Winning The Lost At Any Cost I I Got A Word I Joey Santora

Sep 08, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When Silence Lets the Rock Win

The baseball field holds a warning: silence costs lives. Ben sprinted toward a deadly rock while teammates froze, assuming someone else would shout. Hell is the rock generations sprint toward today. Every believer carries a responsibility to break the silence—not with perfect words, but with urgent love. The mission isn’t reserved for experts; it’s for those willing to yell “stop” when eternity hangs in the balance. What if your voice, however shaky, could reroute a soul’s trajectory? [06:38]

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
(Matthew 28:19, NKJV)

Reflection: Who in your life is “drifting” toward destruction, and what practical step can you take this week to break the silence? How might fear of imperfection be stifling your courage to speak?

Day 2: Ambassadors Don’t Blend In

An ambassador lives in foreign territory but represents their homeland’s interests. Christians are heaven’s envoys on earth, called to promote God’s kingdom through words and actions. Like the woman at the well, your testimony—not theological expertise—holds power. People form opinions about Jesus based on how you handle stress, celebrate joy, and extend grace. Ambassadors don’t camouflage; they carry their King’s aroma into every conversation and conflict. [13:40]

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
(2 Corinthians 5:20, NKJV)

Reflection: Where do you most struggle to “represent heaven’s interests” in your daily routines? What one habit could better align your life with your ambassadorial calling?

Day 3: Apples Rot When No One Picks

Ripe apples litter the ground when laborers are scarce. Jesus called the harvest “plentiful” but mourned the lack of workers. This generation hungers for truth more than ever—yet many assume others will invite, teach, or pray. The harvest isn’t about convenience; it’s about collision with divine urgency. Every “no” to involvement leaves fruit to rot. What if your simple “yes” to inviting a coworker or texting a prodigal changes the harvest count? [19:45]

“Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”
(Matthew 9:37-38, NKJV)

Reflection: What harvest field (workplace, gym, neighborhood) has God placed you in? How can you shift from praying for workers to becoming one?

Day 4: Moses’ Mouth and Your Excuses

Moses argued with God about his stutter, but Yahweh asked, “Who made mouths?” Every excuse—too busy, unqualified, scarred by past failure—cracks under heaven’s reply: “I equipped you.” The Spirit empowers, not eloquence. Murderers became liberators, adulterers wrote psalms, and fishermen turned cities upside down. Your limitations are God’s launchpad. What if your greatest weakness is the stage for His strength? [28:49]

“So the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.’”
(Exodus 4:11-12, NKJV)

Reflection: What excuse have you weaponized to avoid evangelism? How might surrendering that fear today unlock kingdom impact?

Day 5: Hell’s Echo in the Rich Man’s Plea

The rich man in hell begged Abraham to warn his brothers. His agony reveals a sobering truth: eternity’s reality should terrify us into action. Passive faith—claiming love while withholding warning—is complicity. Hell’s horror isn’t a scare tactic; it’s a love tactic. Andrew didn’t debate theology with Peter; he dragged him to Jesus. What if today’s apathy becomes tomorrow’s eternal regret? [41:15]

“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate… And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’… And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.”
(Luke 16:19-20, 23-26, NKJV)

Reflection: When did you last weep over someone’s eternal destiny? What bold move will you make this month to “warn the brothers”?

Sermon Summary

Winning the lost at any cost begins with a simple but urgent reality: a whole generation is sprinting toward a rock called hell, and silence carries a cost. The image of a baseball player running full speed into a pointed rock shows what happens when everybody assumes somebody else will speak up. The mission of Christ calls every believer to communicate the gospel, not merely pastors, evangelists, or people who feel especially polished with words.

Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples” starts with conversion. Discipleship matters deeply, but somebody must first come to Jesus before that person can be discipled. The Samaritan woman shows that a person does not need every answer before sharing a testimony. One real encounter with Jesus and one honest invitation can bring an entire town close enough to hear Him.

Christ’s ambassadors live in this world without belonging to its system. An ambassador represents the interests of another kingdom, and believers carry the interests of heaven into homes, workplaces, schools, and hurting communities. God makes His appeal through ordinary people who choose to say something, invite somebody, and make clear that Jesus changes lives.

The harvest is plentiful, even when the culture says people do not want God. The apple orchard picture makes the problem plain: ripe fruit falls and rots when nobody is willing to pick it. Prayer for laborers cannot become an excuse to avoid becoming one. The Spirit has made believers capable witnesses, because Christ’s work is now multiplied through Spirit-filled people in every place.

