The Power of Serving

On Saturday God said, ” Take 6 pizza to a park in Denver. 2 gangs will be there. I want you to serve them and talk about me.”

I arrived at the park and set the pizzas on a picnic table. Normally I serve from my pickup box but I felt today I should go to a picnic table.  I have been witnessing to the Gang on my right for a year. So they are getting to know me real well. The other gang I only have known them about 2 months. These two gangs at the park are adversaries of each other.  When they both started walking towards me, God was showing me their hearts and why they are broken.  I started to pray for them as they continued walking towards me. As they were in talking distance of each other, the gang that knew me the longest said, “Guys, this is Sonny. He doesn’t mean any harm to us. Sonny brings food to us and reads the Bible to us. Let’s put our weapons down and just listen to what Sonny is going to read to us.”

They unloaded their pistols and laid them down on the table. As they brought both tables together the presence of the Holy Spirit took over the event. It was so peaceful around both Gangs.  Some of the gang members noticed that some of the others has not received any pizza yet. They picked up the box and started to pass the pizzas around to make sure everyone got a slice. The moment was so powerful. My King gets all the Glory and the Victory.  I read Jeremiah 29 :11:

. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

30 min later I read to them Jeremiah 29:12:

12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

Three young men from the gang that knew me the longest came forward.  I prayed for them and they gave their hearts to Jesus Christ.

I looked directly at 2nd gang and read John 3:16-17:

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

The message of God’s word touched their hearts. Two from the other gang started to come to me. I prayed for them and they gave their life to Jesus Christ.

Jesus talked in the New Testament about serving others. When this is done with the love that Jesus Christ demonstrates to us, it even becomes more powerful.  The gangs trusted me and felt secure because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. Here are some scriptures that talk about the importance of serving others.

1 Peter 4:10 New International Version (NIV)

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Galatians 5:13-14 New International Version (NIV)

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Ephesians 6:6-8 New International Version (NIV)

6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.