Won By One

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!