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Contact Segun Olumide

Passion for the Lost

by Segun Olumide  
10/27/2014 / Christian Living

SEVEN TRUTHS THAT WILL IGNITE YOUR PASSION FOR THE LOST
 
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations in this volume are from the King James Version of the Bible.

KEYS TO OTHER BIBLE VERSIONS:
AMP - The Amplified Bible
NIV - New International Version
TLB - The Living Bible
Gideons - The Gideons International
RSV - Revised Standard Version
NCV - New Century Version

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. DO YOU REALLY HAVE PASSION FOR THE LOST?

2. CHRIST SAVED YOU TO GET OTHERS SAVED

3. SOME SINNERS MAY DIE IN THEIR SINS AND GO TO HELL UNLESS YOU WARN THEM

4. GOD WILL REQUIRE SOME SINNER'S BLOOD FROM YOUR HAND
5. WOE UNTO YOU IF YOU REFUSE TO TELL SINNERS ABOUT JESUS

6. THE TIME IS VERY SHORT FOR CHRIST WILL SOON RETURN

7. IF YOU REFUSE TO PREACH JESUS TO THEM, YOU DON'T KNOW THE VALUE OF A SINGLE SOUL

8. GOD GAVE THE HOLY GHOST SO THAT WE COULD BE EFFECTIVE SOUL WINNERS





 
CHAPTER ONE

DO YOU REALLY HAVE PASSION FOR THE LOST?

"Jesus went through all the towns and villages When he saw the crowds, he had COMPASSION on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field'" (Matthew 9:35-38, NIV).
Jesus was a man of compassion. The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines compassion as 'a strong feeling of sympathy for someone who is suffering, and a desire to help them.'
God is not looking for compassionless labourers but for compassionate ones who can cry like John Knox, "Give me Scotland or I die."
When Jesus saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion. When you see sinners, what moves you? Are you moved by what you can get from them or by what you can give to them? Do you love them sincerely enough to feel sympathy for them in their lost state, and thus have a burning desire to help them?
Jude wrote, "And on some (people) have COMPASSION, making a distinction; BUT OTHERS SAVE WITH FEAR, PULLING THEM OUT OF THE FIRE (OF HELL)" (verses 22-23,Gideon International).
Sad to say, rather than pull sinners out of the fire, many believers, even pastors, prophets, teachers, and so on feel unconcerned about these lost ones.
They have shut their eyes against the unbelievers. They have little or no compassion for the lost. They laugh sinners into hell instead of pulling them out of the fire!
The same people whom Jesus suffered in agony for, whom he left all the glory of heaven for the earth in order to be crucified for them - these people slip into hell daily without the believers restraining them in love.
Where are the men and women, boys and girls of compassion like Jesus in this generation? If this generation will not be lost to Satan, then compassion must flow from the believers in Christ to the sinners.
Reinhard Bonnke noted, "It takes a generation to reach a generation. Every generation needs regeneration."
With the world population increasing daily at an alarming rate, we need an ever-increasing number of labourers to harvest the souls ripe for salvation.
That was why Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" (Matthew 9:37-38, NIV).
Please let us pray this prayer daily. The world population is now over 6 billion people. But sad to say, with reference to statistics from a United kingdom-based research institute, the world Christian (nominal and true) population continues to grow but at a slower rate than Hinduism and Islam. It further revealed that the rate of Christian population is decreasing in Europe.
You see, the people of the previous generation cannot directly reach this generation, but you can.
If we must recapture the compassion of Jesus, which the Early Church had, too then it is good to follow the method of the Jehovah Witnesses, but not their message.
As their name is, so are they − witnesses, but not with the living message. They make no distinction between the clergy and the lay people. Good.
Every member of their movement is a witness ministering the word to others. That is the secret of their 'soul winning' and they have 'results.'
Peter said, "EACH ONE SHOULD USE WHATEVER GIFT HE HAS received to SERVE OTHERS, FAITHFULLY ADMINISTERING God's grace in its various forms" (1 Peters 4:10, NIV).
This Scripture shows that every member of the Body of Christ is a minister − a witness.
 
CHAPTER TWO

CHRIST SAVED YOU TO GET OTHERS SAVED

Now we want to talk about seven truths that will ignite your passion for the lost. I believe strongly that you as a believer will have profusingly burning passion for lost sinners if you truly understand the following seven truths:
TRUTH # 1: CHRIST SOUGHT AND SAVED YOU SO THAT YOU CAN SEEK AND GET SOME (OTHERS) SAVED FOR HE CAN REACH THE LOST TODAY THROUGH YOU AND CO-MEMBERS OF HIS BODY.
Paul wrote, "All this is from God, who reconciled the world to himself through Christ and gave us the MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION: And he has committed to us the MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION. We are therefore Christ's AMBASSADORS, as through God were making his appeal though us" (2 Cor. 5:18-20 NIV).
This Scripture reveals that God brought us to Himself through Christ and has mandated us to bring others to himself through the same Christ just as he did to us.
As we have obtained the mercy of the Lord, so must we extend it to others.
Someone wrote that God would have taken us to heaven immediately we got born-again, but he didn't because we have an assignment to carry out on earth.
A crucial part of our assignment is to seek the lost sinners and lead them to Christ right where they are.
The message of the cross can transform anyone who receives it, but unfortunately, true messengers (bearers of the cross) who labour day and night to bring the lost to the saving knowledge of Christ are scarce.
Paul was consumed by his zeal or passion for the lost Israelites (see Rom. 10:1) when he poured out his heart:
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!' " (Ro 10:13-15, NIV).
You see, unless you and I rise to the occasion as ambassadors for Christ and rescue the perishing, some may never be saved.
An ambassador is somebody who represents his nation in a foreign country. So we as foreigners on earth are to represent heaven's interests. We are citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20).
More so, since we are members of Christ's Body, He (Christ) can go to the sinners right where they are through our legs. He talks to them through our lips. He shows them love through our actions (please read Mat. 25:34-45, Lk. 19:11, 1 Cor. 3:16, 1 Cor. 6:19-20).

