FOUR ESSENTIALS FOR SOUL SAVING
After Jesus was raised from the dead, He made the following
proclamation almost 2000 years ago:
Mark 16:15 And He said
to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
This was not something
limited to the apostles and it was not limited to the first century Christians.
This command was to all Christians then and now. Preaching the gospel is how
God calls people and how they learn how to be saved. We should be ready as
Christian soldiers to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Someone said:
To save souls, we must be
RIGHT, look to God for MIGHT, preach it with faith and SIGHT, and attack the
devil with a great FIGHT!
These four words RIGHT,
MIGHT, SIGHT, and FIGHT represent what we must do in order to save souls. These
are going to be our four points today.
1.
A soul winner
must be right in doctrine. Unfortunately we have many in the religious world
who spend much of their time promoting false doctrine. Because of their false
teaching they have corrupted the lives of many and make them harder to reach.
Jesus had this problem with the Pharisees and Scribes.
Matthew
23:15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you
travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him
twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
There are many in the
religious world that are like these scribes and
Pharisees because they make up their own rules, they ignore the Word of God
when they want to, and they work hard at converting people to their way of
thinking.
We need to understand
that God will not be pleased with those who have the wrong doctrine. Jesus
said:
Matthew 15:13 … "Every
plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be
uprooted. 14 "Let them
alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind,
both will fall into a ditch."
God will not force anyone
to follow His ways, but unless we have the right doctrine, which is the Word of
God, we cannot and will not be saved. Throughout the Scriptures we see warning
after warning about taking heed to the Word of God and not to the philosophies
of man. For example, notice what Paul wrote to Timothy in:
1 Timothy 6:3 If
anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the
words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with
godliness, 4
he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over
words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of
corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means
of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
There are more and more people that call themselves Christians even within the church who no longer think that doctrine is all that important. Like the scribes and Pharisees some write their own rules and regulations to follow after, which we know today as creed books. Those who discount the doctrine of Christ and make it out to be a suggested way of life instead of the way of life, they cut themselves off from God and those they get to follow in their footsteps because John said:
2 John 1:9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine
of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both
the Father and the Son.
What do you think? Does
John say that the doctrine of Christ is just a mere guide that suggests how we
must live our life? Of course he does not. One would have to do some serious
twisting of Scripture to miss what he has clearly stated. If we do not abide in
the doctrine of Christ then we do not have the Father or the Son. When we do
not abide in the doctrine of Christ we transgress.
Paul also lays down a
strong warning about messing with doctrine of Christ in:
Galatians 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I
say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have
received, let him be accursed.
Not only did he make this
warning once, he made it twice. Don’t you think you should pay attention?
So, in order to save
souls, we must have the right doctrine, and as Jude says we are:
Jude 1:3… to contend
earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
We must also have the
right life and set the right example. How can we possibly lead someone to
Christ without living for Christ ourselves? Paul told Timothy:
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no
one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct,
in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to
doctrine.
First Paul gives 6 ways
in which Timothy is to live his life. The way he is to do these things is
paying close attention to what the doctrine of Christ teaches. He is also to
teach others with the same doctrine so that they can be good examples as well.
When we follow after these 6 qualities as described in Scripture, we will
become a light for Jesus to those that are around us.
Like Jesus said:
Matthew 5:16 "Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify
your Father in heaven.
If Christ has not
transformed our lives and if we are not living for Him then how can we expect
to ever influence others to love Him?
Along with having the
right doctrine and life, we must also have the right attitude. One of the
fastest ways you can put out your light is by having the wrong attitude. We
must not look at saving souls as a burden but as a joy. Paul said:
1 Timothy 2:3 For
this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who
desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
God wants everyone to
have the opportunity to accept His saving grace. Since our Father desires this
and we are the vessels that He uses to get that word out, we should be honored
and find great joy and telling people about God. When we have the right
attitude about reaching the lost it will drive us and keep us focused. We
should do what Paul and Apollos did:
1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God
gave the increase.
Therefore if we want to
be successful as wining souls for God, we must have the right doctrine, the
right life, and the right attitude.
2.
The second
thing we learn that a soul winner must have might. Those who try to succeed at
soul wining by their own might will fail because we must have God’s power
coupled with our strength. We must rely on God because as we read just a minute
ago, it is God that gives the increase.
