Will you compel them to come in or say have me excused?
From The HeartPublish date: 02/14/2016
Foundation Scriptures:
Luke 14:16-24 (KJV): 16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 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. 24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
1. Will you compel them to come in or say have me excused?
a. All things are ready. It’s time for your friends and family to come into the Kingdom. Will you invite them now?
b. If you are born-again and filled with the Holy Ghost, you are anointed, appointed, and equipped to share the Gospel.
c. John 4:35 (KJV) reads, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest?" behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”
d. Do not justify your lack of sharing the Gospel by offering excuses – not the right time, it’s not my personality, not my calling, don’t have time, don’t know the Bible well enough, busy with family, job, hobbies, school, business, etc.
e. God is no respecter of persons - we are to share the Gospel with all people.
f. Soul-winning is not a program; it’s a passion.
g. Soul-winning is not an event; it’s a lifestyle.
h. Souls are the currency of eternity.
2. Friendship Evangelism – We can see a pattern in God’s Word that the disciples used when they first had an encounter with Jesus. Since it worked for them, it will definitely work for you.
a. John 1:40-45 (Amplified): One of the two who heard what John said and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first sought out and found his own brother Simon and said to him, We have found (discovered) the Messiah!—which translated is the Christ (the Anointed One). 42 Andrew then led (brought) Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, You are Simon son of John. You shall be called Cephas—which translated is Peter [Stone]. 43 The next day Jesus desired and decided to go into Galilee; and He found Philip and said to him, Join Me as My attendant and follow Me. 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the same city as Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip sought andfound Nathanael and told him, We have found (discovered) the One Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote about—Jesus from Nazareth, the [legal] son of Joseph!
b. You are on a search and rescue mission and have a realm of influence that the Lord has entrusted you to reach.
c. Will you compel them to come in or say have me excused?
3. God calls ordinary people. With God, they will do the extra ordinary.
a. The twelve apostles were ordinary men from a variety of backgrounds.
b. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were in the fishing business.
c. Simon Peter was a Zealot, meaning he belonged to a violent, radical, political party that hated the government Rome (tax collectors).
d. Matthew was a publican - tax collector. (Government - IRS agent)
e. The other six as far as we know were all ordinary laymen.
f. The twelve apostles were not Pharisees or Sadducees or leaders in the church at the time that Jesus called them.
g. These were twelve ordinary men, from different backgrounds, who were called together by Christ to be His disciples. The church now refers to these twelve as “saints.”
h. You are the ordinary person that God is going to use to accomplish the extra ordinary.
4. When you follow Jesus, He will make you a fisher of men.
a. Matthew 4:19 (KJV): And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
b. Our Story – Had an encounter with God - Started witnessing to our family, friends, and co-workers.
c. Many of the people, who we had led to the Lord, we carpooled to church. So many responded favorably to attending church with us that Jennifer used her vehicle and I had to use our company van.
d. We started a Bible study at our business / Jennifer wentto retirement homes and door-to-door sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
e. Our Pastor was astonished at the number of peoplecoming to church with us that he asked us where they were coming from. Jennifer showed him by taking him soul-winning. As a result, he had her teach the whole church how to win souls and then launched soul-winning everySaturday.
f. When you follow Jesus, He will make you a fisher of men.
5. Do you believe that the Lord Who created the heavenand the earth could use you to reach, at least, one person?
a. Operation Andrew Card - Make a list of at least sevenun-saved, or backslidden friends and/or family members in the area.
b. Pray for those on your list for salvation. Ask the Lord to give you favor.
Invite them to a House of Joy and to The River – If possible, drive to their house and bring them with you.
c. Follow up with each person – pray with them and make disciples.
d. Teach them that they are now commissioned to share their faith – create a list of family & friends who needs Jesus - help them reach them and bring them in.
e. God has created you for such a time as this to make an eternal difference.
f. Each One Reach One – Each One Teach One - Make Disciples – Multiply – Win the Lost at Any Cost!