Find the lost sheep
Contents
find the lost sheep
(Matthew 10: 5-16)
“…going to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, preaching and saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand,’ and healing the sick…” (verses 6-7).
The reason Jesus chose the twelve disciples was not to show honor or authority, or to show off, but to evangelize. However, he did not tell them to go anywhere and do evangelism, but set limits and scope.
1. Go to the lost sheep.
Verse 5 says, “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans, but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
This is not to say that Gentiles and Samaritans were excluded from evangelism. However, he was referring to the priority of evangelism. First, he thought of Israel's chosen people. He commanded us to preach the gospel to the chosen people first. This order was also made clear in the command to the disciples on the Mount of Olives just before the ascension. He told us to go out first to Jerusalem, then to Judah and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth to become witnesses of the gospel.
The Lord's primary concern was with the lost house of Israel and with the lost sheep of Israel. The three parables in Luke 15 show how much the Lord cares for the lost sheep.
These are the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost drachma, and the parable of the lost son.
The lost sheep has left the shepherd, but he soon regrets it. But he can't come back on foot quickly, please. When someone visits someone like this and brings them, they immediately follow them to the church.
A lost drachma is a person who has been separated from his master but has no sense or feeling. Even when dust accumulates on his face and his face gets dirty, there is no reaction at all. But you also need to find such a person.
Although rare, there are people like the lost son. A person who leaves the church and enters on foot. We should not ask these people about their past good or wrong, but accept them with generous love.
What these three parables have in common is the joy of finding them again. Luke 15:7 says, "I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
Jesus can be trusted by 'anyone', but evangelism cannot be done by 'anyone'.
Luke 19:10 also says, “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” First, we should evangelize to those in my family, my family, and my relatives who have not yet come to church, and pay special attention to the lost sheep who are resting while believing.
2. Pray for peace.
Verses 12-13 say, “And as you enter that house, pray for peace, and if the house is worthy of it, your empty peace will come to it; if it is not worthy, it will return to you.”
The content of evangelism we preach is the gospel of peace. In John 14:27, the Lord said, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid." He said to the disciples who had gathered behind the door and closed the door with fear, "Peace be with you" (John 20:19).
The Apostle Paul also said in Ephesians 2:17, "He (Jesus) came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
That's right. Our Lord does not cause sorrow or anxiety, but peace.
Even when evangelizing, it is difficult to go to civilization and tell the patient, "If you do not believe in Jesus, you will go to hell." Of course, it is a clear doctrine that the souls of unbelievers go to hell, but it is not the gospel of peace. Rather than punishment in hell, it is more effective to say, "Believe in Jesus at this opportunity, and enjoy eternal life in heaven."
Instead of saying to the person who has been in a car accident, "You were punished for not believing in Jesus," it is better to say, "I'm glad you've saved my life. Let's welcome the Lord in the next year." Don't say, "You have to destroy everything." "Even if you don't have money, it can happen again, so let's be calm and trust in Jesus." This is a peaceful way of evangelism.
Jesus did not curse those who crucified Him, but rather asked for forgiveness and prayed for the forgiveness of those who stoned Stephen while he was dying in the rubble.
We should pray for peace to everyone we meet and pray for the blessing of peace. If we are worthy to receive the empty blessing, the blessing will come to that person, otherwise the blessing will come back to us.
3. Be wise and pure.
Verse 16 says, "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." In the Bible, snakes are described as cunning and prudent animals (Genesis 3:1; 2 Corinthians 11:3). Snakes know how to discern whether they are something to be prey on or something to be eaten. So, when it encounters prey, it quickly and accurately judges the situation and puts it into action.
It is very difficult if the person who has gone out to evangelize is not able to quickly discern whether the person I can evangelize to or who I will be persuaded.
That is why Jesus told his disciples to be wise as serpents, and to exercise prudence like serpents and to flee quickly when in danger. It is not recommended to openly invite persecution and cause anger. There were times when Jesus revealed himself until he was crucified, and there were times when he hid himself by avoiding that place.
A monkey is playing tricks on a tree, and a hunter shoots a bow. The monkey stood up and caught the flying arrow with his right hand. The hunter fired another bow. The monkey stood up and took the arrow with his left hand. Then the hunter fired another bow. However, the monkey died while trying to block the flying arrow with its chest with arrows in both hands.
A lesson from this story is that it is not talent to excel, but talent to avoid.
If you are not wise and chaste, you become cunning. You shouldn't be wise to hurt others like a snake. The publisher must be like a pure dove that, despite being persecuted ten or twenty times, must defend, but not attack. Matthew Henry said, "The wisdom of the serpent is to keep the head from breaking, and not to listen to the sorcerer" (Psalm 58:4-5), and "to hide in the clefts of the rocks."
Today, we must pour all our energy and passion into evangelism. Like the disciples who were sent, we must first seek out the lost sheep who are resting while believing in our family and close neighbors. If you are armed with the Holy Spirit, the comforter that the risen Lord gave you as a gift, you will have no regrets even if you do not have gold and silver in your bag.
"Find the lost sheep Find the lost sheep
Let's go find the lost sheep
Find the lost sheep Find the lost sheep
Let's go find the lost sheep
hallelujah hallelujah
Let's go find the lost sheep
hallelujah hallelujah
Let's go find the lost sheep."
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