Reaching the Last Day Harvest
Donald Perkins spoke at our church yesterday. I always enjoy his teaching as he is very logical in his presentation, knowledgeable about the topics on which he speaks and easy to listen to. Yesterday he spoke on reaching others for Christ here in the last days. Part of our church's mission statement is "every member a minister" based on Ephesians 4:11-12. As we leave the parking lot we are reminded that we are entering the mission field. We all have a sphere of influence to share Christ. Here are the notes I took on Donald Perkins' message. May we all understand the urgency in reaching the lost for Christ.
Donald Perkins began with Matthew 28:19-20, the Great Commission - "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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. This is the foundation - we are all commissioned to share the Gospel. Next he shared Matthew 4:18-23 where Jesus called the first disciples. Jesus said, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." If we choose to follow Christ, then we too, are to be fishers of men.
The next topic was why we don't win souls. He shared six points. First, the reason we don't is because we don't have a burden to reach the lost in the first place. Second, we are often intimidated by those we want to save. Third, we don't know how to discern the times. Fourth, we don't pray for God's help to win them. Fifth, we don't understand the consequences of those who choose not to follow Christ. And sixth, we are just plain lazy when it comes to reaching the lost. Ouch!
Donald shared several verses to develop the idea that "he who wins souls is wise". Proverbs 11:30 says "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." Proverbs 14:25 reads, "A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful." Daniel 12:3 says, "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." Finally, James 5:20 tells us "remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." I want to be seen as wise in God's eyes!
Another important point is that we must understand the consequences for those who don't follow Christ. Matthew 13 explains the Parable of the Weeds from Chapter 12. It explains that "the one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." The consequence of not believing in Christ as Savior is eternity in the fiery furnance with weeping and gnashing of teeth. I don't want any I love to have to suffer such a fate - even the knuckleheads!
It's important that we discern the end times in order to understand the urgency of reaching the lost. Matthew 24:5-8 tells us to watch out for those who come in the name of Christ and deceive many; that there will be wars and rumors of wars; nations will rise up against nations; there will be famines and earthquakes; believers will be persecuted and put to death and hated; many will turn from their faith and betray and hate on another; false prophets will appear; there will be an increase in wickedness that will cause love for others to grow cold. These things are taking place today - a sure sign of the last days. We must feel the urgency to evangelize the lost.
Finally, Donald Perkins shared what we must do to share the lost. First we need to pray and ask the Lord for those who are lost. Psalm 2:8 says "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, and the ends of the earth your possession." Second, we are to minister the love of God to them. Perhaps we can do this by serving them in times of need or offering encouragement. Third, we are to live the life we preach before them. 1 Peter 2:12 reminds us to "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." Fourth, we must not indulge in sinful practices with them. 2 Timothy 2:3-4 tells us to "endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer." And Ephesians 5:11 says to "have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." Fifth, don't be quick to condemn them for their actions. (Oh, how I struggle with this one!) Sixth, don't judge the outward appearance before you minister. People aren't always what they seem on the outside. Seventh, don't water down the Word of God because you don't want to offend them. John 8:32 tells us that if we know the truth, "then the truth will set us free." And finally, we need to be prepared to answer their questions about God. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to "always be prepared to given an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." These were wonderful practical things we can do to reach the last day harvest.
Donald Perkins ended with John 9:4 which says that "as long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." May we be busy about the Lord's work in these last days and see many come to Christ before it is too late.
Donald Perkins began with Matthew 28:19-20, the Great Commission - "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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. This is the foundation - we are all commissioned to share the Gospel. Next he shared Matthew 4:18-23 where Jesus called the first disciples. Jesus said, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." If we choose to follow Christ, then we too, are to be fishers of men.
The next topic was why we don't win souls. He shared six points. First, the reason we don't is because we don't have a burden to reach the lost in the first place. Second, we are often intimidated by those we want to save. Third, we don't know how to discern the times. Fourth, we don't pray for God's help to win them. Fifth, we don't understand the consequences of those who choose not to follow Christ. And sixth, we are just plain lazy when it comes to reaching the lost. Ouch!
Donald shared several verses to develop the idea that "he who wins souls is wise". Proverbs 11:30 says "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." Proverbs 14:25 reads, "A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful." Daniel 12:3 says, "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." Finally, James 5:20 tells us "remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." I want to be seen as wise in God's eyes!
Another important point is that we must understand the consequences for those who don't follow Christ. Matthew 13 explains the Parable of the Weeds from Chapter 12. It explains that "the one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." The consequence of not believing in Christ as Savior is eternity in the fiery furnance with weeping and gnashing of teeth. I don't want any I love to have to suffer such a fate - even the knuckleheads!
It's important that we discern the end times in order to understand the urgency of reaching the lost. Matthew 24:5-8 tells us to watch out for those who come in the name of Christ and deceive many; that there will be wars and rumors of wars; nations will rise up against nations; there will be famines and earthquakes; believers will be persecuted and put to death and hated; many will turn from their faith and betray and hate on another; false prophets will appear; there will be an increase in wickedness that will cause love for others to grow cold. These things are taking place today - a sure sign of the last days. We must feel the urgency to evangelize the lost.
Finally, Donald Perkins shared what we must do to share the lost. First we need to pray and ask the Lord for those who are lost. Psalm 2:8 says "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, and the ends of the earth your possession." Second, we are to minister the love of God to them. Perhaps we can do this by serving them in times of need or offering encouragement. Third, we are to live the life we preach before them. 1 Peter 2:12 reminds us to "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." Fourth, we must not indulge in sinful practices with them. 2 Timothy 2:3-4 tells us to "endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer." And Ephesians 5:11 says to "have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." Fifth, don't be quick to condemn them for their actions. (Oh, how I struggle with this one!) Sixth, don't judge the outward appearance before you minister. People aren't always what they seem on the outside. Seventh, don't water down the Word of God because you don't want to offend them. John 8:32 tells us that if we know the truth, "then the truth will set us free." And finally, we need to be prepared to answer their questions about God. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to "always be prepared to given an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." These were wonderful practical things we can do to reach the last day harvest.
Donald Perkins ended with John 9:4 which says that "as long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." May we be busy about the Lord's work in these last days and see many come to Christ before it is too late.
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