21. Winning Souls For Christ

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Hymns: RHC 9 How Great Thou Art! 60 Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim106 Christ Liveth In Me

Acts 8:5-13

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city. 9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Winning Souls for Christ

OUTLINE

  • The Work of Soul Winning 
  • The Fruit of Soul Winning

INTRODUCTION

Winning Souls for Christ – Acts 8:5-13. The number one objective of the church is to save souls. This is the first item in the objective of our church constitution. Rightly so, this is in fulfilment of the Great Commission that was issued by our Lord Jesus Christ before His ascension. 

Jesus gives the marching orders to all His disciples without exception to bringing the gospel to all nations and to make them disciples of them and identify them through baptism and to teach them all things teach them so that they become like you that they in turn may make others disciples. 

A late minister of the Gospel said well, “This command is preceded. It’s preceded by the promise of His power. It is followed by the promised of His presence. YE shall have the power. “… all power is given unto me…” “You go, and lo, I am with you alway…” 

The word “alway” is not “always” but “alway” without the “s” meaning all the way.

His authority will be behind you. His Spirit will be within you as the task is before you, and you’re to go. These are Jesus’ last words to you, practical action that we shall see applied in our text.”

And so, Luke recorded for us in 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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

The gospel is the only hope of salvation for sinners. If we will not go, who will?

Two thoughts for our consideration:

  • The Work of Soul Winning
  • The Fruit of Soul Winning

(1) The Work of Soul Winning

In the past weeks, we saw the martyrdom of Stephen and the scattering of the disciples as a result of the great persecution that came against the church. We observe how the disciples functioned as salt and light as God directed them to be His witnesses wherever He would send them.

In this first thought, Scripture directs us to see Philip. He was one of the seven deacons chosen to wait tables. Like Stephen, he was an honest man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. In Acts 6 and 7, we saw Stephen’s work of soul winning. Here in Acts 8, we shall see the Philip’s work, recorded for our learning and emulation. It is interesting that there is no record of Philip’s life prior to his choice as one of the seven leaders in Acts 6.

I would like us to observe the verbs that described Philip’s actions.

First, we see in verse 5 that Philip “went”. So Philip the deacon has now become an evangelist. In Acts 21:8, He is named as Philip the evangelist. It is recorded as an action taken. From Jerusalem, he went to through Judaea and to Samaria. He was geographically descending from a higher to a lower place because Jerusalem is situation 2200 feet above sea level.

You recall our Lord Jesus went that way too during His earthly ministry. He ministered to the Samaritan woman at the well. She was converted and many others with her as Jesus continued to minister there.

The Samaritans were not Gentiles but neither were they Jews in religious conviction but viewed by the Jews as half breed, half Jew and half Gentile, a mixed race, descendants of Mesopotamian (Gentiles) colonists who settled in the area and intermarried with the Jews remaining there after the Jewish exile by Assyria (2 Kings 17:24-31). They reject the Jewish Temple worship. Three centuries earlier, they had constructed their own temple on Mount Gerizim. The Jews prohibit intermarriage with Samaritans, but they did not even allow a Samaritan to convert to Judaism.

The Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. There is great tension and downright hatred that characterised the attitude of the Jews towards the Samaritan and vice-versa. 

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 

In the region of Samaria, there are a number of cities – Shechem, Sychar, Neapolis or another Samaritan city, we are not told. 

In a way, we can observe that Philip was in hostile territory for a Jew. What did he do? What was the focus of Philip, He preached Christ unto them.

There is no sermon given here unlike the account of Stephen. But we can understand that he was presenting to them the New Testament pattern. He preached the wickedness of men to reject Christ. He preached that God had raised Jesus from the dead. He preached repentance, a heart turning away from sin and trust Christ “the only name whereby men could be saved.” And we can be sure that he preached in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Samaritan does not accept the prophetic books of the Old Testament but they understood the Christ based on one passage in Deuteronomy 18:5).

Deuteronomy 18:5 For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever.

They described him as the “Taheb” in Aramaic term it means “Returning One” who would come to restore the true worship on Mount Gerizim.

Observe first, Philip “went” and then Philip preached Christ. He tells them that Jesus is the Christ. In and through Him you begin true worship.

6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 

When Philip speaks, the Holy Spirit uses the words to give faith to the people to convict their hearts of their sins and come to Jesus in repentance and confession of sin.

The Apostle Paul described for us beautifully the work of soul winning when he said in Romans 10:10-18.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

The Samaritan believed in the Torah, the Book of the Law, the first 5 books of the Old Testament. And so, they are well versed in God’s Law as summarised in the Ten Commandments.

