Sharing the Love of Christ with Others

TOPIC: SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST WITH OTHERS

Main Text: Mathew 14: 31-36

Memory Verse Text: Mathew 14: 35

No Christian can live successfully who does not constantly and systematically seek to share the love of the Lord Jesus Christ with those who do not know Him, and no Christian will ever begin to do this until he or she feels a real concern, a burden for the salvation of the multitudes of men and women who are lost (Luke 19:10), condemned already (John 3:18), and are under the wrath of God (John 3:36).  Do you feel any concern for the lost?  Have you any passion for souls?  Are you burdened as you think of your loved ones and friends and of the thousands of others who are not saved? 

If we ask the question: What is the real need of the lost? – How does this portion of scripture answer it?  It tells us three things about the people of that day which are true of people today.

1. They were Diseased

 Many people today may be religious, respectable and living morally decent and upright lives, but every unsaved soul is gripped by the disease of sin (Luke 5:12), and unless they are cured their prospect is indeed solemn (Romans 6:23).  Man’s first need is to be made perfectly whole through faith in the Lord Jesus.  Multitudes of people live and die in a diseased condition, without God and without hope (Ephesians 2:12).

2. They were at a Distance

They were at a distance from the Lord in a geographical sense, and what was true of them in that sense is true of multitudes today in a spiritual sense.  The young people of our day and generation are to a very large extent growing up without any knowledge of God and of the gospel of His grace, and there is an appalling ignorance of the Bible and of the gospel.  How concerned we need to be for the multitudes!  Matthew 9:36.

3. They were Disabled

They had to be brought into the presence of the Lord.  It is true that every sinner is disabled by sin (Romans 5:6), but it is also true that beneath the outward cloak of respectability many are disabled by the sins of falsehood, drink, lust, drugs, immorality, etc.  It is for these we need to feel and show a deep concern.

When the men of that place recognised Him" they did three things:-

1. They Sought 

 They went out into all the surrounding country in search of those who needed the healing and saving touch of the Lord Jesus Christ.  They scoured the district for needy souls.  This is the Lord’s commission to us (Mark 16:15).  

2. They Brought

The word “brought” is the most important word in this study.  It indicates an emphasis which we must regain if we are successful to win others to Christ.  It is important to go to them, but rescue work involves more than simply going to those who are lost.  Souls must be brought to Christ.  

3. They Begged

They pleaded with Him that those whom they had brought might be healed – in other words, they prayed.  A true passion for souls will quickly show itself in persistent prayer for their salvation.  In prayer God shows us those whom He would have us seek to win for Him, and in prayer we become channels through whom the Holy Spirit effects His work of winning them.

PRAYER NOTE:

Father give me more love and more passion for souls lost in the world.

Open the eyes of leaders and members in the Church to see the urgent need for soul winning and to give it a higher priority in our service unto God.