Soul winning: A must for all Christians

A PROMINENT soul winner once said:“Let the cross be raised again at the centre of the market place, as well as the steeple of the church.”

A PROMINENT soul winner once said:“Let the cross be raised again at the centre of the market place, as well as the steeple of the church.”

Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves, at the crossroads.

So busy was the place and cosmopolitan that they had to write His title in Hebrew, Latin and Greek (reflecting the multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-nationality of the gospel). The son of God was crucified at the kind of place where cynics talk, where thieves curse, and where soldiers gamble.

That’s where the gospel must be taken to. Because that is where Christ died and since that is what He died about, that is where Christians can best share His message of love because that is what real Christianity is all about.

The Book of Acts.

In the book of Acts there were only two methods of evangelism: Mass evangelism and personal Evangelism.

Personal evangelism is the only way to reach every creature. It’s not centred at the crusade or inside the church building.

Just before Christ ascended, He plainly told His followers where to go and what to do in terms of evangelism.

Acts 1 vs 8,“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Six reasons why we should be soul winners

1 Because Jesus was a soul winner. 2. Because the harvest is so great. 3. Because the labourers are so few. 4. Because Jesus said to do it. 5. Because of the unfulfilled prophecies concerning Christ’s return. 6. Because we do not want the blood of non-Christians on our hands.

The Bible says in 1 Tim 1 vs 15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation…” What is this all important saying? “… that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

Luke 19 vs 10 says, “The son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost.” Jesus came to save people.

Jesus

That is His mission.First and last, Jesus was a soul winner, the greatest soul winner the world has ever known. The first group Jesus chose to follow Him received this challenge.

Mathew 4 vs 19, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people (men).” I want to be able to say come, follow me and I will make you fishers of people. The last group who followed Jesus out to His ascension received this command.

Mathew 28 vs 19-20,“You shall be my witnesses to the world. Go make disciples of all nations.”

First and foremost, Jesus was a soul winner, that is why He came to save people.

That is why He lived, died, rose again and sent the Holy Ghost to His followers, to make them effective soul winners. Acts 1 vs 8,“But ye shall receive power…” The word Christian means Christ like.

Christ came to save people, to seek out the lost, so as to be Christians, we are to be soul winners.John 18 vs 37, Jesus said, “For this cause I come into the world, to bear witness of the truth.”

 Pastors say, my calling is to shepherd the flock – Jesus was the greatest shepherd and yet won souls.

 Some say I am a teacher, preacher, prophet, apostle, musician.

Jesus was the greatest teacher, preacher, prophet, apostle… yet He won souls. First you are called as a Christian to win souls.

Why win souls?

 Luke 15 vs 10, “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

 We are to be soul winners because the Harvest is so great.Mathew 9 vs 36, the Bible says, ‘When Jesus saw the multitude, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd.”

Pondering these needy multitudes, He said, “ the harvest truly is plenteous.” vs 37.

What did he do about it?

 He called 12 disciples and gave them power to cast out devils and heal the sick, and sent them out to help reap the harvest. Later, he called 70 more, then before His ascension, he conferred upon all believers power to witness with miracles in His name.

 We are to be soul winners because the labourers are so few. Isaiah 6 vs 8,“Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I, send me.”Vs 9a, And he said, “Go, and tell this people…” If the estimated population of Bulawayo is 1,5million people. Estimated numbers born again 150 thousand people, that is, in churches that preach Jesus — I am not talking about religious people. A lost 850 000 is racing toward an eternity without Jesus at a terrifying speed. Looking at the fields, Jesus said…

John 4 vs 35,“lift up your eyes, and look on the fields for they are white already to harvest.”

4.We are to be soul winners because of the Great Commission

In Mark 16 vs 15, the last thing Jesus authorised us to do before He went away was “Go ye to all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

The last words of a dying man are crucial… or someone going away. This is His authority to each of His (Christ’s) followers.This is every Christian’s priviledge, calling, purpose and ministry.In John 3 vs 16, God gave His only begotten son for one reason,“… so that ‘whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have ever lasting life.” Romans 10 vs 14 & 17 states…Vs 14, ‘How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?

And how shall they hear without a preacher?’ Vs 17, ‘So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’

 We are to be soul winners because of the unfulfilled prophecies concerning Jesus’s return. Jesus specified several “signs of His coming,” among them false Christs, wars, nations in conflict, famines, pestilence, earthquakes persecutions, deceit, lack of consecration.Mathew 24 vs 4-12,Vs 4, ‘And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.’ Vs 5,“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Vs 6, “And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars.

See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Vs 7, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” Vs 8, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

Vs 9, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.”

Vs 10, “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.” Vs 11, “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” Vs 12, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

Then he added, vs 14, “And the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all the nations, and then shall the end come.”

In other words as soon as the gospel is proclaimed in all nations, “I shall return.” The objective is to reach “every creature” and “all nations,”

 We are to be soul winners because we do not want the blood of the unconverted on our hands.

Ezekiel 3 vs 17-20,“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me..” Vs 18, “When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.”

Vs 19, “Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.” Vs 20, “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.”

‘When I say to the wicked, you shall surely die, and you give no warning… to save lives, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood will I require at your hand.” God will hold us accountable for murder.