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In Isaiah 58, the Prophet of the Lord has some harsh words for the people of Israel, who have turned their backs on God. These words paint a picture of hopelessness for those who are trapped in their sins and separated from God. Read the following passage from Isaiah 58:1-15, and see what the Scriptures say about the Condition of the Lost: DAY 1 “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things. No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments and speak lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil. They hatch the eggs of vipers and spin a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is broken, an adder is hatched. Their cobwebs are useless for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways. The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks in them will know peace. So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead. We all growl like bears; we moan mournfully like doves. We look for justice, but find none; for deliverance, but it is far away. For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.” Isaiah 58:1-15 ? What are some of the descriptive contrasts made between sin and righteousness? ? In your own words, summarize the picture painted by Isaiah of the Condition of the Lost. What was your life like without Christ? What would it be like now if you still didn’t know Him? How can remembering where we were without Christ motivate us to share the Gospel with others now? Look up the following verses and write what they tell us about the future of the lost: ? ? Psalm 21:8-9 ? Matthew 13:40-42 ? Luke 16:22-26 ? 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 ? Revelation 20:11-15 How does a biblical knowledge of the condition and future of the lost help motivate us to tell others about Christ? ? Before we can gain a Passion for the Lost, it is essential that we gain a proper understanding of God’s heart for the Lost. Look up the following verses and write what you think each reveals about God’s heart: “God is so holy that no one can look upon His glory and live. No one can approach our holy God without a covering of blood to atone for the forgiveness of his sin…The only thing that can satisfy the judgment of sin demanded by God’s holiness is the shedding of pure, innocent blood. Only Jesus’ blood met this high standard.” Bill Bright, God: Discover His Character ? ? ? ? ? ? DAY 2 Isaiah 26:10 Isaiah 55:7 Micah 7:18 2 Peter 3:9 Matthew 9:35-38 Romans 5:8-10 How should God’s heart for the lost motivate us in our interaction with those who don’t know Him? With the ‘Great Commission’, Jesus entrusted His followers with the message of reconciliation. They were to be His ‘ambassadors’ to the lost, His ‘fellow workers’ in the harvest field. This Commission still applies All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through to us as believers today! “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 DAY 3 Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’ sins against them. And he has committed s to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’ ambassadors, as though God were making his s appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’ behalf: Be s reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As God’ fellow workers we urge s you not to receive God’ grace in vain. 2 Cor. 5:18-21; 6-1 s What reminders do these verses give us about God’s role in reconciling the lost to Himself? What assurances do these verses give us about our role in reaching the lost? Look up the following verses and note what they have to say about our role as ‘Ambassadors’: ? Proverbs 11:30 ? Acts 1:8, 4:31 ? Acts 5:42 ? Romans 10:14-15 ? Colossians 4:2-6 ? 2 Timothy 4:2 ? 1 Peter 3:15 DISCUSSION & APPLICATION: “PASSION FOR THE LOST” This lesson attempts to uncover some biblical motivations for reaching the lost. Motivation #1: We witness to the lost out of a fearful respect of God’s justice and the reality of His coming wrath. (Sin separates us from God. Punishment for sin is real. Hell is horribly real!) Motivation #2: We witness to the lost out of a gratitude for God’s saving grace poured out in our own lives. (God proved how much He loves the lost when Jesus paid the ultimate price of death on the cross for the penalty of our sins. His love should motivate us to be channels of love toward others.) Motivation #3: We witness to the lost out of obedience to Christ’s command to ‘go and make disciples’. (To refuse this role is to disobey His command.) What is your greatest motivation to telling others about Christ? “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10 What obstacles hinder you from telling others about Christ? What can you do to face these obstacles? How can you be more intentional on your campus to share the Gospel with the lost? And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’ ambassadors, s as though God were making his appeal through us. 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 “MOST WANTED LIST” Has the Lord given you a burden for any specific people? Will you commit to praying for them every day until they are saved? Will you commit to seeking (and taking) opportunities to tell them about Jesus? If so, list their names in this space. List three Practical Actions you will take to develop your motivation and your involvement in sharing the Gospel with the lost. 1) 2) 3)