I was able to talk to a elderly couple who are in their mid-seventies. The man – Paulo instantly went into a lecture on the oil spill, BP, Big Oil, etc. Each time I interrupted him and tried to lead him into the spiritual, he reverted to his political agenda. This happens quite often as most people seem to grasp where you are going with the conversation and they don’t want to go there.
He finally took a breath and I said that God is in control and don’t you think if He wanted the oil to disappear that he could do that in less than a blink of the eye? Paulo did not agree and said it was man’s greed that caused the oil spill. I did not disagree because I wanted to take that idea of greed and go to the Law. That man is greedy and that has become many men’s god. Paulo did not believe that God could make the oil disappear so with that that I said it does not matter what he believes but what matters is what is true. His wife agreed. She quickly let me know she is a Believer but then was quiet – that was a good thing.
I took Paulo through a few of the commandments. I discussed with Paulo the idea of being in a civil court and someone making the payment for the fine that he could not pay. He has 2 choices – accept the payment that someone else made on his behalf or reject that payment. He understood this and I decided to give him the Gospel as we are commanded to. See Mark 16:15, 2 Timothy 4:2, and 1 John 4:15.
There are some who might say don’t give him the Gospel since he wasn’t repentant at this point. However, each witnessing situation is different. I think to apply Matthew 7:6 in all situations is not what we are commanded to do.
Paulo’s wife stayed a few moments as Paulo walked off and thanked me for talking to him. She said most of her family members are believers and they have been trying to reach him for years. She said this was truly a divine appointment and God had sent me there at that time to speak directly to Paulo.
Do not be ashamed of the Gospel. Romans 1:16
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