Portrait of a Servant
Message #21
Soulwinning The Savior’s Way
Mark 6:7-13
There are “How-To” books on virtually any topic. There are even a number of books on the market instructing Christians how to reach people for Jesus Christ. The one I need to find is the book “Soulwinning For Dummies.” While some of these books are very helpful, there is no better soulwinning manual than the Word Of God.
It is also helpful to find an expert in a given field and emulate him when you are trying to perfect a skill. For basketball, study Michael Jordan; for finances, study Bill Gates; for bodybuilding, consult Arnold Swarzeneggar; and for soulwinning, study the life of Jesus.
Tonight, let’s examine Soulwinning The Savior’s Way.
I. The Plan (6:7)
A. The People (6:7a) -“And he called unto him the twelve…”
1. Not everyone has to go soulwinning; only those who are disciples are required to go.
2. Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47, and John 20:21 are only for people who want to follow Jesus.
3. Jesus gave the true test of discipleship…He showed us very clear how to tell whether or not we are following Him.
4. Matthew 4:19 –“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
5. If you are saved, you have been called to be a representative for Jesus.
6. “You are either a soulwinner or a backslider.”
7. We would rather be “keepers of the aquarium than fishers of men.”
B. The Pattern (6:7b) –“…and began to send them forth by two and two…”
1. The word “send” is important. It is the Greek word apostello from which we get our word apostle. It means “to send someone with a special commission to represent another and to accomplish his work.”
2. The Bible states the priority of partnership in Ecclesiastes 4:
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
3. They can encourage each other, protect each other, and pray for each other.
4. Tom Krampert and I witnessing to ladies with wild children. I sent him upstairs with children so I could witness to them.
5. Your soulwinning partner can become a best friend.
C. The Power (6:7c) –“…and gave them power over unclean spirits.”
1. Satan hates soulwinning and soulwinners…he will fight your efforts to give the gospel.
2. I John 4:4 -“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
3. God gave them both divine authority and divine ability to accomplish the work He sent them to do.
I. The Plan
II. The Provision (6:8-10)
A. It Was Slender (6:8-9).
1. Jesus did not want them to be loaded down with extra baggage.
2. All my luggage on my first trip to the Philippines slowed me down.
B. It Was Sufficient (6:10).
1. They were to live by faith.
2. They were to live with families.
3. This system enabled them to develop their faith and deepen their fellowship with the people they would minister to.
I. The Plan
II. The Provision
III. The Perils (6:11)
A. The Rejection (6:11a) –“And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you…”
1. Not everyone will be glad to see you.
2. Some will dodge you and others will disdain you.
B. The Reaction (6:11b) –“…when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.”
1. “The true measure of a man is what it takes to stop him.”
2. Matthew 5
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
3. It was customary for the Jews to shake the dust off their feet when they left Gentile territory, but for them to do this to their fellow Jews would be something new.
C. The Retribution (6:11c) –“…Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.”
1. It is a more serious sin to reject God’s ambassadors than to commit the sins of those in Sodom.
2. God will punish those who mistreat His servants.
3. Pharaoh made this mistake when Moses and Aaron confronted him; the people of Sodom made this mistake when they were visited by the two angels; and the antediluvians were guilty of this sin when they ignored the message of Enoch and Noah.
IV. The Preaching (6:12-13)
A. The Message (6:12) –“And they went out, and preached that men should repent.”
B. The Miracles (6:13) –“And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.”
V. The Principles
A. The GO Principle (6:7)
1. God Does Want You To Go.
2. God Does Not Want You To Go Alone.
3. God Will Go With You.
B. The KNOW Principle (6:8-10)
1. Where God guides, He provides.
2. Where God leads, He feeds.
3. “Where He leads me I will follow, what He feeds me I will Swallow.”
C. The WOE Principle (6:11)
1. God will reward those who receive His message.
2. God will repay those who reject His messengers.
D. The SHOW Principle (6:12-13)
1. Put the emphasis on the spiritual first, then the physical.
2. Show them how to be saved, then show them love on a practical basis by ministering to their physical needs.
I am afraid that many in our fundamental churches do what they do because of the pastor, peer pressure, or to put on a good show. Why haven’t you started soulwinning? God has called you. It’s a matter of obedience.
Why have you stopped going? Do not do what you do because of me or any other pastor, do what is right because you want to please the Lord.
II Corinthians 5
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Soulwinning The Savior's Way
