Bringing Lost People to a Loving God
Matthew 7:12 NIV
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:1 NIV
Do not judge…
Matthew 7:1-12 NIV
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
“I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today.”
- MAHATMA GANDHI
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 NIV
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside.
John 3:16-18 NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already (why?) because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
HOW DO WE BRING LOST PEOPLE TO A GOOD GOD?
1. NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO ACCEPT OUR MESSAGE
Matthew 7:6 NIV
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 NLT
“Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume…”
“The decision to receive treatment does not lie with the man who administers medicine but actually with the patient.”
— John Chrysostom
HOW DO WE BRING LOST PEOPLE TO A GOOD GOD?
2. GOD WANTS HEART TRANSFORMATION, NOT BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION
Romans 3:20 NLT
No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
Hebrews 6:1 NLT
“…Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds AND placing our faith in God…”
HOW DO WE BRING LOST PEOPLE TO A GOOD GOD?
3. BE PREPARED, BE STRONG, & BE COURAGEOUS
A. S. K.
- ASK - Pray! How does it resonate in your spirit, and does it align biblically?
- SEEK - Seek wisdom from mature believers & spiritual leaders in your life.
(Wisdom in a multitude of counsel)
- KNOCK - Open the door, & step out in faith. If the grace is there, you’ll know it.
1 Peter 3:14-16 NIV
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
- BE A BRIDGE
- BE A BRINGER
- BE ABOUT IT
Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter
- Charles Spurgeon
“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”
-- Charles Spurgeon