CHRIST'S LOVE COMPELS US
"FOR CHRIST'S COMPELS US, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. AND HE DIED FOR ALL, THAT THOSE WHO LIVE SHOULD NO LONGER LIVE FOR THEMSELVES BUT FOR HIM WHO DIED FOR THEM and was raised again "(2 Cor. 5:14-15, NIV).
The Bible says that Christ's love COMPELS us you and me. The Greek word translated 'compel' is the word 'sunecho' which means 'to hold together, to compress, to arrest, to compel, to constrain, to preoccupy,'
That means the love of Christ arrests our attention and draws it away from our selfish interests, but draws it to others, especially the lost ones. It means this love (agape) preoccupies our mind.
It constrains us as the King James Version renders it (actually 'constraineth'). It holds us together or compresses us inwardly so that we can make room in our hearts for others, especially the lost dying world!
Somebody wrote, "You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving." I have come to believe that you can win the lost without loving them, but you can't love them without winning them to Christ (see Jonah 3-4, John 3:16, Phil. 1:15-18).
Winning them without loving them brings no reward to you in eternity (1 Cor. 9:17-18, 1 Cor. 13:3, 1 John 4:16-17).
The Scripture warned us against having feigned (insincere, fake, false, hypocritical, pretended) love for others {see 1 Peter 1:22, 2 Cor. 6:6}.

PRETENDING CHURCH OR LOVING CHURCH?
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the LOVE OF GOD be in him? Dear children, let us not with words or tongue but with ACTIONS AND IN TRUTH" (1 John 3:16-18, NIV).
Our love should be towards not only fellow believers but also unbelievers. Sadly, many of us are not lovers (of sinners), but pretenders claiming to love them. The pretending Church focuses on what they can get from sinners while the loving Church focuses on what they can give to sinners. The former wants sinners to love them whereas the latter shows them by action that they love them.
Two of the greatest hindrances to soul winning are our church buildings and our pulpits. The real love and power of Christ can be best demonstrated through us out there where the sinners are.
The Church must shift her evangelistic focus from the sanctuaries and cathedrals to the streets, homes, markets, offices, schools, hospitals, prisons, orphanages, rehabilitation centres, and so on (Matthew 25:34-35).
You must be on the go and the Lord will surely lead you to the people he wants you to minister to.
If you refuse to go, then you are withholding the Gospel from the lost sinners you are keeping back from them God's answer to their question.
This can be likened to:
i. A doctor forgetting to administer medicine to a dying patient
ii. Refusing to rescue a drowning friend
iii. Refusing to alert and rescue a friend who is fast asleep in a house set on fire by his enemy
iv. Not reviving a fainted friend
v. Not giving food to someone dying of starvation
vi. Not giving water to someone dying of thirst
vii. Not giving oxygen (air) to someone dying of suffocation
viii. Not giving warmth to someone dying of severe cold
ix. Refusing to give a helping hand to someone trapped in a deadly pit
x. Keeping the antidote away from someone who has just swallowed up poison.
Do you truly love your neighbour as yourself? Your neighbour is every other person apart from you (Matt. 22:39). Without love, we are on a mission without passion; we have a commission without compassion!
I read an article about two friends who mat after their lives on earth. One was a sinner while the other was a believer.
The sinner said to the believer, "You knew the truth but you never told me. You knew Jesus but you never told me about him. Now it is too late for I am doomed to eternal punishment. I used to call you a friend but were you really a friend?"(paraphrased).
 
CHAPTER THREE

SOME SINNERS MAY DIE IN THEIR SINS AND GO TO HELL UNLESS YOU WARN THEM

TRUTH # 2: SOME SINNERS MAY DIE IN THEIR SINS AND GO TO HELL UNLESS YOU WARN THEM.
Paul wrote, "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Cor 5:11).
If we truly understand that as many sinners as we refuse to warn to turn away from their sins onto Christ may die in their sins, and hence certainly end up in hell, then we'll have strong passion for souls.
Do you believe that those who go to hell are lost forever? It's even possible that some of our relations or loved ones who have died are now in torment of the flames of hell fire because we refused to tell them about Jesus.
The Scriptures cannot be broken (Jn10:35). All sinners (wicked) and nations that forget God will be turned into hell (Ps 9:17). Anyone who doesn't accept Jesus will die in their sins and go to hell.
That was why Paul wrote ' Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men'.
I love how it is rendered in the Living Bible, "It is because of this solemn fear of the Lord, which is ever present in our minds, that we work so hard to win others."
Reinhard Bonnke, the German evangelist understands this. No wonder he wrote that we should ' plunder hell and populate heaven for Calvary's sake.'
If only one of us visits hell for a few seconds, then we'll understand the eternal doom awaiting every sinner.
Yes, we work with them; we talk with them; we eat with them; we play with them; we patronize them in their offices, shops, schools, and so on; they patronize us in our businesses but do we love them enough to warn them of the danger of hell?
Friend, hell is a real place. It's not a parable. There are 54 references of it in the Bible and 16 of them came from Jesus.
In my own opinion, apart from the Bible, no book captures the reality of hell more than Mary Baxter's "A Divine Revelation of Hell − Time Is Running Out!"
Going through the pages of that fiery book, I understood the terror of the Lord and tried to persuade men!
At a time in this woman's life, Jesus appeared to her every night for forty nights consecutively. He showed her the horrors of hell for thirty nights followed by the glories of heaven for ten nights.
And the Lord instructed her to write a book as a warning for the peoples of the world.

