THE IMPORTANT QUALIFICATIONS OF AN
EFFECTIVE SOULWINNER OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
2 Timothy 2:2 — "And
the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit
thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."
INTRODUCTION
a. In the secular world, companies require applicants to
meet specific qualifications before they are accepted as workers.
b. In the ministry of the Lord, spiritual qualifications are
very important because the work is eternal.
c. Qualified soul-winners are appointed co-labourers of the
Lord Jesus Christ in His great work.
John 15:16: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen
you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your
fruit should remain...".
1 Corinthians 3:9: "For we are labourers
together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building".
d.The Lord Jesus Christ trained many soul-winners, such as
the seventy He sent out.
Luke 10:2: "The harvest truly is great, but the
labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would
send forth labourers into his harvest".
7 CLEAR MARKS OF A QUALIFIED SOUL-WINNER
I. THEY MUST BE SAVED AND BAPTIZED
2 Timothy 1:9: "Who
hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works,
but according to his own purpose and grace...".
Every
saved and baptized Christian is called to be a co-labourer.
1 Corinthians 1:26: "...how
that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are
called".
Baptism
is considered the "spiritual license or authority" in winning lost
people.
II. THEY
MUST LOVE THE LORD
John 14:15: "If ye
love me, keep my commandments".
Love
for Christ motivates obedience to the Great Commission.
Matthew 28:19-20: "Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost...".
2 Corinthians 5:14: "For
the love of Christ constraineth us...".
Philippians 1:9: "And
this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in
all judgment".
III. THEY
MUST LOVE THE LOST
Psalms 126:5-6: "They
that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing
precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing...".
God
encourages us to meet the life of lost souls with “precious tears”.
IV. THEY
MUST KNOW THE BIBLE
2 Timothy 2:15: "Study
to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth".
Acts 8:36: Philip used
the scriptures to explain Christ to the Ethiopian eunuch who asked, "See,
here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?".
1 Peter 3:15: "But
sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to
every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you...".
V. THEY MUST HAVE A GOOD TESTIMONY
Matthew 5:16: "Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven".
The
boldness of Peter and John came from their life with Christ being evident to
others.
Acts 4:13: "...they
took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus".
VI. THEY
MUST PRAY FOR SOULS TO BE SAVED
Romans 10:1: "Brethren,
my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be
saved".
The
united prayer of the Jerusalem church resulted in about three thousand souls
being added to them.
Acts 2:41 Then they
that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added
[unto them] about three thousand souls.
VII. THEY
MUST BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 1:8: "But
ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye
shall be witnesses unto me...".
The
Holy Spirit provides wisdom and guidance to the right person and place.
Acts 8:29: "Then
the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot".
Paul
followed the Spirit’s vision to Macedonia, "assuredly gathering that the
Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them".
Acts 16:9-10 Acts 16:9
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and
prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
Acts 16:10 And after he had seen the vision,
immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the
Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
CONCLUSION:
The
work of soul-winning is not merely a duty; it is the highest calling a believer
can receive. While the world seeks those with earthly credentials, the Lord
seeks those with spiritual character. As we have seen, an effective soul-winner
is one who is grounded in salvation, fueled by love, equipped with the Word,
and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
God
bless you all!
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