Intro: For some time now, our church missions statement has been, "A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will Grow A Great Church." It's a catchy slogan, but it's more than that-IT'S THE TRUTH! In recent days, God has been dealing with my heart about the future of this church. More than the building program, more than the financing, or any other pressing need we face, God has laid on my heart the two solutions to all of our challenges as a church. Both of these solutions are available to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
God continues to burn this truth in my heart, and I'm praying that He will burn it into your hearts as well.
I want this to be a BREAKTHROUGH SUNDAY in this church. We are facing three mountains today that must be broken through: the buyer of this present facility needs to obtain their financing so that we can close on the deal, we need to obtain our financing for the new church, and the Fire Marshall needs to give his approval for the church plans.
No doubt many of you have come to this service today with areas of your life where you need a breakthrough! I am believing that it will come to pass today! This morning I want to preach on the first of these two solutions that will bring a breakthrough in our church and in every area of our lives. It is SOUL-WINNING!
I. SOUL-WINNING BRINGS WISDOM!
A. Proverbs 11:28-30, "He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. [29] He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. [30] The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."
B. Notice that God didn't say you have to have wisdom to be soul-winner. He said, "He that winneth souls IS wise!" If you need wisdom, WIN SOULS!
C. How many of you think Central Assembly needs to walk in wisdom? Then we must be a soul-winning church.
D. How many of you could use more wisdom? Then be a soul-winner!
II. SOUL-WINNING MEETS FINANCIAL NEEDS!
A. Proverbs 11:24-25, "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. [25] The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."
B. As long as Central Assembly of God has a burden for the Great Commission, and as long as we scatter our money around the world to win souls, God will increase us! Did you hear me? Do you want God to increase this church? Then we must continue to scatter!
C. There are some churches, that when they hit a financial snag, the first thing they cut is missions! How foolish! Those churches are headed for big trouble!
D. I have found that the churches that are really prospering today are those that take care of the man of God and the mission of God-the winning of souls!
E. When the disciples needed to pay their taxes, Jesus told them to go fishing. The first fish that Peter caught, Jesus told him to look in the fish's mouth and, guess what, there was a gold coin there-the need was met!
F. Now, friend, Jesus has called us to be fishers of MEN! Remember the Sunday that Gene Minogue gave His heart to Jesus?
G. How many of you think Central Assembly of God has a financial need today? Then we must be a soul-winning church.
H. How many of you have a financial need today? Then win souls.
III. SOUL-WINNING BRINGS MIRACLES!
A. Our text this morning says it clearly, Mark 16:20, "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."
B. How many of you want the Lord to work with us at Central Assembly of God? How many of you want to see miracles at Central Assembly of God? Then we must be a soul-winning church! We must go forth and preach everywhere! In the schoolhouse, in the factory, in the office, on the street, in the jailhouse! We must win souls if we want to see miracles!
C. Do you have a need for a miracle in your life? Then be a soul-winner!
Conclusion: I am hungry for revival in this church! I can promise you from the Word of God that the Lord will send revival to a soul-winning church. Remember in Elijah's day, when the little lady had gone broke and the creditor had come. The man of God told her to go and get all the empty vessels she could find and then begin to pour from the cruse of oil into those empty vessels. As long as she went and got another empty vessel the oil continued to flow. Central Assembly of God that is the secret to us experiencing a breakthrough we need today! As long as we will continue to bring empty vessels, the lost with empty hearts, that co-worker, that school friend, that lonely neighbor, THE OIL OF THE HOLY GHOST WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW IN THIS CHURCH! AS IN ELIJAH'S DAY, THE OIL CEASES TO FLOW WHEN THERE ARE NO MORE EMPTY VESSELS TO BE FILLED! Jesus said, "Go into the highways, and the hedges and compel them to come in THAT MY HOUSE MAY BE FULL! Full of miracles, full of the Holy Ghost, full of faith, full of excitement, full of SOULS!