A SNAPSHOT OF HELL
On one of the occasions, a man lost forever in the hot pit of hell pleaded with Jesus to pardon his sins and get him out of hell that he had suffered long enough for his sins. He tried to repent right in hell but sadly, it was rather too late.
I was personally deeply touched when I read how the damned guy was crying for his sinfulness, hopelessness and eternal doom, and how Jesus, though, merciful yet helpless in that case (because it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment- Hebrews 9:27) burst into tears, too!
Do you know that while Jesus is weeping over many lost souls, many believers are laughing over them? This is a very serious matter. Jesus wept. Have you ever wept for the lost?
This was a man that had many opportunities to be saved but turned them all down!
My heart-felt prayer is that God will open our eyes of understanding to see hell as truly as it is so that we can be infused with divine restlessness to snatch some from its path in Jesus' name (Amen).
 
CHAPTER FOUR

GOD WILL REQUIRE SOME SINNER'S BLOOD FROM YOUR HAND

TRUTH # 3: GOD WILL REQUIRE SOME SINNER'S BLOOD FROM YOUR HAND.
God told Ezekiel, " But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood"(Eze 33:6, NIV).
In his book, "Primary Purpose: Making It Hard For People In Your City To Go To Hell," the author shared that he was preparing a sermon one evening and as he turned his hands he noticed that they were blood- filled.
Then the Lord spoke to him, "This is the blood of the people in this city." He continued, " I did not call you just to pastor this congregation. I called you to this city."
Does that ring a bell in your heart? Can you remember anyone the Lord sent you to but whom you refused to warn and consequently died in sin?
Know for sure that one of these days, God will certainly require their blood from your hands! And don't think you will be laughing at that moment of reckoning when the Lord holds you accountable for anyone's blood.
God has not changed his mind. The same thing he told Ezekiel then, he is telling us today.
God is saying if you refuse to warn that man or woman, boy or girl he is bringing to your attention and he or she perishes, then you will account for his or her blood.
But if you warn him or her, and he or she refuses to accept Jesus, then your hands are clean. His or her blood will be upon himself or herself (see Ezekiel 33:6-9).
Cain couldn't stand the blood of his brother, Abel whom he killed. When God asked him of his brother's whereabouts, he replied, "Am I my brother's keeper? I don't know where he is."
Somebody said, "If you are not your brother's keeper, then you are his killer."
Then God told him that his hand was 'filled' with his brother's blood. And he lamented, "My punishment is greater than I can bear."
I know we have the blood of Jesus which speaks of better things than the blood of Abel.
Since the blood of Jesus was shed in obedience to God, He will not require from you the blood of anyone who perishes, if, out of obedience you warn them. He will only hold you responsible if you disobey Him by not warning them.

ARE YOU PURE FROM THE BLOOD OF ALL MEN?
Paul declared boldly, "Wherefore I take you to record this day, THAT I AM PURE FROM THE BLOOD OF ALL MEN.
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:26-27).
The living Bible renders verse 26 as: "LET ME SAY PLAINLY THAT NO MAN'S BLOOD CAN BE LAID AT MY DOOR."
Friend, are you truly pure from the blood of all men? You don't need to get to heaven before you know the answer to this question.
Paul declared that he was free from the blood of all the people he was sent to. He didn't have to wait to get to heaven before saying that!
Are you free from the blood of people in your household (nuclear and extended families), work place, school, street, town, and so on? Are you free from the blood of all the people that God had destined that you reach for Christ because you can't reach all but some in this world?
I remember with sadness, a man God prompted me to witness Christ to years ago. But I refused, and he died not too long later. I feel Jesus will one day hold me accountable for his blood! How I wish I had preached to him. But fear took over. I know the terror of the Lord now-how will I bear it when accounting for his blood?
I want to be pure for the blood of all people. Living close to that man was another aged man whom God led me to witness to around the same time. I am glad I led that grandpa to Christ before he died!
 
