“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30).

If you are a Christian, then someone presented the Gospel to you. It may have been that you were raised in a Christian home, and your parents nurtured you in God’s word and led by example, so there was never any doubt in your mind about your need for Jesus. If that’s the case, then your parents have earned a crown. Or, you may have happened to talk with a friend who presented you with the Gospel, and you realized your need for salvation in Jesus. If that’s the case, then your friend has earned a crown.

Every Christian should have a desire to tell everyone about Jesus and spread the Gospel. In fact, Jesus gave us orders to do just that.

“And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47).

Jesus did His part for the salvation of the world by giving His life for us. Now it’s up to us to do our part and share the Gospel. Every Christian has been commissioned to spread the Gospel, but few of us do. Why is that?

Many Christians aren’t prepared to share God’s word. Most of us find it easy to share unimportant things with other people, such as hobbies or political views, but the most important thing that we can share is the Gospel. Could it be that we don’t spread the Gospel because we try to complicate it? We think that only very wise men who have gone to seminary are qualified. Wrong. Jesus didn’t choose the religious leaders when looking for men to teach, but He chose fishermen, tax collectors, and other regular men to be His disciples.

Paul was an exception…he was schooled in the Law and very intolerant of Christians, until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Paul was given the challenging job of spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles. The Gospel message has never changed.

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time“ (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

That’s really pretty simple. State the facts. We are all sinners and Christ died for our sins; He was buried, He conquered death and rose on the third day, and he appeared to many people who were well aware of the crucifixion.

Paul also shared his personal testimony. Every Christian has a testimony that can be used to share the Gospel with others. Take a minute and think about how you came to faith in Jesus. Is there someone you know whom you can share that testimony with? The person you share with may have questions, and it would be good for you to have answers.

“I’m a good person; how can you say I’m a sinner?” Or “I’m too bad, so hasn’t God given up on me long ago?” Could you give answers to these questions? Study God’s word and become familiar with what it says, and that will help you to have confidence when sharing the Gospel.

Soul winners aren’t unique people. They are Christians just like you and me, but they aren’t shy about sharing their faith.

It seems that in today’s world we can share everything except Jesus. Do you have a Facebook account? How many times do you share a cute video of a kitten or your innermost feelings of hurt and anger, but have you ever shared your testimony? Have you ever shared the Gospel? When talking with friends or co-workers, do you share Jesus? You never know when the words you say will cause someone to give their life to Jesus.

We forget that we live on the mission field. Jesus didn’t commission anyone to go build houses in a foreign land and call it missionary work. He commissioned us to spread the Gospel. It’s to be taken into all the world, but that doesn’t negate the need for mission work in your own town. You may be surprised to find that there are many lost souls in your neighborhood and in your own family.

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!“ (Romans 10:14-15).

If you don’t share the Gospel, who will? It might be hard to tell sweet little Aunt Bessie that she faces eternal death unless she understands that she’s a sinner in need of salvation, but it’s important that she hear God’s truth before it’s too late. The Good News is that faith in the shed blood of Jesus on the cross was the final sacrifice that takes sin away. There’s no other way to salvation. It’s a gift that has to be accepted by each person individually, but unless a person is told the Gospel truth, how will they know?

There are some people who, for one reason or another, think they are a Christian but they have never confessed Jesus as their Saviour. Were you baptized when you were a baby? That wasn’t a choice on your part and Baptism won’t bring salvation. You need to make your own confession of faith and then choose to be baptized. A soul winner will be able to explain that it’s a personal choice that nobody can make for you.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation“ (Romans 10:9-10).

Many people who belong to cults believe they are saved. Can you explain to a Mormon why Jesus isn’t the brother of Lucifer? Jesus is God and Creator of everything and existed prior to everything, including Lucifer and the angels. That truth can’t be compromised. Many people also think that there are many paths that lead to Heaven. A soul winner will lead a lost soul to the only path that leads to eternal life. That life is found in Jesus.

The Bible is filled with examples of soul winning, and we need to follow those examples. Jesus sent out missionaries and set the standard for spreading the Good News and soul winning.

“And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you“ (Luke 10:8-9).

