THE PASSIONATE SOUL WINNER (2).

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*THE PASSIONATE SOUL WINNER (2).*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Rom.9:3:

*For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

Paul's noble and generous emotion was his strong determination to achieve his evangelical zeal for the lost.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

Yesterday, we saw, among many others, that soul winning is a heart.

Today, we look further, looking at Paul's wish, from the seat of his emotions.

Oftentimes, emotions lead us to spiritual exploits.

It was God's strong emotional attribute of love that moved Him to give His beloved Son to die for us, John 3:16.

Paul wished he were accursed from Christ for his brethren. He wished himself were accursed, separated, and banished from Christ, if it were possible.

Wishes are desired expectations, and the one who wished would hope to have them if the opportunity arose or came along the way.

His wishes were willingness and underscored the importance of kinship, identity, and faithfulness to relational bonding.

He had dual citizenship. He did not only declare his kinship with Israel, he was also Roman, Acts 16:37-38 as he was a Hebrew, Philpns 3:5.

If you see the lost as God's creation and one not desired for hell fire, you would evangelize them to Christ how much more you would do anything for anyone you are personally connected and responsible.

He teaches us that our emotions can influence our spiritual decisions.

Paul's emotions brought out a determination to see his people were saved. He became a perfect example of a man with an incurable passion for soul winning. People like him will challenge the supernatural to wish or say what was unimaginable.

Who would wish he were cursed to eternal damnation? Hardly would you find one except for such people like Paul.

His emotion may appear sentimental, but it points to his incurable passion that could not be changed or overcome for lost souls.

He underscores and highlights Jesus. In Gal 6:2, Christ Himself became a curse.

*Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:*

We are facing our worst spiritual crisis, with today's trend of mass threat of religion encroachment. This has endangered the landmark and spiritual existence of Christianity. This tells us that there is a need to enhance aggressive evangelism in order to subdue this fast encroachment.

This aggressive evangelism can not be more urgent than now.

Paul could not think of any other way than to express his heart desire in such an aggressive way.

Do not play with Paul when it comes to soul winning.

To threaten yourself with eternal damnation is no joke. The Apostle could not be trusted with doing what was uncommon or unimaginable when it came to soul winning.

You may call him aggressive or a fanatic. As far as he was concerned, hell must give way, and Heaven was the home for as many as he could lead.

He said in 1 Cor 9:20-23:

*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;*

*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.*

*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.*

*And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.*

It will take people who see the risk of losing Heaven if they fail to lead other to it.

It will take people like Paul, who wished he were accursed if he failed to lead his people to Heaven

Paul's wishes, though, was his strong desire or hope for something that he could not easily attain, but we read how, in his letter to the churches of Galatia. Paul boldly declares that if he or an angel preaches a different gospel, he should be cursed, Gal 1:8-9.

Paul was not new to declaring a curse on himself.

A passionate soul winner tied his eternal destiny with Christ to a wish that if he had the power to determine himself, he would ensure that the lost got saved so that he would not miss it. This was because he knew his eternal destination to Heaven was important and must happen.

He challenged God by his wish because he knew God would not want him in hell, so He would provide all he needed to grant his heart desires for the lost soul.

By wishing he were accursed, Paul was saying he would not yield in strength, severity, or determination to win the lost.

What are you doing to win the lost?

*Remorse corner.*

Paul's wish that he were accursed was proof that he was protective of God's word that He did not want any soul to perish, 2 Pet 3:9.

*Call to Word action.*

Paul's curse on himself was proof that he knew the plans of some people to change the course of the true gospel. His curse was to guide himself if he ever wandered from preaching the good news of Jesus and turned to another gospel, Gal 1:8-9.

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Your emotions and how you feel about the lost and how you feel about the truth of God's word that He does not want lost souls to perish will determine how your emotions could prove important in evangelism.

*Prayer.*

Lord, give me an incurable passion for soul winning that can not be changed or overcome in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and have a blessed day.

God bless you.