Coming Events
Friday September 1, 15, 22, 29 3-6 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods. (Call us at (510) 282-5629 for outreach location.)
Saturday September 2, 23, 30 11 AM—3:30 PM Fisherman’s Wharf Outreach Powell & Jefferson St. SF.
Saturday September 16 JESUS PARADE. 11 AM – 3:30 PM. Meet at 11 AM at Justin Herman Plaza, Embarcadero at Clock Tower (end of Market St.) March to Fisherman’s Wharf and Worship Rally, Powell and Jefferson St.
CONTROLLING OUR THOUGHT LIFE
Dear Christian friends,
When I was saved in 1970, I was living in a Christian commune. Soon after my salvation, I went to work with others in our ministry house. We were wrapping boysenberry vines on wires. These vines had a lot of thorns, our gloves had holes in them, and we worked all day in the hot sun. As a college graduate, I was unaccustomed to hard physical labor. As a former hippie who had been involved heavily in drugs, the occult, and sexual immorality, I had no control over my thought life.
All day long as I worked, I struggled with terrible thoughts going through my mind. I realized that these were evil, demonic thoughts but I could not stop them. Several times a day, I would stop working and ask another Christian to pray with me. Nonetheless, I struggled to get through each day.
I started waking up early each morning to read the Bible and pray before work. This helped, but the struggles continued. After two months, we all quit working and started evangelizing every day. After I overcame my fear of talking with strangers, I loved witnessing and was filled with joy.
Looking back at those first two months, they were the hardest of my Christian life. But they were also the most productive. God gave me control over my thought life. With His help, I could resist these demonic thoughts and fill my mind with godly thoughts.
Here are two scriptures I found helpful: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.” Isa. 26:3.
Many, perhaps most, Christians suffer from demonic attacks on their thought life, over which they think they have no control. God has showed us a way to deal with these attacks. First, we must submit ourselves to God. Then we must resist the devil. This is not something we only need to do once. Often we need to keep resisting the devil, as long as it takes. Eventually, he will flee from you. Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days, being tempted by the devil. He continued to resist the devil, and the devil fled from him. “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.” Luke 4:13. We may again face demonic attacks, but if we resist the devil, he will flee from us – at least for a season.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Gal. 5:16. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” Gal. 5:22. “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” 2 Corin. 10:4-5.
We can be free from demonic thoughts. If we submit to God and resist the devil, he will flee from us. If we walk in the Spirit, we will be filled with love, joy and peace. If we focus on the things of God, not the things of the world, we will have peace even when our circumstances are difficult.
On the Streets
On Sat. May 6, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. John witnessed to Jorge, Jesse and David, all in their early 20’s. Jorge said that all religions lead to God. John responded that the various religions contradict each other, so can’t all be true. John also shared his testimony of being involved in Eastern religion before getting saved. Tats witnessed to Don, an atheist who said Tats was brainwashed and spoke very rudely to him. Tats responded that everyone has their own worldview, and it appears that your worldview is teaching you not to treat others the way you would like to be treated. Don was embarrassed.
On Saturday May 13, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf and at Pier 39. John witnessed to Dante, who grew up as a Seventh Day Adventist. He had rejected that religion because it is too legalistic. John said we were saved by faith in Christ, not by our works. He got his phone number. That was the same day that Elaine Forbes, the Executive Director of the San Francisco port and an open lesbian, attempted unsuccessfully to shut down our outreach. Ten days later, we received an official reprimand from the Port, claiming that someone had said “things that disparaged groups of people based on sexual orientation.” Fortunately, since that day, we have had no additional problems at the Wharf.
