HOW MUCH DO WE CARE FOR SOULS?
TEXT: Psa 142:4 - Young man from Israel that I roomed with in college! When I witnessed to him he said "you are the first person in my life that has ever cared for my soul."
I was wondering Are we really concerned for others? If the unsaved perish. Do we care? If they are lost forever.
I/ FIRST, LET’S LOOK AT WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT LOST SOULS!
A. WE KNOW GOD THE FATHER CARES!John 3:16
B. WE KNOW THE LORD JESUS CARES! - Rom 5:8
C.AND THE HOLY SPIRIT CARES - Rev 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
D. ALSO THE SAVED ONES IN HEAVEN CARE
They rejoice when a sinner is saved. Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
So the saved ones in heaven care. Who else cares?
E. DO YOU KNOW THE LOST ONES IN HELL CARE
They would like to come back and warn us. In Luke 16:28 The rich man in hell sees Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom, and asks Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his 5 brothers.
So we can see even the lost ones in hell care.
Now I have shown that the entire Godhead and everyone in heaven and hell cares about the eternal destiny of souls.
-> so why are we so often indifferent and apathetic?
II/ WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE DO NOT CARE ABOUT LOST SOULS?
I know it is easier to preach 10 sermons than to live one. But please listen carefully to each scripture I read, then try to walk in the light and allow God’s Spirit to teach. The next few groups of people that do not care, may include us.
1. Christians who are fearful or lazy do not care.
Mat 25:25-27 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Every man that has received the gospel and all the blessings of salvation and has not passed them on, is a servant who has robbed his master of His proper increase. We owe our fellow man to pass on the message of salvation.
2. Next, Disobedient Christians do not care.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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.
It is obvious that these 11 disciples could not reach the whole world, they were just to begin the work and then teach every Christian to go do the same. They were to do this in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus here, plainly commanded every Christian to win souls and teach them. Christian people are always wondering what the Will of God is for their lives? Well there it is, win souls and teach them to win other souls.
3.Next,Christians who do not love Christ do not care.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him..
What does "keep my word’s" mean? John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. Plainly this means do what He ask’s! Well what does He want us to do?
Here are two things for sure. Mark 16:15 Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He also said in John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." So, if we love Christ, we will for sure love one another & care about lost souls!
4.Next,Christians who do not follow Christ do not care.
Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
The best way to learn to be a soul winner is to follow Jesus or someone who is following Jesus. Jesus said if you come after Him, He will make you fishers of men!
5.Christians who are not abiding in Christ do not care.
John 15:4,5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Now I know there are fruits of the Spirit, but while the fruit of an apple tree is apples, the apples have seeds which produce more apples. There is no way to win souls except by abiding in Christ. And everyone that abides in Christ brings forth fruit.
6.Last,Christians who are short sighted do not care.
Dan 12:2,3 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Prov 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Wisdom takes the long look. 1 John 2:16,17 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Why do we work so hard for that which is passing away?
A missionary who gave his life in South America once said "a man is no fool who is willing to lose something he cannot keep for something he cannot lose"
Do we want to be wise? Then let’s invest our time and money in caring about and winning souls.
How? Simple:
1. Each day recognize that God is wanting to use you so make yourself available to Him. Get in on His plan, I have shown you this evening want His plan is.
2. Each day place yourself at the Holy Spirits disposal and expect something to happen.
3. When it does thank God for the privilege.
PRAYER TIME - Let’s pray that God will put some soul on your heart today. Here’s a short version of the Roman Road you can use to lead someone to Christ.
ROMAN ROAD - SHORT VERSION
There are two things God wants you to know:
First you are a sinner, and second God loves you.
1. Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God."
2. Romans 5:8 - "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
These verses tell us that even though we are sinners, God still loves us. But God needs to deal with the sin problem in our lives:
3. Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
This verse tells us that if we keep on sinning we will experience death. Now the death spoken of here is Spiritual death. Physical death is a separation from our family and friends. Spiritual death is a separation from God forever.
But God is not willing that we should perish, so He offers the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord.
Now there are two things about a gift: First you can not earn it, because if you work for it, then it will not be a gift. A gift is always free!
More importantly, a gift has to be received. If you do not receive the gift it will never be yours. This gift is eternal life. How do you receive it?
4. Romans 10:9-10 - "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved; for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Two things: Believe in your heart that Jesus died for you and that God raised Him from the dead.
And second, confess Jesus as your Lord with your mouth. How do you confess him with your mouth?
5. Romans 10:13 - "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
If the Holy Spirit has helped you to believe in your heart today that Jesus died for you and rose again, you can confess Him with your mouth by praying with me out loud, a prayer asking Him to forgive you your sin, and to come into your life and become your Personal Savior
