THE JOY OF A SOUL WINNER
Study Text: Luke 10: 17 - 20
Introduction:
- The winning of souls is a surpassing privilege that brings great joy each time a soul is won by the Gospel.
- There is no greater happiness and rejoicing than to see someone you have spoken to, prayed for, and cared for converted to Christ.
- The Apostle Paul called the Christians in the church at Philippi: “My brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown” (Philippians 4:1).
- Again, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in the church at Thessalonica: “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy” (I Thessalonians 2:19-20).
- What tender words! What happiness! What rejoicing! Yes, there are blessings and joys for the soul winner – blessings and joys in this life, here and now!
- We shall discuss this topic under three sub-headings:
1. The Description of Joy of a Soul Winner
2. The Dimension of Joy of a Soul Winner
3. The Direction of Joy of a Soul Winner
1]. The Description of Joy of a Soul Winner
- The greatest achievement in this life and the most rewarding assignment one can be involved in as far as God is concerned is the faithful service of winning soul.
- This is because of the great importance of soul winning to the Saviour, the Soul and the Soul Winner.
- Man apart from Christ is in a terrible situation with great consequences both in this life and in the one to come.
a. He is Homeless
- He is not welcomed into the Family of God, and as far as the Kingdom of God is concerned, he is a homeless person.
- Ephesians 2:12a “at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise...”
- Hebrews 11:16 “But now they (believers) desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”
b. He is Helpless
- He is in need of help, he cannot help himself and no man can help him unless he turn to God. The unsaved man is in a helpless situation until he receives help from God. Acts 4:12
c. He is Hopeless
- A man without Christ is a hopeless man just passing through this world to end up in eternal destruction.
– Ephesians 2:12b “... having no hope and without God in the world.”
- It will be a thing of great joy for a man to be used in restoring home for the homeless, restoring help to the helpless, and restoring hope to the hopeless.
2]. The Dimension of Joy of a Soul Winner
- There are various dimension of Joy for a soul winner:
1. Soul Winning brings Joy to God
- In the story of the Prodigal Son God is typified by the Father. When the prodigal returns note what the Father says about the prodigal. : Luke 15:32 “It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.”
- God takes great delight in the joy of those who repent. He takes great joy in those who embrace Christ and trust in Him and what He did at Calvary.
2. Soul Winning brings Joy in Heaven
- Not only does God rejoice, but all heaven rejoices, when a sinner repents.: Luke 15:7, 10 “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance… Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
- When the lost are found, even one of them is found, all heaven rejoices and throws a party. No wonder that the inhabitants of Heaven are thrilled when the redeemed go out seeking lost souls.
- As Christians, let’s ask ourselves, “How many times have we brought much joy to the angels?”
3. Soul Winning brings Joy to the Convert
- Note that after his baptism, the Ethiopian Eunuch “went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39). The joy of his discovery of God’s truth, his consequent obedience to God’s truth, his release from the guilt of sin; his entering into a new life and his hope of eternal life, all combine to make the moment of conversion a source of incomparable rejoicing!
- There are four categories of Joy accessible to by the Convert
i. The Joy of Salvation
- Psalm 51:12 “Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation.”
ii. The joy of reconciliation
– Colossians 1:21 “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.”
iii. The joy of possession
- John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
iv. The joy of anticipation
- 1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
4. Soul Winning brings Joy to the Soul Winner
- There are many joys and thrills to be experienced in the Christian life, but only one outshines that of becoming a Christian: sowing the seed and reaping the harvest of a soul.
- Psalm 126:6 “He, who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:19 “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?”
5. Soul-winning brings joy to other Christians.
- When Paul and Barnabas reported the conversion of many Gentiles from their preaching efforts, “they caused great joy to all the brethren” (Acts 15:3).
- God’s faithful saints greatly rejoice at the news of every soul won, regardless of who helped win it. The genuine heart can never be jealous or indifferent to the success of others in winning souls.
3.] The Direction of Joy of a Soul Winner
- The direction of Joy of a soul winner is in the hierarchical order of J. O. Y
i. J: Jesus First
- The first motivation and source of Joy in winning soul is the desire to obey and please the Master in the great commission He has given to us.
- Job 36:11 "If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.”
ii. O: Others Second
- The greatest conduct of selfishness is for a man to truly know the way of Salvation, the Hope of eternal life, and the terrible destruction awaiting sinners, and yet refuses to be sacrificially used for the salvation of others.
- Luke 19:10 "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”. Jesus was a soul winner. He sought sinners. He did not wait for them to seek Him out; He sought them out. We are truly His disciples when we can rise for the salvation of others.
iii. Y: Yourself Last
- Your greatest Joy as a soul winner is the assurance in God with the witness of the Holy Spirit, that you have faithfully obeyed the commandment of the Lord, and you have faithfully laboured to see those on the path of destruction being restored back to life.
Conclusion:
- The Christian who wins souls has special blessings which others, who do not win souls, never have. God has many special blessings for the Christian who works hard to win souls.
- Yes, the soul winner has many blessings in this life. Christ promised the soul winner He would be present with him always in a special way. :
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.. and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20).
- This promise of Christ’s presence was given together with His command to win souls. The promise and the command go together. His presence is promised in a special way to those who do this work.
- Beyond this life on earth, the Bible promises heavenly rewards to those who win souls. When Christ comes to set up His Kingdom, the faithful soul winner will receive honour and rewards from the Saviour Himself.
- When He comes, Jesus will say to the faithful soul winner:
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21).
- The Christian who is faithful in soul winning will have abundant rewards and a high position in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ
- But if you live your Christian life sitting in church without throwing yourself wholeheartedly into the work of soul winning, just enjoying the fellowship of your friends, you cannot be part of this great Joy here on earth and in heaven.
