Saints, let me make something perfectly clear: You cannot nor should not "Preach the Gospel" while walking in a spirit of pride and arrogance at the same time. You really shouldn't.  Belfast (the city in northern Ireland) has certain "street preachers" that do not display the character of Christ. They don't display the Holy Spirit's fruit like Jesus did. They aren't preaching out of genuine love for people rather they're preaching out of pride - proud that they're on the streets shouting at people with loud speakers, forcing them to listen (very ineffective by the way). This kind of preaching only works if it's done under the prompting of the Holy Spirit,  with his power and his presence. Usually,  the Gospel is best shared heart to heart, one on one, by people who are living it - not just speaking it, after all, it's a gospel of love. It's shared best by DOING acts of kindness on behalf of others, like Jesus did  - then speaking it. The heart must be engaged first, then the mind.

Jesus spoke of two men who went into the Temple to pray. One fell on his face and would not even look up but cried out for mercy saying he was a sinner unworthy of it. The other man looked down his nose at the man meek and contrite who was repenting and said within himself,  "I thank God I'm not like him" - and that is the spirit some of these (not all) street preachers are walking in - "I thank God I'm not like you poor souls walking by, no, I'M SAVED! I'M BETTER THAN YOU! YOU'RE GOING TO HELL!" Now, all that's true, but if it isn't presented to people in love and humility, it will push people away rather than draw them in. These street preachers rarely have anyone stop and listen to them (unless it's to argue) and I've never seen them pray with anyone (they may have - i just haven't seen it in the many times I've witnessed them). 

Let's judge them by their fruit (or lack of it). No fruit of the Spirit = no souls saved. Christians,  especially those on the streets saying they're representing Jesus, should not be body slamming people to the ground or cussing them out, arguing with them. They shouldn't be fighting,  verbal or physical.  That's a terrible witness of the one who said "turn the other cheek" and "love your enemy". Belfast has a history of hating their enemies and fighting them and these street preachers are continuing in that tradition,  sadly. They should be as gentle as doves. Selah.

 There's mankind 

 then again,  there's manunkind -

those who try

to be sweet and nice

 and those of a different mind

 who are anti-Christ...

Those who honor   The Lord of Life

 and those who the Lord they despise. 

But no matter who you meet

 in church or out on the street -

Give them the love of God,

that their hearts like the sod

might receive the seed of His Holy Word,

may it grow until all have heard

The truth of the Gospel 

 that they might rewind

 and go from manunkind 

 to mankind        and confess -

The Lord,  He is God,

The Lord  He is God,

now I know, now I see,

The God who is Holy, 

and who desires me,

to love me, not hurt,

to protect me, not injure,

to take me to be

in His house eternally...

To love me as a husband, brother, and daddy...

His love is so great

it must of course take

more than one form.

This is why He expresses Himself 

as a Triune being,

So He may love me

not one way but three

Three ways,  three types -

Father, Spirit and Christ...

 For this cause

 my heart takes pause

 to give to my Christ

 my highest applause

A kneeling ovation 

 straight from my heart

Full of elation 

 for my Covenant's Ark

My love expressed

 with joyfulness

For the One who alone

 my soul ressurects

 and drawsvme soon

 to His pierced side

My Holy Groom

 His Holy Bride

Full of bliss

 at our touch, our kiss,

 never again to be denied

 never again to be missed

 forever at each other's side.......

 There is a principle in nature that God has established that teaches us about ourselves.  In nature, water in the form of rain, falls from the sky - waters the earth, then returns to Heaven. It changes form - from liquid to gas - as it evaporates  - and ascends after having descended. 

Likewise when we're born-again  - we become Heaven birthedand Heaven sent. "Earth" represents "flesh", of which we are all made of. So earth represents fallen flesh - the lost souls we're surrounded with daily. If we do not water them with God's precious words, and with the air of His Spirit  - they will remain parched and dry and unable to bear life - seed will die in them - they will forever remain dead and barren. But if we water them, with His words and they receive them - they will bear fruit unto God and will live forever - and just as the rain changes form - so will we - when we get our glorified bodies - and like the rain - we will rise to meet him in the air from whence we originally came - Isaiah 55:10 -

          "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from Heaven,  and returns not there, but waters the earth and makes it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes out of my mouth - it shall not return unto me void but shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing thereto I sent it".

Now, I know it says the rain does not return to Heaven - but this means it does not return in that form, but becomes a part of life - both plants and animals  - and so without it life cannot exist - but with it - men can live on that which it sustains - and those who live by God's supernatural "latter rain" will return to Him in Heaven.  Amen....

Once, I found myself in Seoul, riding the Subway home (Seoul has excellent public transportation by the way - cheap and efficient), wnen I notice the guy standing next to me really stunk. I mean bad. I could smell him from several feet away. I did my best to breathe through my mouth and wished someone would tell the guy to bathe and start using deodorant.  He was so bad I could still smell him after I got off the train, and I could still smell him when I got home later. It finally dawned on me - I was the one stinking!

Now I ask you -  how often do we notice another's sins but not our own? Indeed, do we ever take offense with someone while we're committing the same offense at the same time? It is the height of hypocrisy to preach to others while we ourselves are not obeying the word we're preaching. We really can't remove a speck from our brother's eye while we have a beam in our own. Let's always be quick to examine and judge our own hearts, but slow to criticize our neighbors. And let's all bathe daily in the water of the Word so we don't stink to God and our fellow saints!

Apostle Chris