The Value Of A Soul Series

Why We Must Pray and Preach for the Lost

In the Bible, Jesus shares a profound truth about the value of a single soul. In Luke 15:7, He says, "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." This verse highlights the immense joy that erupts in heaven when one soul comes to Jesus. But it also implies that the loss of a soul is a tragedy of eternal proportions.

The Devil's Schemes

The enemy of our souls, Satan, knows that when a soul is lost, everything is lost. That's why he schemes and tempts people to live sinful lifestyles, leading them down a path of destruction. He'll use every trick in the book to snatch souls from the hands of God, leaving them spiritually dead and separated from the love of God (1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 2:1-3).

Examples of Soul-Winning in the Bible

Throughout Scripture, we see examples of individuals who prayed and preached for the lost, leading them to salvation.

The Samaritan Woman: Jesus invested in one soul, and it changed her life. He spoke to her at the well, revealing her sin and offering her living water (John 4:1-42). As a result, many Samaritans came to believe in Jesus.

The Apostle Paul: Paul's ministry was marked by preaching and praying for the lost. He wrote, "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again" (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

The Philippian Jailer: Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns in prison, leading to an earthquake and the jailer's salvation (Acts 16:16-34). This man's soul was saved, and he rejoiced with his whole household.

The Reward for Soul-Winning

God rewards those who pray and preach for the lost. Jesus says, "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29). We may not see immediate results, but we can trust that our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Our Mission

As followers of Jesus, we are called to pray and preach for those who have lost their souls. We must share the Good News with a world in need, pointing people to the hope of salvation. When we invest in soul-winning, we bring joy to heaven and fulfill our mission on earth.

Reasons why soul winning is important biblically:

God's Love for the Lost: Jesus demonstrated God's love for the lost through His ministry, and we are called to do the same (John 3:16, Romans 5:8).

The Great Commission: Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations, baptize them, and teach them to obey His commands (Matthew 28:18-20).

Souls Are Eternal: A person's soul is eternal, and their decision to follow Jesus determines their eternal destiny (Matthew 25:46, Daniel 12:2).

The Value of a Soul: Jesus taught that one soul is worth more than the whole world, emphasizing the importance of soul winning (Matthew 16:26, Mark 8:36).

Jesus' Example: Jesus invested in people, prayed for them, and shared the Good News. We are called to follow His example (John 4:1-42, Luke 19:1-10).

The Apostles' Ministry: The apostles prioritized soul winning, and their ministry was marked by preaching, praying, and making disciples (Acts 2:40-47, Acts 16:16-34).

The Lost Are Condemned: Without Jesus, people are condemned to eternal separation from God. Soul winning offers them salvation and eternal life (John 3:18, Romans 6:23).

Obedience to God: Sharing the Gospel is an act of obedience to God's command to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 5:29).

Bringing Joy to Heaven: When one soul repents and turns to Jesus, there is rejoicing in heaven. Soul winning brings joy to God and His people (Luke 15:7, Luke 15:10).

Fulfilling Our Purpose: Soul winning is a fundamental part of our purpose as followers of Jesus. We are called to be His witnesses and share the Good News with others (Acts 1:8).

Eternal Rewards: God rewards those who labor for the salvation of others. Soul winning brings eternal rewards and dividends in the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).

There are several reasons why there's joy when someone becomes a follower of Christ:

Fulfillment of Purpose: Sharing the Gospel and leading someone to Christ fulfills a fundamental purpose of being a follower of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20).

Eternal Impact: When someone becomes a follower of Christ, it has eternal implications for their salvation and destiny (John 3:16, Romans 6:23).