THE MULTIPLE BLESSINGS OF A LOCAL CHURCH
THAT WINS THE LOST AT ANY COST
Acts 2:47: "Praising
God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved."
Introduction
There
are wonderful blessings that flow from a soul-winning church. The Bible notes
that even those outside the church building rejoiced because of the great
influence the believers had within the community.
The
Great Blessings of a Soul-Winning Church
I. SOULS
ARE SAVED AND ADDED TO CHURCH DAILY
According
to Acts 2:47, the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:47 Praising
God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved.
This
is a magnificent blessing, as the church grows continually through constant
salvation and baptism. This growth is rooted in soul-winning rather than the
use of worldly, noisy music or modern entertainment to attract the youth.
II. CHRISTIANS
ARE REVIVED BY SEEING SOULS SAVED
In Acts
11:21–25, we see that when a great number believed and turned to the Lord, the
news reached the church in Jerusalem.
(ACTS 11:21-25) Acts
11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and
turned unto the Lord.
Acts 11:22 Then tidings of these things came
unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth
Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
Acts 11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the
grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they
would cleave unto the Lord.
Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of
the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Acts 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus,
for to seek Saul:
They
sent Barnabas to Antioch, who was glad to see the grace of God and exhorted
them to cleave to the Lord. The entire Jerusalem church was revived by the
reports of souls receiving the Lord in Antioch. There is a unique, joyful
spirit of revival found only in a soul-winning church.
III. INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS EXPERIENCE SPIRITUAL STRENGTH
As
recorded in Acts 16:5, the churches were established in the faith and increased
in number daily.
Acts 16:5 And so
were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
It is
a great blessing that while a church grows and experiences revival, every
individual Christian also enjoys increased spiritual strength.
IV. SPIRITUAL LEADERS ARE PRODUCED
A
soul-winning church is a fertile ground for developing spiritual leaders. In Acts
6:4–8, the multiplication of disciples led the church to choose men like
Stephen—who was full of faith and the Holy Spirit—to assist in the ministry.
(ACTS 6:4-8) Acts
6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of
the word.
Acts 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole
multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost,
and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a
proselyte of Antioch:
Acts 6:6 Whom they set before the apostles:
and when they had prayed, they laid [their] hands on them.
Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and
the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great
company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power,
did great wonders and miracles among the people.
A
growing church requires these spiritual leaders to support the Pastor and
manage the various ministries of the Lord’s work.
V. THE
POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ALWAYS PRESENT
Acts
1:8 promises that we shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us to
be witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Acts 1:8 But ye
shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall
be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth.
We
need this power to ensure our church remains effective and fruitful. These are
the great blessings enjoyed by those who commit to winning souls.
Conclusion:
In summary, a soul-winning church experiences
a unique cycle of divine favor and practical growth. By prioritizing the
salvation of the lost, the local church secures the presence of the Holy
Spirit, ensuring that both the congregation and its leaders remain spiritually
vibrant and strengthened. As seen in the early church, this commitment leads to
a revived spirit among believers and a powerful, lasting influence within the
community. Ultimately, when a church dedicatedly "wins the lost at any
cost," it fulfills its biblical mandate and enjoys the multifaceted
blessings of God’s grace and multiplication.
To God
be the glory.
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