One Purpose - To Win the Lost
In the last two Stronger! Thoughts we have discussed the first two directive from the Five Directives for Christian Living.
One Thought - Jesus Chris
One Desire - To Glorify Him
Now we introduce the third directive, One Purpose - To Win the Lost. We would not be able to center our complete being on Jesus Christ and focus our lives on glorifying Him in all aspects and not develop an insatiable passion to share him with others.
Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee and watching Simon and Andrew as they were fishing, I think he yelled out to them saying, “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. — Mt 4:19-20 (NIV) Did Simon have any concept of what Jesus meant by “fishers of men”? Simon was well versed in the practices of fishing. He knew when to fish, he knew his tools, and he knows the value of each catch, but this was different. Jesus has gotten his attention. He and his brother Andrew dropped their livelihoods and followed Jesus because saw a hope, a freedom, and a redemption in Him. Spend any time with Jesus and see how He was focused on the Father, He glorified the Father, and He “…went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil…” Acts 10:38 (KJV). Simon learned all the important practices of “fishing for men” by living, watching, and praying with Jesus.
The next segment of the Five Directive actually expands on the One Purpose by covering the first part of Act 10:38. One Ability - The Holy Ghost. Until then, I have provided a link to listen to Phil Conley’s message on One Purpose - To Win The Lost. It was recorded at a Christian school in 1983. I hope it blesses you as much as it has blessed and stuck with me.
Phil and Kitty Conley were the youth ministers at Grace Fellowship - Tulsa in the early 1980s and later founded Youth Power Ministries where they sent teams of young people across the United States and other countries. Phil and Kitty later became business owners and continued their constant ministry of fulfilling the One Purpose. Phil earned a master’s degree and is a secondary educator and Kitty has a successful organic farm that reaches her vast community. Phil and Kitty have lived and educated in the Grand Canyon, the back country of Alaska, and Panama all the while, One Purpose - To Win the Lost.
