Proverbs 11:30 – Bringing Others to Jesus – Bible study

Proverbs 11:30 Bringing Others to Jesus Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. I am looking for personal revival. I want to renew my relationship the Lord. You say, "Preacher, we just had revival meetings in October. Well, I need them again. Even more, I need revival again. Like Paul, I will say, I am the chief of sinners. \#1Tim 1:15\ I find my heart cold, distant, and calloused to others and I want it to be changed. And what has revival got to do with this verse? I know that I can not be revived if I do not have a heart for others. No Christian can be right with God who does not feel compassion for another soul. This evening, as I look for a personal revival, you are either stuck listening to me deal with myself or you must get up and walk out. I hope you will stay and together we might see something that will stir us both. I. The misconception of soul winning. A. The verse that we are looking at is short and simple. 1. We would think that there is little to misunderstand, especially as we are to concentrate only on the latter half of the verse. 2. Yet many of us probably misunderstand it, B. Most would think that the word "winneth" means to convert a sinner to Christ. 1. In fact, many would use that meaning as a reason for being discouraged for it is certainly difficult to convert anyone to Christ. 2. In fact, it is impossible for us. Christ must do the converting. 3. But it is very hard (rare) to share the gospel and see a soul converted; hence, many thinking that they understand the meaning of the world, get discouraged and quit. C. That is not what the word "winneth" means. 1. The word comes from the Hebrew word law-kakh (law-kash). 2. The word means "to take" in its broadest meaning. 3. It is used 909 times in the Old Testament. 4. This is the only time it is translated "winneth" which we take to mean "convert." 5. The remainder of the time, it is translated "to take, taken, bring, get, fetch, receive," and even "mingle," among others. 6. The basic meaning of the word is to bring something or someone to a place. 7. The translators determined that place to be the place of conversion and perhaps that is what the precise meaning is, but who is to tell how far the journey is to be? 8. No doubt, a person who is able to take another all the way to Christ is a wise person; but is not a person who attempts to take another, even if he does not get that person all the way to Christ, a wise person? 9. I think so, but lets see. a. Was Andrew wise? John 1:40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peters brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. (1) Brought in John 1:42 is NOT the same word as Pro 11:30 because we have changed from Hebrew to the Greek. (2) However, it is the Greek equivilent. (3) The verse does not say that Andrew converted his brother, only that he brought him to Jesus. (4) What Peter did after Andrew brought him to Jesus was none of Andrews doings. (5) Andrews work was complete when he brought him to Jesus, was it not? (6) What a person does who has been brought to Jesus is always up to him, but I believe the person who brings them is wise, none-the-less, dont you? b. Was Jesus wise? Matt 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. (1) Jesus sat with the publicans and sinners; that is, He mingled with them. (2) Again, not the same word as our Hebrew word but the same application. (3) Did any of those at the table actually convert? We dont know. (4) Was Jesus wise in allowing them to mingle with Himself? YES. (5) Once they had mingled with Jesus, the sinners could accept or reject Jesus as they chose, but Jesus answer was complete once He had brought them into His presence. D. I am simply saying that there is no such thing as a soul winner. There are those who get people to Jesus and then they are converted by Christ at their discretion, but those who bring others to Jesus are wise not because they converted someone, but because they brought them to Jesus. II. The verse says that the person who brings a soul is wise. What kind of wisdom would they have? A. They would have the wisdom of obedience. Mt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 1. One of the main reasons the church exists is to tell others about Jesus. If we fail in that duty, all other duties (teaching, feeding, clothing, encouraging) are greatly diminished if not extinguished! 2. However, this is not just the charge to the congregation. a. It is the charge to individual. b. No one can be right with God who will allow others to die lost! B. They would have the wisdom of knowing Jesus heart. 1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Lu 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 1. The knowledge that I speak of here is more than mere acquaintance or familiarity. 2. It is the kind of knowledge that Paul, after years of obedience and serve, still sought after. Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 3. This knowledge is an intertwining with Jesus that makes two into one. John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 4. This people would be one with Jesus as the Trinity is one. Joh 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. C. They would have the wisdom of knowing the times. Mt 16:2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 1. More specifically, they would understand that the days are short! 1Co 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 2. Why is the time short? a. Death could take us or take the lost person. b. The rapture might occur. c. The opportunity might pass. Two ways. (1) The Holy Spirit may quit dealing even as much as He is. Ge 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. (2) Our country might stop that freedom! (a) That will not mean we should stop. (Read \#Acts 4:19-20, 5:17-20, 28-29, 42\. (b) However, a person who will not share Christ in days of freedom is not likely to start in days of oppression, D. They would have the wisdom of compassion. Jude 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 1. Every inch closer to Christ we get someone, we get them one more inch out of hell. 2. You say, "How? If I get them closer but they are lost, they are all together lost, are they not?" 3. The answer is yes, but we also have the promises of God. Proverbs 14:25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 4. God is going to do something with your witness. 5. You may not be the harvester, but you ARE one more step in God accomplishing something in those lives! 1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. E. They would have the wisdom of rewards. Mt 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Da 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 1. I do not know what reward shall be given to the one who brings others to Jesus. 2. Some think it will be a crown of rejoicing. 1Th 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 3. But I am wise enough to know whatever it is, it will be good and I want it. Would you like to be a wise person? You can. It does not come with a degree or a diploma. It comes with a heart for God. Here is an excerpt from a sermon by Billy Sunday, a converted baseball preacher who rocked American in the last 18 and early 1900s. John Vassar was one of the greatest personal workers of the nineteenth century. He never preached a sermon but did personal evangelism. He was a wonder. One time he was going to help a preacher in Boston. This preacher met Vassar at the depot. Walking down to the hotel they went past a blacksmith shop. He said to Vassar, "Theres a blacksmith in there. Hes got a great drag with his crowd but he never comes to church. If we could only win him, then he would win scores in his class." Vassar asked, "Have you talked to him?" "Oh, we are afraid. He will cuss any preacher who comes near him." He said, "Wait a minute until I take my turn." Vassar went in. The man was shoeing a mule. He waited about witnessing but began to disarm his prejudice. In fifteen minutes he had him on his knees weeping like a child. He went up to the hotel where he was to stay. He registered, then strolled around, looking for somebody to speak to. He went into a little reception room and there sat a finely dressed lady. He walked up to her and said, "Lady, are you a Christian?" She said, "Yes, I am." "I beg your pardon," he said, "I didnt mean that kind. I mean, have you been born again?" "Oh," she said, "weve gotten over that here in Boston." "Well," he said, "youve gotten over Jesus Christ in Boston, too. Youve gotten over God." He talked with her until her prejudice was disarmed and tears trickled down her cheeks; then he said, "May I pray for you?" She said, "I wish you would. God knows I need it, although Im a member of the church." He prayed. She wept and he slipped out. Her husband came in and noticed that her eyes were red. He said, "Has anybody insulted you?" She said, "The queerest little man was here a little while ago and he talked so nice to me about Jesus." He said, "If I had been here I would have told him to go along and mind his business." She said, "I wish you had been here. You would have thought he was minding his business. His business was a mission for his King, to bring people to Jesus Christ." http://www.biblebelievers.com/billy_sunday/sun3.html Preached in part from this outline: http://www.livingbiblestudies.org/study/JT48/041.html