James 5:20, Jude 1:22-23
A Soul Rescuer
Jude 1:22 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.
One of the greatest efforts afforded to Christians is the rescue
work we have been called to provide, the rescue of lost souls. Have
we used the word so often in church that perhaps has forgotten what
salvation means? Salvation means to recuse, to save, to cause one to
be spared.
Both James and Jude describe this effort.
James says sinners must be converted \\#20\\, that is, set on
the right path. He declared that they are on the pathway of error
and that we have been called to rescue their eternal souls from
death and a multitude of sins.
Jude says that to convert these lost travelers, we must have
compassion on their plight and fear for their souls. These
qualities may help us commit a successful rescue, pulling them
out of the fire although their clothing will be singed.
For the most part, we have no images of these poor people on their
perilous journey, so let us math.
1.78 die worldwide per second. (Most die without Christ)
107 per minute
6390 per hour
153 thousand per day
56.0 million per year
3.9 billion per average lifetime (70 years)
This morning, we started our 31st VBS together. The goal is to
specifically seek out children to rescue, hoping to win them before
the devil ruins their lives. The task is worthy. The objective is
plan.
As the pastor, let me place this rescue operation before you by
sharing with you some truths about the work.
I. The reason Jesus came into this world was to start the rescue
operation.
A. That is not my estimate. Those are the words of Jesus.
Matthew 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save
that which was lost.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and
to save that which was lost.
B. Jesus rescued the first batch of sinner and made it possible
for all others to be saved, then He left the task to us.
C. The church that Jesus created, empowered, and called are to
carry on this task.
II. The church’s reason for existing is to continue out that
mission.
Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me,
and I will make you fishers of men.
Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye
after me, and I will make you to become fishers
of men.
Luke 5:10 And so was also James, and John, the
sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon.
And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from
henceforth thou shalt catch men.
A. The easiest thing for God to have done would be to save us and
take us home.
1. In heaven, God could train us Himself.
2. For that matter, He could just rewire us to be trained.
3. But God left us here to train one another?
a. Why?
b. That we might be part of the rescue operation.
B. One of the main reasons this and every church exists is to do
the rescue work!
1. I do not want to diminish our role to glorify God, but we
could do that in heaven.
2. I do not want to diminish our role in worshipping God, but
we could do that in heaven.
3. The reason we are left here is to rescue the lost.
C. All the gifts and power of the church are to be used to
accomplish that mission.
1. The gifts - pastoring, preaching, evangelizing,
organization, mercy, teaching, singing, comforting - were
given to accomplish that mission.
2. The people God brought into your life to disciple you were
sent to help you accomplish that mission.
3. The works the church has engaged in over the ages were
started to help fulfill that mission - missions,
revivals, Sunday school, orphanages, food banks,
hospitals, schools, clothing centers, and many other
everyday charities.
III. Jesus told us that there would always be souls just waiting to
be rescued.
Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples,
The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers
are few;
Mark 4:29 But when the fruit is brought forth,
immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the
harvest is come.
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months,
and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you,
Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for
they are white already to harvest
A. Jesus said the harvest truly is plentiful.
1. We must not fall into the myth of thinking souls aren’t
getting saved, but Jesus said they would be. They need
only for someone to go harvest them.
2. Jesus’ statement was limited.
a. It applies to every time and location.
b. So in Green Pond, Alabama, there are souls waiting to
be saved.
c. The problem is not the absence of lost sinners who
will accept the Savior. The problem is the absence
of workers that will win them.
B. Paul also spoke of the guarantee of results.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well
doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we
faint not.
C. In the light of these verses, questions do need to be asked.
1. In the Bible, the question is never about the work but
about the workers!
a. In Matthew 9:37, the question is, "Where are they?
There are not enough!"
b. In Galatians 6:9, the question is, "Will they stay at
it? Will they quit before the work is complete?"
2. There is a great need!
a. As we close in on the hour so we close in on the
figure of 6,390 additional deaths.
b. How many died without Christ?
c. How many crossed our paths?
d. How many were our responsibility.
D. For those who are trying to find the harvest, I will say that
as in every harvest, we must work our way through the field
to find the ripe fruit but it is out there!
IV. David said that an effective rescue worker must have three
things:
Psalms 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth,
bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come
again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves
with him.
A. He must have…
1. …legs to go with.
2. …tears to weep with.
3. …seed to bear.
4. If so, he will return with joy and sheaves (a harvest
bundle).
B Most of us have the right equipment.
1. Most of us have the legs to go with. If we don’t, we have
other means at our disposal to carry the gospel to them.
2. We have the right Seed. It is the Word of God.
3. If we lack anything, it is probably the tears necessary
to water the seed.
C. This seed cannot be watered with rain drops.
1. This is spiritual seed and it requires a more precious
form of moisture.
2. It requires salty tears of concern and love that have
rolled down the cheeks of God’s caring, praying,
believing people.
3. To be a soul rescuers one does not have to be smart, or
talented, or out-going, or even extremely knowledgeable
about the Bible.
4. They do have to care and to love enough to go, give, and
weep over the lost.
D. There are addicts, abusers, homosexuals, criminals, bad
people, and good moral people—All have three things in
common.
1. They need to be rescued.
2. They need the Word of God.
3. Perhaps first they need to be wept over.
V. Paul taught us that to be an effective rescue worker we would
have to be trainable and pliable.
1 Corinthians 9:19 For though I be free from all
men, yet have I made myself servant unto all,
that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I
might gain the Jews; to them that are under the
law, as under the law, that I might gain them
that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law,
(being not without law to God, but under the law
to Christ,) that I might gain them that are
without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might
gain the weak: I am made all things to all men,
that I might by all means save some.
A. Let me say again, you do not have to be out going, talented,
or smart.
1. You do have to be willing to be remade by our Lord.
2. You come with a willing and broken heart, God will supply
the ability and the courage.
3. Some of those you might think are the most gifted for
preaching and ministry are those who God has remade.
B. The lost cannot be rescued without men.
1. Most of the men in our church consider themselves shy,
quiet, even backward.
2. That is no excuse for not rescuing others.
3. Paul had to constantly be remade.
4. God will remake you if you will let Him.
5. If you won’t believe God can remake you, a willing vessel,
you might as well quit praying for Him to save souls.
a. In order for a lost person to be saved, God has to
remake them.
b. They are not even willing.
c. If you won’t believe God can remake you (a willing
soul), you certainly don’t have faith enough to
believe God can remake them (unwilling souls).
VI. Jesus said there are rewards for rescuing souls.
John 4:36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages,
and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both
he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice
together.
Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of
water to drink in my name, because ye belong to
Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose
his reward.
A. Rejoicing
1. In heaven:
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy
in the presence of the angels of God over one
sinner that repenteth.
2. In earth:
1Thessalonians 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?
B. Wisdom
Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a
tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
C. Eternal position
Daniel 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.
We close out an earthly rescue operation and start a new heavenly
rescue operation. You have helped in the earthly because you saw the
need. Will you let God show your spirit the eternal need of rescuing
lost souls?
Ezekiel 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou
shalt surely die; and thou givest him not
warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from
his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked
man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will
I require at thine hand.
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