Reaching The Lost

Reaching The Lost
Matthew 9:36–38
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1. God Loves People
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Matthew 9:36 (ESV)
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
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2. God Sees A Problem
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Matthew 9:37 (ESV)
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but…”
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Matthew 9:37 (ESV)
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few”
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3. God Works Through Prayer To Send And Save People
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Matthew 9:37–38 (ESV)
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
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“How little Christians really feel and mourn the need of laborers in the fields of the world, so ripe for the harvest. How little they believe that our labor supply depends on prayer and that prayer will provide ‘as many as he needeth.’” —Andrew Murray
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Matthew 10:1 (ESV)
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
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Matthew 10:5a (ESV)
These twelve Jesus sent out…
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One summer day in 1910, Rev. E. Joseph Evans went with some companions for an outing in the Adirondack Mountains. His heart became burdened with a sense of need, and he retired into a quiet woodland retreat to meet his Lord. He began to pray, but the burden increased; he prayed for the usual objects of prayer, but the burden became more intense. Finally his prayers began to focus upon the person of Edward VII, the king of England. In deep agony… he pleaded for the salvation of the king’s soul. Before the end of the day there was lifting of spirit, with the gracious and sweet assurance that the king of England, far away across the Atlantic, had come to saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

On his return to the hotel he learned from his companions that the king of England had died that day, “I did not know he was ill,” Evans replied.

“Neither did we, but there is word by cable that he just died.”

“How wonderful, then,” replied Evans, “to know that he has been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ.”

“How do you know he was a believer?” he was asked.

“God gave me that assurance in the intercession of this day,” was the simple reply.

Years later an English pastor, Dr. J. Gregory Mantel entertained Mr. Evans and Dr. V. R. Edman at dinner. In the course of the conversation Dr. Mantel said, entirely without questions on the part of his visitors, “Have you heard how Edward VII came to the Savior on the last day of his life?” Dr. Mantel went on to relate how the king had asked his lords-in-waiting to go down to Fleet Street to secure for him a copy of a tract which as a boy he had received from his mother, Queen Victoria. Long search was made, then a copy was found. It was read to the dying king, who recognized it as the very words that his mother had given him, and this brought him to full assurance of faith in Christ.

Working with God Through Intercessory Prayer — Edmond Hiebert
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