CHAPTER FIVE

WOE UNTO YOU IF YOU REFUSE TO TELL SINNERS ABOUT JESUS

TRUTH # 4: WOE UNTO YOU IF YOU REFUSE TO TELL SINNERS ABOUT JESUS.
Paul wrote, "Yet when I preach the gospel I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Cor. 9:16, NIV).
The opposite of blessing is woe or curse. For example, Jesus talked about blessing in Luke 6:20-23 but woes in verses 24 to 26. Also Moses spoke of blessings in Deuteronomy 28:2-13 but curses in verses 15 to 68.
You see, if you preach the gospel to save the lost, you are blessed. But if you refuse to preach it, then woe unto you.
Later on, in verses 22 to 23 of 1 Corinthians 9, Paul wrote,
"When I am with those whose consciences bother them easily, I don't act as though I know it all and don't say they are foolish; the result is that they are willing to let me help them.
Yes, whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him.
I do this to get the Gospel to them and also for the BLESSING I myself receive when I see them come to Christ" (Living Bible).

CURSE FROM DISOBEDIENCE OR BLESSING FROM OBEDIENCE?
Obedience in soul winning commands God's blessings but disobedience incurs curses as already explained.
Jesus said, "He (God) will always give you all you need from day to day if you will make the kingdom of God your primary (not secondary, nor tertiary) concern" (Luke 12:31, Living Bible).
God told Jeremiah, "A curse on him who is lax in doing the LORD'S work!" (Jer. 48:10, NIV).
That means woe to him who is slack in or nonchalant about God's work. Such a person takes it lightly or unseriously. His wrong attitude will curse his blessings (Malachi 2:2).
Similarly, the Lord spoke through Amos, "WOE TO YOU WHO ARE COMPLACENT IN ZION, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge (sit lazily or idly) on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves
You drink win by the bowlful land use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph (perhaps the lost souls).
THEREFORE YOU WILL BE AMONG THE FIRST TO GO INTO EXILE; YOUR FEASTING AND LOUNGING (IDLENESS) WILL END" (Amos 6:1, 4, 6-7, NIV).
God is saying woe to those who are complacent (satisfied with present achievements without striving for future improvement or greater success) in the Church (Zion).
I love how the KJV renders that verse one; "Woe to them that are AT EASE IN ZION"
Do you know that as multitude of souls are rushing into hell daily in their hundreds or thousands, and many believers are complacent, unconcerned or at ease?
Truly the king's assignment requires urgency or else we would lose the harvest to the enemy.
If you get to your farm and see that your crops are ripe and mature for harvest, with some already decaying, will you go back home to relax while everything is wasted?
Jesus said, "Do you think the work of harvesting will not begin until the summer ends four months from now? Look around you!
Vast fields of human souls are ripening all around us, and are ready now for reaping" (John 4:35, Living Bible).
If we waste time, the harvest will be wasted. Several years ago, one of the generals of God in Nigeria said that God told him to rush into the harvest (field) of Africa and preserve it from decadence.

SOUL WINNERS WILL SHINE LIKE STARS FOREVER!
The Scripture says, "Those who are WISE will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who LEAD MANY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, like the stars for ever and ever" (Daniel 12:3, NIV).
There are two things I want to bring out from this verse:
1. The wise people will shine like the brightness of the heavens forever.
But who is a wise person? A philosopher, professor, pastor or prophet? Proverbs 11: 30 (NIV) says, " He who wins souls is wise."
That means a wise person here is a soul winner. The verb 'wins' here is in the simple present tense and it indicates to win souls and to continue to win souls (Hebrews 6:10-12, Galatians 6:9-10).
The Bible doesn't say, "He who won souls in the past (but who now loses or destroys them) is wise." So the consistent (not casual) soul winners will shine like the brightness of the heavens forever.
2. Those who lead many (not few) to righteousness will shine like stars forever.
Before you can shine like a star all through eternity, you have to lead to righteousness as many as God has called you to reach, not as few as you like to reach.
You have to lead MANY (not few), not necessarily to church building, pastor or evangelistic crusade, but certainly to righteousness which is in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:9) before qualifying as a forever shining star.
I believe there are soul winners' crowns reserved for qualified soul winners only. This is part of what will make them shine like stars forever!
You know, if God has called you to win 1,000 people to Christ and you can only win 100, then you have won few. On the other hand, if he has ordained that you win 100 people and you win 80, 90 or 100, then you have won many!

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PROSPERITY?
Jesus said, "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain (neither to lose nor to destroy) FRIENDS for your selves, so that when it is (the wealth) gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings," (Luke 16:9, NIV).
Jesus was a great soul winner! He called sinners to repentance. So they became his friends (see Mathew 9:10, 13; Matthew 11:19).
One of the primary purpose of financial and material prosperity is soul winning!
Jesus is commanding us here to use the wealth (little or much) we have to gain people (friends) in the kingdom of God for a time is coming when the wealth will no longer be at our disposal.
Remember we brought nothing into this world, and certainly, we will take nothing out of here (1 Timothy 6:7)!
Moses told the Israelites, "You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me; But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenants" (Deuteronomy 8:17-18, NIV).
The KJV puts verse 18 like this; "But thou shalt remember the LORD they God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH HIS COVENANT"
This implies that God gives you and me wealth so that he can establish the New Covenant in Jesus' blood in people's lives as we get them saved.
His purpose is that you use your God-given wealth to introduce sinners into the New and better covenant (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 8:6).
CHAPTER SIX

