Tuesday, October 13, 2009

October 13, 2009

"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." Matthew 28:19-20
JESUS IS CALLING YOU OUT TO GO FOR HIM!


You can't go where you haven't been and you can't teach what you haven't learned.

Jesus called out the disciples to know Him and grow in Him so that they could go for Him. That is what I mean by growing from the inside out!

If you don't truly know Jesus, you won't grow in Him and you certainly won't go in His name.

Reach out to those closest to you in your areas of influence:


INTERCEED
Make a list of three to five lost people who you care about, who care about you, and whom you have influence over. Pray daily for those people. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin and to call them to salvation.

IDENTIFY
Identify which of those three to five people on your list is most receptive to a witness from you and most interested in spiritual things.
INVOLVE
Begin to involve yourself in getting closer to this person. Find what they are interested in an take an interest in it. Be interested in their kids or grandkids. Learn names and ages. Let them know they are important to you.
INVEST
While you involve yourself in their interests show an interest in them. Spend time with them. Be kind and helpful toward them. Make deposits in their emotional bank account knowing that you will one day need to make a withdrawal. Make sure you have a positive balance in their account.

INVITE
Once you have built the friendship and they have begun to be interested in your because of your interest in them, then invite that person to a church service or event. 80%-90% of people currently involved in church and serving the Lord, were first invited by a friend. Odds are that if you invite them they will come. And when they come they will hear the Gospel and the Holy Spirit can soften their heart.
INTRODUCE

After they have visited church service or LIFE Group or church social event, ask them what they thought and gauge their spiritual interest and try to involve them in a spiritual conversation. If the opportunity presents itself share your testimony and ask them if they are sure that they are going to Heaven. If they indicate a lack of assurance or admit they don't know, ask if you can show them how they can know for sure and share the way to salvation.
INCORPORATE
If they pray the prayer of salvation and receive Christ. Make sure they get connected with church and LIFE group and offer to study the Bible with them. Be sure they follow up their decision with growth-producing actions.

Aslo, participate in missions trips, missions giving, and church outreaches. That is what it means to GO FOR GOD. Sometimes it may be going across the room, or to the next office, or across the street. It doesn’t have to be far, but we must be willing to go to share the Gospel.

That is what makes a healthy church - disciples who know God, and are growing in God and therefore, are going for God into a lost world.

How well do you know Him?

What evidence is there that you know Him?

When was the last time you shared Him with someone else?