here's a link to a whacky video from one of my favorite bands, Newsboys, who recorded this single in the early 90s based on the Matthew verse, but it has remained one of their greatest hits up to the present, they play it in every concert they do.  The video is defintely 90s!

"Iron sharpens iron..."- From Maxx

Proverbs 27:17 may be a familiar verse to you, but I thought it a fitting one to dwell on for a bit, as I see this blog developing in the direction the Lord wills.

"Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."

This verse has meant different things to me at different times.  While I used to think of it as a call to fellowship in a general sense, I find it now to be much more specific than that, at least in my own walk.  Here are some of my thoughts, in bullet form, take them for what they are worth to you:

--Iron sharpening iron creates a lot of sparks and makes a real spectacle to watch.

--Iron sharpening iron makes a lot of noise.

--Iron sharpening iron makes a strong smell.

--Iron sharpening iron makes the one doing the sharpening sweat and exert himself.

--Iron sharpening iron changes both tools into something new.

--The Hebrew for "countenance" is "Paniym" (paw-neem').  It means face or presence.

So...some questions:

--How do I want my presence to be sharpened?

--How willing would I be to let a friend sharpen me, knowing that it can very likely make a lot of sparks, noise, smell, and possibly even sting in the process?

--Since my best friend first and foremost is Jesus Christ, how willing am I to let Him do that to me?

--How willing am I to sharpen the countenance of my friends?  Am I willing to do it in love, knowing that it could be received with pain?

That's a small list of thoughts that come to mind.  I'm sure you could add or change them, and make the exercise even richer and more pleasing to the Lord!  Great!  Post a comment then, please.

Bottom line is that we all know that street evangelism is a sharp sword in the hands of the Lord.  We on the Team submit to the Lord's work through us in using that sword to reach the lost.  Among ourselves, I think this blog could very well be a sharpening tool, as well.  As we submit posts to encourage and convict and share our hearts with one another (and anyone else happening to read them), let us continue to do so in love and affection, being courageous enough to sharpen one another, knowing that the process creates sparks and might even be painful in some way.

God bless you this coming week.  I look forward to hitting the street again this weekend! 

WE NEED A PRESENT DAY REFORMATION IN OUR CHURCHES!- From Dean

After being part of the street ministry on Alvarado street for the past several years, I've heard many times from believers say, "I could never do what you guys and gals do down town." Or "It's not my gift etc..." Whenever I hear people say things like that I think, do you really believe the promises of our Lord and Savior. In Philippians 4:13 it says that I (we the believer) can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (us). I think that our fear of man has paralyzed us into unbelief in the promises of Jesus. In Jeremiah 1:5-6 God tells Jeremiah that He knew him before He formed him in the belly, and sanctified him in the womb, and ordained him as a prophet to the nations. Yet Jeremiah in verse 6 says "Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak for I am a child." 7 God tells him to not say that he is just a child, but go to all that I shall send you, and whatsoever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces: for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. 

Just as God knew Jeremiah before the belly, He also knew us and gives us the same promises. He commands us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). Why then don't we believe His promise, that He'd be with us always. And not to fear man. Why do we still fear when God commands us not to fear? Why do we continue to be shaken with the things of this world? He tells us to be in the world, but not of the world. What I'm getting at is this, the gospel that is being taught in many of today's churches, is lukewarm at best. There's little or no conviction in the message as well as little accountability to our walk as Christians. 

Church discipline is almost non existent. We had a pastor stand in for our pastor this weekend and he taught on Revelation regarding the church of Philadelphia and the Laodicean church. At the end of his message he asked, what church are we? I thought to myself, we'd be vommitted out of his mouth. Now that may offend many, but if were being honest and examined ourself to the scriptures, we'd see that we were vomit and repent and get busy to the things of God. Jesus tells them in Rev. 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." May we all learn from the scriptures the entire truth and stop settling for the watered down version of His Holy Word. I pray that GOD would raise up men today such as Luther and others to bring about a new present day Reformation. Now that would bring about true revival!

