Brief Summary
This sermon focuses on the principle of sowing and reaping, emphasizing the importance of winning souls for Jesus Christ in the last days. It identifies three key seeds that Christians must sow to reap a harvest of souls: prayer, pursuit, and preaching the Gospel. The message encourages believers to actively engage in sharing their faith, driven by a burden for the lost and the power of the Holy Spirit, to expand God's Kingdom.
- Sowing and reaping is a universal law, applicable both in the natural and spiritual realms.
- Christians are called and equipped to win souls for Jesus Christ.
- Three seeds for reaping souls: prayer, pursuit, and preaching the Gospel.
Introduction: The Principle of Sowing and Reaping
The sermon begins with Psalm 126 and Galatians 6, highlighting the principle of sowing and reaping as an immutable law instituted by God. Just as in the natural world where one reaps what they sow, this principle applies spiritually. Sowing to the flesh leads to corruption, while sowing to the Spirit results in everlasting life. This principle is found throughout the Word of God, emphasizing that our spiritual actions have corresponding consequences.
The Call to Win Souls
The focus shifts to winning souls for Jesus Christ, especially in the critical last days. The purpose of the Holy Ghost baptism is to empower believers to preach the Gospel and be witnesses. To reap a harvest of souls, Christians must sow the right seeds, expanding the Kingdom of God through active engagement and a dedicated effort.
Sowing the Seed of Prayer
The first seed is prayer, emphasizing the need for a burden and tears for the lost. Drawing from examples like Jeremiah and Jesus, the sermon underscores that those greatly used by God are those who weep over people and have a deep burden for their salvation. It calls for personal honesty and repentance, urging believers to examine their own sins and shortcomings before interceding for others. Prayerlessness is identified as a sin, and the importance of personal righteousness is highlighted as a prerequisite for effective prayer for the lost.
Sowing the Seed of Pursuit
The second seed is pursuit, exemplified by Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well in John 4. Instead of waiting for the lost to come to the church, believers are called to actively seek them out. The sermon challenges the common notion that sinners no longer come to church, emphasizing the need to go out and compel them to come in, as illustrated in Luke 14. This pursuit requires urgency and the anointing of the Holy Ghost, enabling believers to share the Gospel effectively.
Sowing the Seed of Preaching the Gospel
The third seed is preaching the Gospel, emphasizing the importance of sharing the truth of Christ. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 1:17, the sermon highlights that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish but the power of God to those who are saved. Despite potential challenges or difficult questions, the core message must remain Christ crucified. The sermon concludes with the promise that proclaiming God's Word with tears will yield results, encouraging believers to persevere in sharing the Gospel, trusting that God will give the increase.
Final Encouragement and Call to Action
The sermon ends with a call to action, urging the church to freely give the Gospel as they have freely received it. It emphasizes that there is a harvest ready to be reaped, encouraging believers not to faint in their efforts to share the Gospel. A prayer is offered for a renewed burden for souls, and a specific prayer of Isaiah is encouraged: "Here am I, Lord, send me." The congregation is challenged to identify and bring one person to church, trusting that God will use them to change lives.
