“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NLT)
In my city we have approximately 3 million people and a conservative estimate of lost people would be about 75 – 80% or roughly 2.3 million. Let’s say the evangelical churches of my city band together and invited an Evangelist to hold a meeting here every 6 months, resulting in 100,000 people coming to Christ each time they came. Given a small measure of growth in the population, it would take roughly 25 years to win my city.
On the other hand, what if 2 people purposed in their heart to win 2 more people and disciple them to win 2 of their friends or loved ones to the Lord over the next 6 months. Then those 4 won 4 more, then 8, then 16 and on and on until more than 2 million people had come to Christ in less than 20 years. Imagine a whole city of people transformed by the grace of God if only 2 people got serious about seeing their friends and loved ones come to Jesus.
“Yeh, but it would never work like that. Someone would fail and not win 2 people in 6 months.” Okay, but what if some of them won 6 instead of 2. I visited a family of 6 when I was in ministry and gave them a simple Gospel presentation. 2 parents, 4 children. When I asked the parents, one by one, if they’d like to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, each said “Yes.” So, I asked each child, the oldest was a late teen, and he said “yes.” On and on until each one had said “yes.” If God is in it anything is possible to those who believe. That family served faithfully in the church for many years.
Lost people who come to understand the Gospel WILL respond if they know their presenter and trust them. Dick Eastman wrote many years ago that behind the saving grace of every lost person is someone praying. While that sentence isn’t in the Bible, I believe the truth of its message is. No prayer, no salvation. When I was in college the Lord laid on my heart a young man whose nickname was “Garb.” I figured he must have an odd name, so I didn’t question it for the longest time.
Finally, I asked a mutual friend why that nickname, to which they responded: “It’s short for garbage mouth.” I learned that Garb grew up in a rough environment and basically learned the vocabulary of the people around him. One day he gave me a ride to my dorm from work, and I asked him if I could share with Him a few minutes about my friend Jesus. He said “yes,” so I shared a brief Gospel message and asked him what he thought. He had an almost shocked look on his face and said: “Why hasn’t anyone ever shared this with me before?”
We can’t be turned off by the rough exterior of lost people. Of course they’re not always kind, clean or polished in their vocabulary, but they have a heart that needs Jesus and if the Lord lays them on our heart to share with them through prayer, we’re sinning not to share with them.
What if even today you took a piece of paper and a pen and knelt before the Lord and asked Him: “Lord, who in my spheres of influence would you be pleased to allow me to share your love and life with this week?” I promise you, on the authority of God’s Word, He’ll respond. Will you?
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 