PERSONAL EVANGELISM
(Part 9)
Memory Verse: “… how shall we escape if we ignore such a
great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was
confirmed to us by those who heard Him.” (Heb. 2:3).NIV.
LESSON OBJECTIVE AND FOCUS
We shall look at the sort of excuses a
backslider might come up with, and see what answers God has provided in His
word.
LESSON
INTRODUCTION
Luke
19:10 tells us the Lord Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
Moreover He has committed to us the same ministry of reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5:16-20.
LESSON
OUTLINE: GOD REPLIES THE BACKSLIDERS AND THOSE HIDING UNDER ONE EXCUSE OR
THE OTHER
Someone who does not wish to commit his
life to the Lord is never short of excuses. Some of them include,
1. “There is plenty of time. Am
still young. Leave me alone to first enjoy my life. We’ll get back to more
serious matters later.”
But
what does the word say to us on this matter in Isa. 55:6-7 and 2 Cor. 6:1-2?
What
is the implication of these statements?
Is
there some lesson we can learn from Esau’s experience? Heb. 12:16-17.
2. “My friends will laugh at me.”
That of course boils down to our
choosing whom to follow, or whose approval we rate higher. This is not really a
21st Century problem. See John
12:42-43.
Are
we really more concerned about the opinion of our friends or the opinion of
God? What warning did the Lord give on this
matter in Matth 10:32-33 & Mark 8:38?
What
additional warnings do we find in Prov. 29:25 and 2 Tim. 2:12?
3. “I am afraid I won’t be able to
hold on and last the race.”
Thank God for such a realization,
because what keeps us isn’t just our determination or a host of New Year resolutions.
We are kept finally by the grace of God.
Who
and who are looking after the believer that is living in obedience to the Lord?
Jn 10:27-30.
What God desires to see in us is a
daily dependence on His grace, strength and power. He may even choose to allow
one problem or the other to remain in our lives if that is the way He knows we
shall learn to depend on Him. See 2 Cor.12:7-10. And if that is the way
we end up depending on and following Him, we shall remain under “double insurance cover” (John 10:28-29).
4. “I am tired of my waywardness and
the aimlessness of my life. I want to return home. Is there any hope for me?”
Such a realization of our hopelessness
and desire to be right with God is a most welcome news in heaven. It sounds as
if the angels throw a party in heaven when we come back to God in repentance. Luke 15:4-7; 8-10.
In fact it was to drive home this
teaching that there is great joy in heaven when we come back in repentance to
the Father that the Lord told the parable of the Prodigal Son. Luke15:11-24. The Father is more than
ready and willing to receive the penitent sinner.
SUMMARY: God is still in the business of saving the backslider
and the penitent. We must not in self-righteousness give up on witnessing to
them.