The Samaritans viewed themselves as Israelites, true remnants of tht tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, who maintained a monotheistic faith and upheld the Torah as Holy Scripture. They kept the rite of circumcision, regularly observed the Sabbath and the Jewish festivals and honoured Moses as the greatest of the prophets.

Recall the Law of Moses instructed them to recite the blessing and cursing of the law in Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. Philip is saying to them that the end of the law for righteousness – the law showed them their sinfulness. And the law leads them to Christ, this Jesus whom he is proclaiming to them. Believe on him and be saved.

Romans 10:10-18 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 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? 15 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! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Philip was led by the Holy Spirit that co-laboured with him to bring conversions!

…6 …Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 

God enabled Philip to wrought miracles of healing that authenticated the gospel, causing men and women to come to faith.

7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 

We see here the power of the gospel over evil spirits. Man possessed with unclean spirits were no match when the gospel is preached and the strongholds of Satan taken down. This was the account.

9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 

He practised magic. In the ancient world, magic was predicated on the reality of spiritual forces and this man Simon was one who seemed to have a deep knowledge of the spirit world. This spiritual evil was broken when the gospel was preached.

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

The other verb to take note is that “they believed” Philip’s preaching. It spoke to their hearts and convicted and converted them.

Simon believed and was baptised and continued to stay with Philip who make him a disciple of Christ.

Philip verse 5 says “went” and he “preached” Christ and he prayed for the troubled. God “healed” them. And he baptised them in obedience to Christ’s command to be identified publically as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

And we look at the response. The people in Samaria verse 6 says “gave heed”, verse 12 they “believed” and were baptised, both men and women and Simon himself believed and verse 13 tells us he “continued”, he followed Philip. He “wondered”. He understood true power.

Remember how single handedly Elijah challenged the 450 Baal prophets at Mount Carmel 1 Kings 18:21 “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.”

1 Kings 18:26 “And Baal prophets took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.”

1 Kings 18:27 “And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.”

Elijah called upon the LORD and immediately 1 Kings 18:37-39 “Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.”

God never sleeps and is ever alert to deliver His saint from any trouble when He is being called upon in prayer. Jesus says Matthew 7:7-9, “Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.”

Matthew 7:9-11 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

May we take heart that God answers prayers as He did when faced with the greatest challenge to His name. The idols of this world are indeed dumb idols! They cannot help us, but not our God! 

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

The work of Soul Winning

(2) The Fruit of Soul Winning (v8)

8 And there was great joy in that city. 

What is the impact or the fruit of soul winning? Great joy verse 8 tells us. There was a revival that took place in demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit. 

The joy and peace that comes from being freed from the bondage of sin! Christian joy overwhelmed the hearts of the people. There was joy all over. For the Philip and for the converts!

Psalm 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

This is the joy of the Holy Spirit, the spirit’s fruit. The joy of seeing sinners saved. 

Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

The Christian faith is characterised by joy. The joy of sins forgiven, power to live a holy life and a glad and assured hope of future glory!

Share the gospel to your loved ones, look for opportunities for your loved ones to come in contact with the Word of God – A Christian book, another elderly Christian who speaks the same dialect, learn to witness in their dialect. The workplace and the School is our main area of influence outside the home.

The place where Christians work or study is one of the largest sources of new converts. It is easier to follow up people we bring to Christ in our place of work or study because we see them almost every day. How do you reach out? 

Do not hide your Christian profession, match it with Christ-like conduct, look for opportunities to witness, share the gospel.

We can be also winning souls outdoor. We can distribute tracts discreetly. We can do one-to-one personal evangelism if the opportunities arise. When doing outdoor evangelism, go as a pair and not alone (Luke 10:1).

Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Men witness to men and ladies to ladies. Give a tract. Have a variety of tracts for different ages and, ethnic/language group. Do not be discourteous, always end off well. Remember you are a living testimony for Christ whether it be good or bad. Do not consent to go to lonely, quiet places unless you know them or you are in a pair with a brother. Ask for email, handphone, address to follow up if necessary or make an appointment. We must also be prepared to answer questions, doubts and excuses. 

We can do group evangelism – to students and children. God willing, we shall be organising our first DVBS this year in the coming months.

We can do door to door evangelism systematically outside public places like the MRT, bus interchange, shopping centres, parks, open place. We may even set up a bookstore to sell or distribute books, pamphlets and brochures.

CONCLUSION

  • The Work of Soul Winning (2) The Fruit of Soul Winning    Amen.