I encourage you to read Luke 14:12-24 carefully. Notice vs. 23 - “And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” The master held a great feast, and invited many. Those who were invited made many excuses why they couldn’t come, so the master ordered the servants to go into the streets, the highways, & hedges and bring in the poor, lame, halt, maimed, blind - in other words, the “Down and outers”. He said “Compel them” to come in. Let’s take a look at this word.
The Greek definition for “Compel” is: necessitate, constrain, drive to by all means. Our Master, Jesus Christ, has set an appointed feast called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Many have been invited (2Pt 3:9, 1Tim 2:4). However, many make excuses on why they can’t come. They reject the invitation because they are too busy, too materialistic, too intelligent, etc. So, The Lord tells us, His servants, to go into the world and compel them come in.
This does not mean we can drag someone kicking & screaming to Jesus or to church (unless they’re little kids, then you can - and should - drag them to church!). However, we can compel them by stressing the urgency that they need to come and should come. We should live with such an excitement and love for Jesus and His Church, that we persuade and compel people to come with us. We can’t take everyone with us to Heaven, but we can take some!
If we are “ho-hum” about Jesus & Church, why on earth would sinners be slightly interested? Also, if we actually believe the Bible, and the reality that this person will die and go to Hell without Jesus - how could we not “compel” them? We have to get a revelation that this world is not a playground, but a battleground! 150,000 people die everyday in this world! Their fate is sealed! They are in Heaven or in Hell, and there is no going back! No do-overs, no second chances, no “I’ve changed my mind!”. The Bible says today is the day of salvation. Not tomorrow. Not after you die. Right now, because you aren’t promised your next breath!
God pleads with mankind, through His ambassadors (us Disciples), to be reconciled to Him! That is the heart cry of the evangelist, “Be reconciled to God! Get right with Jesus! Give your life to Jesus! Get saved today! I beg of you, don’t put it off!”. Our heart cry as a Christian should be Isa 55:6-7 “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” This is my heart cry. I compel you, give your life to God The Son right now.
Some thoughts about evangelism: 1. Remember we are seed sowers! The sower sows the Word (Mk 4:14). We cannot see the condition of the heart, but we sow the seed anyway. 2. There are different stages people go through on their path to salvation. Remember it is GOD Who gives the increase! (1Cor 3:6-9). 3. Don't give up or get discouraged! If you don't “seal the deal“, don't quit! Just know you have had a place in that person’s road to redemption. 4. Don't just say "God loves you" or "I'll pray for you" - get them the gospel! God loves everyone. God loving you does not save you. Get them the path to Heaven! Get them the way to be saved! Use the Romans Road, or leave a good Gospel tract. A person MUST repent and receive Jesus as Lord & Savior to be saved. That is the Gospel Truth.
Hey soul-winner, do you want some encouragement? Here it is: I remember every tract I was ever given, or ever found & read! I remember every time a Christian witnessed to me! Like a fool, I didn’t surrender my life to Jesus right then and there - but each one of those encounters chipped away at my hard heart, until the day I cried out to Jesus to save me! Each one of those encounters was planting and watering, and one day - I was harvested!
Often times we as Christians - even myself as a pastor - will lose sight of our great commission given to us by our Lord. I know there are many other subjects to teach and other things to do as Christians, but we must not lose sight of our main calling and vocation as disciples of Jesus. We must have personal revival; be filled with The Spirit; and put winning the lost back at the top of our priorities. No Matter what particular season we are in as Christians, we must always keep soul winning a priority.
Pray. Pray from the heart. Pray often. Pray for the lost. Pray for opportunity to share Jesus. Pray to be effective. Pray for conviction of heart to be upon those you witness to. Pray for the salvation of your lost friends and loved ones. Pray for boldness. Pray for God to give you a heart for the lost. Pray for God to give you the lost for your inheritance (Ps 2:8). Pray for God to make you an evangelist. The victory is on our knees in prayer!
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