Deeper Christian Life Ministry – Youth Search The Scripture For December 12, 2021 (Lesson 1030) : Topic – THE ACT OF SOUL-WINNING
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YOUTH SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE
LESSON 1030
THE ACT OF SOUL-WINNING
Memory Verse: “The LORD gave the word: great was the company of those that published it” (Psalm 68: 11).
TEXT: Acts 16:1-10
The synoptic gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke and John) open the New Testament. These books vividly explain the earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ as He “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38), and preaching the word of God. At the end of each of these four gospels, Christ gave the Church an important task which should be the central activity of every member of the church.
Question 1: What is the main task Jesus gave to Christian youths?
As Christ got to the end of His . ministry on earth, He reemphasised evangelism to His disciples. This is also called the great commission. This task imposes on the Church the responsibility of going into all the world to preach the gospel to every creature. Failure on the part of any Christian youth to evangelise other sinning boys and girls carries great punishment from the Lord (Ezekiel 3:18). The book of Acts of the Apostles gives accounts of the activities of the church in response to Christ’s command on evangelism. They preached Christ as the focal point of the gospel message. Today, the Lord expects that the Church takes the challenge of spreading the gospel. The importance of the gospel is stressed by all the four Gospels (Matthew 28: 19, 20; Mark 16: 15, 16; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21). Mark’s gospel emphasises the eternal destiny of anyone who heard and believed the gospel. Those who reject the gospel will be damned. The assignment of the church to the world will not be complete without the preaching of the gospel of repentance and salvation from sin. Hence, the sole activity of the early Church as seen in the Acts of the Apostles was not In the building of their meeting places, or of mere church administration or social involvements in the various places where the disciples scattered but on evangelism.
QUALIFICATION OF SOUL-WINNERS (Acts 16:1-5; 6:4; 1 Timothy 3:1,7; | Corinthians 9:19-22; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Jeremiah 26:2; Proverbs 11:30)
“Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium, Him would Paul have to go forth with him…” (Acts 16:1-3). Paul and Silas were now set to accomplish the task of the gospel, They came to Derbe and Lystra where Paul met Timothy who was recommended by the church to acconopany Paul on the gospel work. Having realised how enormous the work was, he sought for partners to carry the gospel to every creature as Christ commanded. Paul was careful in bringing in Timothy who was now a convert and had good report of the people.
Question 2: Should we engage sinning boys and girls in evangelism because the work of evangelism is enormous?
An early salvation experience by Timothy under the tutelage and instruction of his mother, Eunice and grandmother, Lois, had both grounded him in the knowledge of the Scripture and prepared him for the ministry (2 Timothy 1:5,6; 3: 15; 1 Thessalonians 3:2). We learn from Paul’s choice of Timothy that’s God pays great attention to the character of preachers and ministers of the gospel. God will not permit sinners to bear His holy word (Psalm 50: 16; 2 Timothy 2:21; Isaiah 52:11). Therefore, any sinning youth who wants to be part of this great work of soul-winning must repent of his own sin first, then, he will be fit to be involved. “Him would Paul have to go forth with him: and took and circumcised him because of the Jew which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his Other was a Greek ( Acts 16:3) Paul’s wisdom in circumcising Timothy has a great lesson to would-be successful soul-winners. Paul took precaution in order for him to he able to penetrate the Jews who strongly believe in the law of moses and circumcision as the anchor. It was necessary for the furtherance of the Gospel to the targeted people. How we need to be wise today! Paul’s action was not done a weakening of his belief In total grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8,9). He said, “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (l Corinthians 9: 19-22).
Question 3: Answer Yes or No.
a. Christian youths should have no dealings with other boys and girls because they are sinners.
b. Christian youths should lend their study materials and explain difficult topics only to fellow Christian youths.
c. It does not matter if a born again girl goes to preach to a sinning boy all alone in the room, after all Paul made himself all things to all men.
d. Saved youths could be friendly with sinning youths In order to win them to Christ.
e. When attempting to win sinning youths to Christ and he is trying to make you sin, it is wise to withdraw.
