March 11
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Ps 46:1-7 (KJV).
Beloved, the word fruitfulness as declared unto us this month by God is such a blessing to us, is a time to be glad and rejoice in the Lord. Every child of God is meant to be fruitful both in body and whatever your hands findeth to do. In book of Genesis 1:28 the Lord spoke unto us to be “fruitful”. A word from the Lord settles all our worries and anxieties, it smoothens our inner mind and give us peace, find only in Jesus Christ.
However, we will be considering the teaching of Jesus on fruitfulness (Jn15:5-7). While verse 5 and 7 is telling us about the vine and its fruitfulness, the verse 6 is telling us what happens to that man or woman, who cut off, disengaged his or herself from His Maker. For the guarantee of All- Round- Fruitfulness as promised us by God, we must be fruitful, we must involve us in “SOUL WINNING”. We must apply ourselves to be use of God and then will He bless our water and bread.
Someone is asking when and how will I go about it? I will suggest what was written in Eccl 11:6 – to sow seed in the morning and also in the evening for you knoweth not which will succeed. It also advise that our hand must not be idle. We are encouraged to go out of our ways to win souls for the kingdom. I remember in January of this year when I was greatly challenged, a text message from a young lady I counseled made my day. The Lord used it to honour me, she prayed God’s protection over me and my family and God honoured her prayer. Brethren, it was exactly what I needed at that point in time and the Lord answered through my labour in soul winning. So are getting interested in this HEAVENLY BUSINESS? The profit is enormous.
Remember, we are all pencil in the hand of our maker, we are nothing aside Him (Jn 15:4), let us also consider what Paul and other Apostles did via soul winning business:
“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8
The apostle Paul felt it a great privilege to be allowed to preach the gospel. He did not look upon his calling as a drudgery, but he entered upon it with intense delight. Yet while Paul was thus thankful for his office, his success in it greatly humbled him. The fuller a vessel becomes, the deeper it sinks in the water. Idlers may indulge a fond conceit of their abilities, because they are untried; but the earnest worker soon learns his own weakness.
If you seek humility, try hard work; if you would know your nothingness, attempt some great thing for Jesus. If you would feel how utterly powerless you are apart from the living God, attempt especially the great work of proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ, and you will know, as you never knew before, what a weak unworthy thing you are. Although the apostle thus knew and confessed his weakness, he was never perplexed as to the subject of his ministry. From his first sermon to his last, Paul preached Christ, and nothing but Christ. He lifted up the cross, and extolled the Son of God who bled thereon. Follow his example in all your personal efforts to spread the glad tidings of salvation, and let “Christ and Him crucified” be your ever recurring theme.
The Christian should be like those lovely spring flowers which, when the sun is shining, open their golden cups, as if saying, “Fill us with thy beams!” but when the sun is hidden behind a cloud, they close their cups and droop their heads. So should the Christian feel the sweet influence of Jesus; Jesus must be his sun, and he must be the flower which yields itself to the Sun of Righteousness.
Oh! to speak of Christ alone, this is the subject which is both “seed for the sower, and bread for the eater.” This is the live coal for the lip of the speaker, and the master-key to the heart of the hearer.
It is interesting to note that is the only essences of our living in this part of eternity, nothing will add stars to your crown except those you won via soul winning. So be alert and go for the things that have eternal value not just for the perishables. Come, let us read what another Apostle did when he found Christ:
“He first findeth his own brother Simon.” John 1:41
This case is an excellent pattern of all cases where spiritual life is vigorous. As soon as a man has found Christ, he begins to find others. I will not believe that thou hast tasted of the honey of the gospel if thou canst eat it all thyself. True grace puts an end to all spiritual monopoly. Andrew first found his own brother Simon, and then others.
Relationship has a very strong demand upon our first individual efforts. Andrew, thou didst well to begin with Simon. I doubt whether there are not some Christians giving away tracts at other people’s houses who would do well to give away a tract at their own—whether there are not some engaged in works of usefulness abroad who are neglecting their special sphere of usefulness at home. Thou mayst or thou mayst not be called to evangelize the people in any particular locality, but certainly thou art called to see after thine own servants, thine own kinsfolk and acquaintance. Let thy religion begin at home.
Many tradesmen export their best commodities—the Christian should not. He should have all his conversation everywhere of the best savour; but let him have a care to put forth the sweetest fruit of spiritual life and testimony in his own family. When Andrew went to find his brother, he little imagined how eminent Simon would become. Simon Peter was worth ten Andrews so far as we can gather from sacred history, and yet Andrew was instrumental in bringing him to Jesus. You may be very deficient in talent yourself, and yet you may be the means of drawing to Christ one who shall become eminent in grace and service.
Ah! dear friend, you little know the possibilities which are in you. You may but speak a word to a child, and in that child there may be slumbering a noble heart which shall stir the Christian church in years to come. Andrew has only two talents, but he finds Peter. Go thou and do likewise.
Read the following scriptures to see the benefits of soul winning: 2 Cor 9:6, Heb 11:6, Deut. 28:1; Heb 6:10-12; Lk 2:49; Rom 12:11; Acts 26:22; Jn 4:34-36.
Jesus, do not use man; He raises man. In Lk 5:2-7, Jesus after using the boat of Peter, gave Him a net- breaking and boat sinking miracle. So pray that Jesus will enter your boat today and do likewise.
The benefits of this business of Soul Winning are many among which I will mention just a few:
- Divine Protection Ps 34:10,
- Supernatural Supplies;
- Supernatural Perseveration- Lk 13:6-9;
- Everlasting Life- Hosea6:3; Matt 19:27-29
Finally beloved, may we not be found among those describe in Matt 19:30 rather like Andrew, let go on fishing souls to the kingdom starting from our kindred.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Evang. Ifeoma Ohondu
