So they're in Titus 2, in verse number 14.
The Bible tells us the kind of soul winners
that we oughta be for the Lord.
It says here at the end of verse 14, it says,
we oughta be people who are zealous of good works.
You know, what does that word zealous mean?
The word zealous means that you're fervent.
You know, it's having fervency.
It's being passionate about what you're doing.
It's being excited about what you're doing.
See, as soul winners, you and I oughta strive
to week in and week out be zealous
of the good work of soul winning.
Meaning we oughta show up, we oughta have urgency,
we oughta have some passion, some excitement
when it comes to our soul winning.
See, the opposite of being zealous is being what?
Is being apathetic, is being indifferent,
is not having zeal, it's not being excited about soul winning
and obviously it's easy when you come soul winning
week in and week out.
You know, the excitement can kinda wear off.
It can become a little bit more of a routine
and while in the beginning it might seem exciting,
sometimes we can lose that zeal.
You and I oughta strive to be what?
To be people who are zealous of good works
is what the Bible says and so this morning
I wanna talk about staying a zealous soul winner
because you and I, we oughta stay excited
when it comes to soul winning.
We oughta show up, we oughta be excited,
we oughta get excited when it comes
to the good work of soul winning.
So there's three areas quickly.
I wanna talk about how you can stay zealous
as a soul winner.
Go to Ephesians 5 if you would, Ephesians 5.
Ephesians 5.
See, the Bible says in Romans 12, 11,
it says we ought to be not slothful in business
but fervent in spirit.
And the first way I wanna show you
how you oughta be zealous in soul winning
and stay zealous is through singing.
You see, singing will help you stay zealous
as a soul winner.
Ephesians 5, look at verse number 18,
the Bible says, and be not drunk with wine
or in his excess, notice, but be filled with the Spirit.
It says, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, notice, singing
and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
You see, how is it that somebody can stay zealous
as a soul winner?
Well, somebody who stays zealous will show up
to our meeting and when the song begins,
the piano starts playing, they're gonna open up
their hymnbook and they're gonna sing unto the Lord.
They're gonna stay zealous through singing.
Why, because singing will help you be filled
with the Spirit.
When you sing psalms, when you sing hymns,
when you open your mouth and make a joyful noise
unto the Lord, look, singing will help
your attitude sometimes.
You know, when we show up and we're tired,
we feel a little bit indifferent,
we feel a little bit callous about soul winning.
When you open up the hymnbook, you gotta just
make an effort to sing with all your mind.
And look, that will help you stay zealous,
get excited when it comes to soul winning.
You say, how can I stay excited even though
it's another week?
Yes, well, when it comes to the singing time,
when the piano starts, guess what?
You're gonna open up the hymnbook and we're gonna
make a joyful noise and sing unto the Lord
and get excited when it comes to soul winning.
So number one, you gotta stay zealous through singing.
But number two, go to Ephesians six, if you would,
Ephesians chapter six.
Not only should you stay zealous through singing,
but you should also stay zealous through prayer.
Look, you gotta pray that the Holy Spirit fills you
to help you get excited when it comes to soul winning.
Ephesians six, look at verse number 18,
the Bible says, those praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit
and watching them too with all perseverance
and supplication for all saints
and the Paul says this, and for me that utterance
may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly
to make known the mystery of the gospel.
But notice verse 20 says, for which I am an ambassador
in bonds, notice that therein I may speak boldly
and then he says this, he says, as I ought to speak.
See, the apostle Paul says, I want you to pray for me
that I may have boldness, but not just that.
He's praying for something that he should preach
the gospel in a way as I ought to speak.
See, there's a way that you ought to speak
when it comes to this matter of soul winning.
And the Bible says we oughta be zealous of good works,
fervent in spirit.
See, when we go out there, we should not be callous
or indifferent about the gospel.
Why, because it's exciting.
And even though sometimes we cannot feel excited,
as the apostle Paul does here, he's praying
to preach the gospel in a manner that he ought to speak.
And you and I, we oughta pray for God
to help us get excited and be excited
and preach the gospel in a way as we ought to speak.
See, we shouldn't speak this matter of salvation
in a way that it doesn't matter or that it's different
or that you're not excited.
No, because it is exciting.
It's exciting to preach the death, burial, and resurrection.
We oughta be excited, but here we have the apostle Paul,
the greatest soul, one of the greatest soul owners
who is praying for what?
Praying to preach the gospel in a manner
that he ought to speak.
Go to Colossians 4, if you would, Colossians 4.
You say, how do I stay zealous week in and week out?
Well, you oughta show up and be ready to sing.
