EVANGELISM-JOY
The proper
response to God's whole counsel is first to find one's need-love met in sharing
with Him, through the Holy Spirit (the joy experienced by God), and then second
to make that joy full by talking about it with other people… We will also want
to "double our joy" by discussing with fellow Christians the
implications of God's great purpose for the world. So even though there will be
no more evangelizing to do in (heaven), yet we Christians can continue to have
the increased joy of talking about God's love with others.
The Unity of the Bible,
Zondervan, www.zondervan.org,
1992.
For all of us
it should be unthinkable to keep to ourselves the knowledge that God's ultimate
delight is to do the greatest good for others by letting them share in the
supreme joy He has in Himself. How could any of us enjoy heaven unless we
mobilized our time, talents and treasure to do our utmost to get the good news
to the rest of the world? Sadly, many professing Christians do not feel this
imperative demand because they, through unbelief, are themselves no
experiencing God's great joy and peace.
Daniel Fuller
The Unity of the Bible, Zondervan
Publishing House, 1992, p. 160.
Joy is the
winsome magnet that draws people in because it is the one thing they do not
have.
Author Unknown
There is no joy in the world like the joy of bringing one soul to
Christ.
William Barclay
Nature teaches us that every believer should be a soul-winner. [As
Andrew Murray said,] “It is an essential part of the new nature. We see it in
every child who loves to tell of his happiness and to bring others to share his
joys. Missions is the automatic outflow and overflow
of love for Christ. We delight to enlarge our joy in Him by extending it to
others. As Lottie Moon said, “Surely there can be no greater joy than that of
saving souls.”
John Piper
Desiring
God, 1996, p. 205-206, Used by Permission, www.desiringGod.org.
The church was (Paul’s) joy (1 Thes. 2:19-20) because in their joy
in Christ his joy in Christ was greater. More of Christ's mercy was magnified
in multiplied converts of the cross. So when Paul chose suffering in the cause
of world evangelization and said that his aim was to “gain Christ,” he meant
that his own personal enjoyment of fellowship with Christ would be eternally
greater because of the great assembly of the redeemed enjoying Christ with him.
John Piper
Desiring
God, 1996, p. 205-206, Used by Permission, www.desiringGod.org.
I
think beloved, it will not be hard for you to learn.
The angels of heaven rejoice over Sinners that repent: saints of God, will not you and I do the same? I do not think the
church rejoices enough. We all grumble enough and groan enough: but very few of
us rejoice enough. When we take a large number into the church it is spoken of
as a great mercy; but is the greatness of that mercy appreciated?
C.H. Spurgeon
The Sympathy of the Two Worlds, Sermon, Luke 15:10.
To be a soul
winner is the happiest thing in this world. And with every soul you bring to
Jesus Christ, you seem to get a new heaven here upon earth.
C.H. Spurgeon
Sermons, 11.431.
We must not
treat that knowledge simply as a source of delight. We must do something more. We
must follow in the train of those who, knowing God, have proclaimed Him. Here
is our task. Here is an additional delight. This knowledge, like all knowledge,
is enjoyed best when it is shared. And this knowledge of God, like no other
knowledge, will bring life and health to a sin-sick world. It is the glory of
the Christian to tell out the glory of God. God made us for this. Let us arise
and do it with all our might!
Tom Wells
A Vision for Missions, Permission by The Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle, PA. p.
106.
Most
men are not satisfied with the permanent output of their lives. Nothing can
wholly satisfy the life of Christ within His followers except the adoption of
Christ’s purpose toward the world He came to redeem. Fame, pleasure and riches
are but husks and ashes in contrast with the boundless and abiding joy of
working with God for the fulfillment of His eternal plans. The men who are
putting everything into Christ’s undertaking are getting out of life its
sweetest and most priceless rewards.
J. Campbell White
The Laymen’s Missionary Movement,
1909.
Nature
teaches us that every believer should be a soul-winner. It is an essential part
of the new nature. We see it in every child who loves to tell of his happiness
and to bring others to share his joys.