REV. DR. ODUN ORIOKE
PASSION FOR SOUL HARVEST OR SOUL-WINNING
Passion means:
• Strong and burning desire
• Burning Zeal
• Fervency
• Delight
• Burning Enthusiasm
• Very strong and consuming urge
The opposite words of passion are:
• Indifference
• Apathy
• Lack of concern
• Lack of interest
• Coldness
BIBLICAL CALL FOR PASSION FOR SOUL/ SOUL-WINNING
2 Timothy 4:1-2: “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”
Revelation 3:19 (KJV)
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF PASSION FOR SOUL/ SOUL-WINNING
- Jesus Christ
- The early Christians
Acts 8:4 (KJV)
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.Acts 11:19-21 (KJV)
19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
- Paul
1 Corinthians 9:16 (ESV)
16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
NEGLECT OF SOUL-WINNING
[biblegateway passage=”Ezekiel 3:17-21″ display=”Ezekiel 3:17-21″]
Soul winning, unfortunately suffers neglect in many churches. Most Christians have forgotten the soul harvest mandate from above Pareto law applies in church members’ commitments to ACTIVE SOUL HARVEST:
20% only win 80% of the converts!
Ponder on these:
• When last did you share the gospel with someone?
• Time is running out on you and the unsaved around you.
• Neglect of evangelism whether deliberate and non-deliberate is disobedience to God.
• It is breaking the word of God and it carries various consequences on the negligent Christian, the sinners, the society and the church.
REASONS FOR THE LACK OF PASSION FOR SOULS IN MAJORITY OF CHRISTIANS
1. Diversion of leaders from missions.
2. MISSIONAL leadership ineptitude.
3. Church leadership shift from REVIVAL ministry to SURVIVAL ministry with lots of emphasis on motivational messages to the detriment of inspirational messages.
4. We have been deceived that everybody has heard about Jesus.
5. Materialism
The consequences of these are:
1. Inadequate teachings on soul-winning
2. Feeling of inadequacy among most members in respect of soul-winnings.
3. Lack of skill
4. Fears
5. Indifference
The Dangers of neglect (Ezekiel 3:18(KJV):“ When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”)
1. Many souls will perish, which may include family members, friends etc Judgement of God on the neglect believers.
2. Spread of evil in our society.
3. Reduced rate of personal spiritual growth.
4. Missing out the rewards of soul winning in the world and the world to come
BOLDNESS FOR SOUL WINNING
TEXT: [biblegateway passage=”ACTS 4:1-21″ display=”ACTS 4:1-21″]
ACTS: 4:1: “And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,” the disciples were obedient to the command of the master that we should tell the Good News of forgiveness and salvation. But forces, powers and authorities came in, threatening to stop them.
THREATS
• The height of the people of the promise land was a threat to 10 out of the 12 spies sent out to search the Promised Land.
• Jeremiah when called was threatened by the faces of people God sent him to. Jeremiah 1:4-7
• Moses when called, saw the death warrant on in Egypt and his inability to speak well as a big threats.
• The Apostles too were threatened by the authorities, BUT they refused to be afraid. They were bold (Acts 4:13) and went on to do the work of God.
HOW TO DEVELOP BOLDNESS AND POWER FOR WITNESSING.
1. Prayer for boldness – [biblegateway passage=”Acts 4:29″ display=”Acts 4:29″]
2. Do not look at your ability or inability. Trust the Holy Spirit to do the work though you. [biblegateway passage=”Acts 1:8″ display=”Acts 1:8″].
3. Do not look at their faces – they are ordinary men/women like you.
4. Spend time with Jesus in personal fellowship every day. [biblegateway passage=”Acts 4:13″ display=”Acts 4:13″].
5. Know what to say before going – we shall give you tracts. Those who have 4 spiritual laws can use it. Just read the tracts with the people and pray with them.
6. Have the techniques of starting
7. Put God before and above all men in your heart – [biblegateway passage=”Acts 4:19″ display=”Acts 4:19″].
8. Have the faith that God will save the people you speak to.
God wants to make you a Moses for someone. Do not allow fear to hinder you. God wants to make you a Peter or a Paul for someone. Be bold and speak trusting the Holy Spirit for convert.
DEVELOPING THE HABIT OF SOUL-WINNING
Lead Bible Reference ([biblegateway passage=”Acts 4:31″ display=”Acts 4:31″])
Nature of Habits:
• Habits are things we do almost automatically. We don’t need to think or struggle at all to do them.
• They have become part and parcel of us. They can now be called our nature.
• Habits are formed. None of us was born with his habits whether good or bad; desirable or undesirable.
• Habits are formed most of the time subconsciously or non-deliberately.
• We can make deliberate efforts to form good habits.
• It must be admitted that it takes time to unlearn undesirable habits and to learn new desirable habits.
• We may not become ‘habitual’ evangelizers instantly; but with willing minds and persistent self-exposure and development we will eventually be able to evangelize as a way of life.
The followings are the secret of developing the habit of personal evangelism and of receiving anointing of the spirit of witnessing.
1. Take soul winning as the believers most central things in life – Jesus lived for the salvation of the lost souls. He went about the surface of the earth calling men into salvation. He eventually died and shed his blood and made a sacrifice for our redemption. The whole bible is written because of our souls, to prevent us from perishing.
– Let it determine other things in life – where your home seeing, profession, habitat.
– Let it influence other things in life, how you drive, how you organize your parties, your wedding, your father’s funeral, etc.
2. Be determined to be soul winners. Support your determination with prayers. See every obstacles or distraction as enemies’ strategy to rub you of the great reward of being a witness. Pray for strength.
3. Set goals for yourself. Support your goal with daily prayers. Your goal may be:
i. To speak to at least one soul per day or per week.
ii. To speak to at least 5 souls per week or
iii. To invite one soul each week to the church or
iv. To distribute 5 tracts per week or 10 per month.
N.B.: Make your goal specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and tangible.
4. Read about soul winning and soul winners. Read revival stories also on regular basis. The following books helped me- Herald of His Coming, T. D Osborne Series On Soul Winning – Soul Winning, Join this Chariot, Why Revival Tarries, The Man God Uses, Mission Stories, Like a Mighty Wind, Revival in Indonesia, Passion for Souls, The Christian Leaders of the 18th Centuries, etc.
Note: You are what you read.
5. Be involved in a soul winning programme in your church e.g. prison visit, hospital visit, village visit.
6. Participate in church training programmes/workshops on soul-winning.
7. Study all the Bible has to say on soul-winning, meditate on them regularly until your consciousness, sub-conscious and your un-consciousness beings are filled with it. Read a reference per day to choose your time. Put it in your mind and act on it.
8. Take regular stock of your soulwinning activities, whether you are keeping to your desired or determined or reasonable goals. If you are not, find out why and go into prayer and fasting to tackle the problem spiritually.
9. Do not ever think any effort on soulwinning is wasted because it is not. You cannot but reap your record.
10. Encourage others to be soul winners.