Intro- I would rather win souls than be the greatest king or emperor on earth; I would rather win souls than be the greatest general that ever commanded an army; I would rather win souls than be the greatest poet, or novelist, or literary man that ever walked the earth. My one ambition in life is to win as many as possible. Oh, it is the only thing worth doing, to save souls, and men and women, we can all do it. It’s my business to preach the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s His business to bring results. These were the words of the great evangelist R.A. Torrey who had an international evangelistic ministry and who led many souls to Jesus Christ. These were the words of a True Evangelist.
In order to really see a revival in our churches, in our nation and in order to see a revival in evangelism, there are six principles that one must take hold of in order to truly make a difference in the Kingdom of God
First, One must have a love for souls- Acts 20:31 tells us that Paul for three years ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. This verse shows us the heart Paul had for souls and it opens to us one of the great secrets of Paul’s Power.
A. The Importance of Love for Souls
1. Because love for souls is an essential element of Christ-like character. Not to have love for souls is to be radically unlike Christ
2. Because love for souls is necessary to successful efforts for their salvation
3. Because lack of love for souls reveals either great hardness of the heart or inexcusable ignorance
B. How is love for souls manifested?
1. In a deep concern for their salvation
2. In earnest efforts for their salvation
3. In our being a constant lookout for opportunities to have some one
4. In going out to seek for them
5. In joy over lost souls saved
6. In sacrifices made to save them
7. In deep sorrow of soul for those who will not be saved. Too often are we provoked rather than sad
C. How do I obtain a love for lost souls?
-The great thing to keep in mind in seeking an answer to this question is that love for souls is the work of the Holy Spirit. But on what conditions does the Spirit impart it?
1. A deep and genuine desire on our part for a love for souls
2. Prayer. The prayer should be definite. Not merely for the work of the Holy Spirit in general, but for this specific and definite work of the Spirit. It seems to be a law of the Holy Spirit’s operation that He only gives that which we definitely see to be His work and definitely seek
3. The Spirit works through instrumentalities. The Truth. What Truth?
a. The value of the soul
b. The peril of the soul
c. Christ’s love for souls
II. One must understand the importance of soul winning. Proverbs 11:20 says The Fruit of the Righteous is a tree of life; but he that winneth souls is wise. Every wise man will make soul winning the business of life because:
A. Because it is the work Christ has appointed us to do- Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15- This is Christ’s commission to His disciples. The apostolic church undoubtedly understood that the commission was for the whole church and not merely to the officials. The idea of the church that soul-winning is the business of the pastor’s and the evangelist’s is utterly foreign to the New Testament ideas of the church.
B. Because it was the business of life with Jesus Christ and by making it the business of our lives we are following Him. Luke 19:10. No one has the right to call himself a follower of Christ who is not a soul winner, who is not going out to seek and save the lost.
C. Because it is the work in which we shall enjoy the unspeakable privilege of Christ’s personal presence. Matthew 28:20 says and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. It is a wonder that men pay so little attention to very stated condition of this promise.
D. Because it is the work for which the gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed and in which we enjoy the fullness of the Spirit’s power. Acts 1:8. The gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed for a special purpose and enjoyed in special work. That we may be witnesses, that we may have power in soul winning, not merely for our own personal blessing and enjoyment.
E. Because it is the work that produces the most beneficial results. James 5:20 says He which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death. It saves souls from death. Three things we must consider here
1. The value of that which is saved a soul. Mark 8:36 says For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
2. The second thing to notice is the awfulness of that from which the soul is saved, from death. Not a mere cessation of existence but the degradation of existence, eternal shame and infamy, agony.
3. That to which the soul is saved
- To happiness
- To Holiness
- To glory
- To fellowship and likeness to God
III. One must understand and feel the reality of Hell
A. Many times people church neglect preaching about Hell, but it our responsibility as ministers to preach on Hell because it is a very real place. Read parts of Luke 16 and Matthew 7:21-24- “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
B. Many times Jesus warns His listeners of the place called Hell
C. Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost, and to provide salvation for an unregenerate world
D. Jesus illustrates the importance in Luke 5 of the importance of repentance and forgiveness when he heals the paralytic man of the palsy.
E. We must remember what it was like when we were lost in our sins and on our way to Hell. We must feel the darkness and torments of Hell.
IV. We must be genuine Christians if we want to reach the Lost
A. God hates lukewarm, and people are watching constantly, so be genuine!
B. Do you possess spiritual fruit in your life?
C. Does the Lost see Jesus living in your life?
D. We must be salt and we must be light in a dark world
E. We must understand that in order to reach the lost our lives must be pure and holy
F. The lost are looking to see a difference in your life
V. WE MUST PREACH THE WORD, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD!!!!
A. We must preach out again sin even it becomes unpopular to do so
B. We must preach repentance
C. We must preach the Word
D. There is no pleasure in the World that will bring satisfaction, Only Jesus will bring satisfaction
VI. In order to experience Holy Ghost Revival we must have the same Pentecostal Power that the first century church experienced. Simply put we must become a first century church in a twenty-first century world. This Pentecostal power is available for believers today if they will sell out and present their bodies a living sacrifice.
A.The Character of the Power- Acts 1:8-But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.". It is power for testimony and service
B.The Source of the Power- Acts 1:8. The Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God himself wielded the Sword of the Spirit
C.The Human conditions of the power- In other words what had the 120 done that prepared the way for and made certain the coming of the Holy Spirit in this Pentecostal Display of Power?
1.The Disciples were wholly surrendered to Christ
2.The Disciples were obedient
3.The Disciples recognized their need 1:14. There must be a clear recognition
4.The Disciples intensely desired. For ten days they bent their thought and prayer largely to this one point
5.The Disciples prayed
6.The Disciples believed. They expected.
D. How was the Spirit manifested in their lives?
1. Spoke in the Spirit’s power. They gave up their own strength and wisdom and used God’s
2. Testified to the mighty works of God, No talk of self, self was lost sight of
3. They preached Christ vs. 22-35
E. Results of the Spirit moving
1. Multitude amazed, marveled perplexed
2. Some mocked v.13
3. Men pricked to the very core of their being v.37. Genuine conviction. The need of this day
4. Genuine conversion vs. 41,42
VII- Conclusion- Can we have this power and similar results in our churches today? The answer is yes! I truly believe that God wants to revive this nation and revive the world! My soul waits upon God, for my expectation is from Him! I rejoice in the fact that you have read this post ; I rejoice in the amount of prayer that has been laid for me as I preach the Word. And friends, God has heard your prayers and is going to do something great in our midst! I say this from no confidence of my own, but because I believe I have heard the voice of God, and I say this as a prophet of God believing that you and I are going to see one of the mightiest movements in the history of the church of Jesus Christ on earth! I believe God wants me to spread this gospel throughout this land and to the whole world! I still believe that mass evangelism works and I still believe that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. Thanks and be blessed!
Reverend Tony Workman, Host of Reviving Your Day!
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