GOD EQUIPS YOU FOR THIS WORK
In Acts 1:8 and Eph 4:11-13, we see two very important scriptures that show us how the Lord Himself made provision for us to be equipped as effective witnesses and soulwinners.
Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Eph 4:11-12 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
This is glorious!
THE SUPREME ADVANTAGE OF THE SOULWINNER
As you begin your ministry of reconciliation, and winning others, the adversary (satan) will try to use different things to stop you or slow you down. Our Lord Jesus warned of this in several scriptures (eg Luke 21:34).
But your secret and guarantee of an effective, ever fervent, dynamic and fruitful life of soulwinning is the Holy Spirit.
First is to receive Him, and second is to be continuously filled with Him.
In Acts1:8, our Lord Jesus told the disciples to wait until they receive the Holy Spirit. If they needed Him, you also need Him.
And in Eph 5:18-19, the scriptures tell us to be ever full of the Spirit.
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION
In a PastorChrisLive Segment during one of our Communion Services, someone asked the question “will a Christian that doesn’t win souls go to heaven?”
The real question is why should a Christian not want to win souls?
If truly you have received Jesus as Lord and Saviour, why will you not do the very thing He asked you to do, which is tell others about Him so they can also be saved as you have been saved?!
See what Jesus said in Matt 12:30 (MSG)
“This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse.”
So if He really is your Lord, you do what He said. You join Him in His mission and work. You should not be seating in the place of disobedience. This is wisdom!
Prov11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”
Dan 12:3 “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.”
Rom 10:15 “.... How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
Don’t you want these to be your testimony?!
And just see this scripture below, which should settle all controversy!
2 Cor 5:14-15
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
If He is truly your Savior, you shouldn’t be trying to do less for Him, you should be living your whole life for Him! Hallelujah!
THINK ABOUT THE LOST
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being
alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart (Ephesians 4:17-18).
The verses above reveal the dangerous plight of the unbeliever. He’s in spiritual darkness and is alienated; that is, cut off from the life of God. Ephesians 2:3
further refers to them as children of wrath. That means children appointed unto the wrath or anger of God. What a terrible state for anyone to be! Ephesians 2:12 refers to them as “hopeless and without God in the world.”
While still a student on campus many years ago, I read this portion of Scripture and it got me thinking. I considered the students on campus that were living without God, and thought, “Dear Lord, how could anyone live in such darkness? How could they go to bed at night, and live another day without God?”
I was moved with compassion and began to intercede for them: “O, God, don’t let them die and go to hell without receiving Christ. Help me to reach them with the news of your saving power, and your eternal plan for all mankind.” I felt constrained to tell them about Jesus, because nothing could be more damning than living without God and having no hope in the world! This should make you think about your friends, relatives, colleagues, neighbours and associates that aren’t born again. They’re hopeless in the world, without Christ.
You can’t afford to let them keep living without God, drifting farther and farther into the abyss of darkness. Let the hopelessness of their situation compel you to intercede for them. Pray that they’d be delivered from the domain of darkness and the power of Satan unto the glorious liberty of the sons of God. You may be the only one with the
opportunity to touch their lives with the Gospel. Therefore, preach to them and teach them the Word. Tell them God loves them so much He sent Jesus to die for them (John 3:16).
Contribute your time, effort, and resources to soulwinning. Be known for your passion for the Lord, His Gospel, and the souls of men.
DISCONNECTED FROM THE PAST
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When Jesus died, you died with Him; when He was buried, you were buried with Him; and when He resurrected, you also arose with Him into a newness of life. Your past was backdated to Calvary, and your new life started with the resurrection of Jesus Christ: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
Anyone who has received Christ is a new species of being that never existed before. The old man has been crucified with Christ but there’s a new man with a new life
in his place now. No wonder Colossians 3:10 says, “…put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” In Romans 7:6, the Apostle Paul, emphasizing our disconnection from the past and old ways of
life, admonished that we serve God in the newness of spirit: “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”
It doesn’t matter who you are, and what you’ve achieved; what counts with God is that you’re born again and thus, have become a new creation in Christ Jesus: “For
in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature” (Galatians 6:15). Until a man is born again, he’ll wander in darkness.
He’ll be affected and limited by his nationality, educational background, environment, earthly lineage, etc. But when you’re born again, something new happens. Suddenly, you’re brought into God’s class of being. All of those factors cease to be the dominant factors of your life, because you now live by new principles of life; you have the nature of God, and live by His Word!