Christian youths should express godly interest in and friendship with people (Romans 15:24; Philippians 1:3-8; 1 Thessalonians 2:17; Proverbs 17: 17; 18:24). A real soul-winner, like Paul, cannot be unfriendly. It is, therefore, not a good practice to stay away from people on the grounds of their sins. A soul-winner loves sinners, though he hates their Sins. He, like Jesus Christ, loves and delights to see and help sinners find the way of salvation as well as help confirm and establish new converts in Christ (Luke 19:5-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:5-7; Mark 16:15). Christ’s command is, go into all the world, (the world of sinners) and preach the gospel to every creatures” If indeed you have been saved and know the truth, then you must take the saving gospel to wherever man is found. Go and tell somebody about the Saviour. Talk about Him lovingly, simply, but firmly. Be enthusiastic about it. Speak of the gospel like you Would tell a lovely and delightful story. At the close of his first missionary journey, Paul had to visit Jerusalem, the seat of the apostles and elders, to clarify some doctrinal issues as it pertained to atonement for sins. There, a decree, or a letter was sent to the churches of the Gentiles. On his return, in full obedience to the charge of the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, the churches were established in the faith (Acts 16:5). Christian youths should present the total gospel of repentance and remission of sin which is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. We do not change the message to elicit support or faith our local assembly or church. We must not present a pastor or any man as Saviour. Jesus only is our message. Preach the word of salvation in Christ and nothing else.
THE COMPANION OF SOUL-WINNERS (Acts 1 6:6-9; Ezekiel 3:17; Matthew28:20; Acts 8:28, 29; Acts 1 Luke 4:43)
Question 4: Who is the companion of the soul-winner?
The soul-winner is sent by the Lord Jesus to go and preach to the entire world and make them converts to Him. He should always be conscious of the fact that he is not in the field of evangelism alone. He should make effort to talk to the one that sent him on the progress of the work committed into his hand. He should take directives from the Holy Spirit. The choice of where and to whom to preach the gospel at a given time is the decision of the Holy Ghost. Evangelism is like gathering the fruits of a tree. Some fruits may be ripe enough for the harvest; others may not be ready. To indiscriminately pluck down all the fruits on the tree, whether ripe or unripe, is unwise. This was the lesson Paul was to learn that though the gospel is meant for every creature everywhere, all people and places are not ripe for the gospel harvest at the same time. Only the Holy Ghost knows who is ripe for the gospel at a given time; so, the soul-winner needs the guidance of the Spirit to know when to throw in the sickle for the harvest. Note that a fruit that is unripe for harvest today will become ripe another day. For instance, Galatia, Bithynia and the rest of the then Asia to which Paul, Silas and Timothy “were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word,” eventually received the gospel, and many people in those regions were saved (Acts 19: 10; 1 Peter 1:1-5; Galatians 1:1-4).
THE PASSION OF SOUL-WINNERS (Acts 16: 10; Galatians 1:16; Matthew 14:14; 9:36; Micah 7:18, 19; Ezekiel 33:11; Luke 9:6; John 9:4; 4:34, 35)
Paul, the apostle, and his companions were always sensitive to the dictates of the Holy Spirit. When He allowed or deterred them, they just obeyed. This should be emulated by all soul-winners. This was one of the secrets of Paul’s success as a soul-winner. “And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them” (Acts 16:10). He acted promptly after receiving the vision. Paul had godly passion and Christ-like compassion. Passion and compassion on the sinful and dying world are indispensable qualities which every soul-winner must possess. As believing youths, we must exhibit same characteristics to the dying world. When we repent of our sins and are converted to Christ, the Spirit of God imparts in us the nature of God and our Lord, Jesus Christ (John 1:12, 13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 4:4-7; Romans 8:29).
Question 5: What motivated Paul the apostle in his evangelistic activities?
The secret and motivating force of Paul’s evangelistic activities was his passion for souls. His passion overlooked the hazards associated with the preaching of the gospel. Although he was aware of the dangers of returning to the regions of Galatia, where, in his first missionary outreach, he had been opposed and expelled (Acts 13:44,45,50), stoned and beaten (Acts 14: 19), Paul determined to “go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.” Christian youths who want to excel in evangelism like Paul must have Christlike passion. Paul, a follower of Jesus Christ, set his priority only On fulfilling the ministry which he has received from Christ, ‘Jesus declared in John 9:4 that, “l must work the Works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work”. The priority of preaching the gospel was never in doubt in the ministry of Jesus Christ. He stopped at the well on the way to Samaria knowing that the woman would come for water, He was ready to provide living water; “Give me to drink,” the Saviour asked her, not only to quench His thirst, but also to open a conversation to preach the gospel to the adulterous woman. In the conversation between the Lord and the woman, she, in her blindness to the truth, unwittingly was distractive. She spoke about the Lord “being a Jew” and she “a woman of Samaria”, thereby pointing to the racial discrimination between them. She spoke about Jacob and his cattle drinking from the well; she also spoke about the right place of worship, etc. But none of those could dissuade the Lord from the priority of preaching the gospel so the woman could be saved. Paul followed Christ’s style of evangelism. Christian youths should also endeavour to do the same. There are rewards for those who obey the Lord and do all He has commanded on soul-winning. Get involved.