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Lessons from a homeless man--What do you think?

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Posted by: eagle4him

I stopped and talked with a homeless man last night. We prayed and had an interesting discussion. Here are just a few things that I learned.

1. He is well educated.
2. He was "saved" in the '70's
3. He was filled with the Holy Spirit shortly after being saved
4. He was a worship leader in his church
5. He was married, has two children
6. He owned his own business
7. God blessed him and prospered him while he was serving the Lord

So I asked him the tough question, "Why are you on the streets today?" His reply was something like this...

"I had it all. I did not lack for anything. I was not rich but very comfortable. I could buy anything that I wanted, for the most part. I was married and have two boys. Then gradually, over a period of years, well, it seemed like a short time, I began going back to my 'old ways'.

My wife and I stared arguing. Then I started smoking cigarettes again. Then I started having a couple of drinks a day. I was delivered from the love of beer shortly after being filled with the Holy spirit. Then it got to having three or four beers a day. I always knew when to quit, though. Then one thing led to another. I started going to the 'meet market'. Then business slowed down, and the next thing you know I lost everything and now I'm on the streets.

I am troubled, though by a few of the Scriptures. Like the one that says that the workman is not fit for the Kingdom if after having put your hand to the plow, you turn back. (Luke 9:62) What do you think?"


Posted by: MarkSentMe

Jesus was a homeless man. He taught us a great many things.

I don't think that backsliders are unforgiveable. The Bible states that the only unforgiveable sin is denying the Holy Spirit.
Where there is love, there is forgiveness. Where there is forgiveness, there is hope. Where there is hope, there is compassion. Where there is compassion, there is life.


Posted by: eagle4him

I too, believe that God is faithful to forgive us if we confess our sins and repent. This lesson from the homeless man should serve to caution us all that drifting away from the Lord is a process that happens over a period of time. It starts out with a small compromise, then another one and another. One day you wake up, hopefully and realize that you have drifted far away from God and need to come back.


Father in the name of Jesus I pray this day for all who have drifted away. Those that realize it and those that don't.


Posted by: BrendaMagana

I fully concur with MarkSentMe. There is still hope for this prodigal child.

Lord of Hosts, come to this weary and burdened man and redeem and restore him like You salvaged the prodigal son.

You reprove those whom You love and nothing can separate this man from Your bottomles love not even backsliding.

So Ancient of Days, arise and reclaim Your son.

In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Amen


Posted by: guardianangel

I believe that God stands in the pathway home with His arms outstretched for this man. The scripture says that Jesus will not lose one that has been given to Him.

Maybe yours was the voice that this man needed to hear to return to his Father? I certainly hope so. Anyway, he will be in my prayers.


Posted by: MarkSentMe

You are right; it IS a process. Sometimes it starts with an unintended hurtful word from a brother or sister in Christ and then once that crack in our armor happens, the enemy can get a foot-hold and that person is straying from their faith.
Sometimes an event or events happen which shake our faith off its foundation. Sometimes the enemy will use believers to influence the world by us compromising our witness.

I was listening to an evangelist while on vacation. His name is Creflo Dollar. He was preaching on staying rooted in the Word and how people will try to cheapen the Word or invalidate the Word by questioning its relevance. Rev Dollar said that if we keep the Word in our mouths, nothing that the world can throw at us will stick. If the world tries to entice us with talk of this topic or that topic and we come back with Scripture, then we rebuke the world in a loving, relevant manner and God gets the glory!!