C.T. Studd (British Missionary who served in China, India and Africa between 1860-1931) said "We Christians too often substiture prayer for playing the game. Prayer is good; but when used as a substitute for obedience, it is nothing but a blatant hypocrisy, a despicable Pharisaism... To your knees, man! And to your Bible! Decide at once! Don't hedge! Time flies! Cease your insults to God. Quit consulting flesh and blood. Stop your lame, lying, and cowardly excuses. ENLIST!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
Dean

Hear the call!- from Mitch

"Not called!" did you say? "Not heard the call," I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world."

--William Booth (April 10, 1829 - August 20, 1912) was a British Methodist preacher who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General (1878-1912).

"The times of the signs..."

The end times are approaching and the signs spoken of by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24 are spilling out continually onto the scene today and are pointing dramatically to Christ’s soon return. Believers can see the signs if they are alert and watching. As Dr. Chuck Missler puts it “We must be well versed in the scriptures to accurately ascertain the time of the signs”. There is a preordained time that the signs are going to appear, and what we see happening all around us are the birth pangs that are so aptly spoken of in the scriptures.

I for one can’t imagine this world going on the way it has in the past. Signs that point to the end time when Jesus will return aren’t just subtlety appearing on the scene, they are exploding with a fierceness that’s unparalleled in mans history. We can watch this explosion on our television sets, radios, internet, newspapers, and from every other direction one can imagine. This was not the case even ten years ago; the birth pangs have arrived.

So just what are our options as believers now that we are beginning to witness a plethora of recurring signs which we are assured will occur just before Jesus return? We have many options. They include such things as witnessing fervently to our family and friends. Being in constant prayer is an admonishment from the Apostle Paul, maintaining a close relationship with our Church family. Create and maintain an atmosphere of love and support for those who are shut-ins and especially provide for those who lack provisions.

In these last days all Christians should be intent on always keeping abreast of whatever intrusions the enemy might devise against the brethren. In these last days Satan is going to hit hard against anyone who promotes the name of Jesus and diligently proclaims His message. The last thing any Christian will want is to be caught alone and off guard when the evil comes down, and it is coming. Solitude creates evil bedfellows. Continue in fellowship, the breaking of bread together, encouraging one another.

None of us know when Jesus is going to remove His Church from the wickedness this world offers. It could be within the next few days, weeks, or even years. I know what you’re going to say, “Well, if we are seeing the time of the signs as you’ve suggested could the Rapture of the Church still be years away”? Yes, but everything is lining up perfectly (prophetically speaking that is) and this gives us tremendous optimism that our remaining days here on earth are indeed few.

Here’s the rub. Believing the truth of the Rapture view and believing that the time for the Rapture is near has led some to become complacent in their duty to Christ. Believers should not ease up on witnessing. Complacency is of the devil, he would love it if those who are born again would all just sit back and relax and wait on the Rapture. In the meantime Satan will be hard at work convincing the lost that they are in good shape and not to worry or take seriously what those wacky Christians are promoting.

Satan knows the Rapture will occur at some point in time, but similarly to believers he hasn’t any idea of the exact moment when this will happen. God has kept it a mystery. More intense persecution of Christians on his part will become commonplace in the near future, which will attest to very fact that the Rapture is close at hand.

As believers we must combat the lies put forth by Satan and those who follow him. Jesus, at one point, speaking directly to the Apostle Peter said, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men”. Matthew 16:23. Whenever we hear someone spouting off against believers, and most importantly against our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we can know without a doubt that we are hearing Satan speak. I can tell you this, the Holy Spirit has a louder voice and can drown out Satan at every turn if Christians will only speak up.

Faithfulness is adhering to Jesus’ strict set of commandments in every aspect of our lives. As believers we all have our own miniature world to evangelize. You are a Christian and that means that no matter where you go you are to spread the Gospel of Christ. If you are out on a business trip to another state that doesn’t mean you leave your Christianity at home. When you’re on vacation or you’re just out watering the lawn, remember your Christianity. Our lives should reflect our faith in Christ. We never know when God’s going to ask us to step out in faith and talk to someone about their salvation.

