02/14/2019 — The Church exists for only two reasons: to win the lost and to disciple the saved.

If you're already saved, you have two responsibilities: grow in your faith and win the lost! We do the first when we worship together, but we also need to win the lost during the 160+ hours each week we are not worshipping together! It's time to get serious about our responsibilities to grow the Kingdom by inviting people to come to church with us and experience the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God!

EDUCATION

Matthew 7:13-19
“Come to God through the narrow gate, because the wide gate and broad path is the way that leads to destruction—nearly everyone chooses that crowded road! The narrow gate and the difficult way leads to eternal life—so few even find it!
“Constantly be on your guard against phony prophets. They come disguised as lambs, appearing to be genuine, but on the inside they are like wild, ravenous wolves! You can spot them by their actions, for the fruits of their character will be obvious. You won’t find sweet grapes hanging on a thorn bush, and you’ll never pick good fruit from a tumbleweed. So if the tree is good, it will produce good fruit; but if the tree is bad, it will bear only rotten fruit and it deserves to be cut down and burned" (TPT).

Luke 15:1-7
"Many dishonest tax collectors and other notorious sinners often gathered around to listen as Jesus taught the people. This raised concerns with the Jewish religious leaders and experts of the law. Indignant, they grumbled and complained, saying, 'Look at how this man associates with all these notorious sinners and welcomes them all to come to him!'
"In response, Jesus gave them this illustration:
“'There once was a shepherd with a hundred lambs, but one of his lambs wandered away and was lost. So the shepherd left the ninety-nine lambs out in the open field and searched in the wilderness for that one lost lamb. He didn’t stop until he finally found it. With exuberant joy he raised it up and placed it on his shoulders, carrying it back with cheerful delight! Returning home, he called all his friends and neighbors together and said, ‘Let’s have a party! Come and celebrate with me the return of my lost lamb. It wandered away, but I found it and brought it home.’
"Jesus continued, 'In the same way, there will be a glorious celebration in heaven over the rescue of one lost sinner who repents, comes back home, and returns to the fold—more so than for all the righteous people who never strayed away'” (TPT).

APPLICATION

• The modern Church has no urgency to win souls. Too often it's content with growth through adoption of people from other congregations rather than new births. World Harvest Church and its outreaches, including City Harvest Network, are committed to winning new souls to advance the Kingdom of God!
• The Gospel we are committed to living out is exclusive, and it is distinctive. No other faith expression in human history has a virgin womb at one and an empty tomb at the other end!
• If you've secured your eternal destiny in Heaven, great! Now, focus on bringing others into the Kingdom as well! If you bring people in your circles of influence to World Harvest Church, they will be saved! But that won't happen unless and until you commit to making a friend, being a friend and introducing that friend to Jesus.
• Bringing everyone to Jesus is daunting. How about bringing one person? One who may be the Church's next great preacher, or worship leader, or successful business person who funds the work of the Kingdom! They're out there.
• Reach the one!

IMPARTATION

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for saving me and assuring my eternal destiny with You in Heaven! I will always be grateful for Your provision for my repentance and propitiation for my sin through Your Son, Jesus Christ. I am committed to grow in my love and knowledge of You for the rest of my days.

And yet, Heavenly Father, I know that is not my only obligation – I am also responsible for loving others into a relationship with You! Forgive my neglect of this important responsibility. Order my steps that I may be bold in my love for others and burdened for their souls. Show me the one you need for me to invite into a saving relationship with You. And when that one is saved, show me the next one, as long as I have breath.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ – Jehovah Joshua Messiah – I pray. Amen!