THE TIME IS VERY SHORT FOR CHRIST WILL SOON RETURN

TRUTH # 5: THE TIME IS VERY SHORT FOR CHRIST WILL SOON RETURN.
On June the sixth, 2008, a baby girl was born in Brazil with her two palms glued together. Nevertheless, surgeons operated on her to separate the two palms. It was successful. But to their surprise, they found these words inscribed in her palms: "JESUS IS COMING BACK."
As a result, doctors, patients and others in the hospital began to weep. Then a revival broke out in the vicinity, though, the baby eventually died.
Dear friend, let no one deceive you, we are in the very last hours of the last days and Jesus will soon return.
That's why we must work the works of God while it is day; the night will soon come when no one can work (John 9:4).
The Scripture reveals that the devil knows that the time left for him in this world of sin is short (Rev. 12:12). Unfortunately, many saints do not understand the times and season we are in.
Do you know that we are living in extra time? Christ's coming will shock the entire world sooner than expected. Don't you understand that the time left is very short?
I believe we need to reach out to the lost zealously as if Christ would come today.
A world renowned prophet had an experience some years ago. I read in a magazine that he went to a higher institution of learning in this nation for a programme.
After the service, one evening, he left the campus for the place where he would lodge. On the way, he instructed his driver to stop by and pick up an elderly man by the roadside.
Though this prophet doesn't see naturally, yet his prophetic gifting and insight are outstanding. Sometimes, he can even see more accurately and clearly with his eyes shut than those who have their two eyes open!
So without questioning him, his driver pulled up as soon as he sighted the elderly man. He let him into the car.
This stranger greeted and said that he was sent from God. And he said to the prophet, "The Lord asked me to tell you to change the emphasis of your message and focus on 'JESUS IS COMING SOON.' "
Then suddenly, the stranger disappeared. So it dawned on them that he was an angel sent from God (see Hebrews 13:2).
Shortly thereafter, I listened to him on the radio. He preached on Christ is coming back!

DELAYING OR HASTENING CHRIST'S RETURN?
On the other hand, Jesus told his disciples, "And the Good News about the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it, and then, finally, and end will come" (Mat. 24:14, TLB).
This Scriptures indicates that our taking the Gospel quickly to the entire world will hasten Christ's return while our slow response to taking it to every creature on earth will delay Christ's return!
It's imperative, however, to understand that the end of the world comes after Christ's return.
Jesus has explained that the gospel would be preached all over the world (that is, to every race, every continent, every nation, every tribe, every tongue, every village, every town, and so on), then the end will come!
Some people wonder why Christ's return seems delayed. They feel somebody has deceived them all their lives that Christ will soon return.
Peter explained it, "But don't forget this, dear friends, that a day, or a thousand years from now is like tomorrow to the Lord.
He isn't really being slow about his promised return, even though it sometimes seems that way. Gut He is waiting, for the good reason that He is not willing that any should perish, and He is giving more time for sinners to repent.
The day of the Lord is surely coming, as unexpectedly as a thiefYOU SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DAY AND HURRY IT ALONG AND REMEMBER WHY HE IS WAITING.
HE IS GIVING US TIME TO GET HIS MESSAGE OR SALVATION OUT TO OTHERS "(2 PETER 3:8-19A, 12, 15, Living Bible).
Do you notice that verse 12 above says we should hurry the day along?
The New International Version says, "As you look forward to the day of God and SPEED ITS COMING" (2 Peter 3:12).
Friend, just ask yourself then, "Am I slowing down or speeding up Christ's return?"
I heard of a remote village here in Africa. It had not received the Gospel of Christ, neither was it discovered until some years ago!
Can we say that all creatures have heard the Gospel? John, the beloved, saw into the future and his God-given revelation implies that all mankind will certainly hear the gospel.
He wrote, "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from EVERY NATION, TRIBE, PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9-10, NIV).
 