You may feel you’re without sufficient resources or knowledge to speak to others about your faith. If this is the case, you’ve probably been neglecting a regular Bible study routine. Our boldness to witness is provided by the Holy Spirit through prayer and study. You receive more boldness as you become more familiar with God’s word. If you’re willing, know this, the Holy Spirit will move you into position to confront the next person that you encounter with the Gospel of Christ. If you’re not willing then you’re not following Christ’s commandments. “If ye love me, keep my commandments”. John 14:15. Do you love Him or are you just play acting?

The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ was the most important event in history, and now we are rapidly approaching the second most important event in history, in the believer’s life, and that is the Rapture. Christians must step out in faith to follow Jesus’ commandment to spread His Gospel to the entire world. There is no doubt of the many extreme measures which will be coming against His Church. I believe some huge obstacles will be thrust directly into the lives of those Christians who are faithfully following through with Christ’s commandments. Satan isn’t just going to sit idly by whilst we take away his followers. Not at all, and you can take stock in the fact that you will be battered and bruised by his minions of evil. Like Paul, as he was being pummeled by the enemy over and over again, you too will feel the heat of battle.

Witnessing can be one of the most daunting tasks for believers especially now days when it seems people are so repulsed by and demonstrate such violent tendencies toward our Christian faith. Nevertheless we aren’t to shirk from our duty and keep silent. Paul was persecuted by a “thorn in the flesh” but still continued evangelizing. He prayed for relief, but didn’t let this “thorn” stop him. As you face the barriers that Satan has in store for you, you too can be comforted by Jesus’ words, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness,” 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Non-believes are blind to the truth, they aren’t able to understand the consequences surrounding their decision to reject Jesus until those blinders come off. You and I can help remove those blinders.

God will be glorified by our witnessing efforts because He is certainly able to equip us with all we need to complete our task. If we use the strength of Christ as we confront the lost, the enemy won’t be much of a hindrance, but relying on our own strength will be our Achilles heel.

If we allow the current events we see going on around the world to affect our witness in that we become silent, we are allowing the enemy to get the upper hand. Can you just imagine what would have been the outcome of the Apostle’s ministry if they had simply gone about their pre-Jesus routine after the Lord had ascended into Heaven instead of spreading the good news of His Gospel as they were commanded to do? No Gospel proclaimed throughout the world, no Christian movement, and no Christian Church, just a world of lost sinners vying for whatever scraps of meaningless existence that could be grasped.

Today Christians are standing in the sandals of the disciples of yesterday. It’s our responsibility to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to all nations. We must not retreat from our assigned task. Think about this, someday we’ll stand before Jesus Christ face to face. How can we possibly explain to our Savior our apathy? “I was too sacred”, “I didn’t trust You to protect me”, “My faith was too small”, “I didn’t care about others just myself”. Which of those excuses will you use?

Certainly the Rapture of the Church is nigh, and we rejoice in knowing that soon we will be taken up to be forever with our Lord Jesus. We read and study our Bibles and those commentaries posted on various websites that all proclaim the end is in sight. Every day we grow more and more assured of what we believe about the times of the signs because of what we see happening around us. But if the majority of Christian believers continue in their stubborn refusal to spread the Gospel of Christ many of their family members and friends will be left behind to fend off the wiles of the devil without the help of the restrainer which is the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is removed hell will break loose on earth.

If your family is anything like mine, you have some relatives who, in their current state of mind, aren’t going to spend eternity with Jesus. They remain in unbelief. You’re okay though, you’re doing just fine. If that is your attitude you may very well be living in a false sense of security. As Charles Spurgeon puts it “If you have no heart for the lost you may not be saved yourself”, and you may find yourself spending eternity with your unbelieving family members after all.

Don’t let the ever nearing Rapture of the Church keep you from your assigned task. We should be witnessing now more fervently than ever before. Christians are to be salt and light to a lost world, but if that salt loses its saltiness then it’s absolutely worthless. Are you absolutely worthless? Say NO!

Written by Ron Graham

http://www.prophecyupdate.com

Maranatha ! - (Lord Come Quickly)

"On CHRIST the SOLID ROCK I stand, all other ground is sinking sand"

Let us make the short time we have left count for all eternity!