He sent them to nearby towns and told them to heal the sick and share God’s word. That’s missionary work. You don’t need to go somewhere far away, but look for opportunities in your own town, your own home, and even your own congregation. The seventy whom Jesus sent out got results.

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name“ (Luke 10:17).

Scripture doesn’t say how many souls these seventy missionaries reached, but they were obedient to what Jesus told them to do…share the Gospel. Another example of soul winning was on the day of Pentecost when Peter preached the Gospel. At first the people who were listening mocked the Apostles, but after Peter spoke plainly to them about Jesus, many were saved.

“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls“ (Acts 2:40-41).

Peter had been a fisherman, but he spoke the Gospel, and people listened. Another time, Peter and John encountered a crippled man who was begging for money.

“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk“ (Acts 3:6).

This opened the way for Peter to share the Gospel with all who were nearby. You don’t need gimmicks, just God’s truth and a desire to win souls.

God loves everyone, but not everyone loves God. Your love for Jesus should cause you to want everyone you know to come to salvation. You really don’t want anybody to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. You can also win a crown for soul winning.

“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved“ (Philippians 4:1).

It’s hard to imagine how many people Paul led to Jesus, but it must be millions. In his letter to the Philippians, he called them his “joy and crown.” Not only did he tirelessly spread the Gospel in person, but his letters are still bringing people to Jesus. Paul’s example of missionary work should be studied and applied today. He didn’t hide the Gospel in works, but he boldly presented the Gospel to the lost people he met. He didn’t just tell them about salvation through Jesus, he also mentored them, which is something missing in many congregations today.

Paul was in Thessalonica for three weeks, and when he left they not only knew why they needed to accept Jesus for salvation, but they had been taught deep truths, such as the Rapture.

Soul winning and mentoring is easier when you know what you’re talking about, so do some study yourself.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth“ (2 Timothy 2:15).

Few Christians are taught much more than “You’re a sinner and need a Saviour” even though they’ve been “going to church” for decades. Study God’s word and be sure to mentor the next generation of soul winners.

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?“ (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

Soul winners share the Gospel and bring the lost to Jesus. Be one and win a crown.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

 

There are many things in life that people are willing to make sacrifices to achieve. Getting ahead in careers, getting good grades, or excelling in sports all take dedication and discipline. Olympic competitors begin at a young age to learn proper eating habits, exercising to strengthen muscles, developing the skills of their sport, and so on. Professional baseball, football, or soccer players learn the rules of the game and train constantly to be better players. Prizes are won for being the best at what you do.

Gold medals or trophies are honors given by men to acknowledge skill. If these goals are your desires in life, you’ll find that the honors are temporary and will soon be forgotten.

Who won the 1970 Super Bowl? Who was the most valuable player in the 1959 World Series? Prizes given by humans are passing glory, but crowns given by Jesus are eternal. Every Christian should put their efforts to a higher purpose and desire to win incorruptible crowns.

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible“ (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).

The Christian race isn’t a competition against other Christians. You won’t lose the prize if someone comes in ahead of you, but you will lose if you don’t train to win. You’re in competition with yourself and, the prize you win only depends upon your own works.

Being human means that we have a sin nature. Most of us know the Ten Commandments, so we have a basic idea of what God views as sin. Most people don’t murder, but it’s a little harder not to covet. The Ten Commandments are just a start to obedience to God. The whole letter of the Law is a schoolmaster to teach us God’s ways.

“We aren’t under the Law,” you proclaim. “I have freedom in Christ.” That’s true, but that isn’t a license to sin.

“What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?“ (Romans 6:15-16).

We have two choices… obey Satan or obey God. When you choose to follow Jesus, you begin your training to overcome sin, and become eligible for a crown of victory. God doesn’t leave us in the dark to guess what is and isn’t sin. The New Testament contains many lists of behavior that shouldn’t be part of a Christian’s lifestyle.

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God”   (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

Prior to accepting Christ, you may not have been aware that things you found acceptable were sin. Activities that the world accepts as normal probably aren’t acceptable by God. When a person accepts Christ for salvation, change in moral thought should begin.

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God“ (1 Corinthians 6:11).

