Rejoice! The Lost are Found
The last two blog’s visions were of an icebreaker boat bursting through the hard-frozen ocean. Those on the boat rejoiced for the revival and those clinging to the iceberg, the unsaved, were terrified and desperate. People pulled the unsaved onto the boat, while others hid at the helm.
The third and I think last vision I saw occurred after I lamented for the retention of those caught. My prayer went something like this:
“Lord, don’t let those we have caught slip out of the net back into fear and the world.”
Then I saw a net folded into three and then sealed by being melted closed. There was no way possible that the person, could escape the net. It was perfectly sealed.
Then when I went to throw the net back out to catch the next person I realized that the net was now useless it couldn’t open to receive the next one.
My stomach dropped. “Now what?”
“You need a new net every time. Rely on Me for each conversation and each initiation. You cannot do what you did for the last person and have the same results. Each one of my image-bearers is unique and their heart, my treasure, needs to be accessed differently and according to My wisdom. Rely on Me each and every time you interact with another person. Let each encounter be a divine encounter as you submit to the Holy Spirit.”
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As I contemplated this directive, it struck me how desperate we are. And yet I had no fear or anxiety, only peace. Because how could we succeed at reaching a person’s heart when we have no idea what’s in it? We don’t know their current situation, let alone their emotional, physical, and spiritual history.
Left to ourselves, there is little hope we can touch the hearts of others. When we surrender to the Holy Spirit, He heals us so that we can see beyond our current circumstances and life into the spiritual reality all around us. We begin to look for those places to bless others and to speak of what Christ has done for us.
My church is embarking on an evangelical move of God. We’ve just begun and I’m already blown away with what the Lord can do when people say, “I’m available.”
The lost are found.
We aren’t saying we are perfect or have all the mysteries of the Gospel figured out. But we are throwing out that net to gather the lost and desperate into Christ’s love and protection.
Our current charge is to pray, bless, and, if possible speak out our testimony of who God is wherever we go. We meet weekly and recount what God did with our availability.
I offer up the invitation for you to also make yourself available to reach out to the lost and hurting. They are everywhere.
The truth is we were once lost. Someone spent time to pull you in and show you that you belong in God’s kingdom. That He delights in you and has a beautiful plan for your life.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about that. Someone prayed for me before the person went out to speak and listen to me. Maybe we get to meet everyone in heaven who had a part in reaching us. What a delight that would be.
Who has been praying into and over your life that you don’t even know about?
Are you praying for a lost loved one? Be encouraged when you pray aligned with God’s deepest desire to see all saved there will be fruit. God’s word does not come back void. Pray using His word and watch what He will do.
“Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:3-7, NIV)
Lord, help us to hear the lost are found.
Prayer for you and me: Lord Jesus, You desire to save our loved ones more than we do. Help us to partner with You in prayer and action, with our hearts and with our voices. Your word says that Your plans are for good not evil and so we know it is Your desire to reach the lost. Let us be Your hands and feet. Send us wherever You would have us go. Embolden us to speak what You direct us to speak. We trust that You will guide us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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