Though Paul was very
zealous and converted many people to Christ, he understood that without God’s
help he could do nothing. For example, notice what he wrote in:
Ephesians 3:14 For
this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in
heaven and earth is named, 16
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be
strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with
all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height -- 19 to know the love of Christ
which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
We must have God be part
of everything we do. We must use the power of prayer to help increase our might
as we try and win souls. Paul knew who his strength came from because he said:
Philippians 4:13 I can do
all things through Christ who strengthens me.
He also said:
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Might is also gained from
the Word of God. While some do not think it is powerful enough and seek other
things such as miracles and speaking in tongues, Paul lets us know that even
during the time of miracles God’s Word is where the power is:
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the
power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also
for the Greek. 17 For in it
the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written,
"The just shall live by faith."
The Word of God is called
the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17) and the Hebrew writer says:
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful,
and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and
spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart.
The main purpose of the
miracles in the first century was not to save people, but to prove that the
things they were saying was the all powerful Word of God:
Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working
with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen
Since God’s Word was fully revealed in the first century and we have everything we need in God’s Word to give us the might that we need. Paul makes this thought clear in:
2 Timothy 3:16 All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
If we want to have the
might we need to be soul winner for Jesus then we must trust in prayer and in
the Word of God to give us access to the power that God provides.
3.
The third
thing a soul winner must have is sight. We must look beyond today and even look
toward eternity in heaven. The way we do this is through faith because we must
believe the promises that God has made to us and know that they are true.
Without faith we cannot be pleasing to God (Heb. 11:6).
Our goal as Christians is
to point out in Scripture the wonderful promises made by God and show how He
always keeps His promises. Without our faith in tact in the future of eternity,
there is no way we can win souls for God because if we cannot trust in the
promises of God, how are going to ever convince someone else to? We need to be
like those early heroes of faith that we read about in Hebrews 11:13 because
they:
Hebrews 11:13 …all died in faith, not having received the
promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Even though they did not
have what we have access to today through Christ, they still had sight of
eternity and knew that they were just straying pilgrims on this earth. Without
that kind of sight how can we possibly give others hope of salvation?
Our sight must also
include our faith in the working of God Word on man’s heart. Even though the
majority of mankind will be lost according to Jesus in Mat. 7:14, there are
always going to be a few that are going to receive the Word God and obey it. We
must fully believe what Isaiah records in
Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be
that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall
accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I
sent it.
Let us never lose sight
of the promises that we have been given by God, and let us never lose sight of
the power of God’s Word and it ability to change the heart of the sinner.
4.
The fourth
thing a soul winner must have is fight. Souls have to be won from the devil and
from sin, which is always a battle. We must rise up like good Christian soldiers
and fight the good fight of faith, and never stop preaching the truth. As Paul
told Timothy:
1 Timothy 1:18 This
charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously
made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
If we are going to have
any kind of success at reaching the lost, we must be willing to fight for it.
No one is going to be converted by accident or without effort. Though our
battle is not physical, we must understand that it is going to be difficult, but
like any noble battle, it is always worth the fight.
We have to fight against
the lure of the world, and we also have to fight against false doctrine. Our
enemies are numerous, but we have God on our side and we have the hope of
heaven. Paul was certainly a fighter of the faith. He said:
1 Corinthians 9:26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight:
not as one who beats the air. 27
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have
preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Paul not only fought for
the truth and made sure others were hearing the truth; he also fought for
himself to make sure he was practicing what he preached. We must do the same.
If we try to compromise God’s Word to appease to society then we lose the
battle. We must never stop fighting for the truth,
otherwise the truth will be lost. So, let us take heed to what Paul tells us
in:
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power
of His might. 11 Put on the
whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil. 12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against
spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the
evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,
having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the
gospel of peace; 16 above
all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked one. 17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God; 18 praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this
end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints –
In conclusion, I hope
that I have shown you that these four things are very important for us to be
soul winners for Christ. We must be RIGHT, we must have MIGHT, we must have
SIGHT, and we must have FIGHT. Let us keep these 4 things in mind as we reach
out to the lost for our Gospel Meeting and for the rest of our lives.
Adapted from Benny Bristow.