INCUBATION TODAY (12-08-2017)

*INCUBATION TODAY (BRO EMMA OKORIE)*

*SATURDAY 12TH AUGUST, 2017*

*TOPIC: BELIEVERS ARE CALLED TO SEEK AND TO SAVE SOULS*

 

*"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?" (Luke 15:4)*

 

*Today’s Text: Luke 15:1-10*

 

The mission of Christ on earth was to seek and save the lost. His parable of the lost sheep highlights His mission on earth. Even though the loss seemed insignificant in comparison to what He had left, the man so loved his sheep that he went out in search for one lost. It gives God enormous delight when He finds lost sheep. Every sinner that repents brings Joy to heaven.

The mission was revealed ahead of time in Isaiah 53:4-6. “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” The Father laid on the Son every man’s iniquity and He bore in His body our grief and sorrows. John affirmed this when identifying Jesus. He said, “…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29b). The entire ministry of Jesus Christ was geared at delivering man from the grip of Satan. With sin came sickness and death and Jesus came to bail man out. Jesus came to preach the good news to the poor, to bind up the broken hearted, liberate captives and throw open prison doors. The sum total of His mission was to restore man back to God.

Jesus illustrated His mission through many parables in Luke 15. The heartbeat of God is to seek and to save man who has strayed. This is the same reason for which the father of the prodigal son celebrated when his son was found. If I may ask, what gives you satisfaction as a child of God? How is it that material things are constantly pricing your faith? Our testimonies are full of “God prospered my business; He healed me,” etc. Have you ever testified how many souls you won for God?

Sometimes we are offended at God because He has not given us the material things we desire. We compare ourselves with others we think we are better than. We allow what people say to discourage us from doing the work of God. If Jesus was despised and chastised, His followers will not fare better. We must be ready to pay the price for doing whatever it takes to bring souls to Christ. He that winneth souls is wise. Let every desire of your heart, like the Master’s, be to do the will of the father and to finish it. Resolve today to embark on this assignment closest to the heart of Jesus.

 

*Prayers:*

*Ask the Lord for a burden for lost souls.Ask for the strength to walk the streets to seek for souls.*

 

*Confession:*

*Lord, henceforth I receive your call to seek and to save and go out to fulfill this commission.*

 

*Further Study:*

*Luke 19:10*

*"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”*

 

*Matthew 15:24*

*"But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”*

 

Matthew 18:12

“How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?”