But you also oughta show up and pray
for God to help you preach the gospel as you ought to speak.
Colossians 4, look at verse number three again.
Notice what it says.
It says, with all, notice, praying.
Again, with all praying also for us
that God would open unto us a door of utterance,
notice, to speak the mystery of Christ
for which I am also in bonds.
Notice, that I may make it manifest,
notice, as I ought to speak.
Once again, the apostle Paul praying
to be able to preach the gospel in a way,
in a manner that is appropriate,
as I ought to, the way you should preach the gospel.
You say, how should I preach the gospel?
You should preach with fervency.
You oughta have some zeal.
You oughta get excited.
You oughta help people get excited.
Why, because it's exciting
to go out there and preach the gospel.
And how is it gonna be done week in and week out?
Well, you show up, you open your mouth to sing the hymns,
and you pray that God would help you preach the gospel
as you ought to preach the gospel.
But not just that, but go up to Acts 26,
Acts, chapter 26, number one.
You oughta stay zealous through singing.
Number two, you oughta stay zealous through prayer.
Go to Acts 26, but number three,
you oughta stay zealous through compassion.
You oughta stay zealous through compassion.
Look, when we go out there, what should help our zeal,
what should give us excitement, motivation,
fervency, and spirit, is this matter
of us having compassion for the lost.
Because, look, it's easy when you get into a routine,
and you show up week in and week out,
and you feel like, oh, it's just another day of soul-waning.
But look, every time you show up,
you oughta realize that when we go out there,
we make a difference when we go out there,
that we have the power to get somebody saved from hell,
that what we do actually makes a difference.
And I don't know about you,
but that should get you excited.
So know that when you go out there,
you're not just filling a time sheet,
no, you're actually making a difference in someone's life.
Acts 26, look at verse number 18,
the Bible says, notice, in verse 18,
it says to open their eyes
and to turn them from darkness to light.
You see, what do we do when we go out there
and preach the gospel?
Well, we're opening their eyes.
We're turning them from darkness to light, notice,
and from the power of Satan unto God.
You read these verses, and this should get you excited
to know that you can be the one,
you could be that soul winner,
to take someone who is blind, who is lost,
who is ignorant, who doesn't know,
who is under the power of Satan, who is in darkness,
and preach them the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.
And what we do is we're opening their eyes.
We're turning them from darkness to light,
from the power of Satan unto God.
Notice that they may receive forgiveness of sins.
Notice, an inheritance among them
which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
You know, you read those verses,
and that should get you excited.
That should get you some fervency
to realize that when you go out there
and you talk to someone who you've never met,
even though to you it's probably your thousandth door
that you've talked to, and it might feel mundane,
it might feel repetitive, but realize, look,
it ought to get you excited to know
that this person is lost,
this person is under the power of Satan,
but you can make a difference.
You, with your compassion, you know,
hey, I can save this person from hell.
Look, how do you stay excited week in and week out?
Realize that every time you show up,
guess what, you make a difference.
Every time you show up and you talk to somebody new,
you can turn them from the power of Satan unto God.
And look, that ought to excite you,
that ought to motivate you.
Why, because preaching the gospel is exciting,
and while, yes, it is another Saturday,
but you know what, we make a difference
when we go out there.
We get people saved, we save them from hell,
and we preach them the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.
You say, how do you stay zealous as a soul,
and how do you stay excited week in and week out?
Well, number one, you stay zealous through singing.
You show up and you sing the songs
when they're being sung.
You stay zealous through prayer.
You gotta pray to God to fill you with the Spirit
so that you can preach the gospel
in a manner that is pleasing,
in a manner that you ought to speak.
And number three, you gotta stay zealous
through your compassion.
Realize that every time you go out there,
you make a difference in the life of someone
who you don't know.
And the thing about being zealous
is that being zealous is contagious.
And don't turn that, but in 2 Corinthians 9, two,
the apostle Paul told the church in Corinth,
he said, your zeal hath provoked very many.
What's great about you being zealous
is that when other people who show up
and don't feel as zealous, guess what,
you can make them zealous.
You can be excited, and you can help other people
get excited as well.
See, zealous, being zealous, guess what, it can spread.
And so you gotta be the person to help our church
to be excited about soul-winning and get excited
and realize that you can make an impact
in the soul-winners around you.
So let's close with prayer.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for this morning.
God, I thank you for your word and for salvation,
God, and for the gospel.
Lord, I just pray you help us all
to not just get excited, but stay excited
and be excited for the things of God
and to be able to go out there
and make a difference in the lives of people, Lord.
And I just thank you for our church.
Lord, we love you.
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.