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Jesus tells the story of how the shepherd goes out and looks for one lost sheep till he finds it. We as Christians are responsible to go and find the lost people in the world before it is forever too late. Do not expect the unregenerate to come to church. We must find them in their territory; in their home, place of business, recreation, coffee shop, bus depot, airports, and hospitals. It is unrealistic to assume that when notices of service are posted and advertisements made, that the lost will come to church.
Before we go find the lost, we need to spend much time in prayer and heart searching in the presence of our Lord, so that he will give us a real compassion for the lost. We are reminded of Paul's compassion in Acts 20:31, “Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.”
Pray Satan will not interfere in bringing conviction to those we seek.. Mark 3:27-28 refers to Satan “No one can enter the strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man.” Using Christ's authority and participating in His victory we can bind the strong man in any given spiritual situation. Only then will we be in a position to spoil his goods and deliver his captives.
For those who are not ready, we need to develop a friendly relationship. A couple who had been turned off from church had tea every afternoon at 3 p.m. with some Christians. After several years of having tea with them they were ready to receive Christ.
In 1967 I was in Chicago, in the Moody church. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ, taught us a course on how to be filled with the Holy Spirit and introduced us to the Four Spiritual Laws booklet. This gives four clear steps on how to come to Christ. This gave me the confidence to go out and find the lost and bring them to Christ.
Another way to find the lost is to support missionaries, WTM, VBS, Bible Camps, 5 Day Clubs, etc., with our finances and our prayers.
There is joy for the person who finds v.15; friends and neighbours rejoice with us, v.6;. there is joy in heaven, v.7, and there is joy for the person who is found.
Frank Eidse
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