Jesus’ Tour Guides
Facts:
- Everyone is lost.
- Everyone needs someone to guide them.
- You are held accountable for what you know.
- Someone is waiting on you to help them.
- If you aren’t helping others find their way, then you have certainly lost your way.
- There is a way that seems right BUT…
John 1:40-42 KJV
[40] One of the two which heard John speak , and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. [41] He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. [42]A. And he brought him to Jesus.
If someone is lost and they call on you for directions to come to your house, the first question you ask isn’t, how fast are you going or how many are in your car. The first and most important question is; “where are you now?”
When someone sees your fruit and acknowledges your faith, the first thing you need to know is where they are. How familiar are they with the territory?
This will take some time. Some serious questions have to be asked.
- Find out where they are.
- Get them to a place you can relate to.
- If you have no idea where they are or have never been where they are, you may want to include someone who has.
- Take a boat to where they are. (One of the most comforting statements when you are getting directions over the phone is, “stay right there, I know exactly where you are.”)
- Get them to Jesus.
Mark 5:1-15 KJV
[1] And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. [2] And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, [3] Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: [4] Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. [5] And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. [6] But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, [7] And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. [8] For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. [9] And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. [10] And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. [11] Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. [12] And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. [13] And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. [14] And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. [15] And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
Why ?
- An encounter with Jesus is transforming.
- Jesus covers the past.
- Genesis 3:21 KJV [21] Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
- The demoniac was clothed and in his right mind.
- The prodigals robe made him look as if he had never left the house.
- The three Hebrew children didn’t even smell like smoke.
- We are justified…
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV
[9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Salt and light
- Salt just leads your taste buds to the real meal.
- Sugar can preclude you from enjoying the healthy diet.
- Light just illuminates what you’re really looking for.
You must teach them what to do the next time you are lost.
- Repent (make a “U” turn).
- Ask directions.
- Go back to the last landmark you recognized.
Attach a feeling to each step
A movie
Sports
Church
You must teach them to feel after God for themselves.
Kneeling at your bedside has a feeling attached to it.
Visiting a cemetery has a feeling attached to it.
Going into the prison to minister has a feeling attached to it.
Lifting one’s hands high in the air has a feeling or can be the result of a feeling.
Going camping has a feeling attached to it.
Traditions will have a feeling if done sincerely.
There are three places in The New Testament that feeling is mentioned.
Acts 17:27-30 KJV
[27] That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: [28] For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. [29] Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. [30] And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Ephesians 4:17-24 KJV
[17] This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, [18] Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: [19] Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. [20] But ye have not so learned Christ; [21] If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: [22] That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; [23] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; [24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Hebrews 4:14-16 KJV
[14] Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. [15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.