Weekend of February 7-8, Alvarado St

Here are some photos from this past weekend's time on Alvarado St.  Harsh weather won't stop people from hitting this street looking for a good time, so it won't stop us either!

Many awesome God-delivered appointments were met, and the Gospel was sent forth in truth and in love.  All praise to our Lord of Lords Jesus Christ!

You can click on the photos to enlarge them on your screen.  Pictures of the many great conversations with people were not taken to ensure their privacy.

Have a great week, team!

Friday Night!- From Tom

This is a video of one of my favorite Pastors, Leonard Ravenhill. I am really looking forward to tonight, and getting back out there, especially after watching this.

Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
John 12:44-46

Peace in the Midst... From Mitch

Hello troops. Every soldiers need R&R. Out in the field, on the battle ground, in the heat of battle,...
at some time, I need to take a break, catch my breath, eat(read the word), and be at peace. The days we are living in are evil. It seems like we're always in a battle, pressed on every side! Well, we are, but God be praised, He allows time off to relax and refresh. And then... Fight the good fight! Put on all the armor! Get familiar with every piece so it is second nature. Don't forget the Secret Weapon! Prayer! Be a Prayer Warrior! Don't forget to Rest in the Lord!

It is a happy way of soothing sorrow when we can feel--"HE careth for me." Christian! do not dishonor religion by always wearing a brow of care; come, cast your burden upon your Lord. You are staggering beneath a weight which your Father would not feel. What seems to you a crushing burden, would be to him but as the small dust of the balance.

O child of suffering, be thou patient; God has not passed thee over in His providence. He who is the feeder of sparrows, will also furnish you with what you need. Sit not down in despair; hope on, hope ever. Take up the arms of faith against a sea of trouble, and your opposition shall yet end your distresses. There is One who careth for you. His eye is fixed on you, His heart beats with pity for your woe, and His hand omnipotent shall yet bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud shall scatter itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom shall give place to the morning. He, if thou art one of His family, will bind up thy wounds, and heal thy broken heart. Doubt not His grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that He loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness.

What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence! With a little oil in the cruse, and a handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and you will do the same. If God cares for you, why need you care too? Can you trust Him for your soul, and not for your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens, He has never fainted under their weight. Come, then, soul! have done with fretful care, and leave all thy concerns in the hand of a gracious God.

C. H. Spurgeon, Morning & Evening

"Remember them that are in bonds..." from Maxx

Hello, awesome SWAT Team!  Just wanted to post a subject that was especially on my heart today.

The website resource links list mid-way down the right side of the blog here shows two websites for ministries that I feel are convicting and encouraging to us who, by the Lord's grace, follow the Great Commission by being on the streets of Monterey County.  One is Voice of the Martyrs, the other is Compass Direct News.

These ministries provide the world, not just Christians, with the painful truth of persecution that thrives today in much of the world.  If you have never looked into this subject, I strongly encourage you to do so.  

The title of this post comes from Hebrews 13:3, "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them, and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body."  This verse is the key one used by Voice of the Martyrs (VoM).  When I read the articles they publish, and my knowledge of present day persecution expands, I am greatly humbled by the strength of the faith that these brothers and sisters in Christ possess.

How very insignificant are my own petty ideas of personal trials and adversities when compared to these hardships!  What a glorious reward awaits these saints for persevering in the faith!  

As someone who wishes to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, I am also reminded by this verse that as severe as adversity may become for true disciples of Christ on this earth, it is nothing compared to the agonies that await the unsaved in the Lake of Fire.  In truth, the unsaved are the people in bonds, bound to sin and eternal damnation!  How well I remember when I too was a slave as they are!

So I ask myself two questions...how can I encourage the saints who are truly enduring persecution, such as I myself have never known?  And- how much persecution am I willing to endure to reach out to those who are still bound in the bonds of sin?

If you feel led to ask yourself the first question, I encourage you to visit VoM and consider how you can partner in their mission.  As for the second question...I'll just see you out on the streets!

May the Lord truly bless you as you remember our brothers and sisters in chains, both earthly and spiritual.

Maxx