The gospel was being proclaimed by Pastors John Sherwood and Peter Simpson in the centre of Uxbridge on June 24th.
A young man came up to one of the lady helpers, Mrs Pilkington, and with a foul mouth raved against the Lord Jesus Christ, the Church, and against the witnessing sister herself. It was sadly quite impossible to engage in any reasonable discussion with him. Abuse and vulgar language were also received from a girl who was passing by. Thankfully, some Christians walking past expressed their encouragement at the witness taking place.
A conversation took place with a young Roman Catholic man who did not really know what constituted the true gospel. He was very open to listening, however, and what he heard from Mrs Pilkington appeared to have a real effect upon him. She prayed for him, and he said that he would like to speak to her again on a future occasion.
Pastor Simpson preached from John chapter 3 :
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:5–7).
The minister referred to every human being’s need for inward cleansing, for the removal of his corrupted nature. This happens when, upon repentance from sin and faith in Christ, the believer receives the Holy Spirit whose work is like that of water, washing a man on the inside and giving him a new nature. Only those with this new nature will ever have communion with God. Therefore all need to come to the Saviour in order to undergo the “washing of regeneration” (Titus 3:5), so that their old fallen natures can be renewed in the power of the Holy Spirit.
May there be those who heard the gospel preached in Uxbridge who realise the uncleanness and depravity of their hearts and their urgent need to be inwardly washed, as they trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for cleansing and salvation.