After accepting Christ for salvation, your goal needs to be gaining victory over sin. Study Scripture and recognize the sin in your life. Then, with God’s help, eliminate it. Do you gossip with co-workers? Look at your own life to see if what you find unacceptable in others is manifest in your own life. Do you live with your girlfriend or boyfriend? A Christian needs to put that sin away and strive for the crown of victory.

We all struggle with sin, but as Christians we need to overcome the sin that grips us.

“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway“ (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).

When people look at you, do they see that you’re winning the race for a crown of victory, or do they see a defeated person who has given up? If you fail in your race, repent and start earning that crown of victory again. You won’t lose your salvation if you stumble, but you will lose joy in this life and in the life to come.

There’s no joy in sin, and when you come to the end of your life and stand before Jesus, watching others receiving crowns, you’ll want one. You’ll be happy to be in the presence of our Lord, but your joy will be multiplied when He gives you a crown as a reward for gaining victory over sin. That crown will be given back to Him because you’ll realize that you could never have gained any victory without Jesus. He alone deserves all glory for all things.

Victory in a Christian’s life means putting the flesh to death…rid yourself of selfish desires, bad habits, bad attitudes, and any lust of the flesh that would bring shame to Jesus.

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness“ (Ephesians 4:22-24).

The word “conversation” is the King James way of saying “the way you live.” Here’s another list of things we need to strive to gain victory over:

“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil“ (Ephesians 4:25-27).

Lies and anger need to be overcome. You choose whether to follow Christ or Satan, so choose victory in Jesus.

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption“ (Ephesians 4:28-30).

When you gain mastery over your sinful nature, you’ll find that other things fall into place. Working and earning an honest living is a Christian attitude. Then we can help fellow Christians in need. If you accept help, your need must be honest, and then you need to help fellow Christians in need. This is victory over selfishness. When you speak, speak truth and use words that are kind and reflect God’s love. Remove foul language from your lips because those words do nothing to honor Christ.

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you“ (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Care for your brothers and sisters in Christ. Be kind and forgiving of the brethren. Christ died for you and has forgiven your sin; now you need to strive to show that kindness to others. Overcome the ways of the flesh and win the crown of victory.

Crowns are won by doing works in the name of Jesus with no thought of what’s in it for you. Take victory over anger, because you know it honors Christ. Be kind to others because you know that Jesus loves them as much as He loves you. If you win a crown you’ll be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ.

“Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward“ (1 Corinthians 3:12-14).

When you stand before Jesus, the fire of judgment will reveal if you did works to make yourself look good or to glorify Him. The works done for Jesus will give you a crown. In this life it may not be easy to bring your flesh under submission, but on that day of judgment you’ll rejoice that you won the prize.

“If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire“ (1 Corinthians 3:15).

If you don’t win any crowns, you won’t lose your salvation; you’re saved by grace through faith, not by your works. You’ll want a crown on that day, so don’t neglect your training to be victorious over sin.

The first step in winning any competition is to qualify. How does a person qualify to win an everlasting, incorruptible crown from Jesus? Accept Him as your Saviour.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me“ (John 14:6).

There’s no way to gain eternal life except through Jesus Christ. Admit that you’re a sinner and that the blood that Jesus shed on the cross is the only perfect sacrifice to take your sin away. At that point your sins are forgiven and you’re a new creation in Christ. Then you need to learn the rules of running the race. Nothing you do will make you more saved than you are the moment you truly believe, but studying Scripture will tell you how to conduct your life. Applying it to your life will help you gain mastery over sin.

“And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully“ (2 Timothy 2:5).

You can’t cheat and get a crown. God set the rules, and He never changes. It’s a sad truth in this life that, if a person abstains from certain things because they’re in training for an athletic event, it’s acceptable. We might ask a friend to go to a movie but he refuses because he’s in training for football and needs to get to bed early. He isn’t mocked or laughed at, but is admired. On the other hand, if a Christian refuses to go to a movie for moral reasons or won’t go to a beer bash because it goes against his convictions, he gets ridiculed.

Don’t let attitudes from people hamper your race. Put the lusts of the flesh to death and win the crown of victory. Please God, not man.

You may have failures along the way, but don’t give up. A crown of victory awaits everyone who overcomes sin in the name of Jesus.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.