CHAPTER SEVEN

IF YOU REFUSE TO PREACH JESUS TO THEM, YOU DON'T KNOW THE VALUE OF A SINGLE SOUL

TRUTH # 6: IF YOU REFUSE TO PREACH JESUS TO THEM, YOU DON'T KNOW THE VALUE OF A SINGLE SOUL.
Jesus said, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul?
Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37).
Only if we understand the value of a single soul! Do you know that once a soul is eternally lost, nothing else can be given an exchange for it?
If one loses a car, job, house or millions of naira, he may receive some compensations. The God of restoration can make up for his wasted efforts, money or years by giving him much more in exchange for his loss!
But all the wealth on earth can't redeem a single lost soul. A single soul is priceless before God. That was why redemption cost God is best Jesus. And it cost Jesus his precious blood.
Peter wrote, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but EVERYONE TO COME TO REPENTANCE? (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).
This scripture reveals that God does not want anyone to perish. He does not want any Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist, idol worshipper, moralist, free thinker, occultist, wizard, witch, and so on to perish.
Have you given up on any hardened sinner? God has probably not given up him or her! Why?
The reason is, though he knows that not everybody will come to repentance but verse 9c shows us HE WANTS OR DESIRES THAT EVERYBODY COME TO REPENTANCE.
Paul wrote Timo, "This is good, and pleases God our saviour, WHO WANTS ALL MAN TO BE SAVED AND TO COME TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUGH. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, WHO GAVE HIMSELF AS A RANSOM FOR ALL MEN − the testimony given in its proper time" 1 Tim. 2:3-6, NIV).
We see here again that God wants (not some men, not few men, not many men) but ALL men (human beings) TO BE SAVED AND COME TO KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH and JESUS GAVE HIMSELF AS A RANSOM (redemption-price) FOR ALL MANKIND.
Father God and Jesus did not exclude a single soul or person from the redemption plan because they understand the value or worth of a single soul (John 3:16). We must have the mind of Christ and feel his passion for the lost (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Jesus gave three different parables in Luke 15 to illustrate the eternal value of a single soul.
First, he told us about someone who has 100 sheep but loses just 1 of them. He has to leave the remaining 99 and search thoroughly until he finds the lost one. Just one! How priceless the value of a single soul!
And when he finds it, he puts it around his neck and goes home joyfully.
Then he calls out to his friends and neighbours to celebrate with him for he has found his lost sheep.
Jesus concluded, "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over ONE SINNER who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent" (see Lk 15:3-7).
Second, he spoke of a woman who has 10 silver coins and loses just 1 of them. Out of concern, she lights a lamp, sweeps the house and searches carefully until she finds it.
And when she has found it, she summons her friends and neighbours to rejoice with her saying, "I have found my lost coin."
Jesus rounded it off with, "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over ONE SINNER who repents" (see Lk 15:8-10).
Third, he narrated the parable of the prodigal son who leaves his father and elder brother for a foreign country having collected his lot of inheritance.
He wastes his substance until he comes to a zero level. He is deceived by the short-lived pleasures of sin.
Eventually, he comes back to his father. And the Scriptures say, "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw and was filled with COMPASSION for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."
Without wasting time, he told his servants, "Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found" (Read Lk. 15:11-32).
The elder son was rather annoyed at how their father valued the soul of the lostbut- found youngster.
Doesn't that sound like the attitude of some believers, even pastors, teachers, prophets, apostles, evangelists, missionaries, and so on, who feel the church shouldn't give much attention to soul winning?
Such people reason that winning the lost is neither as important nor as urgent as the Scriptures say.
That's why they don't prioritize soul winning. They are satisfied with the few they have reached. They don't understand the worth (price or value) of a single soul.
And so they give less money, less time, less energy, less interest, less attention and less material support towards soul winning.
Unfortunately, they give more energy, more time, more energy, more interest, more attention and more material support towards those who are already saved.
These two are important but we must put first things first so that we can have a divine order that pleases God.
The Early church in Jerusalem, for example, has been said to be slow towards missions, perhaps initially.
And God in his infinite wisdom had to allow a great persecution to break out there and then so that his people could be scattered and hence reach the unreached.
As a result, the Scripture says, "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there" (Acts 8:4-5, NIV).
You see, this shows that God's priority is soul winning. And if that is his priority, then it should be our own priority, too.
Oswald J. Smith was a man whose heartbeat was God's heartbeat, namely soul winning. That great missionary statesman reasoned, "Why should somebody hear the Gospel twice before everyone hears it once?"
How seriously or negligently do our church leaders and members take soul winning? Billy Graham comments, "The sad fact of the matter is that some of our greatest Bible scholars are our poorest soul winners."

SOULS − CURRENCY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Luke 12:15-21 (NIV) reads, "Then (Jesus) said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; A MAN'S LIFE DOES NOT CONSIST IN THE ABUNDANCE OF HIS POSSESSION."
And he told them this parable: The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, what shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
Then he said, This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grains and my goods. And I'll say to myself, You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.'
But God said to him, you fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?
THIS IS HOW IT WILL BE WITH ANYONE WHO STORES UP THINGS FOR HIMSELF BUT IS NOT RICH TOWARD GOD."
The Living Bible puts the last verse above (21) as this. "YES, EVERY MAN IS A FOOL WHO GETS RICH ON EARTH BUT NOT IN HEAVEN."
To be rich in heaven is to be rich in the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23, Matthew 18:1-4) as well as to be rich in good works (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Jesus rebuked the church in Laodicea (which typifies the Church in this age): "You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich" (Revelation 3:17-18, NIV).
That church was rich in the natural but poor in the fruit of the spirit and in good works. So Jesus showed them how they can become truly rich towards God.
Good works include bringing people into the kingdom of God − getting them born-again! I don't mean just bringing them to church.
Now, Jesus made a striking statement in Luke16:11, "So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with TRUE RICHES" (NIV).
But what are true riches? They are the souls of people! You see, souls are the currency of the kingdom of God.
No wonder Paul wrote, "For what is it we live for, that gives us hope and joy and is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes back again.
For you are our trophy and joy" (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, Living Bible).
Friend, those people that God has sent you to are your joy and crown! They are your profit, reward or gain!
Can God trust you with true riches (souls) every single day of your life? You don't have to be an unprofitable servant (Matthew 25:30, KJV).
 
