Winning Lost Souls: Why It Matters
1. It is God's Will
Many believers want to know what God’s will is. "God desires that all people be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4) Well, there it is in plain daylight! His will is that everyone should be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Therefore, believers must proclaim this message. People will not discover salvation and truth on their own; they must be told.
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish (Matthew 18:12‑14).
Everyone who has heard Christ’s words knows that passage. Yet if we do not have a heart to seek the lost sheep, how can we find them? We must search for the lost in order to fulfill God’s will. Knowing God’s will is useless without action.
Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? (Ezekiel 18:23).
God clearly shows that He does not rejoice over the wicked’s death. However, if we do not proclaim this, how can the unrighteous avoid their sin?
“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live! (Ezekiel 18:30‑32). God does not want the people of Israel to die. Likewise, He takes no pleasure in any human being’s death and does not wish for anyone to end up in the lake of fire.
O man, because I have appointed you as a watchman over the house of Israel, you must hear my words and warn them. If you do not warn the wicked, saying, “You will surely die,” that wicked person will die for his own sins, but I shall claim his life from you. However, if you warn him and he still does not turn away from his evil ways and dies because of his sin, then you yourself are saved (Ezekiel 33:1‑9).
Believers should be like watchmen. Watchmen have the responsibility to alert others when enemies approach. Likewise, believers also have a duty to warn everyone about God’s judgment. If they neglect this responsibility, they will face God’s condemnation.
2. It is God's Plan
Those whom God loves are holy and blameless before Him. "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." (Ephesians 1:3-4)
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake." (1 Peter 1:18-20)
These passages show that God’s salvation was a great plan laid out long before the foundation of the world. After Jesus fulfilled this purpose, it is now incumbent upon believers—those who have personally received this grace—to share the good news with those who do not yet know it. If we fail to proclaim it, how can God’s will be fully accomplished?
3. It is the Main Work of Christ
The main purpose of His coming was to save those who are lost (Mark 18:11). When Jesus spoke, He said that the healthy have no need for a physician—only the sick do (Matthew 9:12). He also declared, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). Jesus added, “For this purpose I came—to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10), and that His food is “to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work” (John 4:34). The statement that Christ came into this world to save sinners is a true teaching (1 Timothy 1:15).
When we read these words, it becomes clear that Jesus’ mission was to find the lost and rescue sinners. He has no other purpose or desire except to redeem those living in a sinful world. By paying the price for our sins—giving His life and dying on the cross—He made salvation possible.
Now, believers are called to speak of this salvation. But unless they use their bodies, time, and talents, they cannot spread the good news. Therefore, every believer must allow the Lord to work through their lives.
4. It is the Will of Christ
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”(Mat 9:35-38, Luk 10:2)
Jesus saw people as sheep without a shepherd and also as lost sheep. He described them as fields ready for harvest. Therefore, He urged His disciples to pray to the owner of the field—God—to send laborers into the harvest so they could reap. Believers are those who do the reaping. The purpose of life isn’t merely to get worldly work done. What truly matters is rescuing lost souls. It would be shameful to seek God’s blessings without following His will, yet act only on our own desires—wouldn’t that be?
5. This is the Primary Work of the Holy Spirit
"When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned." (John 16:8-11)
Jesus says that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will expose sin, righteousness, and judgment to the people of this world. Because the Holy Spirit has no physical body, He must work through a human vessel. On the day of Pentecost, Peter’s body was used to proclaim the gospel to three thousand people. Likewise, you can be used by the Holy Spirit. Will you allow your body to be used? You do not need to be an eloquent speaker; the Holy Spirit will speak through you. If you permit your body to be used, the Holy Spirit will take on the responsibility of uttering the necessary words.
6. Reason Why the Holy Spirit was Given
Before ascending into heaven, the Lord said to them: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).
God says that giving the Holy Spirit to believers is meant for them to receive power and serve as witnesses until the end of the world. Therefore, anyone who receives the Holy Spirit obtains that power. Being a witness is not limited to the apostles; it applies to all who have received the Holy Spirit. So if you receive the Holy Spirit, you too will become a witness.
