Soul Winning Musts

SOUL WINNING MUSTS

A discouraged preacher once dreamed that he was standing on top of a huge granite rock, trying to break it with a pickaxe. Hour after hour, he worked seeing no results. Finally, he said, “That’s it, I’ve tried, but it is useless.”

Suddenly a man stood by him and asked, “Were you not given this job to do? And if so, why have you stopped?”

“My work is in vain: I cannot even make one indentation in this rock,” was the preachers reply. Then the stranger solemnly replied, “That is nothing to you; your duty is to pick, whether the rock weakens or not. The work is yours, the result of the work is not, so work on at the best of your ability.”

In his dream, the preacher saw himself setting out anew on his labor, and at his first blow, the rock flew into hundreds of pieces.

Friends we must this evening get our eyes off the enormity of the task; set aside the exhaustion that may lie ahead; and disregard the doom and gloom that may surround us and just get back to what our God has called us here to do.

We have talked about discouragement often in this church, and that God is our comfort. One of the most common areas of discouragement in the Christians life, and even in a good Christian, is that of the area of being a witness.

There are many things that discourage us from being a witness for Christ.

We get discouraged when we look at the condition of the world.

We cannot figure out how we can reach them.

Those who have fallen away from the Lord - that knowledge discourages us.

We get discouraged when don’t see the fruit we hope to.

We get discourage when we feel like we are the only one going or telling.

We figure so many people have so much money, or are so hard hearted that they will never listen.

We figure the world has so much entertainment to offer, that we cannot fathom them accepting Christ.

We get discouraged because of rejection, either perceived or conceived

Sometimes we do see it, and sometimes we are convinced of it ,

With all of these things listed, does that mean that we quit, that we give up, that we given in, that we throw in the towel. I think not.

When I was in boot camp, we had to hold out our weapons by the barrels out in front of us. We would do this for about five minutes at a time and then switch hands. We did not understand it much, we were complaining in our minds and when we had a moment with the Drill Instructor out of the room. It seemed hopeless and useless, but actually, it was making us stronger and more able to endure the rigors of hours upon hours of close order drill with our rifles, and we pull the bolt back flawlessly and with little effort because of the strength that was built. The fruit came in the end, through what seemed to be fruitless labor.

You know we did not know or understand what they were doing, and they never did explain it, but after contemplation, I was able to realize that.

Did you know God works the same way, he does thing in such a way that he is training us and using us, though we may not perceive or understand it. We must simply trust in him when he gives a job to do.

The Bible says “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” God has a job for us to do.

We have a job to do today as Christians as well, doesn’t matter what excuses we make, doesn’t matter what reason we have not to. We must simply conclude that God said it, He meant it, and that Settles it.

I. We Must Go Because God Commanded It

Matthew 28:18-20

God gives us the Great commission, the Great Command. Not advice, but orders. My former pastor was a Marine Corps officer. He told me in the higher ranks, officers like him, would often give the junior officers orders in a suggestive manner. Sometimes it would take a while for the junior officer to catch on. For instance the Colonel might say “I suggest we ought to move A Company of 2nd Battalion over to support the fire base.” A junior officer might respond with something like, sir I think we ought to do this or that. What he did not realize is, even though the Colonel spoke in a kind and gentle manner, it was no less a command. Then the Colonel might have to repeat himself until the junior officer caught on.

Though Christ Jesus was meek and lowly and kind and compassionate he has still commanded us to do a job, it was not a suggestion, it was an order.

What if no one had told us?

Where would we be today, except someone else obeyed Christ’s command.

2 Corinthians 1:4 AV

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

We are comforted in order to comfort others.

Because if we do not go who will?

As we go out each week, we see JW’s and Mormons

Because people are dying and going to a devils hell.

II. We Must Do It Faithfully

The way to do it faithfully involves two things:

A. It involves conviction

Romans 10:17 AV

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

• A Conviction to bring glory to God

• A Conviction to keep people out of hell

• A Conviction to be obedient to His command

B. It involves compassion

Jude 22 AV

And of some have compassion, making a difference:

If I have the love for God and the love for the people he died for, and His love in my heart it tells on my face.

I’ve got to care.

I’ve got to have compassion and I’ve got to be soul conscious

C. It involves having a plan

• Have a goal of passing out 5 tracts while you are in a store or a place of business

• Ask God to lead you into a conversation with someone at church, or offer them advice on how they could take care of a problem, through Jesus Christ.

• People are complainers, they always have problems, Jesus is the answer.

III. We Must Be Prepared

They are spiritually prepared.

They walk closely with Christ and maintain a consistent devotional life.

They are active in their churches and are members in good standing.

They attend worship and Sunday school and study their Bibles regularly.

They are trained.

Soul winners have been trained in one or more gospel presentation strategies such as FAITH, Share Jesus Without Fear, GROW, or The NET.

They serve as trainers or mentors and model soul winning before others.

They have marked New Testaments and are able to express the central truths of the gospel in simple and understandable fashion.

They use tracts and other printed gospel materials to enhance their presentation.

IV. We Must Share Christ Anytime - Anywhere

Soul winners are open to share Christ

At the office

In a restaurant

On a plane

Over the phone

Anywhere the opportunity exists.

V. We must adapt our approach with the Gospel

Most do not rely on mechanical or canned gospel presentations. They each have developed their own particular style which:

Becomes personal and conversational

Uses their own language and illustrations

Each witnessing encounter will be unique and different.

VI. We must see opportunity to witness as Divine Appointments

They begin each day with a sense of expectation.

They feel a divine sense of mission.

They see themselves as instruments of God’s grace to others.

They seek to make the most of their encounter with others by purposely initiating and leading the conversation into the spiritual area.

VII. Soul Winners Do Not Worry About the Results

Soul winners realize that they cannot save anyone. People come to Christ only through the work of the Holy Spirit.

VII. We Must be involved in church outreach programs

but we Are Not Limited by Them

Soul winners are active in their local churches. Most are involved in their church’s ongoing visitation and evangelism training programs. But they do not limit themselves to sharing Christ only during church-sponsored activities.

They see every moment of every day as an evangelistic opportunity.

Soul winners also seek to reproduce themselves in others. Most mentor or train others in evangelism programs.

VIII. We must pray consistently for Opportunities to witness

Soul winners pray for those with whom they have witnessed.

They pray for those with whom they have not yet witnessed.

They pray for divine appointments and witnessing opportunities.