And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. —Luke 14:23 KJV
As Christians, when it comes to our number one job of sharing our faith, we must first pray. We are to pray that God would thrust out workers into the harvest, realizing that He will put us to work in our own sphere of influence. Then, we are to pray that we would be used effectively to pull the blinders off of the unsaved by clearly declaring Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Once the seed of the Gospel has been planted into the soil of a man’s spirit, it will germinate and result in the saving revelation that will bring repentance.
Here’s where the battle for a man’s destiny comes into play. As soon as the Gospel has been ministered through the Word or our testimony, the battle begins in the soul of a man. His unrenewed mind will begin to fight to stay in the darkness that has kept him a slave to sin. It’s at this point when you and I are to compel him to be saved. The truth of the matter is that death and misery await those who die in their sin and we have the key to their freedom.
If one of your family members were going to take off in a car with no brakes, you would do everything in your power to keep them from driving away, wouldn’t you? Of course you would. Because the knowledge you have, if heeded, would prevent them from hurting themselves and maybe even from dying tragically. Suffering eternity in the pit of hell is just as much a reality as the danger they would face driving a vehicle with no means of stopping it. We must use every means at our disposal to lead men to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible utilizes some powerful words to describe the influence we are to invoke when ministering the Gospel. The book of Matthew says we are to compel them to come to Jesus. The very first salvation message was delivered by Peter on the day of Pentecost with signs and wonders, yet the Word of God says that he warned them and pleaded with them to be saved. Paul appealed to men and implored them to be reconciled to God.
Getting men saved is not a thing that we do haphazardly. We don’t just throw seed out into men’s hearts without cultivating it. No, this is serious business. It’s a matter of life and death. Every Christian should understand the weightiness of their witness. Just as a fireman or an ambulance worker is highly skilled in saving lives, we should be ready to snatch people from death and the burning pit of hell. If that means studying a little extra, then do it. If it requires rehearsing the gospel story with a friend, it will be worth the effort.
Do whatever it takes. Share the gospel message. Offer to pray the prayer of salvation with your listener. If they refuse, remember the car with no brakes. Don’t let them climb behind the wheel of their life without a fight. Compel them to be saved. Warn them of the dire consequences. Plead with them to become a child of God. Don’t just take the first rejection of your offer to pray. Take a step of faith and try to save their life. Become a persuader of men!
Scriptural Context Luke 14:15-23 KJV
Concept Reinforcement With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. —Acts 2:40-41
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. —2 Corinthians 5:11
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. —2 Corinthians 5:20
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