EMBRACING FAITH IN OUR MISSION FOR SOUL WINNING
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
As believers we need faith in everything we do. We are saved by grace, through faith, we need faith for healing, we need faith for breakthrough, we need faith to see the kingdom of God come, we need faith for evangelism. Hence, we need faith for soul winning. Faith is fundamental to believers' victory and existence.
Our theme for this month is “FAITH FOR SOULS” this theme emphasizes the importance of trust, belief, and conviction in our believe that it is through the power of God that we can see sinners converted from the life of sin, to living right with God.
DETAILED EXPLANATION:
- THE GREAT COMMISSION
Soul winning is the core of God’s heart. He gave His only begotten Son to die that man may be reconciled to Him. Hence Jesus’ mandate to Go becomes the most important commission a believer must obey. Soul winning is not just a part of the church’s programme; it should be the core of the programme of the Church as mandated from by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Jesus has given us the power and authority to preach the gospel. We obey this command through faith in Him who has sent us.
Matthew 28:18-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Luke 24:46-48
46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, [l]and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.
- BE READY TO ANSWER THE CALL AND GO.
Isaiah 6:8
8 I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” I replied, “Here am I! Send me.”
Isaiah saw the Lord, was cleansed, and immediately accepted God's call for a messenger. We are called to go in Jesus's authority and confidence. We respond in faith, knowing that we are commissioned by the Jesus to Go, preach the good news and make disciples.
- LOOKING UNTO JESUS
Acts 3:1-12
6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.
Peter and John, upon seeing a man at the gate, relied not on themselves but the power and authority received from Christ. Peter healed him in Jesus’s name, demonstrating faith in Christ’s strength. As believers, we are entrusted with similar authority through the Holy Spirit and should act in faith. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who endured the cross for us and is now seated at God’s right hand.
- WE ARE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST
2 Corinthians 5:19-20
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
Being an ambassador for Christ is a significant and profound calling. It emphasizes the responsibility we carry to represent God's message of reconciliation to the world. Our role is not just to communicate but to carry the grace and love of Christ to a dying world.
Our ambassadorial duties, entails being bold in our faith, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with confidence, and showing the transformative power of His love through our actions. In being ambassadors of Christ, we not only represent Him but also reflect His nature. It's in our interactions, our service, and our testimony that we shine His light.
- WE ARE AUTHORISED TO ASK
John 14:14
14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
As believers we have been given a blank cheque by Jesus. He says to ask, and He will do it. As a believer and a disciple can ask in faith and trust that God will do it. Soul winning is an act of faith in God believing that when we ask, He will give us what we have asked for. In the book of James 1:6 we are encouraged to ask without doubting.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
When praying for souls to be saved, pray in faith. Cry out to the Lord in faith. He is the one who has asked us to go anyway and has asked to ask. In the book of Matthew 7:7-11 and Luke 11:9-13. God wants us to keep asking don’t give up on your children, your loved ones, your friends, your colleagues, etc
- WE ARE CHOSEN TO BEAR FRUIT
John 15:16,
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
Jesus made it clear in His word to us that we have been chosen to bear fruit. To be chosen means to be picked, elected and appointed. I believe everyone that has been picked and chosen.
Jesus assures us of fruitfulness in our soul winning, if we ask in His name.
Peter said to the lame man, silver and gold we do not have but we have the name of Jesus.
Speaking in Solomon Portico, Peter said to the Sanhedrin in Acts 3:16
16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
John 15:16 highlights that Jesus chose us to bear lasting fruit and assures us that whatever we ask the Father in His name will be given. This means being appointed for a purpose. The example of Peter, who healed the lame man by faith in Jesus’ name (Acts 3:16), demonstrates the power available to those chosen. Like the Apostles, we are called to act in faith and ask in Jesus’ name.
- IT IS THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 16:7-10,
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
Jesus tells His disciples that it is to their advantage He returns to the Father, since only then will the Holy Spirit come. The Holy Spirit convicts and transforms lost souls, so we must rely on Him to reach sinners.
- PERSISTENCE
Luke 11:5-13,
8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
Jesus emphasizes persistence in prayer. Many of us give up on a lost soul, but Jesus encourages us not to give up when asking for something of importance and souls are important to the Father. Do not give up in your cry to God to save a soul, a community etc. Be persistent in your prayer. Praying in faith. Don’t give up praying for others; remain steadfast and faithful, especially when seeking important things like salvation.
- PREACH THE GOSPEL IN FAITH
Romans 1:16
6 For I am not ashamed of the gospel [c]of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek
1 Corinthians 1:17
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
The main call for the believer is to preach the gospel. When we fail to preach the gospel, we are unwittingly ignoring the work of Jesus on the cross. We make the cross of Christ of no effect. We are called to share the gospel unashamedly, as its message carries the power of salvation. Neglecting this duty undermines the significance of Christ's sacrifice. Preach faithfully and with conviction.
IN CONCLUSION
May we continually seek to deepen our relationship with God, study His Word, and grow in our faith so that we can fulfill our role with courage and conviction, inviting others to the knowledge of Christ our Saviour.
Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, so that we might be reconciled to God. Embrace faith.