It doesn’t matter what you were born with; it doesn’t matter what infirmity your great-grand father had. If you’re in Christ, you’re severed from everything of the past; no more darkness! It makes no difference how terrible your entire life has been; you’re in Christ now. Therefore, everything has changed! The past is gone. You have a new life. Walk with this consciousness!
ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW
Being in Christ or now that you’re born again, everything about your life is brand new and of God. If you found anything that’s not of God in your life—something that hurts, binds, demeans or limits you—rebuke it and it’ll be gone. That’s because all such things (old things) are passed away. The failures, sickness, poverty, and defeats of the past are all gone. That’s what the Word says.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ… (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).
The things that are permissible in your life are things that “are of God,” and that cancer isn’t of God. That pain, frustration, or crisis that has brought despondency isn’t from God. Reject it. You have a new life in Christ, and this new life destroys sickness and disease, because it’s the life of God.
You may say, “But I still feel the pain or effect of sickness or disease in my body, even though I’m born again”; refuse to cower. Rather, keep affirming, “I have a new life, and it’s the Christ-life; it burns up every trace of sickness and disease from my body.”
Keep vocalizing your faith like that, trusting what God has said: He’s called you to glory and virtue, not to poverty, sickness or death.
ALL THAT TRULY MATTERS
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10).
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As a Christian, every opportunity of service that God gives to you is important, and it means a lot in the Kingdom. You should realise that each one of us is going to give an account to God for the life we lived and for all He asked us to do. You’ll give an account to Him for your participation in the ministry of the Gospel; that’s what we read in our opening verse.
Sometimes, when we’re involved in something, whether an activity or a project, we often become oblivious of some important realities. People aren’t able to often stand outside of themselves to examine their ways and actions. And so, not many realise that their actions are a message every day, for which they must give an account to God.
You have to remember that your service of God, and to God, is written in God’s Book. Every word spoken, every act of your life, is in God’s Book. Your story is being written by God; you inspire that story. He has a plan that He’s already written concerning you, but you write your own story too every day in the way and manner you live your life.
One day, there’ll be a comparison between the life God drew up for you, the life He ordained for you, and what you eventually turned out to be; how you eventually lived. And your reward will be in line with how the life you lived measured up to the life He drew up for you.
The most important thing in your life is to discover God’s purpose for you, and fulfil it. Nothing on earth compares with serving the Lord and living for Him. Nothing could be better for time and eternity than to live for Jesus Christ; He’s all that truly matters: “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).
AMBASSADORS OF GOOD NEWS
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation) (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).
We’re living in the day of salvation; the day of God’s grace, not His wrath. The Bible says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13).
As we approach the end of this present world, we’re to live circumspectly, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present them perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28). He wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).
That’s why He sent us to preach the Good News of salvation; to preach the Gospel. This is the day of the Gospel, and “Gospel” means good news! We’re ambassadors of Good News: “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).
In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus said to His disciples, “... The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” We’re His labourers for the harvest, His witnesses, sent with the message of His saving power. We’re the bearers of the Gospel of His grace.
Take the message everywhere. Preach it boldly, and He’ll confirm your words with signs, wonders and miracles. Remember, Jesus said, “…this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).
This Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. It’s the power of God to make sinners righteous, to bring men into fellowship with God. What an honour it is to be the bearer of the Good News of Christ’s salvation, helping people discover Jesus, and turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.
EXCITED ABOUT HIS RETURN
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man (LUKE 21:36).
Jesus Christ is coming again. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 gives us a graphic revelation of His amazing return. It says, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
I’m so inspired just to think that one day, the Lord will show up with a shout. It isn’t someone else that’s going to shout for Him, but the Lord Himself will! Some people think we’re hyping His return too much, but that’s because they don’t know who Jesus is. He’s the Monarch of the universe. The whole earth belongs to Him—governments and galaxies inclusive. He rules the world.
While on earth, He often went with a multitude of disciples. How about when He entered Jerusalem? The Bible says, “…all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?” (Matthew 21:10). People came out from everywhere and lined the streets. All these happened when He was the lamb to be sacrificed. What do you think will happen now that He’s coming as the King of kings and Lord of lords!
Be inspired by the new heaven and the new earth; Revelation 22:5 says, “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” How glorious! We haven’t followed cunningly devised fables (2 Peter 1:16); we’ve received truth; we’ve trusted in His truth and lived in His truth.