CHAPTER EIGHT

GOD GAVE THE HOLY GHOST SO THAT WE COULD BE EFFECTIVE SOUL WINNERS

TRUTH # 7: ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS WHY THE HOLY GHOST WAS GIVEN TO US IS SO THAT WE COULD BE EFFECTIVE WITNESSES (SOUL WINNERS).
The Scriptures say of Jesus and his disciples, " And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence
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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:4-5,8).
According to verse 8 above, one of the reasons why the Holy Ghost was given to believers is that we might receive power to witness Christ to sinners.
The word 'power' here comes from the Greek word 'dunamis' which means 'dynamic ability to cause a change.'
Similarly, the word 'witness' here comes from the Greek word 'martus' which means 'one who can or does aver what he has seen or heard or known.'
A witness can also connote 'a martyr, who bears witness or testifies by his death.'
We see that Jesus was actually telling his disciples not to leave Jerusalem until the Holy Ghost had descended upon them.
Then he said, "But ye shall receive dunamis (God's dynamic power to cause a change in your life as well as in others' lives) after the Holy Ghost has descended upon you; and you will aver or testify to what you have seen, heard or known through the dunamis you have received"
You see, without this power (or dunamis), you are not an effective witness. You might be a motivator or eloquent speaker, but not a highly productive witness!
Personally, I began to experience this dunamis after I received the Holy Spirit several years ago. I started noticing that my words carried power, which wasn't present before.
One of those early days, I went out to preach to a young guy in a shop and while I was still speaking, the conviction of sins fell upon him. In no time, he began to weep uncontrollably. I had to stop talking. So I left him while he was still crying and praying!
I strongly believe there is a height and a depth in God we would never reach until we receive the Holy Spirit and His power, and become effective, purposeful, power-driven soul winners!

THE PURPOSE OF PENTECOST
There are many Pentecostal Churches today but not all of them understand the purpose of Pentecost as recorded in the Book of Acts.
Since God is a God of purpose, we must be a people of purpose, too. It is to be regretted, however, that some think that the purpose of Pentecost is to produce a bunch of believers who only speak in tongues without demonstrating the power of Pentecost.
Tongues are good. I speak in and an unknown tongue, too. But that's not the primary purpose of Pentecost.
Jesus told his disciples, " The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness (literally remission) of sins will be PREACHED in his name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised (the Holy Spirit); but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:46-49, NIV).
This Scripture reveals that they were to receive the power of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of preaching repentance and remission of sins to all nations starting from Jerusalem.
Remember that Acts 1:8 says, "BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME"
That means you receive power the moment the Holy Ghost comes upon you so that you can be a witness unto Jesus.
They were anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power (fire) on the day of Pentecost and they became purposeful, power-driven witnesses or preachers like Jesus (Acts2:14, Acts 4:33, Mark 16:20, Matthew 3:11, Acts 10:38, Acts 6:2-4).
I have seen a sad thing in the church: some believers claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit, yet they can't preach the word boldly and prove that Christ is risen from the dead, for this is the primary purpose of Pentecost.
Acts 4:31-33 declares, "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all I FELLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT and SPOKE THE WORD OF GOD BOLDLY
"With GREAT POWER the apostles CONTINUED TO TESTIFY TO THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS, and much grace was upon them all" (NIV).
Going by this Scripture, if you're truly filled with the Holy Spirit and you know the purpose of Pentecost, you will preach the word and demonstrate his power!

MY TESTIMONY
I got born-again on August the tenth, 1993. Prior to that time, two of us began a fellowship in our secondary school compound because some girls had seen an angel with a drawn-out sword in the moon at night.
So by dawn, the news spread rapidly in our school compound. It was a boarding school. When evening arrived that day, we had another sign.
Strangely enough, either by God's sovereign act or by coincidence, the sky turned red before it was dark. We seemed to respond, "See, the world is coming to an end. This red sky confirms what those girls saw overnight!"
Therefore, we were frightened. I didn't understand the Scriptures. I didn't know the way out.
That same night, a friend and I began a fellowship, which I believe should still be in existence today. The next night, we continued, and so on.
At first, we didn't invite people, however, they started joining us. Before long, I became recognized as the leader. The attendance increased in an encouraging way, too.
In spite of these experiences, I was not born-again still. I preached to hundreds of people in the long run.
One particular Sunday, I was asked to preach to the entire students which I did during the school's Sunday worship service. But God brought forth a strong message through me that day. If God could see Balaam's donkey, then don't ask why he chose to use me even when I was still a moralist sinner.
I probably shed some little tears because as I told the people to accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit convicted me that I was a sinner, too.
That message touched people, including me. Someone came to me after the service to comment on it genuinely. It was obvious.
About a month after I graduated from that school, I became born-again right in our living room. Over a year later, I was baptized with the Holy Ghost and power, which was evidenced in my speaking in an unknown tongue.
This experience changed my life and ministry. I began to witness to sinners effectively with the power of the Holy Spirit.
For instance, with some brethren, we've organized evangelistic crusades, which were successful and fruitful. That was when I was the youth evangelism leader in a church.
I remember that an occult young guy got born-again in one of our crusades and shared his testimony publicly the following Sunday in that church we were in then.
Also, some years ago, I was caught in the rain on my way home. So I decided to stop by in one house. While waiting in its corridor for the rain to stop, I felt led by the Spirit to witness or preach the gospel to the people there.
Before I left that house, the three people had been born-again. I was very joyful. One of them said to me, "Now that we are born-again what is the next thing?" It was obvious they were new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).
Again, I can't forget how God led me to preach to a young university student who lived not far from our house. The Holy Spirit kept prompting my spirit to go to him.
I gave him a tape of another minister to listen to. I spoke with him, too. Eventually, he became a follower of Christ.
Later, he introduced me to his only sister, who became my wife some years after. Today, he is my brother-in-law and an anointed prophetic pastor of a growing church in Lagos. I've preached in their church on some occasions.
I know that the power (dunamis) of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Lord Jesus upon my life are not in vain. I give God all the glory!
I also remember that I was outside a church auditorium during their service some time ago. Then a brother (who was unknown to me) approached me and asked, "Are you Brother so-and-so?"
When I said 'yes,' he told me he got born-again during the time I came to their neighbourhood on personal evangelism, perhaps in the company of others.
Recently, I was in a place when a friend of mine brought a young boy to me saying, "He has something to tell you."
Surprisingly, this boy whispered in my ear, "I want to be born-again." So I told him to wait for me.
Few minutes later, he came back with two of his friends and said that they needed to be born-again, too.
Afterwards, I called the three of them aside to preach to them, but two other people quickly joined us. So I preached Christ to them and led them to Him.
One or two days later, I saw that boy who had brought his friends earlier and I asked after his spiritual state. He answered, " I have changed! " Glory to God!
Without God's power, I believe there will be little or no result in soul winning (Acts 1:8).