On Fri. May 19, we witnessed at 4th St. and Mission. There is a large movie complex and shopping center on this corner, so it is quite busy. Andy witnessed to Edward, a Jehovah’s Witness (JW). We have known him for many years, as he was a street performer at Powell and Market. Sometimes he made over $1000 a day as a street performer. Although he was raised a JW, he had not been following their teachings, as he fornicated with many women. Initially, he was open to talking with Andy about how we are saved by faith in Jesus, not by our works. Andy got his phone number. On June 2, Andy called him and they spoke about Hell. Andy showed him Luke 16, where the rich man had died and was in conscious torment in Hell. Edward seemed to understand, and said he would talk with the JW elders about this to see how they would respond. A few weeks later, Andy and Weston met with Edward for three hours. Edward said that he doesn’t want to think for himself, as he’s a slave of Jehovah and that he just wants to repeat what he’s been told by JW elders. Andy tried to get Edward to think independently, but Edward didn’t want to do that.
Mike spoke with Antonio, 28. He used to attend City Impact, but Mike hadn’t seen him for six years. Mike encouraged him to get Christian fellowship. Alex witnessed to Doyle, who is Muslim. Muslims do not believe God could have a son, but Alex showed him John 3:26 “he that believes on the Son has everlasting life…”
The next day, about 35 Christians from Star of David Ministries witnessed with us at Fisherman’s Wharf. While Tats was preaching, Juan tried to take away his microphone. He was very aggressive but eventually walked away. A minute later, Javier approached Juan, asking if he could pray for him. Before long, Juan was crying as he shared his life story. Javier prayed with him and got his phone number for follow up.
On Fri. May 26, we witnessed at Powell and Market. Mike handed a gospel tract to Chad, 26. Chad said he was a believer and had been sober 12 days. Mike encouraged him and invited him to attend City Impact. He picked him up for church on Sunday. After church, they went for a hike. Chad shared that he was raised in a Christian family, but had drifted away from God. He is very happy that he is now free from alcohol and walking with God. Tats witnessed to Em from Algeria. He shared the gospel with him and asked if he wanted to be forgiven for his sins. He was reluctant to pray with Tats.
The next day, we were at Fisherman’s Wharf. Mike spoke with Rafael, who works with his wife as a street vendor across the street from us. Rafael said that if you are a good person, the universe will reward you. Mike told him that if we could be saved by good works, Jesus would not have needed to die on the cross. He encouraged him to read the gospel of John, and he said he would. Alex witnessed to Barak, a member of the Black Hebrew Israelite cult. He showed him a paper with a chart stating what they believed happened to each tribe of Israel. For example, they believe that Haitians are from the tribe of Levi. Alex asked Barak what was the basis for this belief. Barak had no answer (it is from a vision by F.S. Cherry around 1880). They had a good conversation and left on good terms.
On Fri. June 2, we witnessed at 16th and Mission. Andy spoke with John, a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA). Andy spoke about how salvation is by faith, but SDA’s add faith to their works such as keeping the Sabbath and dietary laws. John agreed that this was a problem, and took a New Testament. They agreed to get together by phone the following week to discuss the matter. John witnessed to Rohan, 20, from India. He admitted being high on drugs but was receptive to the gospel. John said, “God is chasing you” and he gave John his phone number for follow-up.
The next day, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. A sect of the Black Hebrew Israelite cult (ISUPK) has been preaching their message of racial hatred next to us on Saturdays. They believe that only those of certain races can be saved, and then only by keeping some of the Old Testament laws. Alex spoke with one of them, Kassar. Kassar said he wanted to set up a formal debate with him. Alex was reluctant to do that, especially since they wanted to charge an admission fee for those who attended. Alex said he wanted to speak again with him. He spoke with him about how salvation is by grace through faith.
A Final Word
Thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry.
On Friday July 14 we were joined at Fisherman’s Wharf by a team of 12 Christians, most in their 20’s, from Everyheart Movement (everyheartmovement.com). This summer they are sending out 100 Christians around the US serving churches and preaching the gospel for 8 weeks. They had a large worship band. When they first started playing, about 20 Christians whom they had invited joined them in worship. They worshipped and preached for 2 hours. Over that time, about 100 people stopped to listen to them. At the end, about 20 people responded to an altar call. They told me that 8 people had prayed for salvation.
I hope many of you will join us for an outreach this next month.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
