If One Should Wander From The Truth Series

INTRO.- ILL.- One time a friend from Missiouri visited our church on a Sunday morning. He was a good church member where I formerly preached. He was a hunter and I fished for bass. He use to say to me, “If you’d go turkey hunting with me you’d stop that bass fishing.”

What was he saying? Was he saying that turkey hunting was better or more fun than bass fishing? Something like that.

What’s your favorite thing to do in life? And if something is good in life why would we ever stop doing it or participating in it?

I’ve enjoyed fishing over the years but I do very little fishing now. Why? It’s not because it’s a bad thing to do. The main reason why I don’t fish much any more is because I think I can use my time more wisely doing something for the Lord.

I don’t think God is going to hold is against us doing things we enjoy in life, but I think He is far happier when we do things that He wants us to do.

Ephesians 5:15-17 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Everyone has their favorite thing to do in life, but what is the best of the best? Is it not our relationship to Christ? Consequently, we should make the most of our time or the most of every day for the Lord and not waste time on lesser things which will mean nothing in eternity. Only one life. Twill soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last.

Philippians 3:12-14 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Our ultimate devotion should be focused on Christ! And His ultimate desire for all mankind is that they come to a knowledge of the truth of Christ. God wants all men to be saved or brought into a right relationship with Him. Our text talks about this.

PROP.- James tells us what to do with people who wander away from the truth of Christ.

1- Bring them back

2- Remember the good

3- Cover the sins

I. BRING THEM BACK

19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back.

Evangelism is what? It’s leading someone to know and accept Christ as their savior. It’s called the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:18-19 “Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Have you ever led anyone to accept Christ, to confess their faith in Him and be baptized? My latest was an 86 year old lady at the Nursing Center and that only happened because her son called me and said he was concerned about his mother. And, of course, I felt very good about baptizing her. It was a first for the nursing home and a first for me to baptize someone in a nursing home.

Is it ever too late to baptize someone into Christ? I don’t think so.

As hard as it may seem to be to lead someone to Christ it’s what we should do, we must do. We must continue to witness to others for Christ every time we get an opportunity. We must always be thinking about pointing people to Christ. And we must use every opportunity to teach people what they need to do. AND WE MUST PRAY!

If you find it hard to talk to some family about Christ then you can pray! And who knows? Perhaps God will open the door for you to speak to them and even give you the boldness to speak.

Colossians 4:2-6 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”