The burden of the soul winner
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Psalm 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, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Song of Solomon 5:2 “I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.”
Here we begin a new calling from the Lord….He is seen out in the night, wet with dew…in prayer for the redemption of the lost.
(How many times was Jesus out praying…sometimes all night for the ministry…of His disciples and for those He would preach to. Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 3:21, 5:16, 6:12, 9:18, 11:1)
But there is also the call to us….to identify with Him in prayer and work for the lost.
“He that goeth forth and weepeth”…..we should mourn over the lost.
Certainly that, if they die in that state, they will go to Hell. But mourn also for their lives….lost to the Purpose and glory of God. Lives….wasted on things.
This is the burden of the soul winner,…to be so identified with our Lord, as to long for the redemption of those He paid the full price for.
Paul wrote the Galatians…
Galatians 4:19 “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,”
Paul tells how he was travailing in birth again….for them. He had led them to the Lord….and they had turned aside after those who were adding to the gospel…
…so he was praying….and interceding…with great work (pain) before God…that they might repent and…have Christ formed in them
(Ephesians 2:10 “For we are HIs workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works…” this “workmanship” is a molded image of Christ in us.)
When we walk away from the simple gospel of Christ…we must come back to Him….and know again that He is the only Way….by complete surrender to Christ Jesus the Lord, and Him only.
The burden of the soul winner is the Holy Spirit, within you,….making intercession for the lost….that Christ might be formed in them….by salvation and sanctification. A life lived to the glory of God.
Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
The Holy Spirit acts and does according to the will of God in our prayers, when He is not being quenched (stifled).
We have a responsibility to live a life of glory to God….witnessing of His plan of salvation and mercy.
We cannot deal with people from a position of spiritual superiority….for it is always a saved sinner dealing with a lost sinner. God’s grace alone has made the difference.
Yet at times our words are enough…..other times….we must “pull them out” of the fire….by our prayers and words,…..praying for the Holy Spirit to have liberty to convict and deal with them.
Jude 20, 22-23 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
“Making a difference” is to show any doubting or fearing soul the truth. Often things seem alike which are not.
“others save with fear”….those that are very near destruction…”pull them out” (which means to catch, seize)….being careful not to be “burned” yourself.
“Hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Hating…if we love God, we hate that which destroys a soul from coming to God.
Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
Song of Solomon 5:4 “My Beloved put in His hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for Him.”
In those days, each door had a hole in it, that whoever came might put something in it, to tell those that were not there….or did not answer, that they had been there.
Here it is the nail-pierced hand….that puts myrrh on the inside…”on the handles of the lock” (verse 5). This is the final identification to her (us) that it has indeed been Him that was calling us on.
He paid the full price for redemption….and now He calls and waits…
…then He puts myrrh (the oder of His death)…on the lock…..which we had not yet come to open!
Colossians 1:24 “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body’s sake, which is the church:”
As Paul, we are called to “suffer” for the lost….praying, interceding, and going out and leading them in….as we are led.
To suffer in this way….to bring another soul to glory. For it is Christ in you the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
And it is Christ in me, you, us….that brings them to Himself.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 