Episode Transcript
Happy Easter Resurrection Day! This is Episode #371 and it is entitled,"To Seek and to Save the Lost."
During this season that some refer to as Easter, when you get past all the candy to the true meaning of this holiday, we are able to focus on Jesus. He is the only begotten Son of the Father who came to earth to to sacrificially give his life in place of ours that we may be forgiven of our sins and restored to an eternal relationship with God the Father.
Luke 19:10 summarizes Jesus mission here on earth. It states, "for the Son of man came to seek and to save what was lost." The very name Jesus means Savior. Now think about that for a moment. The Son of Man, Jesus himself came to seek and to save what was lost.
Seek to me means going hard after something, to search intensely. You are included in that. Now, if you're a Christian, he sought you out. If you're not a Christian, he is still seeking you out.
You may say for what purpose? Well, it says to save what was lost. To save has to do with delivering each person from the terrible penalty of their sin. It means grabbing a person from going to eternal torment to eternal life. To save means to reach far down and pull each one out of the muck and the mire of living in opposition to God and his ways. Each person needs to be saved from being under the control of Satan who desires only to kill and to destroy that person. It means to rescue one from the terrible punishment due that person for living apart from God.
You know, when a person is lost, they can't find their way. They don't know what is the right direction to take. They're confused about how to reach their destiny. A person stays in the state of being lost when he or she refuses to turn their lives over to God so that he can empower, lead and guide them. A person is lost when he or she is separated from God and remains under the control of Satan. Scripture tells us that we're lost as enemies and estranged from God. So this takes us back to Jesus because individuals are lost. They don't seek him and they don't get saved by any efforts of their own. Thank God that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.
Now there's so much more that I could say about this. And if you want to know more details about how you can go from a state of being lost to being saved by Jesus, go to our website given at the end of this podcast. The website is twmforjesus.org and on the home page click on the section that says "Having New life in Jesus Christ."
But what I wanted to take time in regards to this podcast is to exhort those who are Christians to follow our Lord's foot footsteps in seeking the lost. So first we realize we cannot save anyone. In 1 Corinthians 3:67 it states, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase." This is letting us know that we can share the Gospel with someone for the first time (that is planting a seed). Or we can come later and reinforce the Gospel message and share God's word with them (that is referring to watering). But it is only God himself who can save a person. It is God who brings the increase or increases the number of individuals who are saved and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Only he can deliver a soul from hell and place them in his heavenly family. But now that Jesus has ascended to heaven, how can the lost be sought out and saved?
Well, it is through Christians, Christ followers. We are to continue Jesus' wonderful mission of seeking the lost. Is this something that you're doing right now?
Fear, lack of concern, counting on others to fulfill this mission can cause us to neglect our part in continuing this mission of Jesus. You would not be a Christian today if some other person did not take Jesus' mission seriously. If this was the chief task of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then it should surely be included in our list of priorities.
In light of the division and what is happening in our world today. It was put on my heart to challenge any prejudices that may have crept in to keep you from filling your part in in this mission. So you may say, Paula, I don't have any prejudices, but let the Holy Spirit speak to you. Do you lack compassion for or are you not willing to reach certain people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Jonah despised those he was commissioned to share the Gospel with and Paul, who was highly educated with Jewish law, set out to actually kill those he felt who were in opposition of what he believed.
I felt the Holy Spirit wanted me to use this podcast to flush out any hindrances in your sharing the Gospel with others. Please prayerfully listen and let the Holy Spirit speak to you. He may even bring a person to mind. If so, ask him for the strength and wisdom you need to share the Gospel with this person so that they can be sought out and saved by our Lord. Now you will not be the first person who struggled to share with individuals you may look down upon or disagree with. Let's look at a few, and may the Holy Spirit reveal if any of these apply to you. All right, let me begin to list some people and let the Holy Spirit search your heart.
First of all, those who speak a different language. Maybe your excuse is, Paula, I can't share with them because they're not going to understand. But if you go to Pentecost and look at Acts, Chapter 2, verses 5 to 12, you see that the Holy Spirit can break through language barriers.
Then what about those who curse? Maybe they use bad language and you're feeling they're not ready to receive Jesus. Well, look at Peter in Matthew, Chapter 26, verse 74. There was something that came out of his mouth that didn't seem to align with his walk and with his talk, but yet he was used mightily of God later in his life.
What about those who are so indoctrinated with another religion? You may feel it's no way in the world they're going to listen. Well, what about Nicodemus in John, Chapter 3. He was indoctrinated with Judaism, but Jesus was able to reach him.
What about those who go to another church? Maybe you feel, oh, they go to that church, they're not going to listen to me because I go to such and such church. Well, look at Mark, Chapter 9, verse 38 to 41. Jesus rebuked the disciples who felt there was another group that was casting out demons and they shouldn't be doing it because they weren't a part of their group. But Jesus reprimanded them and said, those who are with us are not against us. So trying to use that excuse won't work.
What about those who hold high positions? You might feel it's difficult for them to see their need of Jesus. Well, what about Cornelius in Acts, Chapter 10, Jesus was able to reach him and his household.
What about those whose jobs do not promote Christlikeness? Well, what about the calling of Matthew? He was a tax collector. Read Matthew, Chapter 9, verses 9 to 13. Jesus was able to reach him.
Maybe you feel those who are rich and seem to have no needs. Well, again, look at Luke, Chapter 19, verses 1 to 10, and you'll read the story of Zacchaeus, who was very wealthy and yet Jesus was able to reach him.
What about those who don't seem mentally capable of receiving the Gospel? Again, look at Mark, Chapter 5, verses 1 to 20, and you'll read about the man in the Gadarenes. He was in bad shape, but Jesus was able to reach him as well.
What about those who are practicing sexual sin? You might feel like they're not going to give up what they're doing. I'm not going to share the Gospel with them. But again, look at John, Chapter 8, verses 1 to 11. The woman caught in adultery. She was publicly disgraced and yet Jesus was able to reach her on the level that she needed.
And then lastly, what about those who seem to be too young to understand? Well, In Matthew, Chapter 19, verse 14, Jesus said, "Do not prevent the little children to come unto me."
So who are we to make judgments as to whether any groups of these people are able to perceive or receive the Gospel message of Jesus Christ?
We have got to be very careful that we do not have any type of prejudices that are lingering in our heart. I believe that these are good samples of people that you may avoid sharing the Gospel with because of some hidden prejudice that may be hiding there in a place in your heart.
May we not seek only preferred or selected people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ this season, may we get rid of our excuses for not reaching the loss and seeking every opportunity inside and outside of our homes to bear witness to the saving power of Jesus Christ this Easter season and every day. This time of year is the best time to share, as it is centered around the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ and salvation.
So then, in light of this, what are you waiting for?
Be sure to tune in next month and smile, Jesus loves!
