My God it's alive!

 I once heard a man who called himself Holy Hubert speak  in Memphis, Tennessee. Hubert had been a Hell's Angel, but had met Jesus Christ in the Jesus Movement of the 1960's and 1970's. (They even put Jesus' picture on the cover of Time magazine back then.)

Hubert got on fire for God and began to preach like the old Methodists in the "open air." One of His favorite places to preach was "the free speech area" on the University of California Berkley campus.

Holy Hubert said he would place his Bible on the pavement and put his hat over the Bible. Then he would began to shout: "It's alive! It's alive! My God it's alive!" while he danced around and pointed at his hat. He would continue this behavior until a crowd gathered.

Then Holy Hubert would lift his hat and pick up his Bible over his head and shout, "It's the Word of God and it's alive." And then he began to tell those astonished people watching him how Jesus, the Living Word of God, had changed him from a Hell's Angel member to a passionate follower of Christ.

Today more than ever Christians need the boldness of Holy Hubert and the boldness of the early Methodists to testify about Jesus in the "open air."

Once my wife and I and about 10 of our friends, including three children) were doing our weekly prayer walk through an innercity neighborhood in Nashville, Tennessee. We carry the Salvation Army flag which says "blood and fire" representing the blood of Jesus and the fire of the Holy Spirit as we walk around the neighborhood and pray for God to show up and show out.

We felt led to walk down Second Street which we have been told at that time was the worst drug street in Nashville. As we walked several men were standing about on the street. They looked rather frightening to the natural eye.

We went up to a couple of guys and began to tell them about the meaning of the flag. (Sometimes people think it is the Confederate Flag so it helps to let them know it is really about Jesus Christ.) The two guys were friendly and we asked if we could pray for them. They immediately said yes--so we gathered around them and prayed. As we prayed another man who wasn't wearing a shirt, walked up and joined our prayer circle. After a powerful time of prayer over the first two guys, the shirtless man asked us to prayer over him. Then another guy who was visibly under the influence of something asked us to pray for him. After praying for him, several other men had come out of the houses and were standing on their porches and on the street.

Several of us had obligations so we started back. It was hard to get away because men were asking us questions and wanting us to pray for them. One man asked me what church we were from. When I told him we were from 5 or 6 churches he was shocked. It was an amazing time.

Would you like to be bold for Jesus? Well, ask Him to give you loving boldness? He will.

Here is the easiest way to witness to people--ask them if you can pray for them--8 out of 10 people will say yes (some will even reach out to take your hands). Then put you hand on their shoulder, bow your head, and pray a Spirit led prayer. You'll be amazed at what happens. Try it. It works on the streets and it works in the workplace. Just try it once and you will never be the same.

God, give us the boldness and the courage to offer powerful spiritual help to those we encounter through praying with them and for them. Amen.