SOUL WINNING TOOLS: GOSPEL TRACTS
These have been used of God to bring several people to the saving knowledge of Christ. I started writing tracts shortly after I got born-again.
In those early days, I wrote three different tracts. ("How Will My Future Look like?", "The Power Of The Cross", and one other).
But since our ministry has been commissioned, we have written eight salvation tracts with titles such as:
1. "I Never Knew Hell Was This Real!"
2. How You Can Be Born-Again
3. Assurance Of Salvation
4. Jesus Is Coming Back Soon
5. How I Found Peace With God
6. Overcoming Hindrances To Salvation
7. God Has A Plan For Your Life
8. Salvation Made Easy
Other titles which are salvation-related, but not completely salvation-based are:
1. How To Receive The Holy Spirit
2. How To Receive Your Divine Healing
Some of these materials have been given to some churches in different states in this nation. They have been used in some schools, too.
By God's grace, more titles will follow soon. We make copies available to people free of charge, though, you may or may not have to pay just a postage depending on the quantities needed.
Some churches can write their gospel tracts themselves. Others can request from genuine tract houses. But only ensure that they contain the true gospel.
Psalm 68:11 reads, "The LORD gave the WORD: great was the company of those that PUBLISHED it."
Importantly, they should be distributed prayerfully, intuitively, wisely, gently and cheerfully.
Finally, as God leads you, you can win many souls through newspaper, magazine, television, radio, internet, satellite, phone call, text message, poster, billboard, sticker, letter, and so on.

SINNER'S CONFESSION
If you are not yet born-again, say this:
I choose to repent today. Also I choose to believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose up for my justification.
The Scripture says, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom 10:9).
Therefore, I believe in Jesus in my heart and confess Him as my Lord. Now I am born-again (Amen).
 
SAY THIS ALOUD TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
Also Jesus said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8).
And on the day of Pentecost "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4).
Therefore, I receive the Holy Spirit by faith right now and I begin to speak in an unknown tongue (unlearned tongue) as He gives me the utterance.
I command every foul spirit [spirit of fear, spirit of unbelief, spirit of doubt, religious spirit, unforgiving spirit] wanting to hinder me to stop in its evil operation in my life in Jesus' name.
Thank you God for filling me with your Spirit in Jesus' name (Amen).
 
Books By The Same Author
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Why Marriages Break
How To Find The Right Life Partner
Secrets of Financial and Material Prosperity
How to Receive Your Divine Healing
Unfolding the Fivefold Ministry
The Ministry of an Apostle
The Ministry of a Prophet
The Ministry of an Evangelist
The Ministry of a Pastor
The Ministry of a Teacher
Passion for the Lost
Understanding the Call of God
Basic Bible Course
How to Receive the Holy Spirit
Fulfilling Your Divine Destiny
Day of Reckoning:God's Formula for Eternal Rewards
Identifying Counterfeit Ministries
Sanctification:Changing from Inside Out
O Suffering, Why Really Me?
Intimacy with God
The Pastor's Wife
Why Some Churches Won't Grow!
Just Before You Start A Church
How to Prepare and Deliver Sermons
Finding Your Own Ministry
False Doctrines Exposed!

SPECIAL! SPECIAL! SPECIAL!
A MUST READING/VIEW
(Google the following free of charge on the Internet and God will change your life forever.)
1. "Holiness Required For Heaven by Carillo from Bolivia"
2. "Eternal Destinations: Godly Attire and Adornment"
3. "Another Warning by Kingsley Ubani"
4. "Time Is Over : Run For Your Life by Kingsley Ubani"
5. "9 Testimonies on Tithing from Heaven and Hell Visions"
6. "The Dangers of Eating God's Tithes and Offerings"
7. "The Visitation of Jesus to Samuel Oghenetega"
(Crosscheck these testimonies with the Scriptures and if you have questions you may send us an email.)

About the Author
Segun Olumide and his wife, Tosin are founding ministers in the New Apostolic Movement and the Glorious Family Church International both in Lagos, Nigeria. He has a divine mandate to align the Church with God's purpose.
In a vision, the Lord showed him a Bible opened to the Acts of the Apostles with the words "APOSTOLIC CALL" on one of the pages. They reach out through School Of Ministry, School Of Life (Pre-Bible School) and Healing School. His apostolic teachings have blessed the Body of Christ across the nation.

Connect with me online
If God has blessed you through this book, please send me an e-mail to share your testimony, inspiration or reading experience, mail to:
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