Do We Really Care for Souls?

TEXT: Psalm 142:1-4

TOPIC: Do We Really Care for Souls?

Pastor Bobby Earls, Northgate Baptist Church, Florence, SC

Sunday morning, January 20, 2013

(Read the Scriptures – Psalm 142:1-4)

In all of the Scriptures, there may be no more pathetic cry than the cry of the Psalmist found in the last six words of Psalm 142:4, “no one cared for my soul.”

The historical context of Psalm 142 finds David running for his life from King Saul. David finds himself hiding in the Cave at Adullum, sensing that all have abandoned him and forgotten him, that “no one cares for his soul.”

In our cities, our counties and our communities, the cry “no one cares for my soul” still goes out.

· The poor and the prosperous alike cry out, “no one cares for my soul.”

· The educated and the uneducated cry out, “no one cares for my soul.”

· The famous and the forgotten cry out, “no one cares for my soul.”

Many are crying out. Finding no hope, no help. Finding no one who really cares.

In Crittendon, Kentucky, there is a tombstone with this epitaph,

CURTIS G. LLOYD

(and it gives the date of his birth)

Died 60 or more years thereafter.

The exact number of days, months and years that he lived,

nobody knows, nobody cares.

Monument erected by himself, for himself,

to satisfy his own vanity.

What fools we mortals be.”

How sad when people can live their entire lives and have someone say, “nobody knows, and nobody cares.”

How much do we care for the souls of men and women? The Bible gives us the true condition of lost men, and women, lost youth and children:

1. LOST Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (KJV)

2. PERISHING 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (NIV)

3. CONDEMNED John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (KJV)

4. UNDER GOD’S WRATH John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (KJV)

5. SPIRITUALLY BLIND having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; Ephesians 4:18 (NKJV)

6. SPIRITUALLY DEAD And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; Ephesians 2:1 (KJV)

7. WITHOUT GOD and WITHOUT HOPE In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from God’s people, Israel, and you did not know the promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. Ephesians 2:12 (NLT)

We touch the lives of people every day who are in this dreadful condition. The question is, “Do we really care?” Are we concerned for their salvation? Do we care if they perish? Does it break our heart that they could be lost forever? Does anybody care?

I. GOD THE FATHER CARES

God has given us a written revelation of His love, His care for the lost. The Bible is His love letter to every human being.

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: (KJV)

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 For God has proven His love for us in this way, while we were still lost in sin, Christ died for us.

God the Father has done everything He possible can to provide salvation to lost sinners. God the Father cares, but who else cares?

II. THE LORD JESUS CARES

This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV)

For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)

Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28-30

Don’t forget that verse we looked at a moment ago, Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

T/S - God the Father cares. The Lord Jesus cares, but does anyone else care?

III. THE HOLY SPIRIT CARES

The last invitation recorded in the Bible. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17 (KJV)

Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever,

Genesis 6:3

So, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” Hebrews 3:7-8

And John 16:7-8 tells us, 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but gif I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has h come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

T/S – So we know the bible tells us the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit care about lost souls? But who else cares?

IV. THE SAVED IN HEAVEN CARE

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:10 (KJV)

How much do the saints in Heaven know about those of us on earth?

Is there anyone else who cares if the sinner is saved?

T/S – Not only do the saved in heaven care, but the lost in hell care also.

V. THE LOST IN HELL CARE

"He answered, `Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' Luke 16:27-28 (NIV)

Who cares about lost souls? God the Father cares. The Lord Jesus Christ cares. The Holy Spirit cares. The saved in Heaven care. The lost in Hell care. But do we care?

I heard about a pastor who told his church, “IF WE DON’T DO MORE TO WIN OUR COMMUNITY TO CHRIST THEN WE OUGHT TO HANG A SIGN ON THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH THAT SAYS ‘YOU CAN ALL GO TO HELL.’”

You say, “Preacher, I don’t like the way that sounds.” No, and no one in hell right now likes being there. But if we don’t return to a broken-hearted compassion for the lost then their blood could very well be on our hands! Ezekiel warned the people of his day that the blood of those they failed to warn would be own their hands.”

Throughout the Bible I find example after example of concerned disciples who cared.

Andrew cared so much, he found Peter. “We have found the Messiah.”

Philip cared so much he found Nathanael. John 1:45 Philip went off to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”

The Woman of Samaria cared so much she found her neighbors and friends. John 4:29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done!

Paul cared so much that he gave his life sharing the gospel of His saving grace. 1 Corinthians 9:22 I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

But do we care? Do you care? Do we whose lives have experienced the life-changing grace of the Lord Jesus Christ really care?

Or have we gotten over our salvation? What it means to be saved?

If you really care for lost souls, in closing, let me give you three ways you can show you care:

1. Each day recognize the fact that God wants to use you to bring others to Him. (Be available to Him)

2. Each day yield yourself to the Holy Spirit for Him to use you to care through you. (Be His arms) People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

3. Each day expect something to happen. (Anticipate His blessings)

Go over the Information Forms handed out before the service

Acts 2:33 Acts 1:8; 2:1–4, 37