LUKE 17:7-10 “DOING OUR DUTY: WINNING PEOPLE TO JESUS”
A) Last week I preached a message on “Jesus’ prayer request,” Remember?
* It was out of Matt. 9:35-38 “...The harvest ... Pray ye therefore the Lord ... send forth ...”
* “Harvest,” is the crop ... v.35-36 “He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on ...”
* “Plenteous,” means much, many. * “Labourers,” means toilers, workers.
B) There were four things brought out about soul-winning .......
* First: It is a command of God ... It’s not a suggestion or something we should pray about!
* Second: It gives us a chance to show Jesus how much we love Him!
* Third: It gives us a chance to earn rewards! * Not only will we get paid in eternity at the
judgment seat of Christ, there are blessings we receive on earth now for doing it!
* Last: It will help enlarge the Kingdom of Heaven, and keep people out of hell!
C) Tonight, I want to share with you, first, the requirements of a soul-winner!
* There are several requirements in being a soul-winner .......
(1) MUST KNOW THAT HE IS SAVED! * This is very important!
A) If there is any doubt about one’s own salvation, the matter must be certainly cleared up
before attempting to help someone else who is lost!
* How can you help someone who is lost if you don’t know for sure that you are saved?
(2) MUST BE DEDICATED TO THE TASK! * Rom. 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren ...”
A) I get so tired of hearing folks saying, “Dear Lord, give me a burden to win souls!”
* While you wait on the burden, go out and try to win a few!
* The Lord didn’t tell you to win souls if you had a burden, He said to win them anyway!
* If you don’t want to win them, win them anyway! * If you feel like it, win them!
* If you don’t feel like it, win them anyway!
B) If we went soul-winning every time we felt like it, not a one of us would ever go!
* Because Satan will try to keep us from it! * Gal. 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: .......”
* 1 Cor. 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any .......”
* The Greek word used here for “keep under” is “hupopiazo” and it means: to hit under the eye, or
to beat the face black and blue, to bruise.
C) Paul is not speaking here of literally beating himself black and blue .......
* He means that he is determined to keep his body under control! * Let me remind you .......
* Believers are not to be controlled by their body ... They are to control their body!
* Jesus puts it this way in Luke 9:23 “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and ...”
* The Greek word for “subjection” is “doulagogeo” and means: to enslave, to lead about as a slave.
D) How do we control our bodies, Preacher? * By simply not giving in to it .......
* By denying the body whatever it craves! * We are to discipline our body!
* And when we discipline our body, we will dedicate ourselves to the task of winning souls!
* A soul-winner must be dedicated to the task!
(3) MUST UNDERSTAND HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LOST!
A) To follow Christ as a soul-winner is to have compassion!
* The word “compassion” means: To feel the pain of others in your heart!
* What makes us responsible to the lost? * Well, number one, we are saved!
* Number two: We are commissioned as a soul-winner – Matt. 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and ...”
* Number three: We are charged to be a witness – Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power ...”
B) Number four: We are entrusted with the Gospel – 1 Pet. 4:10 .......
* “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good ...”
* Number five: We are responsible to God – Eze. 33:7-9 “I have set thee a watchman ...”
* Whether you want to admit it or not, we have a responsibility to the lost!
(4) MUST REALIZE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LOST!
A) The lost person is guilty of sin – Rom. 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short ...”
* The lost person is dead in sin – Eph. 2:1 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead ...”
* The lost person is condemned before God – John 3:18 “He that believeth on him is not ...”
* The lost person is without God, having no hope – Eph. 2:12 .......
B) The lost person is facing an eternal hell – 2 Thes. 1:7-9 “And to you who are troubled rest ...”
* The lost person is blinded by Satan – 2 Cor. 4:3-4 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to ...”
* This is what it means to be lost! * A soul-winner must realize what it means to be lost!
(5) MUST HAVE REAL CONCERN! * Sowing in tears – Psalm 126:5-6 “They that sow ...”
