OceanSide church of Christ

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THE HEART OF A SOUL-WINNER

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     The church is dying.  The Church Is Dying.  THE CHURCH IS DYING.

 

B.      This appears to be the situation in many places throughout the United States.

 

C.     We have a tendency to make all kinds of excuses for this problem.

1.       People are not interested.

2.       The world has become much more secular.

3.       People are comfortable in their man-made religions.

 

D.     Question:  How do we deal with Jesus’ words in John 4:35?

 

Say ye not, There are yet four monthS, and then cometh the harvest?  behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

 

1.       Jesus tells us that there is a harvest that is waiting.

2.       In other words, there are many souls in the world who will hear the gospel and obey it.

 

E.      When it comes to a dying church, our problem is not external.  The problem is internal.

1.       We just do not have very many soul-winners in the church.

2.       Every Christian needs to develop:  “The Heart of A Soul-Winner.”

3.       Let’s examine what the heart of a soul-winner involves.

 

I.                    A SOUL-WINNER’S HEART LOATHES SIN

 

A.     Every child of God knows what sin is.  It is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4).

 

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:  for sin is the transgression of the law.

 

B.      Yes, we know what it is, but do we truly loathe it?

1.       Loathe:  to feel disgust or intense aversion for, abhor

2.       There might be a few sins that we truly loathe:  murder, prostitution, and pedophilia.

3.       There are other sins, however, that we know are wrong, but we may not have a deep disgust for them in our hearts:  perverting the Word of God, worshipping God incorrectly, or not having an interest in spiritual things.

 

C.     In order to loathe sin, we must have some understanding of it.

1.       Sin starts with Satan.

2.       Sin stains man’s soul.

3.       Sin separates man from God.

4.       Sin scars lives.

5.       Sin suspends one from Heaven.

6.       Sin sentences men to hell.

 

 

 

 

II.                 A SOUL-WINNER’S HEART LOVE’S SOULS

 

A.     The soul-winner knows man is more than a fleshly creature.  He understands that man is a triune being composed of flesh, soul, and spirit (1 Thess. 5:23).

 

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

B.      One day, this tabernacle of flesh will be cast off (2 Cor. 5:6).

 

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

 

C.     The condition of a person’s soul will determine his/her eternal destination. 

1.       If sin fills the soul, it will be condemned to a devil’s hell (Rev. 21:8).

 

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:  which is the second death.

 

2.       The soul-winner understands the end that a soul filled with sin will face. 

He loves the person’s soul too much to see this happen to it. 

He knows the message that he has can saved the person’s soul. 

Thus, his love for the person’s soul drives him to teach the individual the truth.

 

III.              A SOUL-WINNER APPRECIATES SALVATION

 

A.     Salvation is the deliverance of a person’s soul the grip of Satan and the bondage of sin (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 a multitude of sins.

 

B.      This salvation involves some extremely important things.

1.       The love of God. 

a.       This was not a love toward friend, but toward enemies.

b.      Romans 5:10

 

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

 

2.       The grace of God. 

a.       This was God’s help extended toward mankind.

b.      Titus 2:11

 

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men.

 

3.       The sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 

a.       This involved God becoming man and offering Himself for the sins of the world.

b.      1 John 2:2

 

And he is the propitiation for our sins:  and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

4.       The revelation of God’s Word. 

a.       This Word reveals to mankind how to reap the atoning benefits of Jesus’ sacrifice.

b.      Romans 1:16

 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also the Greek.

 

C.     The soul-winner knows that salvation is more than a just a word.  It involves something on the part of God that is extremely difficult for mankind to truly appreciate.

1.       God became a man.

2.       God bore man’s sins.

3.       God died for man.

4.       God rose the third day.

5.       God returned to Heaven and revealed His scheme of redemption unto man.

 

IV.              A SOUL-WINNER UNDERSTANDS HIS DEBT TO OTHERS

 

A.     Paul makes an interesting statement in Romans 1:14.

 

I am a debtor both the Greeks, and to the Barbarians, both to the wise, and to the unwise.

 

B.      A debtor is one who is under obligation of payment to another.

1.       Usually, the other person has done something good for the person.

a.       He loaned him some money.

b.      He donated an organ for an organ transplant.

c.       He helped the person through a very difficult time in life.

2.       The ones to whom Paul is a debtor have done nothing for him.

 

C.     He is a debtor to others because of what Jesus Christ did for him. 

1.       Having been saved by the precious blood of Christ, he is now indebted to tell others how they can be saved.

2.       Romans 1:14

 

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to your that are at Rome also.

 

D.     The soul-winner knowS that he can never pay Christ back for what He has done for him.  NOTE:  He is not expected to.  But, the magnitude of the grace that has been bestowed upon him must be shared with others.  He must tell others about the redemption he has received.

 

V.                 A SOUL-WINNER IS CONCERNED ABOUT CHRIST’S MISSION

 

A.     Did Jesus have a mission when He came to this earth?  Yes.

1.       Luke 9:56

 

For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them…

 

2.       Luke 19:10

 

For the Son man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

3.       John 3:17

 

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

 

B.      Jesus continued that mission through His disciples (Mark 16:15-16).

 

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

 

C.     The person who is a soul-winner is still concerned about Christ’s mission to save lost men and women.

1.       The word “concerned” comes from a Latin word that means “to mix by sifting.”  From there, it took the meaning of “distinguishing.”

2.       The soul-winner puts all of the things in his life into a sifter.  He shakes that sifter until the most important thing to him is left.  For the soul-winner, the most important thing is carrying on the mission of Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost.

3.       Acts 26:29

 

And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

 

VI.              A SOUL-WINNER YEARNS FOR FRUIT IN HIS LIFE

 

A.     Jesus tells us that one of the badges of discipleship involves bearing much fruit (John 15:8).

 

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

 

1.       The soul-winner wants to glorify God.

2.       The soul-winner wants to be classified as a disciple.

3.       Therefore, he bears much fruit.

 

B.      Paul is a classic example (Rom. 1:13).

 

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I may have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

 

C.     Someone has said:  “No Christian will enter into heaven by himself.”  During the course of his life, he will instruct someone who will obey the gospel.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Right now, the church is not being devoured from without in the United States.

1.       Yes, there are evil forces that despise Christianity.

2.       But, we are still free to openly proclaim and gospel, worship in the manner God has prescribed, and do wonderful works in His name.

 

B.      The church is in decline because of what has happened on the inside.  We have lost our heart for soul-winning.

 

 

C.     When we

1.       Loathe sin

2.       Love souls

3.       Appreciate salvation

4.       Understand our indebtedness to others

5.       Are concerned about Christ’s mission

6.       Yearn for fruit in our lives

 

D.     …we will spread the gospel.  When we do, the church will begin to grow once again (Ps. 126:6).

 

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

 

1.       What if each Christian converts one this year.

2.       Year 1 – 50 becomes 100

Year 2 – 100 becomes 200

Year 3 – 200 becomes 400

Year 4 – 400 becomes 800

Year 5 – 800 becomes 1,600