What is “Find it Here”? Well, “Find Out” Here!
Paul’s burden for the salvation of his brethren, the Israelites, is both passionate and undeniable. In two passages found in the book of Romans, Paul expresses just how deeply he desired to see his Jewish brethren come to faith. In Romans 9, Paul begins by saying (v. 2) that he has “intense sorrow” and “continual anguish” (HCSB) in his heart because of Israel’s rejection of Christ. He then moves on to say that he could wish that he, himself (emphatic) would be “cursed and cut off from the Messiah for the benefit of” his brethren, the Jews. Re-emphasizing this burden in chapter 10, he begins the chapter with the words, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them (Israel) is for their salvation!” (10:1)
How passionate is Paul’s burden for the salvation of Israel? Paul’s desire is clear in Romans. He has a burden to see Israel saved. His burden is so serious that he is willing to take upon himself damnation if it means the salvation of his brethren. The word translated “accursed” (anathema in Greek) means to be set apart of devoted to destruction. This is how heavy Paul’s burden was for the salvation of others.
Where are those Christians today who share this kind of burden for the lost? Where are those so devoted to seeing others saved that they would take upon themselves God’s wrath if it meant the salvation of others? The fact is that the church today has lost its burden for the lost. You might say that’s overstated. But I say it’s a reality. When was the last time you witnessed to someone. Not merely inviting them to church, but actually opening the Word of God and sharing the gospel with them? Who are you praying for regularly? When was the last time you wept for the lost in prayer? We must pray that God will give us a burden again for the lost if we are to prosper and grow as a church.
This spring, our church is participating in a convention-wide initiative that will both encourage us to develop a burden for our community and give us a ministerial outlet through which to express that burden. It is called the “FIND IT HERE” initiative, and in the weeks to come, you will be hearing much more about it at Southern Heights.
So what is “FIND IT HERE?”
- It is an organized campaign in which we, along with other Southern Baptists locally and nationwide, will canvass the homes of millions of our neighbors. We will be inviting them to attend a local Southern Baptist church on Easter Sunday, 2010, and directing them to a website (www.findithere.com) where they will be presented the gospel in a modern, multi-media format and pointed to a local Southern Baptist church.
- Our role will be canvassing 2000 homes in South Lexington in the weeks leading up to Easter. This will mean we need dozens and dozens of our people to begin planning now to be mobilized on three consecutive Saturdays in March (the 13th, 20th, and 27th), and possibly April 3rd. Our goal will be to leave pre-packaged invitations at 2000 homes in the area surrounding our church and then begin praying for a harvest to begin on Easter Sunday, 2010.
- This effort will be supplemented by radio, television, and internet media prepared by the Southern Baptist Convention and aired nationally on major networks and stations during the same time-period.
- We will prepare ourselves throughout the month of February by promoting the initiative, informing participants about the details, preparing materials and maps, and above all praying fervently for our neighbors in South Lexington. There will be a “Find it Here Workshop” at the church on Saturday, March 6th in which final preparations and training will be done. Please plan now to attend.
Frankly, if we don’t have the kind of burden that Paul had for his brethren, then we need to ask God to give us that burden. Without genuine concern for the salvation of the lost demonstrated by our willingness to witness to those all around us, the church in general and Southern Heights in particular, will struggle to find purpose, direction, and meaning. If we are not concerned for the salvation of the lost, we should question our own spiritual development. If we have no burden for our neighbors, it soon becomes difficult to justify our existence at all as an institution.
Begin praying for that burden today. Begin planning to be a part of the “FIND IT HERE” emphasis that you will be hearing about in the weeks to come. Begin making a difference in the community and in the world by being a faithful witness of the gospel for the glory of God!
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