If you are not an active soul-winner, why not? There are some circumstances that keep God's people from making even an effort to win souls.
First, the size of the harvest field is overwhelming. This often keeps many Christians from labouring. When the task looks impossible to fulfill, it becomes easier to shun it than to embrace it. We must not let this hinder us from working. We must remember that no one can harvest every soul, but all of us can harvest some soul.
Then, our preconceived ideas concerning lost individuals keep us from winning souls. If we are not careful, there are certain people that we tell ourselves will always be lost. Sometimes, we cannot fathom certain individuals getting saved. Not audibly, but in our hearts, we say, "Oh, they'll never be saved." Let us rather behold the grace of God that knows no limits. "The arm of the Lord is not shortened that it cannot save," regardless of the depth of sin that floods the soul. Others have this idea that no one wants this salvation that we possess. I've had pastors say explicitly to me, "Our church is very small because no one around here wants what we have." If you tell me, "Brother, no one around here wants what I have;" then my question to you is this: "How long has it been since you offered salvation to anyone?" Too many times, we assume that no one wants it when we've not even offered it!
Thirdly, we often worry about the keeping of souls. If we win souls and they do not keep the faith, we often blame ourselves. Remember this - keeping souls saved is not our business - it is the Lord's business. I'll be the first to say that many who win souls do not disciple those souls as they should. After winning souls, they need to be taught. I will agree to that. However, it is ultimately the Lord's work to save and to keep. It is our job to bring them to Jesus. If I win you to the Lord and you do not keep the faith, it is no failure of mine. Let us not allow the possibility of one's fall keep us from soul-winning.
Fourthly, some let their lack of education, lack of an outgoing personality, or other insufficiency keep them from witnessing. When the Lord gives us a task, He will always, without exception, give us every tool that is needed to accomplish it. I do not have the wisdom; He does. I do not have the personality; He does. I do not have the knowledge; He does. I do not have connections; He does. Really, the more insufficient we are, the better off we are, in many cases. Our insufficiencies force us to rely on the Lord. Now, what happens when we rely on the Lord? He always comes through! He never fails! He always has exactly what we need!
Last, I was studying and praying recently concerning the great harvest field. After asking the Lord where the labourers are, since many of them are not in the field, the Lord answered me from His Word. In Matthew 20, Jesus gives a parable about a man who had a vineyard, and began early in the morning to search for workers. He was hiring. During the course of the day, this householder hired workers here and there. At one point, Jesus tells us where he got some of his labourers. Jesus said that the householder found some "standing idle in the marketplace." The marketplace. Some are not in the field because they are in the marketplace. The marketplace is the place where people go to enjoy the fruits of other men's labours. Yes, I am glad for others who laboured, and because of their labours, we have a good place to worship. However, the work doesn't end just because there is some fruit in the marketplace. We need to continue to harvest lost souls for the kingdom of God. The marketplace is where you'll find men standing idle, with their hands in their pockets, saying things like, "It's just not like it used to be." When I was growing up, the marketplace was fuller than it is today." Oh, I've heard that until I'm tired of hearing it! If you're complaining about the marketplace being more and more empty than before, you need to hit the field! In some ways, it's not like it used to be. Churches used to be fuller. Preaching used to be more solid. Singing used to be more anointed. However, lost people today need to know that the gospel works in 2010! Lost people do not need to go to our churches and just hear stories about how it was so great in the 50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s. They need to hear a solid gospel message today! So, let's stop standing around in the marketplace wishing it was as full as it used to be, and get about harvesting the crop so we can fill it up!
First, the size of the harvest field is overwhelming. This often keeps many Christians from labouring. When the task looks impossible to fulfill, it becomes easier to shun it than to embrace it. We must not let this hinder us from working. We must remember that no one can harvest every soul, but all of us can harvest some soul.
Then, our preconceived ideas concerning lost individuals keep us from winning souls. If we are not careful, there are certain people that we tell ourselves will always be lost. Sometimes, we cannot fathom certain individuals getting saved. Not audibly, but in our hearts, we say, "Oh, they'll never be saved." Let us rather behold the grace of God that knows no limits. "The arm of the Lord is not shortened that it cannot save," regardless of the depth of sin that floods the soul. Others have this idea that no one wants this salvation that we possess. I've had pastors say explicitly to me, "Our church is very small because no one around here wants what we have." If you tell me, "Brother, no one around here wants what I have;" then my question to you is this: "How long has it been since you offered salvation to anyone?" Too many times, we assume that no one wants it when we've not even offered it!
Thirdly, we often worry about the keeping of souls. If we win souls and they do not keep the faith, we often blame ourselves. Remember this - keeping souls saved is not our business - it is the Lord's business. I'll be the first to say that many who win souls do not disciple those souls as they should. After winning souls, they need to be taught. I will agree to that. However, it is ultimately the Lord's work to save and to keep. It is our job to bring them to Jesus. If I win you to the Lord and you do not keep the faith, it is no failure of mine. Let us not allow the possibility of one's fall keep us from soul-winning.
Fourthly, some let their lack of education, lack of an outgoing personality, or other insufficiency keep them from witnessing. When the Lord gives us a task, He will always, without exception, give us every tool that is needed to accomplish it. I do not have the wisdom; He does. I do not have the personality; He does. I do not have the knowledge; He does. I do not have connections; He does. Really, the more insufficient we are, the better off we are, in many cases. Our insufficiencies force us to rely on the Lord. Now, what happens when we rely on the Lord? He always comes through! He never fails! He always has exactly what we need!
Last, I was studying and praying recently concerning the great harvest field. After asking the Lord where the labourers are, since many of them are not in the field, the Lord answered me from His Word. In Matthew 20, Jesus gives a parable about a man who had a vineyard, and began early in the morning to search for workers. He was hiring. During the course of the day, this householder hired workers here and there. At one point, Jesus tells us where he got some of his labourers. Jesus said that the householder found some "standing idle in the marketplace." The marketplace. Some are not in the field because they are in the marketplace. The marketplace is the place where people go to enjoy the fruits of other men's labours. Yes, I am glad for others who laboured, and because of their labours, we have a good place to worship. However, the work doesn't end just because there is some fruit in the marketplace. We need to continue to harvest lost souls for the kingdom of God. The marketplace is where you'll find men standing idle, with their hands in their pockets, saying things like, "It's just not like it used to be." When I was growing up, the marketplace was fuller than it is today." Oh, I've heard that until I'm tired of hearing it! If you're complaining about the marketplace being more and more empty than before, you need to hit the field! In some ways, it's not like it used to be. Churches used to be fuller. Preaching used to be more solid. Singing used to be more anointed. However, lost people today need to know that the gospel works in 2010! Lost people do not need to go to our churches and just hear stories about how it was so great in the 50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s. They need to hear a solid gospel message today! So, let's stop standing around in the marketplace wishing it was as full as it used to be, and get about harvesting the crop so we can fill it up!
