Yesterday I attended a prayer breakfast and my good friend Governor Mike Huckabee was the keynote speaker. As always, his speech was delightful and the music provided by Melissa Joy was angelic. It was held in Tallahassee and in addition to catching up with him, I spoke with many friends that I hadn’t seen in a long time. We prayed together, had breakfast, and enjoyed our time of fellowship. It is truly a wonderful thing to rejoice in the Lord with other believers.
When I got home I checked my e-mail and one reader had just returned from a planned trip to San Francisco for a prior commitment she’d made months earlier.
She mentioned that she’d read that SF was one of the most sinful places in the USA. She mulled it over in her mind, Hmmm . . . should I cancel.
She decided to go and fulfill her commitment and she wrote: “While there I was amazed with the crowds of people, pushing, shoving, loud and obnoxious. I stayed for a long week, only leaving my hotel to go the conference 6 short blocks away. The stores have security tags on every bottle of alcohol and cameras every 5-6 feet. The amount of homeless aggressively begging on the street, urinating on the walls in plain sight, shooting up on the street was appalling . . .
On Sunday as I was returning to my hotel, I heard music a block away. What a delightful change in atmosphere. It was a group of Asian Christians singing and praising God. Each one of them had such a look of contentment and bright smiles. It warmed my heart and I was inspired by them. As I stood watching and enjoying them a woman began yelling right in my face with arms flying. She was upset with the music and all the Jesus stuff. I just looked at her with a smile as she ranted, complaining that she should be able to shop without having to listen to all that. I just did not know what to say to this woman so out of control about something so much more pleasant to witness than all the other stuff going on in the streets of San Francisco.”
It is sad to me that those who do not follow God are so miserable. How I wish those Asian Christians could begin a revival in that city. It is filled with sin and sin has its consequences.
According to Gallup, the San Francisco metropolitan area has a higher percentage of adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender than any other city in the country. It has been named the gay capitol of the United States.
The Neighborhood Scout reports that the violent crime rate is one of the highest in the nation, across communities of all sizes (both large and small). Violent offenses tracked included rape, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, armed robbery, and aggravated assault, including assault with a deadly weapon.
I could continue but you get the picture. The Bible mentions demonic strongholds and it is surely one of them. There are others like New Orleans that are in hot pursuit. I can feel the evil when visiting these places before the plane touches the runway. It is heavy. I’ve felt the same foreboding evil sensation while on death row while ministering to inmates.
The Bible tells us that we do not battle with flesh and blood. People like the lady who was complaining about the “Jesus stuff” is flesh and blood. She is under the sway of the demonic oppression that she lives among.
I think it is important to try and remember that our battle is with spiritual wickedness and rulers of the spiritual world led by Satan and not individuals. For sure we can and should hate sin, but not the sinners. To do otherwise is hypocritical because we all sin and are in desperate need of the grace of God.
I don’t dislike that lady or the sinful people of this world – I feel sorry for them. Their lives could be transformed so easily by simply praying to almighty God and asking Him to forgive their sins and take the lead in their lives.
My friend said she didn’t know what to say to the lady who got in her face about Jesus. Most people don’t. I would probably would have said that she should try some of that Jesus stuff herself. In fact, I used to feel just like she did until I found the love of Jesus and it did wonders for me. I would have then quickly given her my testimony right there on the street.
Telling someone the wonderful things Jesus has done in their life is not preaching or talking down to them and I cannot tell you how many times people have thanked me for doing so. It’s been extremely rare for someone to get angry and walk away or rebuff me when I’ve taken that approach. As a matter of fact, out of the thousands of times I’ve done it, I can only count on one hand the times that anyone got upset about it.
I urge you to share the wonderful change that took place in your life when Jesus took over. If you have not experienced that change and have nothing to tell, then talk to God about it and ask Him to come into your life.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes . . .
March 30 2017 – Click here to listen