Mlworship#24 Bringing people to the Lord(22June2004)

Bringing people to the Lord
(22nd June 2004)


‘The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me;

Because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;

He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives;

And the opening of the prison to them that are bound;’

Isaiah 61:1



With inspiration, what is perspiration!!

‘In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.’
Hebrews 12:4

‘Endure hardship as discipline; God is teaching you as sons.’
Hebrews 12:7



With Divine anointing, nothing can hold us back from ‘saving the world’

‘We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed,
2 Corinthians 4:8-9



For the grace of God is suffice, come what may afflict us,

‘For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body,’
2 Corinthians 4:11




The intent might be right, sadly, often the delivery is flawed.


Why,
- it should be man plans, God direct.

‘for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose’
Philippians 2:13

yet
- In reality, man plans, God directs, man disobeys


Some examples of bigotry through the ages
- the Roman Emperor adopted Christianity to further his power rather than God’s kingdom
- the Crusades should have been one of overcoming resistance by love rather than through violence to Christianize the world
- cults arise because man has a thirsty soul. However, instead of letting go and trusting God, people rather believe in pre-conceived desires


What about today???


‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore send out workers into His harvest field’
Mathew 9:37-38

‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’
Galatians 6:9


When is our relief?? : when Jesus returns

‘….and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more …..’
John 17:13-14

‘Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.’
1 Peter 2:12





What about the period before God returns??? : God assuages

‘Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.’
…….so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’
John 16:33

‘My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one’
John 17:15



Why us, God???


‘But you are a chosen people, …… a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praise of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.


Once you were not a people , but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy’
1 Peter 2:9-10



‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works,……
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’
Ephesians 2:8-10















So, truly how do we help lead people to God???

- By how you live and not what you profess

‘Live as children of light’
Ephesians 5:8

- By your humility, love and other fruits of the Spirit

‘….no servant is greater than his master, nor is the messenger greater than the one who sent him’
John 13:16

‘just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as ransom to many’
Mathew 20:27

‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control; against such there is no law’
Galatians 5:22-23

- By your obedience rather than ‘personal’ sacrifice

‘….where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin’
Hebrews 10:18

- By your unwavering faith

‘let us draw near to God with a sure heart in full assurance of faith….
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess….’
Hebrews 10:19-24




To be Christlike, is not self effort, but Spirit led

‘But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things,…..’
John 14:26

Will you respond in obedience???