LOVE FOR THE PERISHING SOULS IS THE BASIC NEED FOR THE EVANGELISM

 

LOVE FOR THE PERISHING SOULS IS THE BASIC NEED FOR THE EVANGELISM.

(Rev. E. Rajan)

The Scriptures make it far too clear that evangelism and soul-winning is not an option; it is your Christian duty to evangelize so as to win souls for the Lord Jesus Christ – be a soul winner. Numbers 16:48 says that ‘ Moses stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. Acts 20:31 Paul says that "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears". So, winning others for Christ is a duty and responsibility given to every saved believer of Christ.

I. The Importance of Love for Souls.

1. Because love for souls is an essential element of Christ-like character. Not to have a 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 heart or inexcusable ignorance.

II. Practice it with the following.

1. Have a deep concern for the salvation of perishing souls.

2. Take earnest efforts for their salvation.

3. Always lookout for opportunities to proclaim the Good News to someone.

 4. Go out to seek for them the interested people.

5. Enjoy the joy of God over saved souls.

 6. Ready for the sacrifices to save them.

7. Pray for those who still need to be saved.

III. How to cultivate the passion for the perishing souls.

The great fact to bear in mind in seeking an answer to this question is that love for souls is the work of the Holy Spirit. This we all believe theoretically. I wish we might be made to see it vividly and feel it to the very depths of our soul. Feel it deeply that the Holy Spirit alone can impart to you this glorious grace.

But on what conditions does He impart it?

 1. A deep and genuine desire on our part for the love of souls.

2. Prayer. Luke 11:13. 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. Prayer. Expectant. Personal.

 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. 2_Corinthians 3:18.

 4. The Spirit works more largely as we put into operation what He has already wrought. Go to work.

SOUL WINNING

…and he that winneth souls is wise." Proverbs 11:30.

Every wise man will make soul-winning the business of life.

I.                   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. Not to apostles only, every believer is a soul winner.

 

II.                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 a 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.

 

III.             Because it is the work in which we shall enjoy the unspeakable privilege of Christ's personal presence. Matthew 28:20. It is when we go His way that He goes ours. It is when we go forth with Him that He goes forth with us.

 

IV.             Because it is the work of the Holy Spirit Acts 1:8. The gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed for a special purpose and enjoyed in a special task. That we may be witnesses, that we may have power in soul-winning, not merely for our own personal blessing and enjoyment.

 

V.                Because it is the work that transforms individuals, families and society. 2 Cor.5:17. Col. 1:6  In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world

                         1. The value of that which is saved, a soul. Mark 8:36.

2. the soul is saved, "from death." Not a mere cessation of existence but the degradation of existence, eternal shame and infamy, agony.

3. The soul is saved. To happiness. To holiness. To glory. To fellowship, and likeness to God.

         VI.             Because it is the work that brings the largest and most enduring reward. John 4:36;                             Daniel 12:3

            God himself will reward his disciples, believers. The God who created heaven and Earth will say to all his disciples Well done. And honour them with the crown and give them the mansions made for them John 14:1.

 CONCLUSION: Will you make soul-winning the great business of your life? Oh for a church of men and women who would say, and say honestly, "From this time I live for one purpose. I live to seek and save the lost. As God gives me health, by consecrated living, by earnest and unceasing praying, by unwearied working, I will do what lies in me to rescue the perishing."