I’m Keeping People From Jesus | Herbert Cooper
Luke 15:4–7 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (NIV)
4 LESSONS ABOUT GOD’S HEART TO REACH ONE MORE LOST PERSON
1. WE ARE CALLED TO GO AFTER THE ONE
Matthew 28:19 Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (NIV)
Mark 16:15 He said to them, “GO into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. (NIV)
Matthew 9:36–38 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to SEND OUT WORKERS into his harvest field.” (NIV)
2. WE MUST SEE THE NEED TO GO
3. WE MUST PRAY FOR MORE PEOPLE TO GO
4. WE MUST ANSWER OUR OWN PRAYERS TO GO
Matthew 10:5-6 These twelve Jesus SENT out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 GO rather to the lost sheep of Israel. (NIV)