The Crown of Rejoicing

1 Thessalonians 2:18-20
 
 
Introduction:
 
A. One of the MOST IMPORTANT WORKS of both the local church
and the individual believer is that of witnessing or soul winning.
 
Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye
shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth.
 
1.  We have the POWER of witness, “after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.”
 
2.  We have the DIRECTIVE of witness, “ye shall be.”  Matthew 28:18-20 is often
called the Great Commission or Great Commandment.  The believer is an epistle written
of God and read of men.
 
3.  We have the DOMAIN of witness, “both” or at the same time at home, our
nation, and the rest of the world.  Every creature needs a preacher!
 
B.  In our text, we find THE GREAT DESIRE that Paul had to lead the lost
to Christ and to have fellowship with those who are saved.  One of the greatest of
Christian joys is:
 
1.  To see people COME TO KNOW the same Lord that we know; to be going to the
same heaven that we are going to.
 
2.  To be able to see the CHANGES that the Lord makes in their lives that reflect the
change in our lives.
 
3.  To have the privilege of CHALLENGING THEM,
a. By Knowing them,
b. serving the Lord with them,
c. fellowshipping with them, and
d. worshipping with them.
 
4.  And one day, just like today, spend an eternity worshipping our wonderful Lord
together.
 
 
C.  I want to look at THE SOUL WINNER for a few minutes tonight.
 
1.  Soul winners have REMARKABLE personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. 
Romans 1:16-17  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of
God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 
(17)  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,
The just shall live by faith.  (You can never win souls until you have experienced
forgiveness yourself!)
 
2.  Soul winners have RIGHT testimony
 
a.  The joy of the Lord
 
b.  A working knowledge of the Scriptures
 
c.  A compassion for the lost
 
3.  Soul Winners have READINESS to witness
 
a.  Versatility
 
4.  Soul winners will be REWARDED:
 
a.  In eternity - 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.
 
b.  In this life - 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.
 
Soul winners are wise:  Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;
and he that winneth souls is wise.
 
5.  Sour winners are REJOICING - 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?

D.  WHAT IS THE VALUE OF A SOUL?  It is of: 

 
1.  Infinite value to GOD - Genesis 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust
of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
soul.
 
2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance.
 
2.  Infinite value to ANGELS 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.
 
3.  Infinite value to the OWNER - Matthew 16:26  For what is a man profited, if
he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in
exchange for his soul?
 
4.  Should be of infinite value to us CHRISTIANS - 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 
(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?  (20)  For ye are our glory and joy.