"I Will Make You Fishers Of Men”

In those cases, we feel that God is not going to hold them responsible. However, some passages even the new convert can understand and obey. We know God does hold us responsible, and we will give account for those things we do understand.

For example, the Bible clearly teaches that every disciple of Christ is to be a soul winner. That is neither COMPLICATED, nor CONTROVERSIAL.

Look at Matthew 28:19-20. We read, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Now, the word “go” is not a complicated word; although, I will admit that it seems to be complicated to some.

Illus: We all have, at some time in our lives, been in a car at a red-light. We have watched as the light turned green and known the frustration of wanting to go, but the person ahead of us does not move. We start saying, “Go,” but they just sit there.

Many Christians are like that. God has told Christians to “go” to witness, but many are just “sitting,” there. As we have mentioned, the “great commission” that God has given us is not complicated. A grammar school child can read and understand what it teaches. Since that is true, then why is it that our churches are filled with so many people, claiming to be saved, who have never led a person to the Lord in all their life?

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO REASONS FOR THIS.

(1) Many people PROFESS SALVATION, but DO NOT POSSESS SALVATION. The things that excite these people are the things of the world. If you want to get them excited, talk to them about hobbies, material things, movie stars, sports, etc. They “go” for these things. They make time for them and will drive hundreds of miles if they want to attend events connected with their interests. They “go” everywhere babbling about these things every day and never mention the name of Christ, yet, they claim to be Christians.

There is another group who do not win souls.

(2) Many ARE GENUINELY SAVED, but ARE SO SELFISH they care about little except THEMSELVES. We see examples of selfishness all around us.

Illus: We hear many complaints from parents. They talk about their children who never come to see them. Often these children live in the same city. Do you know why the children do not visit their parents? It is because we have raised a generation of SELFISH INDIVIDUALS. The only things they have time for are the things they want to do. They do not care if they break their parent’s hearts. THEY ARE SELFISH!

Our children are selfish. They learned they could be selfish and get away with it from the selfish society in which they live. In America, the devil has most of the general public duped into thinking it is right TO LIVE FOR THEMSELVES.

Illus: Most of you have heard of the Titanic. Some may have even seen the movie about the sinking of the Titanic. If you saw the movie, perhaps you saw the part of the story where the captain of the ship screamed for the crew to lower the lifeboats and load the women and children in first. One man immediately dressed up like a woman. As he was about to board the lifeboat he was spotted and pushed back. That man cared more for himself than he did the lives of the women and children.

We might look at a man like that and judge him to be despicable. Did you know that people go to church who are just like that man? Their lives reflect selfishness as they live every day for themselves.

Selfish people do not have time to be soul winners. They are too busy watching television, playing golf, hunting, fishing, going to the beaches, mountains, or camping. It is going to be an eye-opening experience for those who PROFESS TO BE SAVED but who are not saved, when they stand before the Lord.

It is going to be a HORRENDOUS THING WHEN SELFISH CHRISTIANS STAND BEFORE THE LORD WHO COULD HAVE WON HUNDREDS OF SINNERS TO CHRIST IF THEY HAD NOT BEEN SELFISH!

The Lord Jesus has done everything He could do to win the lost. He has not withheld one thing. Then why is the gospel not being spread? It is not being spread because SELFISH people do not have time to obey God’s command to “go.”

Listen Christians, if you intend to live a selfish life, this message will be of no help at all to you. If you are not willing to straighten up, you will just have to wait until that day when you stand before the Lord to give account of your sin of selfishness to become willing. Then it will be too late! However, there are some here who are saying to themselves, “I WOULD LIKE TO WIN SOMEONE TO CHRIST, BUT I DO NOT KNOW HOW.” If you are one of those, then this sermon is for you.