The Soulwinner's Task - Proverbs 11:30
The Opposition we face
A permissive society
Anarchy - Every man does what is right in his own eyes
Personal rights over God's laws
Kingdom of self rather than Kingdom of God
Lack of absolutes - children choose their own way without interference from Biblical or moral guidelines
Situation ethics - actions based on individual situation rather than Biblical ideals and precepts
Moral looseness - immorality reigns among so-called intelligent people
Devil Worship and the Occult
A rise in the occult and spiritualism
Devil worship
Black magic
Witchcraft
Contributing to the lethargic attitude toward the gospel
Men taken captive by Satan - eyes blinded
False Cults
Aggressive door-to-door methods
Rise of false religion - eastern religions
New age
Add to scriptures and deny Christ as the only way
Life Church
Church has lost its credibility - people less and less confident in the church
Few attend church regularly
Church more concerned with social action than eternal souls
Lack of power in the pulpits and in prayer
Lack of relevance - "no message"
Lack of true commitment
Youth Rebellion
Their interests involve media that requires little effort
More entertainment oriented than pursuit oriented
1600 hours/year on TV, 300 hours listening to music, 100 hours reading
Teens believe in God in a very general way - not personal
Sin Abounding
Moral standards at all time low
Sin more rampant and blatant than ever
Sin more open and inviting
Sin rationalized like never before
Our response
Opposition is strong, organized, and combatant
So must we be
We must invade Satan's territory and set the captives free
The State of the Sinner
The Bible says
They are "lovers of pleasure" - 2 Tim 3:4
They are "lovers of darkness" - john 3:19
They are 'lovers of their own selves" - 2 Tim 3:2
They are disobedient, proud, stubborn, independent, bent on going their own way
Transgression - willful, rebellious sin
Iniquity - moral crookedness
Sin - missing the mark - coming short
The sinner is
A rebel, enemy, child of wrath, wicked, ungodly, child of darkness
The principle underlying the action of sin
Man is not a sinner because he sins; he sins because he is a sinner
Three types of lost souls
The lost sheep - habit of the sinner
Prone to wander
Isaiah 53:6
Cannot find its way home
Natural inclination to stray
The lost coin - helplessness of the sinner
Lost even when unaware of it
Lost coin cannot find itself
What is needed is for someone to search for and find it
The lost son - willfulness of the sinner
A deliberate act - not accidental - an act of the will
Coming back must be just as deliberate
Worker must discern where the sinner is at
The Soul Winner's Part
"It requires more faith and courage to say two words face to face with one single sinner than a whole sermon from the pulpit to a thousand people."
"We are dealing with miracles, and we cannot perform miracles."
Though the task is hard, there is no excuse for neglecting it.
Jesus didn't say "Go if it's convenient," but, "go!" Men are lost. Our job is to tell them the good news. If we don't, they're position is hopeless.
The task is great, but God is greater.
The soul winner must go forth in faith. He can reach to the uttermost, but only if we will take the message.
It is our job to obey. It is his job to convert.
God can only reach as far as we are willing to take the message.