What we’re doing for the Lord, reaching out with the Gospel and winning souls around the world, aren’t for nothing; we’re preparing for His return. He told us He’ll be back; so, we’re telling everybody. These are the final moments of the last days; the time left is so short. Therefore, we’ll fulfill His vision and prepare the world for His return. Hallelujah!
THE CONDITION IS TO BE IN CHRIST
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The above scripture is God’s announcement and unveiling of the new man through the Apostle Paul. Let’s analyse the verse carefully. First, it says “if any man be in Christ…,” which means “anybody,” irrespective of who he is, once in Christ, is a new creation. The environment of the new man is Christ. Notice it doesn’t say, “He will be a new creation,” or “He shall be a new creation”; rather, it says, “…he is a new creation….” This isn’t a promise; it’s a statement of fact.
The word “is” is a “now” verb, showing a present-hour occurrence or reality. If you’re in Christ, you’re a new creation NOW. You’re not a reworked, renewed, or refurbished
creation; you were born anew, without a past! You’ve been baptized into the body of Christ, by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). It makes no difference whether or not you feel so. This is God’s picture of you; this is His declaration about you: you’re a new creation in Christ. Your human spirit, through faith in Christ Jesus, has been recreated, and you’re now the righteousness of God in Him.
As a result, you can now stand boldly in God’s presence without guilt, inferiority or condemnation, because you have the same life and nature with Him; you’re born of
His Spirit (John 3:6). 1 John 4:17 says, “…as he is, so are we in this world” ; you’re not going to be like Him, you’re already like Him, and you’re in Him, and He’s in you. Together, you’re one divine creation. Blessed be God!
SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13)
Sanctification is part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Even though you’re born again and your spirit is alive to God, your mind still needs to be purified of all the garbage recorded therein. It’s the reason for the renewal of the mind the Bible talks about in Romans 12:2.
The more you study and receive God’s Word, the more the wrong thoughts, ideas and relics of the old nature in your mind are removed and replaced with God’s holy thoughts, His holy words and the manifestation of His kingdom. That’s why the Bible says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (Colossians 3:16).
That desire to do the wrong things, to go in the way of the world, to make the wrong choice, only the Word of God can get rid of it. So, Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Notice that He’s addressing God’s people and not the people of the world. Don’t yield your mind to sin; don’t yield it as an instrument of unrighteousness. You’re a sanctified person.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Notice our underlined portion! You’ve been sanctified by the Spirit to serve the living God. He’s purged your conscience of dead works through the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ in your behalf. No wonder He says, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Blessed be God!
BE UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT THE GOSPEL
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord...(Philippians 3:8)
When I analyze some of the things going on in the world today, I remember the commitment of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They said to the king, “We will not bow to your image of gold.” And the king got angry and threatened to throw them into a burning fiery furnace. But they responded boldly, “Our God is able to deliver us from your fire; but if He doesn’t, we still won’t bow” (Read Daniel 3).
They weren’t refusing to bow to the king’s image because they expected that God would deliver them. It didn’t matter to them whether or not they’d be delivered from the fire. They were standing their ground because of their commitment to the Lord, recognizing that He’s the only true God. Thus, in spite of the intimidation, they wouldn’t budge! What a conviction!
It was a similar case with Daniel. There had been a decree against prayer to any God but the king for thirty days. But Daniel continued in prayer; the Bible says when he found out a decree had been passed to outlaw prayer, he prayed again as he always did, knowing that the supervisors were watching (Daniel 6:6-10).
For refusing to yield to the obnoxious decree by the King, Daniel was thrown into the Lion’s den. There’s no record that Daniel prayed to be delivered from the lion’s den; he was rather ready to be eaten up by lions than deny his faith in God. These are set for us as examples. Our situation today isn’t any different. When it comes to what God has said versus what anyone else is saying, it’s not a difficult choice; there’s just one way we go—Jesus only! We serve the Lord Christ. When it comes to the call of the Gospel, live or die, we’re the Lord’s! Hallelujah!
Never find yourself apologetic, intimidated or reluctant to express your convictions about Christ and the message of the Gospel. We’ve got to be ready. We’re from a lineage of those who gave everything and requested no deliverance; they wanted a better resurrection, a victorious one. Come what may, be undaunted; be bold about your faith in Jesus Christ. Be convinced and compelled by the truth of the Gospel and preach it boldly.