God is greater than every excuse. Moses looked at his tangled words, his past, and his limitations, while God asked, “Who makes a person’s mouth?” God does not require perfect people before He uses them. God looks for willing people. The question is not whether somebody else will speak up. The question is, “If it’s not you, then who?”

Eternity is too real for passive Christianity. Peter and the disciples had sincere intentions, but sincere intentions without action were not enough when they fled. “Chihuahua Christians” carry a lot of bark but no bite, while the kingdom calls for doers of the Word. Hell is real, heaven is real, and good people still need a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Andrew offers the pattern: he met Jesus, found his brother, and brought him to Jesus. Prayer and invitation become the faithful response, trusting that the Spirit is already drawing people.

Key Takeaways

1. Every believer carries Christ’s mission. Jesus gives the command to make disciples to His followers, not to a small group of religious professionals. Conversion is the doorway into discipleship, so the church cannot treat reaching people as somebody else’s assignment. Christ’s ambassadors carry heaven’s interests into ordinary places through both conduct and clear gospel witness. [12:18]
2. The harvest is ready right now. Jesus calls the harvest plentiful, which means despair about the culture does not get the final word. The issue is not whether people are hungry for hope, truth, and Christ; the issue is whether laborers will step into the field. Prayer for workers becomes honest only when it includes a willingness to become part of the answer. [21:35]
3. God is greater than every excuse. Moses saw weak speech and a broken past, but God saw a person He could send. God does not wait for flawless people, because grace has always worked through willing people who know their need for Him. The call to witness rests not on natural confidence but on the God who makes mouths and empowers obedience. [30:38]
4. Eternity rejects passive Christianity. Sincere intentions carry no weight when they never become action. Hell’s reality gives gospel witness a seriousness that cannot be reduced to church attendance, religious talk, or good intentions. Love warns people about danger and brings them toward the only Savior who can rescue them. [41:15]
5. Bring people directly to Jesus. Andrew did not merely admire Jesus privately; he found Simon and brought him to meet the Messiah. A persuasive invitation is not manipulation, because every person remains free to respond or refuse. The Spirit draws hearts, while believers pray, invite, and make room for people to encounter Christ.

## [50:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:20] - Winning the Lost at Any Cost
[04:58] - The Warning Nobody Gave
[08:16] - A Generation Running Toward Hell
[09:09] - Welcome Home Sunday
[10:08] - Conversion Before Discipleship
[12:18] - Christ’s Ambassadors
[15:48] - A Capable Witness by the Spirit
[17:49] - The Harvest Is Plentiful
[22:37] - Christ Working Through Believers
[24:54] - God Is Greater Than Excuses
[33:08] - Eternity Rejects Passive Christianity
[39:04] - The Reality of Hell
[47:37] - Andrew Brought Simon to Jesus
[49:19] - Operation Andrew: Pray and Invite

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 28:19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [10:08]

2 Corinthians 5:20
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” [12:37]

Matthew 9:37-38
“Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” [18:13]

Exodus 4:11
“So the LORD said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?’” [28:36]

John 1:40-42
“One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” [47:44]

Observation questions

In Matthew 28:19-20, what actions does Jesus tell His followers to take, and what promise does He give them as they obey?
According to 2 Corinthians 5:20, who is making the appeal to people, and through whom is that appeal being made? [12:45]
In Matthew 9:37-38, what does Jesus say is plentiful, what is scarce, and what are His disciples told to pray for? [18:13]
What did Andrew do after he met Jesus, and how did he speak to his brother Simon about the Messiah? [47:51]

Interpretation questions

Jesus commands His followers to make disciples, yet a person must first come to faith in Christ. What does this show about the connection between evangelism and discipleship? [10:19]
An ambassador lives in one country while representing the interests of another. What might it look like for a believer to represent the kingdom of heaven at work, at school, or at home? [13:46]
Moses focused on his difficulty with speaking, but God pointed Moses back to the One who made his mouth. How does this change the way a believer should view weakness, fear, or a troubled past when God calls them to speak? [27:41]
Andrew brought Simon directly to Jesus, while still leaving Simon free to respond. What makes an invitation to Christ persuasive and loving rather than manipulative? [50:09]

