YOUR BODY WILL SUFFER FOR CHRIST

2 Corinthians 11:23-29 reads;

“ Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? 

Over the years because I preach outdoors, I have had both ears have surgery, surgery on my shoulder twice, testicles swollen from being kicked, galleons of spit, gallons of drinks, been hit with plastic bottles, glass bottles, cans, rocks, ‘C’ and ‘D’ batteries, food, trash, 5 knives pulled out, several scissors, 3 guns, wooden boards, punched more times than I remember, hot wax from candles, feces, tables, chairs, underwear, plastic milk crates, bricks, animal blood, had handcuffs cut my wrists, black eyes, teeth chipped, lit on fire twice, tied up with a rope, had dogs attack me, almost run over with a vehicle three times, jailed more times than I can remember, cited countless times, had many banners taken and destroyed, numerous megaphones cut and smashed, my name slandered, often times I will notice the bruises and red marks on my body when I shower after a day of preaching, had male and female have removed their clothes around me, grinding their genitals against my body while I preach, my Bibles taken from my hands, Bibles ripped and burned, even had a Bible with bite marks on the pages, one woman took a small Gideons Bible and rammed it inside her vagina in the middle of the street as the crowd roared with approval, once whipped with a whip…and I’ve had sinners ejaculate on me 3 times when I was preaching to sinners.  Just for publicly preaching Jesus in America.

“but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses," 

2 Corinthians 6:4

Over my 43 years of outdoor preaching, I’ve not only understand that text but I have tasted that text to a small degree. 

“For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now."

1 Corinthians 4:9-13

Do you really understand persecution, other than someone unfriended you on facebook?

Over the decades I have had millions of items thrown at my body and most made contact, yet the Lord kept me intact for more service.

When Ruben was born in 1961 he could not come home for months because of all the illnesses he had as a new born baby. He was born with one functioning lung and had asthma all his life, it’s amazing he could preach loud.  He has always had heart issues, even sitting his heart is running a marathon, yet to date has no damage.  He has been advised by doctors not to do anything that will raise his blood pressure but the Lord said otherwise and after 40 plus years of outdoor preaching He has saved his body as well as his soul.

“who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground."

Hebrews 11:33-38