REACHING THE LOST

24 September  2000
Each believer in Christ has been commissioned to share the Gospel to people around him and wherever he may travel. Matthew 28:18-20

In this message, I'm likening the person to a computer.
Only believers in Christ with the correct mind set (program) can be successful. Matthew 15:12-14; 2 Peter 2:10-22

After Adam was created, he was programmed by God:

1. He was told who he was - Genesis 1:26-27

2. He was instructed to be fruitful and to be in charge of the earth - verse 28

3. He was told what his food was to be - verse 29

4. He was told what the animals, birds and insects were to eat - verse 30

5. He was told that the entire creation was VERY GOOD - verse 31

6. He was told to cultivate and prune the Garden - Genesis 2:15

7. He was told not to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge - verses 16-17

8. He was given a wife - verses 18-25

Satan reprogrammed Adam and Eve - Genesis 3:1-11

The mind set of the lost: Spiritually dead, ruled by Satan, programmed to think, feel and want to be disobedient against God, and lust after sinful activities. Ephesians 2:1-3

Totally blinded from all Biblical truth - 2 Corinthians 4:1-4

Each person will have a "TIME LOCKED THINKING," according to whatever program has been loaded into that person! Genesis 19:1-26 (Each generation is programmed for the decade into which he was born).

Lot did not really want to leave Sodom; his wife was totally engrossed in the city; his sons-in-law refused to believe in God and eventually the family had to be dragged out of town by the angels.

The soul is the hard drive (hd), the spirit is the processor (chip). Unbelievers do not have a processor - 1 Corinthians 2:9-16

Many Christians have not been fully reprogrammed by the Holy Spirit. The reason is that they refuse to give up old programs. They are still stuck in their old habits, sports, recreation, entertainment by the world. They are trading precious time given them by God for USELESS ACTIVITIES WITH NO ETERNAL VALUES! Just a waste of time! What difference does it make 500 years from now what team won on the soccer field, the football field or in the ice hockey rink? Isaiah 55:1-3 

They are time wasters - Matthew 16:25-27

A person will have a correct or faulty program - Matthew 7:20-27

There can be no faith if the program is faulty - Hosea 4:6

Each program will have its own value system - 1 Kings 18:1-22

Unbelievers are blinded spiritually - 2 Corinthians 3:14

TO REACH THE LOST WE MUST:

   ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO REPROGRAM US --  1 Corinthians 2:16

    PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED  -- 1 Corinthians 1:17-31

    DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF CHRIST -- 1 Corinthians 2:1-8

    PRAY FOR THE GIFT OF REPENTANCE -- John 6:44; 65

Ask yourself this question, "AM I REACHING OUT TO THE LOST?

Do you have an ear with which to hear ?