Save One More

1 Corinthians 9:22 ESV

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

Introduction

There as been a lot of loss this passed week, a lot of loss in my life. One thing that loss teaches you is that every single life is valuable. Every nationality, gender, or race. Everyone is loved by someone and everyone is loved by God. We live out our daily lives crossing paths with dozens upon dozens of people and never giving most a second thought. We don’t question, why they are on the corner asking for change, or why they are living under that bridge. We don’t question why that person looks so angry or seems so sad. Most of us don’t take even 1 minute out of our day to acknowledge those around us. Is this how God wanted Christians to behave? If every person has value to God, should they not have value to us. Today, I want to challenge you to break free of a self centered Christian routine and remember that we are not called to blend in with the world but rather be a light in the darkness, the salt of the earth, and a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.

I. Save Yourself: Who do you serve?

Daniel 3:15–18 ESV

Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Even if, I will not bow

Even if he doesn’t deliver us, we will not bow! Even if he doesn’t heal me, I will still declare that he is my Healer! Even if he doesn’t pay my bills, I will still declare that he is my Provider! Even if I go through storms, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! Even if its not all perfect, I will still declare that He is my God!

We have to recognize who we serve and not bow down to any idols this world has to offer: music, movies, tv, video games, our phones, money, etc.

Can’t change what you tolerate

We can’t change the world if we tolerate the ways of the world

(Story about the towel bar)

We need the right crew to produce the right change

(Designating people at work to do specific tasks)

Won’t go public if you don’t in private

You won’t preach publically if you if you won’t study privately

How do you spend your time?

(Studying, flowers, youth class examples)

II. Save Someone Else

God cares about the lost

Luke 19:10 ESV

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Wants none to perish

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

c. Desires all to be saved

1 Timothy 2:3–4 ESV

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2. It’s our responsibility

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We are the only way they hear

Romans 10:14 ESV

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

b. We are responsible for the lost

Ezekiel 3:18 CSB

If I say to the wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him—you don’t speak out to warn him about his wicked way in order to save his life—that wicked person will die for his iniquity. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood.

III. Just One More

Hacksaw Ridge

The extraordinary true story of conscientious objector Desmond T. Doss who saved 75 men in Okinawa, during the bloodiest battle of WWII, without firing a single shot. Believing that the war was just but killing was nevertheless wrong, he was the only American soldier in WWII to fight on the front lines without a weapon. As an army medic Doss single-handedly evacuated the wounded near enemy lines - braving enemy fire and putting his own life on the line. He was the first conscientious objector to ever earn the Congressional Medal of Honor.

36 sunk ships

368 damaged ships

763 lost aircrafts

4800 men wounded

4900 men killed or drowned

It was said that while Desmond Doss ran back into the line of fire time after time to save another person, that after each person he rescued, he would pray the prayer, “Lord, just help me save one more”

Just one more

You bring one parent, bring one more

You bring a child, bring one more

You bring a cousin or aunt, bring one more

You bring a friend, bring one more

You bring a stranger, bring one more

Don’t stop with one, just one more, just one more, just one more!

3. Not to fight but to save

We go into the line of fire, into this world not to join in on the chaos, its not to argue or debate or judge or condemn. Its to save those that are dying in sin!

4. Theres always more to do

There is always more to do, one more person to visit, one more phone call to make, one more message to prepare, one more crisis to resolve

Conclusion

Are you willing to go through the fiery furnace to save yourself, are you willing to dodge the bullets to save another? We can’t tolerate the ways of this world because its bringing destruction to its inhabitants. This world is nothing but a battlefield and way more than 4900 people are dying, its estimated that 150,000 people die each day. How many are you gonna save? Will you save one more? Thats my prayer tonight, Lord, help me save one more. Will that be your prayer as well? Just one more father, one more mother, one more son, one more daughter, one more brother, one more sister, one more friend, one more stranger, just one more. None to perish, all to be saved. None to perish, all to be saved. Every soul matters, what will we do to save them? Will we go on living like they don’t exist, will we take responsibility for those that perish cuz their blood will be on our hands. It time we answer the call, to save one more.