Take The Opportunity To Reach The Lost

OPPORTUNITIES? NEVER FORGET THE BURDEN FOR THE LOST

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

Genesis 48 is known as the BRIDAL SEARCH chapter. Psalms 51 is known as the REPENTANCE chapter. I Corinthians 13 is known as the LOVE CHAPTER. Hebrews 11 is known as the FAITH CHAPTER. Come let us look at Luke 15 it is known as the LOST CHAPTER.

Many had been talking negative about Jesus Christ’s teachings and attitudes. The religious crowd had been so critical about Jesus’ teachings and attitudes toward the “LOST.” Seems the Levites and the Priest had lost something along their journey. They were so busy doing their “religious duties” they forgot their burden for lost people. 1. JESUS’ HAD A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON FOR ALL TO HEAR: JESUS LOVES THE LOST. 2. JESUS REMINDS US: THERE IS GREAT JOY WHEN THE LOST ARE FOUND.

INTERRUPTIONS? DIVINE INTERRUPTIONS? IS THIS INTERRUPTION AN INTERRUPTION OR AN OPPORTUNITY? FORGIVE ME FOR MENTIONING THIS AGAIN, BUT HURT CAN CAUSE US TO LOSE SIGHT OF OUR GOAL.

There was a very exciting football game: THE ROSE BOWL 1929. There was a center playing that day. He never got to carry the ball, he was the center. His name was ROY REIGELS. He recovered a fumble and ran 69 yards to score a touchdown for the other team… they lost the game by one touchdown. Roy cried for days. He was known for over 50 years as WRONG WAY ROY. How could the young man do that? EASY, HE WAS HIT SO HARD, HE WAS HURT… HE LOST SIGHT OF THE GOAL? LET ME TELL YOU WRONG WAY ROY MADE THE ALL AMERICAN TEAM THE NEXT YEAR. His failure made him a better player.

THE CHALLENGE: This interruption, this trial, this pain, this hurt, this set back, this distraction could be LAUNCHING OUT IN THE DEEP TO SEE GOD’S HURTING PEOPLE.

Proverbs 4:25 (MSG) Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. 26 Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you.

WILL OUR LOVE CAUSE US TO LEAVE THE COMFORT ZONE OF THE 99 FOR ONE?

JESUS CARRIES THE LOST SHEEP ON HIS SHOULDERS!

Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

NOTE: WHAT TOUCHES HEAVEN? GOD AND ALL OF HEAVEN REJOICE MORE OVER THE FINDING OF THE ONE LOST SHEEP THAT HAS WANDERED AWAY FROM THE FLOCK AND HAS BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE FLOCK. YES! BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS THE LITTLE SHEEP IS IN GRAVE DANGER AWAY FROM THE SHEPHERDS WATCHFUL EYE.

It is God’s desire that not one shall be lost. NO NOT ONE. We must understand we must LOVE the lost, weaker and wayward sheep as much as the biggest, smartest sheep in the flock. The GOOD SHEPHERD LOVES THE LOST SHEEP. Jesus plays no favorites.

PROBABLY THE SHEEP THAT NEEDS YOUR LOVE THE MOST DESERVES IT THE LEAST. LOVE THEM ANYWAY!

MOTHER TERESA PENNED THESE POWERFUL WORDS

LOVE THEM ANY WAY!

PEOPLE ARE ILLOGICAL, UNREASONABLE, AND SELF CENTERED.

FORGIVE THEM, LOVE THEM ANYWAY

IF YOU ARE KIND, PEOPLE MAY ACCUSE YOU OF ULTERIOR MOTIVES.

BE KIND ANYWAY.

IF YOU ARE HONEST, PEOPLE MAY CHEAT YOU.

BE HONEST ANYWAY.

IF YOU FIND HAPPINESS, PEOPLE MAY BE JEALOUS.

BE HAPPY ANYWAY.

THE GOOD YOU DO TODAY, MAY BE FORGOTTEN TOMORROW.

DO GOOD ANYWAY.

GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU HAVE AND IT MAY NEVER BE ENOUGH.

GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY.

FOR YOU SEE, IN THE END, IT IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD.

IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY.

GIVE YOURSELF FULLY TO GOD.

HE WILL USE YOU TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS

ON THE CONDITION THAT YOU BELIEVE MUCH MORE IN HIS LOVE

THAN YOUR WEAKNESS.

A SACRIFICE TO BE REAL MUST COST!

MUST HURT! AND MUST EMPTY OURSELVES.

GIVE YOURSELF FULLY TO GOD AND TO OTHERS.

GOD WILL USE YOU TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS ON THE CONDITION

THAT YOU BELIEVE MUCH MORE IN HIS LOVE

THAN IN YOUR WEAKNESS.

IT’S NOT ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU DO,

BUT HOW MUCH LOVE YOU PUT INTO

WHAT YOU DO THAT COUNTS.

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD,

GO HOME AND LOVE YOUR FAMILY!

I HAVE FOUND THAT IF YOU LOVE UNTIL IT HURTS,