WON BY ONE! WILL WE HEAR THE CRY OF THE LOST?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Think when you enter that beautiful city, and the saved around you appear.
Think when one comes to you and says: IT WAS YOU WHO INVITED ME HERE!
It is easy to underestimate the role of the individual in SOUL WINNING.
God needs you. God has trusted the message in your hands, are we telling others?
Are we interceding and reaching out in personal evangelism?
I. LET US RETURN TO THE DISCUSSION OF VALUE AND WORTH?
WHAT IS THE VALUE OR WORTH OF A MAN’S SOUL?
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
A. HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO DESCRIBE THE FEELING OF BEING LOST?
One day in Walmart I saw a small child with total fear in her face. As she was looking around she never noticed her Mom had moved away. She was crying. I talked to her and comforted her, and I told her I would stay with her until we found her Mom.
She told me her name and her Mom’s name.
We went to an employee and talked to her.
She paged the girl’s Mother, and we stood there holding hands until Mom came running around the corner and grabbed her daughter.
The little girl hugged me, kissed me, and thanked me for staying with her. I remember the look on her face.
I remember the look on the Mother’s face.
The fear of being lost is terrible.
B. Many years ago I was looking for a church on Ten Mile Road in Detroit, MI.
I saw a sign that said ten miles, and I thought this was our road?
I ended up in the downtown ghetto area.
We locked the doors, and we realized this is bad, we were lost.
C. DEFINE LOST:
Not claimed, not won, not made use of
No longer in the possession
Ruined or destroyed physically or morally
Taken away beyond the reach or attainment
Unable to find the way
No longer in the visual field
Lacking assurance or self-confidence
Wasted, not understood
Final separation
To cause to miss one’s way
To wander or go astray
II. WE SERVE UNDER A HIGH CALLING AND PURPOSE.
ONE OF THE GREATEST REASONS FOR EXISTANCE OF THE CHURCH IS EVANGELISM, REACHING OUT BEYOUND OUR WALLS TO A LOST AND DYING SOCIETY.
A. I heard these words once:
I stand at night among the cities’ throng,
And I see the faces that pass along,
And I read a history of want and woe,
And I hear God’s deep call to GO!
And my heart longs farther than my hands can reach.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
B. GOD HAS PLACED A HIGH PRIORITY ON WITNESSING AND REACHING OUT TO THE LOST.
Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
C. GOD’S WORD IS HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE THAT SOUL WINNING AND INTERCESSION FOR THE LOST IS MANDATORY!
Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
III. THERE IS A CALL FROM GOD WE KNOW AS THE MACEDONIA CALL. IT IS A CALL FOR HELP!
A. I HAVE OFTEN HEARD IF A PERSON IS DROWNING ONE PHRASE THEY YELL OUT IS HELP! HELP ME! HELP US!
Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and
help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to
preach the gospel unto them.
B. WHILE THE CALL IS CLEAR, WE CAN BE SO BUSY THAT WE MISS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MOMENT.
C. If you know my work, you know I often use:
NO SADDER WORDS OF PEN OR TONGUE THAN THE WORDS WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
D. DO YOU HAVE ALL THE BASES COVERED?
We tend to insure our cars, our homes, our health, our family, --- we have life insurance for a total of 15 times your annual salary --- BUT WHAT ABOUT A MAN’S SOUL?
IV. WE BUILD GREAT CHURCHES BASED ON THE LOVE OF THE 99? WELL, WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE 99, BUT HAVE WE MINISTRY TO THE ONE?
A. What is the value of an individual?
I sat on Death Row, and the man was some Mother’s son!
Matthew 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into
the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
B. I often think: There are many people that are thought of as BAD BOYS, when maybe they were good boys that did something stupid.
Maybe it is possible for individuals to act and not weigh out the consequences of their bad behavior.
C. I know a Preacher that was in Prison for life without parole. He met Jesus, his testimony went far and wide when he met Jesus.
One day the Governor gave him a full pardon.
This Preacher travels the world today, winning others to the cross.
D. I recently met a singer, Jerry. He has a super tenor voice. As a young man Jerry was with the wrong crowd, involved in sin.
The judge gave Jerry life plus 16 years never to be paroled.
Jerry met Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord.
One day the judge called for Jerry and reduced his time to time served.
Today Jerry travels the USA singing and telling others about Jesus.
E. Jerry shared his testimony. A hopeless woman had a hopeless brother in prison for many years. There had been drugs and a police shooting.
The sister now has a new hope and she carries this hope beyond the prison bars.
Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
V. IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET SO RELIGIOUS THAT WE MISS THE VALUE OF ONE SOUL. PAUL CATCHES THE VISION ---HE HEARS THE CALL --- HE GOES --- AND GOD HONORS PAUL’S EFFORTS.
A. COME HELP US? WE MUST DO MORE THAN GIVE PEOPLE FISH.
WE MUST TEACH THEM HOW TO FISH FOR THEMSELVES.
Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
B. WITHIN THE CALL THERE IS A NEED --- THERE IS A LADY NAMED LYDIA
Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
LYDIA WAS A WONDERFUL FRUIT OF SOUL WINNING, BUT THERE IS A DAMSEL IN NEED ---
Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
C. NOT EVERY ONE WAS HAPPY FOR THE DAMSEL THAT WAS MESSED UP BY DIVINATION COMING TO KNOW JESUS.
SOME WERE MORE INTEREST IN PROFITS AND MONEY.
Acts 16:19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
D. THIS MESSAGE WORKS IN THE JAIL HOUSE!
Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
E. THERE WAS A WONDERFUL CALL TO MACEDONIA, BUT THE CALL WAS NOT JUST TO A CITY, THE CALL WAS TO A PEOPLE --- LOST AND HOPELESS.
VI. GOD RAISES UP PEOPLE TO REACH THEIR GENERATION.
THERE ARE TWO FOLD CALLS FOR THE LOST:
1. THE CALL OF EVEY INDIVIDUAL TO REACH AND TEACH OTHERS.
2. THE SECOND CALL IS FOR US TO ENABLE AND HELP THOSE WITH SPECIAL GIFTINGS TO REACH THE LOST.
Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
A. THERE WAS A MAN NAMED JEREMIAH, GOD RAISED HIM UP.
JEREMIAH WAS NOT KNOWN AS THE GOSPEL COMEDIAN,
HE WAS KNOWN AS JEREMIAH THE WEEPING PROPHET.
Lament. 2:19 Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.
B. JEREMIAH WAS USED BY GOD IN HIS DAY AS A CONCERNED PRAYER WARRIOR FOR THE LOST.
C. JEREMIAH WAS BROKEN- HEARTED FOR HE SAW MAN IN HIS HOPELESS, LOST CONDITION AND KNEW THAT GOD HAD A BETTER PLAN.
Jeremiah cried in the day and in the night, he refused to be quiet.
D. JEREMIAH KNEW WHAT GOD COULD DO!
E. DO WE REALIZE WHAT GOD COULD DO THROUGH US?
GOD NEEDS A VEHICLE OF TRUTH TO REACH OUT TO A LOST AND DYING HUMANITY.
Maybe there are a few Lydia’s and a few damsels awaiting your work?
VII. WHO WILL GO?
A. JESUS WEPT FOR HE SAW THE POTENTIAL,
WILL WE HEAR THE MACEDONIEAN CALL?
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
B. GOD WE ENLIST IN THE ARMY TO BE BROKEN AND SPILLED OUT FOR THE LOST.
C. Think when you enter that beautiful city, and the saved around you appear.
Think when one comes to you and says: IT WAS YOU WHO INVITED ME HERE!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Tell another of my work?
