What I preached to my friends at a homeless shelter last night. short and to the point

I had the great joy & privelege to be asked to preach @ a homeless shelter yesterday. I love these people so much. I'm so glad to have these men and woman as friends. I love hearing them and their stories. When I spoke at the shelter last night we sang Christmas carols and I shared about my favorite Christmas memory. It was when I stared @ a snow globe nativity scene. I brought that snow globe there last night and past it around as I preached. My great glorious God born in a manger. The humility of God. I said that place stunk of animals. He's not afraid of stinky places, cold. He is not afraid of not so pleasant places. Life stinks for many of you.

Your dead in your trepasses. Like lazarus dead 4 days & your rotting. His family was in despair. He was hopelessly dead. His friends and family wept. Some of you might have family, friends, weeping over you. Saying it's too late. It's hopeless. They even thought it was crazy of Christ to roll back Lazarus stone from His grave. They said it's too stinky. Is life so dead and stinky for you. Lazarus did'nt recognize it. He was dead. He did not ask to be raised from dead. I can speak for my self. I had family, friends, society cry over me. They said too hopeless. He's rotting. I was so dead in my trespasses. I could'nt even ask to come back to life. You might not know how to ask.

Christ said Lazarus come forth. Christ says saint nicholus shelter come forth. He said Patrick come forth.( a lady in the front row screamed Lazarus come forth) I laughed I loved hearing her scream it for some reason. He is in the business of coming to dead, smelly places and being born in you. The nativity scene is going on daily. God is being born in nasty mangers daily. We then ate together a great meal. It was a blast. Merry Christmas Love Patrick

Love it! Thanks for sharing. Keep preaching.

beautfully said. "Lazarus come forth!"

Lazarus did'nt recognize it. He was dead. He did not ask to be raised from dead.

Patrick,

I agree with you that the lost as the Bible says are dead in their trespasses and sins. They do not understand spiritual things nor are they aware of the degree of offenses they have committed . That is why many try to please God by doing some charitable deeds thinking that they can make up for, balance out, undo, or pay for their offenses towards God, not knowing that this is something utterly impossible for humans to achieve.

That is why the person presenting the Gospel message must be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be able to open the eyes of their understanding to comprehend their inability to please God, thus crying in their despair
“ Who can deliver me for my guilt” . At this point they are given the good news of Christ work on the cross on their behalf.

However, many of those who present the Gospel make a big mistake by not discerning the difference between being unable to please God and being a candidate for the salvation that God provided through Christ.

The Gospel message must bring the hearer to ask the question “ What must I do to be saved”

First, let me ask you this: Did any of the people you gave the Gospel message to ask the question “ What must I do to be saved.”? Or did the way you presented the message give them the impression that they could not ask the question?

Second, If they had asked the question, what would your answer be? Would you have told them: “Nothing, you can do nothing to be saved.” Or you would have told them: “ Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved.”

Remember that the Scriptures and not our theological view nor experience is the only guideline as to whether we are giving a Biblical message of salvation.

How Wonderful!
It is great to meet a Christian who shares with the people
in a shelter.
May God continue to Bless you, as you labor in His Vineyard.
Nellie