The Invitation
Pastor John’s Introductory Story
“Why did feel led to go pray with the woman? Because I was looking for the one. That is what this entire series is about, it’s about looking for the one that God places on your heart to bring life to. The best news is that if you pray for the one, God will reveal who that person is to you.”
That one person could be a neighbor, friend, or complete stranger.
The person you are looking for needs something, you probably won’t know what it is at first, but God will use you to move them a little closer to Him.
Looking for the one is not complicated but you have to be willing and obedient.
It will take faith to find the one and a willingness to apply that faith. When you do, the results will humble you and glorify God. It will also forever change the one person God placed in your life.
The book of Luke
Our scriptural basis comes from the words and actions of Jesus as recorded by Luke. Luke was not an apostle, he was a companion of Paul. He probably never met Jesus but spent a lot of time with the Apostles and eye witnesses that gave account of Jesus life and ministry.
Luke highlights when Jesus himself was looking for the one and how it changed their life forever.
Jesus himself tells a parable about looking for the one, and it still applies to you and I in real time.
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable:
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Luke 15:1-7
What is so interesting here is that the tax collectors and sinners were so interested in the kingdom of God.
Roman Tax collectors mimic small businesses who charge extra for using your credit card. They know most wont have cash so they get to pocket the extra.
Sinners in this account were anyone who was not Jewish
- They were the poor people, the hookers, the bar fly’s, lot lizards, addicts, Netflix and chill unmarried couples, suburban homeowners, blue collar workers, white collar workers, just average people.
This parable struck home with them and they instantly learned how much God loved them even though the religious leaders refused to give them any attention whatsoever.
There are people you encounter everyday that are seeking.
They are seeking questions about life, purpose, God, love, and forgiveness. They are seeking to find God but don’t know how to do it or gave up at some point. These are the friends, neighbors, and strangers you are trying to find as God leads you.
How you look for the one
First, pray that God will use you to find the one you should talk to.
This is your faith prayer because you have to believe that God will bring someone into your life for a reason. You won’t know the exact reason at first, but it always has to do with pointing them to Jesus.
Second, look for the one throughout your day and respond when you find them.
When God reveals the one to you, it will be clear. You will feel led to talk to them or ask them a second question. It’s like they will just stand out to you.
Once you have identified the person, the next step is to make a connection.
Pastor John’s Story about Daphne
Third, pray for the one God placed in your path.
Pastor John didn’t pray for Daphne with her in-person, but he did leave the store praying that God would draw her closer to Him in some way, shape, or form. God responds when we pray for people.
Jesus told us the parable of the lost sheep and how much rejoicing there is in heaven when one person repents and comes to faith in Christ. People matter to God and therefore, they should matter to us.
Once you find the one and connect with them, spend time praising God for giving you the opportunity to be used by Him for His glory.
There is so much joy in knowing that God used you to help someone find Him. Looking for the one is very fulfilling.
Talk to God about the person you make a connection with. Pray for them and ask God to bring someone else into their life.
For many Christians, they came to faith because of many people not just one.
As Pastor John looks back on his own story there were about a half dozen people that pointed him to God over the course of three or four years but I wasn’t ready to respond until I was. Looking back, God brought all of them into Pastor John’s life to help him find God.
God will use you to help someone if you ask God to reveal the one to you, and you respond in faith, believing that you are interacting with the very person God wants you to.
Will some people be cold as ice? Sure. Is God still in it? Absolutely.
You are not responsible for the outcome of your interaction, you leave that in the hands of God.
All you need to do is be willing to look for the one and respond when God makes it clear who you are to talk to.