APOSTLE EDWARD SSEWANYANA: WIN THE LOST: PART 3

When Jesus gave us the great commission to preach the gospel it was not a great suggestion but a great command. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mar 16:15), this was a command given to all believers of all time. When you obey the word you prove that you love the Lord and receive the blessings of obedience, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves... But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (Jam 1:22,25). Choose to obey the Lord's command and not become a mere forgetful hearer.

2. Compassion for the lost

When a man dies without herring and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ, they go straight to hell. Jesus described it as a place, "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mar 9:44). How many of you would sincerely desire to dwell in the golden streets of heaven as you behold your classmate or workmate burning in hell because you never preached about Jesus to them? Heaven and hell are more real than the earth we are living on now. Choose to reach out to them in love and snatch them out of the fire, “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” (Jud 1:23). When the rich man died he went straight to hell and not purgatory, "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luk 16:22-23). Make a decision right now to depopulate hell and populate heaven. Don’t' just sail along to heaven on your own, snatch many on your way there out of the fire.

3. Not preaching the gospel is a sin

This may be a surprise to many but it is attested by the scriptures, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (Jam 4:17). James makes it clear that one who knows any good thing which includes evangelism and does not do it becomes a sinner in God's sight. Many believers know about the sins of commission described in the 10 commandments, but forget the sins of omission. When you willingly choose to disobey and rebel against the commandment of the Lord to evangelize, you are likened to a witchdoctor, "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (1Sa 15:22-23). When you pull out of fulfilling your part in Jesus' great commission of preaching to the lost, your name is recorded in heaven's list which includes idolaters and witchdoctors. You set yourself up to be destroyed by the devil since you are moving out of the Lord’s care.

4. Evangelism leads to the growth of the church:

When we preach the gospel the body of Christ grows and many unbelievers join the church. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls... Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Act 2:41, 47). We should never complain about the small number of people in our churches or ministries if we are no playing any part in winning the lost for Jesus and adding members to the ministry. The growth of the church is the Lord's desire and you make him smile when you obediently take time to preach to the lost and see them come to Jesus, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1Jo 5:3).

5. A reward awaits you when you win the lost

"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever” (Dan 12:3). When you lead the lost to Jesus you receive a special reward of shinning as the stars in heaven. This shows that some will be dim and others will shine brighter for having obeyed to lead many to righteousness by preaching the gospel to them. You will receive a reward in heaven and on earth for any sacrifice you put in towards winning the lost, "And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life” (Mar 10:29-30)