A) Does sleep ever leave our eyes because of our concern for the souls around us?
* Concern means: To care, to show an interest in! * Do you care?
* Do you show an interest in lost souls?
(6) MUST REALIZE THE VALUE OF A SOUL! * The soul has unlimited value because .......
A) Of its divine origin ... It was created by God in His own image – Gen. 1:27; 2:7!
* Of the price paid for it ... Jesus gave His life for man’s soul!
* Of the contention for its possession – The devil wants your soul in hell!
* Of the eternal destiny awaiting it – Heaven or hell! * James 5:20 “Let him know , that he which
converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide ...”
(7) MUST MAINTAIN A HOLY PRAYER LIFE!
A) If the Lord wept and prayed over lost souls, shouldn’t we do the same? * Luke 19:41-44
* Several things we must pray for ... One: Boldness to speak to lost souls!
* Two: Wisdom to speak to the one with whom God is dealing with!
* Three: Courage to be willing to speak to anyone about Christ!
* Four: Guidance as to what to say!
* Five: Direction in bringing the prospect to a decision for Christ!
(8) MUST HAVE A LOVING, TACTFUL APPROACH! * What is tact? * It is .......
A) Saying the right thing at the right time! * That’s why you pray for wisdom!
* Use the word F.O.R.M. * Family ... Occupation ... Religion ... Message ...
* It’s very important to have a loving, tactful approach!
* Knock on the door, step back a little, and be prepared to speak kindly, and smile!
B) Introduce yourself, your church, and your partner! * My name’s __________,
* And this is __________, and we’re from the Rainbow Lake Community Church.
* State your business: “We are visiting in behalf of our church and would like to invite you to our
services ... May we come in?”
* You may be visiting an individual, so simply say, “We have come to visit John; Betty; etc., may
we come in?” * Or you may already have an appointment to see them!
C) Now that you are inside, use the word F.O.R.M. – This is a real simple method!
* It would be good to memorize this method and use it in your visiting!
(9) MUST KNOW THE PLAN OF SALVATION! * Please have a plan! * The Roman Road ...
A) The three “R’s” ... Realize you’re lost ... Repent of your sins, and Receive Christ as Savior!
* If you want to spend a little more time with them in explaining to them how to be saved, then I
would suggest you use “The Roman Road.” (You have a copy of the plan tonight)
* Let’s go through the Roman Road .......
B) Start out by asking the person or persons this question .......
* “If it were possible to know for sure that you could go to heaven, would you be interested?”
* Second: Ask them, “Can I show you from the Bible how to be saved?”
* Third: Take them down the Roman Road and try to let them read it too, and you explain it!
ROM. 3:10 ... “I’m not righteous and you’re not either.”
ROM. 3:23 ... “We all fall short of God’s standards.”
ROM. 5:12 ... “In the beginning, God and Adam’s hearts were knit together. Through Adam’s
disobedience, their sweet togetherness was broken. Adam died, both spiritually and
physically. However .......”
ROM. 5:8 ... “Here we find Christ died on the cross. He became our substitute by taking our
place on the cross.”
ROM. 6:23a ... “Most people work for wages; our pay for being a sinner is death.”
ROM. 6:23b ... “If someone gives you a gift and you receive it, you know you have it, right?”
ROM. 10:13 ... “Is a promise! If we call on Jesus, we shall be saved; not maybe, not think so,
or hope so, but shall be!”
ROM. 10:9-10 ... “Tells us how to call on the name of the Lord. Would you like to call on Him
now and be saved?”
LEAD IN SINNER’S PRAYER: “Dear Lord, I admit I am a sinner and need to be saved.
I confess all my sins to You right now. Please forgive me of all my sins and I will live for You
forever. I trust You Jesus right now as my Lord and Savior. Come into my heart and save me.
Thank You Lord for giving me eternal life. Now, give me strength and grace to live for You.
In Jesus name!!! Amen.”
