Motivation for Soul Winning
Matt 28:19-20
I want us to look at soul winning today and some things that should motivate us to get busy.
1. Obedience
a. God commands it (Matt 28:19-20)
Go and preach and make disciples
b. Be prepared
(II Tim 4:2) Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction
(I Pet 3:15) But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
2. Spontaneous Joy
Psa 107:2, Let the redeemed of the LORD say this- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe
Parable of the Lost Sheep
(Luke 15:3-7) 3Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 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 do not need to repent.
Crown of rejoicing is those saved
(I Thes 2:19-20) 19For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
Woman at the well
(John 4:28-29) 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ
She couldn’t wait to tell others because of the joy she felt
3. Responsibility
Warn of the coming wrath
(Ezek 3:17-18) Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, ’You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.
Pull from the fire
(Jude 23) snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
4. Wisdom
He who wins souls is wise (Prov 11:30)
Wise shall shine
(Dan 12:3) Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
5. Spiritual Investment
Lay up treasures in heaven
(Matt 6:19) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Good foundation
(1 Tim 6:19) In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
6. Love for the Lost
Hell is a real place
Isa 33:12, 14 The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: "Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?"
Matt 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Hell is Fire/Flames
Rev 14:10 He, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.
Isa 66:24 neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
Hell is full of pain
Matt 13:42 weeping and gnashing of teeth
Mark 9:44 worm dies not and fire is not quenched
Hell is permanent
Rev 14:11 torment rises forever
Luk 16:23-26 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ’Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ "But Abraham replied, ’Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
7. Way of Escape
Matt 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, ’Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him."
8. 2 Powerful Methods
Personal testimony (Acts 26:24-28) Turn there
Scripture message
(Rom 1:16) I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
(10:14) How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
9. Spiritual Event
True soul winning is not just a good mechanical technique but a spiritual event
Great technique, no Holy Spirit will be a failure
Jesus paid for the whole world
(1 John 2:2) He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for[1] the sins of the whole world.
Jesus invites all to come
(Rev 22:17) The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
What are the results? (Acts 2:47) praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Application/Conclusion
What can you do to win souls?
1. Pray for blinders to be removed (2 Cor 4:3-4) And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2. Bind spirits that blind (Matt 18:18-20) "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
3. Lifestyle evangelize (Paul evangelized - made tents along the way)
Friends, family, relatives - If you only hang with believers may not get channce
4. Realize God gives the increase
(1 Cor 3:6-8) I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
5. Share testimony - Gospel according to you; what’s your story?
6. Spirit Filled - Must be empowered by Spirit (Acts 1:8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
We must become a witnessing people
Pray
