A Most Special Time On The Streets

My friends, God has put this on my heart to share with you all a very personal experience I had with a homeless lady recently. This encounter happened on 01/18/2020 and up until today I was going to keep this to myself, but the Holy Spirit kept telling me otherwise. I can’t tell you how many times I have been prompted to tell people about this encounter and now I know why. You see, the time I had on the streets that Saturday and then with this lady was different than any other experience while in God’s harvest, than ever before. That day I was not alone, but the Lord was with me. Even during my time preaching and teaching on a street corner about Jesus, I was able to witness personally about the Lord and His love to a young man named Simeon, who was Mormon. I also had a handout that described the differences in their faith, compared to the Bible, and he was eating it all up. In the end, he was begging me for the handout, in order to take it home and look at it more in detail. So I gave it to him and hugged him before he left. He was with a lot of friends and they also got the gospel message of Jesus, namely the cross and the resurrection. I was also able to answer their different questions on smoking, doing drugs, having illicit sex, homosexuality and other things. My answers did not come from my own knowledge, but what the Spirit had me speak. We even read a portion of ¹Romans 1 together, in order to understand how vial and wicked homosexuality is in God’s sight. We also read from ²1 Corinthians 6, in order to know how bad fornication is in God’s sight also, for it and homosexuality will keep a person out of heaven. As for smoking, doing drugs and drinking, I explained that we are called to be sober-minded, that we should not quench the Spirit. Therefore, I told them that we cannot do these things if we love God.

This then gets me to my encounter with Bess, this amazing homeless lady. As I was walking back to my car that day, I saw this lady, who I had seen before. However, I knew right away that her need was more pressing than other times. Upon talking with her, she explained to me that she didn’t need food, water, but money for a heater. And at first, I answered saying that I don’t carry any cash on me, which I don’t. But then, I asked God if I should just take her with me to the store and pick it up with her, and immediately the Lord said yes. So I then told her that I would love to take her to a Walmart and get her one if she would like to ride with me. She then said, “yes. Thank you so much for doing this.” I then said, “it is no problem at all. Since God has blessed me with much, I have much to give.” And then as we got to my car I opened the trunk to put my backpack in when she saw all the blankets, gloves, hats, waters, Bibles, and gospel tracts. She also asked me what all this was for. I said, “for the homeless. That I didn’t want anything for Christmas this year, but things I could give to the homeless.” She couldn’t believe it. I then told her that I’d love to give her a blanket before she leaves. So she picked one out that was blue. On the way to Walmart she wanted to hear my story of coming to Jesus, which I told her. That the Lord God had changed my life. That I was once into pornography, and in an adulterous affair, but then after praying to God in all my brokenness, that He answered me by putting His arms around me. He even told me in my car the next day that my sins were forgiven. She then cried with me and said that she had never seen a person like me before. My response was, “since God has done a mighty work in my life, it is now my turn to help others in need.” She couldn’t believe it.

So we first went to a few stores together, which I was able to help pay for what she needed, but we will focus our time on Walmart. Upon entering the store, we made our way to the isle where personal heaters were shelved. She then pointed out the one that failed for her and even made some sparks, almost lighting her tent on fire. This got me moved to know the danger she was in, so I looked until I found the best heater available. She then looked at me and said, “people often give me the cheapest things, but you are giving me the best things. Why is this?” As she was in tears. I told her that Jesus is moving in my life now, and all I want to do is bless people. If I deserve good things in life, then I ought to give good things to others. So after we talked a little, we made our way to the food isles. Of which she found some bread and other items she could eat. I was hoping to bring her out to a restaurant, but she was not interested in that. Anyhow, our time here was amazing. You see, when we go out of our way to help someone, by paying for their needs, God loves it. He loves a generous person, and that is why He worked through me in showing this generosity to her. As Paul said, ³“every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) This is so true, and any person that is loving on God and reading His Word daily will understand this fact personally. Now, before this day ended, I was able to share the gospel with her and also pray with her. The Spirit was so strong in the car, and while we were in different stores together. This is because God was with us. It was very hard to see her go at the end, but I knew that she was now in the hands of God and His angels to bear her up. My friends, we are called to be like Jesus, and that is who God made me out to be that day for this woman and young man, while on the streets. God bless you.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I love You and only want to do Your will. It is when You are working inside of me is when I am the happiest. Not when I am receiving something, but when I can give myself and things to others. This is true love and joy. Lord, You have taught me that I don’t need things in life to be happy, but only what I can give brings me happiness. Truly, Your teaching on the two greatest commandments has hit me like a truck would. I now know that as I love on You, that I should also be loving upon others, even my enemy. So when people have done bad things to me, I will still show them kindness as You do to those that have hurt You but have repented later. You have taught me that forgiveness is not only sought after from us to You but from others to us that need it. So how can I be so insensitive and not say sorry myself, and forgive others when You do this for me every day of my life? And Lord, when I see people in need, I can’t control myself but run to turn to them for assistance. It saddens me deeply to know that someone is suffering and needs help. This is Your love and compassion speaking through my life, which You made for me. I am able to understand what love really is like because the Holy Spirit is with me. For this reason, I am happy to purchase whatever is possible to help a homeless person or pay for someone’s groceries in the store, who is struggling. So lead me to those people that are in more need than myself. Give me the courage to speak to them, that I may not only help them but lead them to know You, Jesus. It is my prayer that every person that I help, will also develop a personal relationship with You. I do not only want to see people get well and get the help they need but also be prepared to meet You one day in heaven. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

Romans 1

¹Romans 1 (KJV)
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

1 Corinthians 6

²1 Corinthians 6 (KJV)
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

2 Corinthians 9

³2 Corinthians 9 (KJV)
1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.