Can Christians win souls?
How often do we hear about the believer’s responsibility to witness to the world in order to win souls for The Lord? When we read in the Gospel Jesus saying to the disciples to preach the word and make disciples of all Nations what we see is the beginning of The Lord building his Church. When the Epistles of the Apostles were written we learn new things about what God’s will for the Church leaders and administration is. An example is that a Pastor must be the husband of one wife. Other changes were that unlike the disciples who spread the word turning the world upside down, the preaching and teaching was to be done exclusively by the called “Gifted” believers and not the congregation, however, every true believer in the congregation has a least one gift which is to be used for the edification of the Church. One of the gifts that God uses to win souls is the gift of Prophesy. The Apostle Paul wrote that if an unbeliever comes to a Church and there are believers with the gift of Prophesy and they tell the man the secrets of his life, he will believe in God. This is a direct act of the Holy Spirit for God’s knows everything and I believe that man was his elect who he drew to that Church to be saved by God.
It is obvious from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians that not all are called to preach/teach or do the work of an Evangelist (Missionary outreach). His questions below require a negative answer.
All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 1-Corinthians 12:29 NASB.
Believers are to earnestly seek the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and those who are zealous are to seek all for the Churches edification. God may have called some of you to be a preacher, teacher or an evangelist, he is working in our hearts to will and to do. So if you have a desire for those things, pray that God will open the doors to make it come to pass.
The average Christian who is without those specific gifts are not told in the Epistles to witness or preach the word. Many Churches teach this falsely, it was only told to Timothy to preach the word and be instant in season and out of season doing the work of an EVANGELIST because he WAS! The average Christian today is to be a “Living Bible” read of all men, NOT by preaching or witnessing for the Lord but by being zealous for the “Good Works” that God preordained that they should walk in. When they obey, their light (No words heard but the deeds seen) does shine and God is glorified through them. False teaching on this subject puts believers under bondage and can lead to becoming a fanatic, turning people off. The one who wins souls is our only wise God who saves the lost by his way. He calls us the Light of the world, our good works his way of drawing the unsaved elect. So let those who are gifted preach and teach the word, God will have the elect hear it at his chosen time. If anyone asks you about the hope that is in you, be prepared to share your own testimony about how the Lord saved you, which may be the time to give them the word of God through a tract or Bible. I challenge anyone who will read this blog to reveal in the Epistles of the Apostles where the average Christian is to witness or preach to the world, it’s not there but good works and your lifestyles are! So don’t be misled and turn people off, good works always get their attention, you stop to fix a flat for an old person and it gets printed in the paper. Be the best man/woman on the job or whatever you do because you are doing it for Jesus.
As my brother-in-law in the Lord Gary has said; “Not just words but deeds”, “Be you doers of the word, not just hearers, deceiving yourselves.
I remember years ago at my job, I had been going through many trials and I was feeling down but one afternoon a person who worked with the higher up’s came to me. He said; “I had to tell you that what you do does not go unnoticed, your light is shining and bringing Glory to God”. How my spirit was lifted up, despite all the persecution from many enemies, God used me to his honor and Glory.
Author Ken
December 2013