Soul-winning

The term “soul-winning” simply refers to the practice of trying to lead lost sinners to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.  Surely, I nor you can save anybody—Only Jesus Christ can save!!!  However, God Almighty has entrusted the job of soul-winning to ALL HIS DISCIPLES.  If you are a saved, born-again Believer, then you are COMMANDED to be a soul-winner.  Listen to the clear teaching of Jesus Christ Himself in Matthew 28:19 and 20, “Go ye therefore, and TEACH ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: TEACHING THEM to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  It is our duty as Children of God to “teach them.”  Teach who?  We are to teach the Gospel of Christ to lost sinners.  We are to teach those whom we lead to Christ how to win others to Christ.  We are we supposed to teach them.  What do we teach them?  “...to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”  It was the responsibility of the disciples in Jesus’ day to teach the Gospel to all nations (all people).  If someone became a Believer, accepting Jesus Christ as Almighty God and Savior, then the disciples were to help that new convert grow in the Lord and become a soul-winner also.  This is God’s divine plan to win the lost to Christ—We are responsible!!!  
I am sickened when I hear some dead-beat, backslidden Believer criticize soul-winning.  The Bible praises the soul-winning Christian, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and HE THAT WINNETH SOULS IS WISE” (Proverb 11:30).  It is wise to win souls to Jesus!  It is wise to go soul-winning!  It is wise to witness to friends, family and strangers concerning the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ!  Don’t let the pessimism of fools rob you of your reward in heaven—soul-winning is wise!!!  By the way, the opposite is also true—it is foolish NOT to be a soul-winner—It is foolish to criticize soul-winning—it is foolish NOT to warn your loved ones of the coming day of judgment when they will stand before God.  We read the following words in Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.”  Lest there be any doubt as to whom we should witness to, God tells us to witness to ALL.  As an example: The gruesome mass murderer, Jeffrey Dahmer, was considered more of a creature than a man by many.  Even still, a couple of soul-winning Christians went to visit his prison cell to witness to him.  Unbelievably, Dahmer confessed Christ and was baptized a couple weeks later.  Shortly thereafter he was murdered by a follow prisoner himself.  Did this wicked man really get saved?  Only God can answer that.  Many people scoffed and accused Dahmer of simply trying to get a lighter sentence, etc.  The bottom line folks is that WE DON’T KNOW.  If Dahmer was sincere, He is in heaven right now.  Jesus clearly stated, “...him that cometh to me I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT” (John 6:37).  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1st John 1:9). What a blessed promise!—Anyone, no matter how wicked or sinful, can come to the Lord Jesus for forgiveness and salvation.  If Jeffrey Dahmer came to Jesus Christ as a wicked sinner seeking forgiveness, he found it.  We cannot rightfully judge what has happened or not happened in another person’s heart—Only time will tell.  Never underestimate the power of the Gospel.  
Soul-winning works folks!!!  Many people who will not come to church or read a tract will listen to someone whom they feel respects them.  Jesus said, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for THEY ARE WHITE ALREADY TO HARVEST” (John 4:35). The Bible teaches that there is always someone who is ready to get saved.  You may witness to many people who seem disinterested but in fact, you have sowed a seed in their heart that the Holy Spirit will use to lead them closer to salvation.  Eventually, hopefully, some soul-winner will have the joyous opportunity to win that person to Christ as Savior.    This is why Jesus said, “And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth” (John 4:37).  My point here is that you may think your wasting your time witnessing to some people, but your not.  Only God knows the countless number of sinners who were eventually reached for Christ because of all the failed witnessing attempts by other soul-winners.  You simply don’t know my friend what is going on in the heart and life of another person.  It is our duty to witness to others concerning Christ crucified, whether they listen or not is an entirely different matter between them and God.  Our job is to get the Gospel out to sinners.  
Most Believers are NOT soul-winners.  This is because they are NOT soul-conscious!!!  There is no burning hunger in their hearts to see sinners come to know Christ as Personal Savior.  There is no sadness over the fact that most of the world is headed straight for hell to burn in torments of fire and brimstone.  The Bible teaches SOUL-WINNING.  soul-winning!!!  I believe in approaching people concerning their salvation.  If the Gospel offends them, so be it.  If hell is real and hell has fire and people without Christ go to hell—We must warn them!!!  I once had a preacher (of all people) tell me that he didn’t believe in “shoving the Gospel down people’s throats.”  He was upset at my mention of “door-to-door witnessing.”  Now I don’t believe in being rude or unkind to people but I certainly disagree with his statement.  Going door-to-door soul-winning is taught in the Bible.  The Bible tells us that the Apostle Paul was a door-to-door soul-winner, “...but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from HOUSE TO HOUSE” (Acts 20:20).   Houses have doors and doors need to be knocked on if the Gospel is to be taught to the folks living inside.  Sure, most people won’t listen to you BUT SOME DO LISTEN AND SOME DO GET SAVED.  The Apostle Paul was a door-to-door soul-winner!!!  Acts 20:20 has been referred to as the “Christian’s 20/20 vision.”  Are we better than the Apostle Paul?  I think not.  If the Apostle Paul went door-to-door, we have no excuse not to at least confront our loved one’s and friends concerning Christ.  The idea that only a pastor or evangelist is supposed to be a soul-winner is NOT taught in God’s Word.  ALL Believers are expected by God to make an effort to lead others to Jesus Christ for Salvation.  Unfortunately, people are selfish and self-centered by nature and seek not the things of the Lord.  These were the words of the frustrated Apostle Paul, “FOR ALL SEEK THEIR OWN, not the things which are Jesus Christ's” (Philippians 2:21).  Paul was a loner, he had a hard time finding other Believers who cared about lost souls.  This is the same situation we face in America today.  So many Believers have been choked by the cares and riches of this present world.  It’s difficult to find Believers that truly have a heart’s concern to see folks saved anymore.  Sadly—music, TV, sports, cars, sex, alcohol, drugs, casinos, the stock market, parties, lotteries and Hollywood have become the false gods of America.  Certainly, each of us can do more for Christ in our personal soul-winning efforts.  Every Believer should have a tract ministry, a life of prayer, a consistent Bible study and a time for witnessing to others concerning our wonderful Savior.