The Holy Spirit Himself is power. But, because believers rarely give the Holy Spirit opportunities to act in that power, He cannot fully show His might or do His work. The Holy Spirit longs to use your body and voice for His purposes. So the question is: why haven’t you—or we—allowed Him to use you or us?
7. It is the Command of the Lord
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:15-18)
The command above is one that every believer has heard and understood. Some people believe it was given only for missionaries, but it actually applies to all believers. As Mark notes, even though God wanted to perform signs and wonders, He could not do so because the believers failed to listen to or obey His commands. Wherever the gospel is proclaimed, we often witness the power of the Holy Spirit at work through signs and wonders. From now on, I urge you to prioritize and testify to the Lord Jesus’ commandments.
8. It is the primary need of people
Jesus said, "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" (Matthew 16:26).
People may not aspire to own the whole world, but they crave tangible possessions—homes, cars, televisions, computers, and smartphones. Therefore, they work very hard to acquire them. Yet if a person loses their soul even after obtaining all those things, there is no benefit at all. Jesus reminds us that material wealth cannot compensate for a lost soul.
In our world, many people pursue earthly desires while neglecting spiritual matters. Because of this preoccupation with worldly possessions, they often miss opportunities to study the Bible or trust in God. Consequently, they fail to cultivate their relationship with Him and lose the chance for true fulfillment.
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21).
I think almost all Christians know the above example. However, they do not take it seriously. Therefore, people try hard to become like that rich man.
Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me— those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them— the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— so that they should live on forever and not see decay. For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others. Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself. (Psalm 49:5-15)
The Psalmist reminds us that man's spirit is very precious. Man marks this world as his eternal home and seeks greatly for wealth. However, when he dies, all that he has gathered and sought will be left behind for others. He thinks his name will be exalted above the earth. But neither name nor honor are eternal. Even if they were, what good would it do if their spirit goes to Hell? Anyone who does not attain salvation ends up there. Because most people are unaware of this fate and have not yet experienced its physical consequences, those who know must feel concern for their plight.
9. The Most Important Way to Help People
The most vital way to help others isn’t by giving money, providing medical care, saving lives, or offering education—those are worldly forms of assistance. Helping someone attain salvation is far more valuable than any other type of aid. Christ said, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul? What can he give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
Physical aid and worldly support are beneficial, yet they are temporary; spiritual help possesses eternal value and is profoundly significant.
10. The Key to Christian Life
To live a Christian life, winning lost souls stands as one of the most vital and non-negotiable tasks a believer can undertake. How can one show love if they do not care for those who are headed toward hell? Without loving and saving souls, one cannot exercise patience or control desires; instead, they will live according to the flesh. If you wish to become a spiritual person, love, seek out, and care for lost souls. By doing so, you can live in accordance with the Spirit.
11. Victory Over the Devil
When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here. (Acts 17:1-6)
Why are Paul and Silas called “troublemakers of the world”? It is because their ministry stirred hearts and changed lives, leading countless people everywhere to believe in Jesus. This world is under the devil’s rule, and many are caught in his power.
John said, "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one." (1 John 5:19)
Therefore, rescuing the people of this world from the devil's grip is a victory over the devil.
"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." (Hebrews 2:14-15)
The incarnation and death of Christ were intended to destroy the power of the devil. He accomplished this by dying Himself and rising again. While most people fear death, Jesus’ resurrection removes that fear for us. If we share this truth with others, they can benefit; otherwise, Christ’s victory over death would mean nothing to them. Therefore, it is every believer’s duty to ensure that everyone hears this good news.
12. It is a Cause for Joy to the Believers
Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work” (John 4:34). He spoke these words after revealing Himself as the Messiah to a Samaritan woman, a person whom society considered worthless by human standards. As this woman came to faith, Jesus experienced such joy that He no longer even need to eat physical food.
Today we should not seek happiness through worldly means. Pursuing pleasure in such ways can lead to loss and suffering. The joy that comes from helping lost souls is pure and truly beneficial.
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20).
Jesus sent His disciples to preach the good news, and they returned with joy. In this passage, the Lord is not saying, “Do not be joyful simply because you have defeated the devil.” Rather, He says, “Rejoice not merely for having conquered the devil.” Here, the word rejoice carries deeper meaning: we should also rejoice because we have triumphed over evil, but also because our names are written in heaven.