Application questions

Who is one specific person in your life—a family member, friend, coworker, neighbor, or classmate—who may need a clear invitation to come closer to Jesus? What would it look like to take one loving step toward them this week? [49:28]
Is there an excuse that often keeps you silent about your faith, such as “I do not know enough,” “I am not good with words,” or “Someone else will do it”? How can God’s response to Moses help you answer that excuse? [28:36]
As Christ’s ambassador, what part of your everyday life most clearly shows people whom you represent? Is there any area where your words or actions need to better reflect Jesus? [14:20]
Jesus says the harvest is plentiful. Where have you assumed people are not interested in God without ever asking, listening, praying, or inviting them? [20:08]
Praying for laborers includes being willing to become part of the answer. What is one practical way you could become a laborer this month—through prayer, hospitality, sharing your testimony, serving, or inviting someone? [21:40]
Sincere intentions are not the same as obedience in action. What is one gospel-related intention you have had for a long time but have not acted on yet? What small, realistic action could move it forward this week? [36:03]
Andrew’s message was simple: “We have found the Messiah.” How would you describe, in your own honest words, what Jesus has done in your life to someone who does not yet know Him? [48:04]

Sermon Clips

49s

#WillingOverPerfect

“God is not looking to just use perfect people. God's looking to use willing people. God's not necessarily looking for perfect people. He's looking for willing people. There is a difference. God, yes, we should strive for perfection as believers. Yes, we should strive to please God in everything that we do. But I'll tell you this, if you fall short of that standard, that doesn't mean it's over for you. That doesn't mean that God can't use you. God can still use you. Moses in the Bible, he had committed murder, but guess what? God still used him to reach his generation. I don't know what you've done, but I'll tell you this. It's not beyond what the grace of God can do in you. God can still change you. God can still use you. It's not over for you.”

41s

#SpiritInYou

“Now we all carry the spirit of Christ. Well, is Jesus still working? Oh, yeah. And he's working in you, and he's working through you. The spirit of Jesus Christ is not dead. He's still active, and he's working in the lives of every single one who believes. Can you say amen? working in you. Say he's working in me. Yeah. He's made you a capable witness. I can't do it. Yes, you can. Because the spirit in you is greater than the spirit that's in this world. The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead is on the inside of you. Yes, you can. Don't say you can't do it. You can do it. Why? Not by power nor by might, but by his spirit in Jesus' name.”

42s

#BeTheAnswer

“And Jesus said to pray that the lord of the harvest would send laborers. But I'm not gonna pray something that I'm not willing to be an answer to. What if I told you that you can be an answer to your own prayers? Lord, I pray that you'd send labors into the harvest, and God's saying, are you a laborer? Are you a laborer? Are you somebody that is willing to do it? We should pray that the Lord would send more labors, but I'm not gonna pray that God would send more people into the harvest fields. I'm not gonna pray that if I'm not willing to be a harvest a a harvester myself. If I'm not willing to be a laborer, I'm not willing to pray that I'm gonna be an answer to my own prayers.”

66s

#KingdomAmbassadors

“Every believer. This if you are in here and you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are ambassador of Jesus Christ. Let me help you understand what that means. Let's say that, for example, I'm American. I know a lot of in America, we like to say our heritage of where our family's from. But if you were born here, you're American. That's your that that that's what you are. And so I'm American. And if I decide to become an ambassador for The United States, they would send me to a country, let's say Spain. And I go to Spain, but I don't go to Spain to become Spanish. I go to Spain to represent the interest of America in Spain. I go to Spain, and I remain American, but I live in Spain. This is exactly what God calls us to do. To be in this world, but to not be of this world. To be living in this place. But guess what? To be a citizen of the kingdom of God. God has called us to be ambassadors. What am I doing here on earth? I am representing the interests of the kingdom of heaven here on this earth.”

45s

#GodEquips

“God is greater than every excuse. God said what he said. It wasn't it wasn't like maybe there was a misunderstanding. Oh, no. He he said that we are to go and to make disciples. He he said you'll receive power when the spirit comes upon you, what, to be my witnesses. He wasn't just talking to 12 disciples then. He was talking to every believer that would receive his spirit. And if God has ordained it and if God has said it, then God will empower it to be used. If God has said it, then it is true. If God has said it, then he's empowered you. He'll give you the means to be able to accomplish it. Who makes a person's mouth?”

37s

#ConversionFirst

“Jesus made this instruction clear, but I want what I want you to understand is that in order for someone to become a disciple, they must first become a convert. A lot of churches will say, we don't want just converts. We want disciples. And I agree with that wholeheartedly. Jesus did not just teach for somebody to have a moment of conversion and to not actually become a true disciple of Jesus Christ. We believe in discipleship. In fact, we have Wednesday night bible study where we do that. We have, we have courses that we offer people to be able to learn more about their faith. We believe in discipleship. But without conversion, there is no discipleship.”

36s

#ActionsOverIntentions

“Can can I tell you this? Sincere intentions without action is not enough. I think of a parable in the Bible about two brothers. The father wants both brothers to go work in the field. And the first brother says, I'll go into the field, but then he doesn't go. The second brother says, I'm not gonna go into the field, and then he goes. And he says, which one obeyed the command of the father? It wasn't the one with sincere intentions. It was the one that took action.”

50s

#GoodPeopleNeedJesus

“Hell is a real place. You know who will go there? I'm gonna say something that might shock some of you. You know who's gonna go to hell? Good people. Some of you guys are just shocked by that. Good people, nice people, friendly people, hard workers, those are all people that will go to hell. Because if they don't have one component to them, it doesn't matter how good of a person they are. Because what's good? Only God is truly good. Good is completely subjective to the society that is around us. We have standards of good of what we say that it is. Somebody could be a good person, but if they don't know Jesus Christ, then they'll spend eternity in hell.”

31s

#YouCantForceFaith

“You in fact, I'll even go one further. You can't force anyone to come to church. It's not possible. You can do your best to invite them. You can give a persuasive invitation to somebody. Not manipulative, but persuasive invitation for somebody to come to Jesus. You absolutely can. But it's their choice at the end of the day. But here's what we can do. We can pray. We can invite.”

32s

#BeAnAndrew

“What happened? Andrew met Jesus. You know what Andrew did? Andrew went and told his brother and said he gotta come meet this guy. Andrew gave an actual invitation to Jesus. He didn't just say, hey, there's a guy. I hope he doesn't bore you too much. You should come and you should talk to him. He said, you gotta come, man. We we we found the messiah. We we found the Christ. You need to come with me right now because this is too serious for you to just stay here.”

40s

#GodUsesTheUnlikely

“I can't do it because of this. I can't do it because of that. But I say this not to condemn you. I say this to encourage you. God's greater than every excuse. No matter what you could come up with, God is greater than that thing. I found that some of the people that God uses the greatest are some of the most unimpressive individuals when you talk to them. They're not maybe the most intelligent, maybe they're not the most personable, maybe they have shortcomings in different areas and things of that nature, and God uses them in a powerful way. Why? Because the scripture says that God uses the foolish things of this world to confound those who think they are wise.”

21s

#GoMakeDisciples

“You know that Jesus didn't say, it would be better if I just stayed. He said it'd be better if I went. Why? It is better that he go now be because now instead of just there being one physical location, now there are believers that are empowered by the spirit all around the world.”

22s

#PlentifulHarvest

“In the same way, there's an entire generation of people that are so excited to come to Jesus. The harvest is plentiful, but the problem is there's not enough labors to pick off of that tree. We need to be labors. We need to send more people. We need to be ready to pick as many people as we possibly can because the harvest is indeed plentiful.”

50s

#GenerationHungryForGod

“What if I told you our motivation to win the lost is not just to have a bigger church, but it's because we have compassion upon people who are lost and confused in a generation right now? This generation's been told all sorts of lies, all sorts of things that are not true about themselves, about their identity. They've been told that things just have to be always the way that they are. There's a generation that is lost in searching for answers. But can I tell you this right now? And this will encourage you so much. Did you know that this generation is coming to church more than any other generation has come have come to church before in the past? There is a hunger for the things of God. God is drawing people back to real church, not commercialized church, but a place where people can really encounter the presence of the living God. Can you say amen? I”

36s

#ToughLoveTruth

“And I'm not suggesting or saying this to be able to try to shame people or say this to be able because I'm trying to just say it to be mean to people. Oh, no. Talking about the reality of hell is one of the most loving things that you can do. Because I said this, as bad as hell is, it's as as bad as you think hell is, it's worse. But get this, as good as you think heaven is, it's better. And so we have a responsibility. Just as the Bible says, God is not willing that anybody should perish, but that everybody come to repentance. God doesn't anybody to go to hell.”

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