Kissing Man

"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons." (1 Timothy 4:1)

(This is the second in a series: Taking It to the Streets.)

I used to lead worship in San Francisco for the street evangelism team on Friday nights. We would drive from Fremont in the East Bay (where I lived and went to Bible school) to the City to meet at a downtown church for prayer. It was always a thrill to hear which part of town we were going to.

This particular night it was the Tenderloin District.

We sang and praised the Lord like we always did. Then we began to converse with the onlookers.

And you know, as I look back, it's interesting to note how God directs people into our lives. We don't always think this way ~ that every encounter is actually planned by "Providence" ~ but it is.

And on this night in particular, "Providence" had a certain gentleman (as I like to say) come up to me and we began talking. I can't remember exactly what was said, but I do know that I found out he was formerly a preacher (I was studying to be one at the time) and had walked away from the Lord, lost his marriage, his kids, etc. (It was a sad story.)

Of course, I was reminding him how he could turn back to God and Jesus would forgive him.

That's when it happened.

He asked me a question. "Can I kiss you?" I was caught off guard.

"What did you say?" I responded.

"Can I kiss you?" He asked it again.

"No," I said. "That's not right."

I seem to recall that his response to my "No," was, "You're rejecting me."

He went his way.

And let me just be blunt. It was an evil spirit that had captured this man via his own choice to entertain lust over the years.

Jesus can rescue you from the spirit of lust if you're bound by it yourself.

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Bat Man

"So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him." (1 Samuel 16:23)

(This is the first in a series: Taking It to the Streets.)

I used to lead worship in San Francisco for the street evangelism team on Friday nights. We would drive from Fremont in the East Bay (where I lived and went to Bible school) to the City to meet at a downtown church for prayer. It was always a thrill to hear which part of town we were going to.

This particular night it was Fisherman's Wharf. (I can still smell the Bay in my mind as I'm typing this.)

We got set up as usual and began to sing. We were facing the street with the Wharf behind us.

That's when "he" appeared.

From across the street I could see him. He had anger in his eyes, a chip on his shoulder, was directing his gaze at me (why me?) and a (baseball) bat in his hands. (Bat man?)

His eyes never left me as he was coming towards us ~ bat held high (and ready to swing?).

I kept playing my guitar. We kept singing. He kept coming. It was like slow motion.

He was 20 steps away, 15, 10, 5 ~ fire in his eyes. That's when it happened...

He got right up next to me. The bat came down! Yes, it did.

But not in the way it could have (on to my head).

His arms just lowered. His eyes lightened.

He walked away.

So, did you think that praise didn't work? :)

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