A Closer Walk with Thee
Meditations on Christian Doctrine
Biblical Soul Winning
Matthew 9:35-38
JBC 4/10/05
Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that wins souls [is] wise.
The fruit of the righteous is righteousness itself without which we can never be salt or light in our communities. Jesus said, “Accept your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Now we know that the Scribes and Pharisees were righteous in the “Letter of the Law” but not the “Spirit of the law”. Jesus pointed this out in His first encounter with the Pharisees while seated at the table of publicans and sinners:
Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what [that] means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
The Scribes and Pharisees lacked mercy because they were self-righteous. Unable to clean the inner vessel of the heart they were literally “All show and no go” when it came to bearing righteous fruit.
They were men circumcised in the flesh only - possessing hearts of stone. We as believers in Christ Jesus are the opposite – we are circumcised in the heart:
Rom 2:28,29 - for he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.
The righteousness that we aspire to is for God’s pleasure – not man’s. This is a heart of mercy and compassion, and a true soul-winners heart. One that recognizes the absolute depravity of sinners, and strives to see people made whole, restored to God, just as they are whole and restored to God. This is spirit filled, merciful, righteousness.
The second part of Proverbs 11:30 says, “…and he that wins souls is wise.” To win souls here is “To take, or to snatch away,” and is followed by an adjective meaning “Skillful, shrewd, wise.” A person who wins souls for Christ is snatching them from Satan and hell by skill and shrewdness, fulfilling Jude 21.
Jud 1:21-23 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save (Sodezo) with fear (terror), pulling [them] out of the fire (snatching with earnestness); hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Last week I spoke of three persons to whom Jesus ministered:
1. Jairus’ daughter who is a picture of one not conscious of her need for Christ or salvation, dead in trespasses and sins, but loved by her Father who intercedes on her behalf that she not simply be raised from the dead – but made whole and saved FOREVER from death and it’s great sting.
2. The woman with the issue of blood who is scared to make known her desires for being made whole. An outcast who fears God – but knows she needs God, and dares not do anything but touch the hem of His garment. She dared not approach Christ openly for fear of retribution, but Christ in His compassion says: Daughter be of good cheer your faith has made you whole.
3. Thirdly, we have two blind men spending their lives in darkness. A picture of all humankind whose ears can hear their master but desiring to gaze upon Him in a better way, desiring to “Walk in the light” seek rescue from the darkness and absolute fellowship in light for the scripture says:
1Jo 1:5-9 This then is the message, which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
There is a fourth person whom we did not discuss as I felt that ample time had been spent in teaching God’s sovereignty over “Principalities and Powers” when we were in Matthew 8:28, the account of the “Gergasene" Demoniac”. Matthew 9:32-33 says:
As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spoke…
“Demonic possession is real! Demonic oppression is real! Jesus’ power over demons and Satan is real! When we set out to win souls for Jesus Christ spiritual warfare is real! That is why it is so important that we attend to praying that the “Lord of the harvest send laborers into the harvest.”
Many today overlook this portion of redemption in the body of Christ. It is as if demons no longer exist:”
Revolution in World Missions, KP Yohannan P.125-127
I. We must possess Compassion - Matthew 9:35-38
A. Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, eteaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease 9among the people. 36 fBut when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were 1weary and scattered, glike sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, h“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 iTherefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
B. The sheep were weary and scattered
1. Burdened by the weight of the law
2. Jesus cries out in Matthew 11:25-30
C. Compassion upon the Parents weeping for their dying children
D. Compassion upon the outcast of society, the blind of sight and those bound by demonic influences.
E. We must have compassion upon the multitudes – but compassion is sometimes not enough. For the Christian winning souls is commanded.
II. We must obey the Greatest Commission – Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15
A. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, l“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 mGo 3therefore and nmake disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 oteaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am pwith you always, even to the end of the age.” 4Amen.
B. Go make disciples of all nations
1. The Pharisees were poor soul-winners:
2. Matthew 23:1-15
C. They thought much of themselves
1. James 1:23-27
2. Knowledge puffs up – love edifies
D. Baptizing them…
1. Baptism is not an option for believers
a) Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness
b) Not because baptism saves
2. Mark 16:16
a) But because baptism is commanded
3. The Ethiopian Eunuch is a good example
a) He wanted to be baptized
b) But there was an order to the ordinance
c) Believe first!
E. Teaching them to glorify God and serve Him alone!
III. We must teach the Greatest Commandment
A. Mark 12:28–3434 vBut when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, wa lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”37 Jesus said to him, x‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: y‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 zOn these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
B. Love the Lord thy God – Be committed to Him alone
1. In a moral sense
a) No Idols
b) No compromise
2. Creed
C. With all your:
1. heart – Seat of all emotions
2. soul - Intellect
3. mind – Understanding and imagination, deep thoughts
4. Strength – Ability and force
5. And your neighbor as yourself.
Now Is All the Time We Have
Remember that this may be the day the Lord returns. The thought of Psa_118:24 surely includes our rejoicing in the return of the Lord. If I really believe Christ may return today, I’ll live differently than I ever have, seeking to affect others for Christ. Nobody knows when He will return, so we ought to live each day as though He will come back today.
Use time wisely, make the most of every opportunity (Col_4:5). Don’t make excuses-be involved in the lives of those outside the Lord. Pray daily that God will keep alive in your heart a picture of those who are outside Christ as being lost. Ask God to revive your loving concern that all men be taught of Him, and to help you be involved in every effort to teach them.
Treat everyone as if you’ll never see them again (Act_10:37-38). If we don’t take for granted that we’ll have time in the future, surely our treatment of each other will greatly improve. Use the time NOW to share a little about Jesus, for you may not have another opportunity.
D. If we truly believe NOW is all the time we have, what a difference that will make in our lives. It’s great to be part of the family of God.
