Lord’s Day, Vol. 11 No. 10

(1) The Gospel Work – Tracting

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

The people of the world aim to win something of value in their lives – the wealth of this world perhaps winning a lottery, winning a medal, or winning earthly honours! But for the Apostle Paul, his aim in life was to “win Christ and be found in Him (Philippians 3:8-9). It is well said by Denis Gibson of the Apostle Paul, “and an insatiable longing to do God’s work, to share Christ with others, whatever the cost!”

Romans 1:14-16 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 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.  

The tracting ministry thrives on such a spirit. And this, Gibson said, “should be the aim of every Christian. First, you must know Christ as your own personal Saviour, and then you must tell others of the wonderful Saviour that found you!”

Proverbs 11:30 summarizes well the Christian testimony –The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

• The Godly Life (v30a)
• The Godly Work (v30b)

(1) The Godly Life (v30a)

– The fruit of the righteous is a tree of Life…

Human life is compared with the fruit-bearing, life-giving tree. Gary Brady observed, “The believer has a tremendous life-giving influence because of his teaching and life. Thought of as a wise man, by similar means, he wins, or captures, the souls of others so that they too walk in the ways of wisdom. If a wise doctor is one who heals, so a wise believer will heal the souls of others and win them for the Saviour. Supremely the tree of life is Christ’s own cross. That tree of life was indeed the fruit of righteousness.”

It is at the cross, we find forgiveness for our sins and restoration of life with God. God’sIt is peace abides in such a soul.

The psalmist says in psalm 1, Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

He is careful to choose his counsel, his company and his conviction. He delights in God’s laws. He spends time in meditation, the influence of God’s law moment by moment, day by day and spiritual fruit came forth in his life. The Apostle Paul articulated well what is this spiritual fruit when he said, Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

This is the spiritual character that equips one to win souls. That was our life before we come to God, plagued with the misery of sin, before God saved us. And having received overflowing life from Him, everlasting life that flows from an unending fountain, the Christian testimony is a life that imparts life.

This is what we do when we share the gospel with someone. The use of tracts is a purposeful way of conveying the truth of God’s love by your taking the trouble to present that tract to that someone God brings to you.

“We have power with men in proportion to our power with God.” (Anonymous)

(2) The Gospel Work (v30b)

– …and he that winneth souls is wise.

The key word is winneth. In this fallen world, God’s way, His wisdom is to win sinful men to God.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

When men understood the value of salvation, they are willing to count the cost and labour for the Lord! God’s wisdom is for us to win souls by taking or catching them. Realize we do not force the gospel down unwilling throats. Many children follow their parents to church but when they come of age, they rebelled.

May the Lord grant us more wisdom to know how to deal with souls! Winning souls is God’s appointed work, and man’s happiest crown. Evil is restrained, holiness pervades and joyfulness, the joy of the purest kind, reverberates the soul winner. He stores up true riches.

You would notice also that the soul winner bears the hardest cross also! Indeed, the adversary to the souls is not pleased when souls are won to heaven. There is a sense of lethargy, slackness and even slothfulness in churches today. The First Commandment of Christ to the church to fulfil the Great Commission seemed to be neglected.

It has become the greatest omission. The passion for souls, and the injunction to reach out to a dying world seem to be a lost mission of the church. 

Let us realize that personal witnessing is not an optional but a sacred duty. It is a privilege because Christians are the only people with the true message of hope. The only message of salvation – only Jesus saves! You are an ambassador of the King of kings and Lord of lords, a tremendous privilege that He has bestowed upon you.

It is a work that brings eternal reward for the Christian. Christians will all stand before Christ one day at the bema seat to give an account of stewardship. How will you fare in that day of reward? Are you prepared? Ready for this mandate that your Master has given to you? Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

We are to prepare ourselves so that we can be made ready with holiness of life to give an answer for the hope that is in us. We are to prepare our lives so that it may be a vessel fit for the Master’s use to declare His worth!

May the church come forth, send forth with the gospel in pairs to give a tract for His glory. Amen.

(2) Ambulance Transport

Thank God for bringing Mdm. Lim Chor Kheng, her husband Mr Yew and her helper Almah to church in an ambulance on 26 February for our Mandarin Outreach Service. Thank God for the co-labouring of Mr and Mrs June Leong to reach out to her brother Mr Yew and his wife Mdm. Lim. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee