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All right, so Psalm 126. So let me give you guys an update about the soul winning. I'm sure you guys have heard, I mean I did share in the church chat, you know, the numbers as far as who went out there and you know we had nine people that were travelling from you know either Sydney, you know Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast or Adelaide. So then we had 23 in total though on the day. So that's, what's 23 takeaways in takeaway nine? 14, is that right? So we had 14, is that right? How's my math? Sounds all right? Sounds all right to me. So we had 14 that actually were from Melbourne or surrounding Victorian towns and it was a great time. It was a great time. Brother M, did you have fun? Did you have fun at the soul winning event in Melbourne? It was beautiful. Brother Callum, did you have fun? Yeah, I had fun. Yeah, that's it. I had fun. I feel recharged. Amen. Yeah, I feel recharged. Yeah, that's a perfect way to describe it. I feel recharged. I feel recharged as well. When you look at Psalm 126 and verse number four it says, Turn again our captivity, O Lord. So when we look at this psalm, I don't want you to lose sight of the primary reason this psalm exists. This psalm is the psalm of David and is prophesying of the fact that the nation will be taken into captivity. They'll be overcome by their enemies from time to time and God will come through and deliver them out of the hands of their enemies and of course the most famous captivity that we read about in the Bible is of course when they were taken over, the Jews were taken over by Babylon and you know they were taken into captivity for 70 years and you know one of the main reasons why God allowed that to happen is because you know the people did not give their land the Sabbath rest, okay? And so God, you know, the 70 years of Sabbath rest that we're missing from the practice of the people, so God took them away from 70 years to give the land a rest. And of course if the land is being put at rest for 70 years, you've got nobody farming the land, you've got no one growing crops on the land. And so the idea here of this psalm, in verse number 4 it says, turn again our captivity oh Lord. So you know he's asking God, look please bring us back to the land, we've been taking captive for too long. Turn again our captivity oh Lord as the streams in the south. It says they that sow in tears shall reap in joy and so of course people coming back to the land and they're planting their seeds and they're growing their crops and there's rejoicing that they're back on the land. You know the land they were given by God, the land they've inherited, the land that has gone so long without any seeds being planted. And so they go in tears and they reap in joy. And of course we know that we can take this passage and apply of course to soul winning. And we went to Melbourne and we went soul winning, amen? We won some souls, there were 14, 13, 13 salvations in Melbourne and one on the way back on the plane there with Brother Callum. Praise God for that, praise God for the salvations. But the reason I ask these men that you have fun is I had fun. You know and you say pastor did you want to go to Melbourne, not really. I just don't want to go to an airport, I don't even want to look at a plane, I'm so tired of planes, I'm so tired of the airport. You know I'm so tired of being away from my family you know. And sometimes you know you don't have the motivation to do things like that but you know what we see that there's a great joy, there's a great joy in sowing seeds, there's a great joy in seeing people saved. And as I said there in verse number five, they that sow in tears shall reap in joy. And there was joy, I'm so happy, I'm still happy, I'm still happy, I'm still energised brother M you're happy, Brother Callum you're happy. And you know what soul winning has a way of making you joyful. The title for the sermon tonight is the joy of soul winning, the joy of soul winning. And of course when we talk about soul winning of course the first joy that we're looking at here is the joy of the soul winner, right, the joy of the soul winner. But I want you to notice here when it comes to reaping of course we're talking about reaping the souls here, we're talking about reaping fruits and veggies like they you know the main priority of that Psalm there. Of course we need to understand that even though there's joy at the end of it when you see someone call upon the Lord and there is great joy when that happens, it's also wise that you sow in tears. You know one reason that will get you out preaching the gospel, not necessarily in Melbourne but just around the community here, we don't need everyone in Melbourne, there are soul winners in Melbourne. Hey we need soul winners on the Sunshine Coast but one thing that's going to drive you in that soul winning is to have a tear in your eye, right, there that sow in tears shall reap in joy. You know I kind of get the idea here is that you know have you ever like been excited about you know maybe there's a day and you're going out with a family or you know you got some plans and you're kind of excited about the day because this is going to be a great day. But by the end of the day it was kind of a disappointing day. It's like you know it didn't work out exactly how you would like. You know in fact the soul win almost didn't happen. You know at 3am on what was it Friday morning my flights were cancelled from Sydney. My flights and three others and I had to quickly you know contact Virgin and get some new flights. And when we got to the airport Jetstar was like completely empty and then Virgin was full of people trying to rebook flights so it looks like you know Jetstar had some major cancellations on that day and so it can be frustrating, okay. But you know have you ever been like so excited about certain days and it just didn't turn out the way you expected and it kind of puts in a bit of a low. You know you were excited to begin with and it doesn't really pan out the way you had hoped. You know one thing that you know you'll always find joy and excitement is is when you are a little bit more burdened. Like when you expect oh it's probably not going to be that great. You know get on the plane to Melbourne and try to coordinate people and you know what if no one in Melbourne turns up right and it's just that big room. You know you kind of go with a little bit of a pessimistic view and then things turn out really awesome. You know it brings a lot of joy doesn't it? It brings a lot of joy and so you know one thing that you can learn here is that you know going and having a tear in your eye you know is a good way to start out soul winning. Let's keep going there verse number six it says, He that goeth forth and weepeth. I was preaching for Blessed Old Baptist Church and I was preaching again about soul winning and I was just thinking about the lack of you know desire that some people have to encourage brethren and you know to get them soul winning and you know I started to tear up. You know you guys know that sometimes I tear up when I start to preach and you know it's not when I tear up and I struggle to speak it's not like a show. Like I'm not here like I look at you know I'm past the show and I have an emotional moment or something like that. It's just you know we see in the Bible that being emotional you know when you consider the work that needs to be done is important right. I mean there are several reasons why you know we might weep or have sorrow about the work. Let me just finish that verse there. It says, He that goeth forth and weepeth out bearing precious seed. Of course the seed won't go so when is the word of God shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him. Amen there's rejoicing there's rejoicing when you see the fruit of your labor there's rejoicing when you see a soul saved. But you know what one sure way to get out there soul winning if this is not your way of life it's not something that you consider is you probably need to weep. You probably need to have a bit of a tear in your eye. Look you need to get a little bit emotional you know soul winning is an emotional work it is labor. You know just like you kind of you know when you talk about just you know if someone said to you what is soul winning say well we go in the community we go knock doors we go get the gospel. I think most people think oh well that's pretty easy to do and yeah I suppose if you just explain that it is easy but for those of you that go soul winning you know how laboring it can be how taxing it can be. You know you know there's been times when I've just given the whole gospel to someone and I've compelled them to come in and they've called upon the Lord and I just I'm just exhausted and I'm kind of like man I'm done I'm finished you know it's like I've just given birth and really it is giving birth isn't it it's giving spiritual birth. Hey we know that ladies rejoice when a man comes into the world as the Bible puts it well you know same thing there's labor when it comes to preaching the gospel. You know as a born again spirit when someone calls upon the Lord and believes on that wonderful gospel wonderful good news there's birth that takes place it is labor it is tiring and so it is an emotional work to do the work and you know what are some reasons that we could you know what are some reasons that that we could weep about soul winning. Of course when we take this direct psalm here you know they're weeping because they've been in captivity you know they're weeping because they've been restricted from being able to win souls and and you know they're able to well so much planting and planting their seeds but you know they've not been able to do it for so long because of their captivity and you know when we had the COVID restrictions you know there was a there was a there was a limit of soul win I mean some of you guys went out anyway praise God for you some of you guys were in captivity you know and when the restrictions are open then that should be should bring some tears that you know what you know there's been a while since I've been able to get there out there and and preach the gospel and plant those seeds and you know there could be a bit of sorrow because you know the work has been left undone for so long. What's another reason why you might weep you might weep because you come to realize just how few people actually go soul winning you know you think about you know I mean there are a lot of people that are saved you know I mean not the majority but there's a lot of people that are saved how many of those people actually go to a good church you know and grow and learn in Jesus Christ very few and then how many of those that actually go into church actually preach in the gospel you know on a regular basis it's even less and sometimes the tears could be just the the thought of how few people actually do the work you know I became tearful when I was preaching for the Sydney church because I was thinking about you know how many brethren there are in Melbourne that you know don't have an encouraging church you know a church that will send them soul winning you know they don't have a pastor that might encourage them and show them how to go soul winning you know maybe they've not met other believers that can get them out there and and being encouraged and you know that brings a tear to my eyes well again that the lack of care sometimes we have for our fellow brothers and sisters of course we might weep about the souls that are lost and thinking about eternity in hell and you know that's another reason why you know that you might be weeping thinking about you know the lost souls Jesus Christ died for these people and if they don't get to hear the gospel if they don't get a chance to believe then well everyone's got a chance to believe but you know if I'm not out there if I'm not being used and you know it might be very well these souls go to hell and I might bring a tear to your eyes it might be just you going out there and just realizing man you know I've really let this part of my Christian life slip and you feel a little bit you know you feel like maybe a little bit you know grieve that you haven't done as much as you could for the cause of Christ's kingdom that might put a tear in your eye and so you know having this emotional feelings you know it's not weakness it's you know it's the right attitude to have when you consider the great work that God has given us to do but when you bring those sheaves with you when you see a soul saved there's great joy there's great joy isn't there you know if you can you're in Psalm please turn to Psalms 71 Psalm 71 verse 22 Psalm 71 verse number 22 you know when I don't know about you but when I go so when at least and I and I see people call upon the Lord it reminds me it just brings back to recollection my salvation and my joy right when I think about how happy that I am that I'm saved and I see someone call upon Jesus and and the big burners off their shoulders and they know they're going to heaven it brings me back to my thoughts about my own salvation the joy of soul winning you know it brings back even the joy in yourself in Psalm 71 verse 22 Psalm 71 verse 22 it says I will also praise thee with a salt tree even thy truth oh my God unto thee will I sing with a harp oh thou holy one of Israel my lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee look at this and my soul which thou hast redeemed so you know we sing we come to church we sing praise we're already saying today and you know when the psalmist is reminded about his soul's redemption his soul salvation he says even my soul sings out to you God even my soul is rejoicing in the salvation that you've given me I find it really good to go soul winning because it reminds you that you're saved you're on your way to heaven you've been redeemed you know and it's I guess life gets busy and you know that there are problems and worries in life and you know it's easy for our minds to get distracted and forget the joy of our salvation I find out you know going soul winning and so this first point is the joy of the soul winner I just find that it gives me joy reminding me of my salvation and so the first point that I have for you Brethren is the joy of the soul winner you know if you're someone that lacks in joy you say look I'm not a very happy person I'd strongly encourage you come out soul winning come out soul winning and then you're reminded of how many people are lost and going to hell and how you have salvation how you have the confidence that if you were to die you'd be in heaven right now all your sins forgiven in Jesus Christ I mean what's what's what is there more to joy about then eternity you know you bring back the joy I'm telling you if you're missing that enjoy your sad you're cast down you can't find the joy come solving with us as you see these people these lost people not knowing what they have to do to go to heaven you know thinking about their lost soul on the way to hell you know it reminds you of the great joy that you have within yourself please turn to me to the book of Acts Acts chapter 8 and nothing I'm preaching tonight is brand-new groundbreaking you guys know all these things you know as brother Callum said he felt energized yeah great let's you know we need to get energized we need to be reminded about the things and and get a recharge and just a reminder of the greatness of soul win the joy of soul winning not only is it a joy for the soul winner but it is the joy of the converted it is the joy of the converted you know I only saw one salvation over the two days Thursday and Friday it was a six-year-old boy six-year-old Somali boy I think of Somali okay I mean it was a bit difficult to talk to the mother I knocked on the door spoke to a lady her English was limited and so she called a six-year-old son to come and translate for her and I thought he was doing a good job translating and then I realized this is taking a very long time you know and I asked the lady for the boy you know I can maybe I can just explain the gospel to the boy and then he can explain it to mum you know so she was okay with that gave him the gospel she was listening I think she understood I think she could understand what I'm saying but you know speaking English was a hard part for her so anyway gave the boy you know gave the boy that you know salvation speak looking at the mom trying to preach to both of them at the same time and then I asked the lady you know and you know I asked her the questions at the end you know if she understood the gospel and she gave me the right answers you know with the limited English that she had she gave me the right answers and I invited her to call upon the Lord she didn't want to her husband was on home she said look my husband comes in the afternoon you know can you talk to him afternoon will be flying back just back home you know so it's not doable but I just said look um oh that's right I didn't say that it was a little boy he said mum but I want to call upon Jesus I want to call upon Jesus right and like he had a big smile on his face you say pastor is a six-year-old too young to know most of my children got saved at six-year-olds and don't forget in order to be converted not to be saved we must become like little children okay we must have the faith of children hey this little boy heard it he was excited he wanted to know he's going to heaven and so I checked with him and I said right you know as well what do you have to do to be saved he says believe in Jesus big smile on his face so I let him in a word of prayer and he was so happy he was rejoicing okay the joy of the converted and look sometimes people call upon the Lord and they're not going to be whoo-hoo excited about it right but there is joy even if you don't see it outwardly there's a joy inwardly there's a joy inwardly that the burden has been lifted off the shoulders they know now what the Bible teaches they understand finally what it meant for Christ to come to this earth it says in Acts chapter 8 verse number 37 of course famous story of Philip the evangelist who preached to the Ethiopian eunuch it says in Acts chapter 8 verse 37 and Philip said if thou believeth with all thine heart thou mayest and he answered and said I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and he commanded the chariot to stand still and they went down both into the water both Philip and the eunuch and he baptized him and when they will come out of the water the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip so Philip disappears okay by the power of the Holy Spirit but then it says this that the eunuch saw him no more and he went on his way rejoicing he went on his way rejoicing the joy of soul winning it's not just the joy of the sole winner it's the joy of the converted amen you know this eunuch has finally understood what Christ has done understood that it was Christ that was written there in the book of Isaiah that would suffer for him he believed on Jesus Christ the Son of God and he went away rejoicing rejoicing there's a lot of joy in soul winning and that's the joy of other people knowing that they're going to heaven I mean think about the time when you got saved I'm sure you were happy rejoicing finally I know I understand that I get it some of you guys are so zealous so excited so happy that you've got that impression in your mind at the very beginning surely everybody wants to know this surely all my family and friends want to know this great truth surely as soon as I tell them they're going to be excited wow you found out thanks for sharing it with me and then you find out as you go and tell them they get offended hey but again what's that zeal that excitement that joy that you receive the moment you believed on Christ the joy of the converted you're there in the book of Acts please come with me to Acts chapter 16 Acts chapter 16 verse number 30 Acts 16 and verse number 30 and of course the famous story of the Philippine jailer who got saved but more so than that I just want to show you here in Acts 16 verse 30 the Bible reads and brought them out and said you guys know this passage very well sirs what must I do to be saved and they said believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved and thy house and your family you know if your family believes on Jesus Christ they too can be saved that's a great approach you know it's wonderful when you see more than one person in fact brother Calum then you have two was it two sisters what a joy when you see family getting saved you know there's been a few times when I've given the gospel to numerous people inside our house and you know usually you target one person and and then there might be various that call upon them the Lord and I usually just count the one salvation because it's the one person that I was actually speaking to but it's beautiful when you see a family wanting to be saved together well this is what happens to the Philippine jailer it says there in verse number 32 and they spake unto him the word of the Lord and to all all that were in his house you know one thing that we need to get better at and I know I'm just saying because I know to get I need to get better at this is that when we get the chance to see someone call upon the Lord believe on Christ we should ask them hey is there anyone else in the house that you believe would like to hear this message we need to get into that practice you know and I don't know why I don't I don't know why I've never really caught on with that but it's such a good thing you know I've heard great stories where people have asked that question they're like of course I've got so and so you know please explain it in fact no you know what I've had I have had those occasions just you know situation popped in my mind you know where the mother got saved and I said hey is there anyone else or my daughter she brings out her daughter and I was able to get gospel to the daughter and she too got saved but it's a beautiful thing when you see a family have that opportunity and I encourage you again you know sometimes men we know we or you know whoever's out there you know when you get out there it's kind of exhausting right it's like you've just given birth and maybe that's why we kind of forget it's because we're kind of tired we're like all right ready to move on to the next house you know but you know we should ask that question do you think there's anyone else is there anyone else in the house that needs to hear this good news verse number 32 it says and they spake unto him the word of the lord and to all that were in his house and he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes and was baptized he and all his straight way the whole family everybody I guess all servants everybody that's in the house all his verse number 34 and when he had brought them into his house he sent meat before them look at this and rejoiced believing in god with all his house man we have an opportunity to see a whole family saved you know what a joy what a joy for the converted you know that yes I received it I've believed I've believed in Christ and then they see the rest of the house believe in Christ too we know we know these stories sometimes we have people in our churches that are saved themselves but maybe they married a non-believer or maybe they were both unsaved and one gets saved and they're praying for their other spouse or their children or you know their parents and we have stories like this I'm sure we all have family that are we know that are unsaved and when you find out you know not just a stranger and look there's great rejoicing when the stranger calls upon the lord but when you find out your own family member has trusted Christ the joy the joy of the converted there is great joy brethren when he comes to soul winning you know I went soul winning with sister Marella on Friday and I'm losing track of time and then on Saturday I went with brother Christian you guys remember Christian Christian came here from Melbourne you know it's kind of like a tall Romanian fella okay he was here on a Wednesday and then on the Sunday service and you know I told him and basically you know brother Christian's actually the reason why I got excited to go to Melbourne again is because I told him you know what during the week before you go back to Melbourne I'll take you out soul winning I told him that and I make these promises that I can't keep like my heart's there but I haven't thought in my head about my schedule and then I realised it's not going to work out and then I was like man I've got to make it up to him now I already had planned the trip to Melbourne beforehand it's all right we're doing it right and so I was eager to get brother Christian out and anyway I went out with him on the Saturday and you know what you know the joy on his face you know to go soul winning door to door in fact the joy in the face of many of the brethren that were there it was wonderful it was wonderful and you know he'd share stories with me how he was able to give the gospel to his family and his friends and I could see the joy you know I was able to give the gospel to his dad and his dad you know before was completely works based and now he's like you know um he's his father goes to works based church but when he was asked to pray he prayed and he thanked Jesus how to free gift of salvation not by works you know you know in prayer he's kind of half preaching the gospel to the whole church and you know I see the joy the smiles on brother Christian and and others others that are able to see their family saved and there's great joy brethren when you see your family saved again you know it's just that you know I say this and I mean it you know even if nobody got saved in Melbourne even if there was zero salvations there was joy that's what I want to tell you the fellowship you know I saw brothers excited and swapping phone numbers and I'll be at your church or let me know when you're going soul winning you know these kinds of conversations that's what matters in the end right seeing the joy on the faces and the encouragement you know I'm going to be an encouragement but I walked away being encouraged right you know I went trying to be a blessing but I walked away being blessed so it's wonderful about Christian fellowship but wonderful about the work that God has given us to go solely in preaching to the lost please turn with me to Isaiah 52, Isaiah 52 verse number 7, Isaiah 52 verse number 7 and we know verse 7 very well because it's repeated for us in Romans chapter 10 by the apostle Paul about preaching the gospel it says in Isaiah 52 verse 7 how beautiful are the mountains sorry upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings that publish of peace that's what we're doing we're publishing peace peace between God and man all right that bringeth good tidings of good good tidings of good I mean it's all good that publish of salvation that saith unto Zion thy God reigneth hey we're publishing salvation all right when we're going and preaching the gospel again look we see in verse number 8 the watchmen shall lift up their voice again I guess the watchmen here those that are publishing the salvation lift up the voice and with a voice together they shall sing for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion and remember I like that and they shall see eye to eye you know the goal of this church is the great commission you know we need to see eye to eye on this you know you don't say pastor look so when it's not for me all right but can you see at least see eye to eye with us can you at least understand the importance of going out and preaching the gospel to the lost can you at least pray can you at least ask that God will bless those that go indoors little soul winning you know because if we're united for a cause brethren you know there's going to be unity in our church if we're united for our cause there's going to be unity you know when we lose sight of the great commission when we lose sight of the big picture you know what happens to a church we start looking inwardly we start looking at everyone's little problems you know we start to focus on the conflicts that we've had at church because we've lost the vision you know we've lost the big picture and then we just our eyes start to wander on the tiny things that just do not matter in life what matters is salvation is heaven eternity okay a lost soul converted saved by Jesus Christ that's what matters we must see eye to eye with each other we must understand this is the purpose and goal of New Life Baptist Church the great commission the great work that God has given us give us number nine break forth into joy sing together ye waste places of Jerusalem that's kind of Melbourne the waste places of Australia no no okay you know this again you know what there's rejoicing in the soul saved rejoicing in the soul winning for the Lord have comforted his people he have redeemed Jerusalem we'll give us number 10 the Lord have made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations and the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God once you notice there in verse number 10 talks about all the nations hey we're rejoicing in the salvation of our God hey one day it's going to be the joy of the nations souls that were saved again our title for the sermon today brevin is the joy of soul winning now right now it's not the joy of the nations right now it's not okay you know it's been good because i've not received a lot of like negative phone calls for a long time i don't know if you guys are more friendly when you go out and i don't know what's going on okay but i haven't had as many complaints why anyway but you know generally speaking going so when it's not the joy of the nations it's not the joy of the sunshine coast okay but one day it will be when Christ comes back and he sets up his kingdom you know all nations you know are going to see Christ they're all going to worship Christ hey they might not all get saved but they're going to know who's boss okay and Christ and his salvation with the joy of the nations the people that you see saved today are going to come back with you in the millennium hey they're going to be rejoicing they're going to be thankful that you had a tear in your eye that you cared enough for them for them to be allowed the opportunity to hear the gospel and trust Christ for salvation and they're going to come back in that millennium period you know people of all nations that have caught upon Jesus Christ and there's going to be a joy a joy a rejoicing in the nations please turn with me to Zephaniah Zephaniah i'll give you a moment to turn there Zephaniah chapter three Zephaniah probably don't turn to Zephaniah very often huh but Zephaniah chapter three please and verse number 17 you know i've looked at the joy of the soul winner the joy of the converted the joy of the nations future to come and now i want to show you Zephaniah chapter 3 verse number 17 Zephaniah chapter 3 verse number 17 let's look at this verse together Zephaniah chapter 3 and verse number 17 we do have youth group coming up this Friday by the way so in order to help us find Zephaniah i think we'll have a sword drill a few times in Zephaniah and the other road is like oh no i want points give me psalms no it's going to be Zephaniah okay sword drill coming up Zephaniah chapter 3 verse number 17 look at this it says the Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty this is a very famous verse actually it says he will save look at this he will rejoice over thee with joy God will rejoice over you with joy he will rest in his love he will joy over thee with singing i don't think it's very often that we read about God singing brethren the next one that i have for you soul winning is the joy of God it's the joy of God you know he rejoices when he sees a soul saved all right i mean how much clearer can it be he will rejoice over thee with joy he will rest in his love he will joy over thee with singing can you picture that can you picture when you go soul winning you've put a smile on the face of God and when someone gets saved God is singing do you believe that so the bible tells us it's amazing to think about that you know we think of singing we're singing to God we're singing his praises you know generally sometimes people just sing because they're in a good mood you know Sebastian sings when he's having a shower must be in a good mood while he's in the shower there okay well God gets in a good mood when he sees a soul saved and he starts singing the rejoicing of our Lord you know i would love to get to heaven and for God to say hey you know the work that New Life Baptist Church did the souls that got saved he gave me a new song he gave me some some reasons to sing New Life Baptist Church you know well done on the work that you've done i'd love to hear that from God wouldn't you i'd love to hear it i'd love to hear the songs that God would sing you know when a soul would be saved turn with me to Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53 verse number 10 Isaiah 53 and verse number 10 Isaiah 53 the very famous chapter on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ Isaiah 53 verse 10 and probably the chapter that was being read by the Ethiopian eunuch as well but Isaiah 53 verse 10 it says have you ever thought about these words it says yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him it pleased God to bruise the Son you ever thought about that how does that work you know how does it please you Lord now how does this give you joy that's what it means to please right to give happiness and joy i mean obviously if you have the wrong impression here you might think you know well God might be a saddest here you know how could it please God to see his son suffer to be beaten and crucified and whipped and for all of sin oh man sins be put upon him how does that please the Lord but it does yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him he had put him to grief when thou shall make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his days look at this and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand it pleases God the pleasure of the Lord and if you've ever wondered what this is what is this verse talking about well again think of Zephaniah think about the fact that when God would see his son die for mankind the reason it would please the Lord is because this would be the means of salvation this would be the means of seeing lost sinners enter into the kingdom of God and join the family of God so it makes sense that it would please God because we know that he sings when people are saved he sings when people believe in his son and so obviously to get there he would have to offer his only begotten son which of course would have brought him great grief we know that okay we know that he was you know when Christ would spoke about being forsaken of the father obviously there was hurt you know there was pain that God went through but at the same time it pleased him this would be the way of salvation this would bring people into the family of God and so brethren soul winning is the joy of God the joy of God as well and maybe sometimes we don't think about that you know I mean you know as I'm preparing this sermon I'm just thinking about you know when we've got soul winning how much who receives the joy who who's excited about this great truth you know I often think about me I'm getting the joy yeah I am getting the joy and then I think about the person that gets saved gets the joy yeah yeah and then we think about the future and all nations are rejoicing about salvation that's great you don't think well God rejoices too God sings when he sees the soul saved he's pleased to know that people will be saved from hell by the sacrifice of his son turn with me in the new testament to luke chapter 2 luke chapter 2 and verse number 8 and we are approaching Christmas of course approaching Christmas so probably good to think about these verses when Christ would come into this world luke chapter 2 verse 8 and before someone says oh don't you know past of Christmas is a pagan holiday Christ wasn't born in December 25th as brother Callum said well there's one chance in 365 days that he was born December 25th okay but of course it doesn't you know we're rejoicing that Christ came to this earth that's the point you know one reason I've got no problem with Christmas like you know there are some things that I don't get overly excited about when it comes to Christmas because I know it's you know it's very much businesses making a profit and you know I understand the commercialism of Christmas but I'm just thankful that at least our nation once a year thinks about the birth of Christ even though that might not be probably number one for most people but somewhere along the line they've been reminded about the death you know and I often want to go soul meeting I say to people you remember Easter and Christmas you know when Christmas when Christ oh yeah yeah so you know just these little holidays even though most of Australia kind of ignores the the primary reason for it which is Christ at least it's something annually twice annually Christmas and Easter that they're kind of reminded something about Jesus you know that Jesus remains in their mind and he says in Luke chapter 2 verse 8 this is the story of course of the shepherds the the proclamation of the angels to the shepherds that Jesus Christ will be born and he says there in Luke chapter 2 verse 8 and they were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid and the angel said unto them fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy remember we talked about you know those that have their beautiful feet you know and they're bringing in the glad tidings these angels saying hey look we're bringing you good tidings of great joy see the angels are excited about it as well which shall be to all people see Jesus Christ came for all okay none of this limited atonement Calvinist rubbish okay to all people this is this great joy this good news is available to all what is this great news verse number 11 for unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior which is Christ the Lord that's the joy our savior will be born in Bethlehem's manger verse number 12 and this shall be assigned unto you you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying what are they praising about glory to God in the highest and on earth peace goodwill toward men hey they're rejoicing that God is bringing his goodwill toward men the birth of the savior Jesus Christ the joy of soul winning hey it is the joy of the angels as well when they would think that the savior would be born why would the savior be born to save to save souls the angels rejoice at the thought of the salvation of God it's the joy of the angels brethren the joy of the angels it must be exciting in heaven when someone gets saved it must be exciting you know God's singing the angel excited it's the whole reason why Christ came to this earth to be our savior so the joy of soul winning it's even the joy of the angels salvation can you tell me to first peter chapter one first peter chapter one verse number six first peter chapter one verse number six this point's a little different but the next point that i have for you brethren is soul winning is the joy that overcomes heaviness the joy that overcomes heaviness and i already kind of explained it to you okay and look and we all have problems we all have trials okay you know everybody in this church you know sometimes as a pastor i get a bit more information a little bit more preview information about certain things and i tell you honestly every family is hurting everybody has problems sometimes we get caught up with our own little issues and not everyone everyone's hurting you know what danny blessed up at this church everyone's hurting everyone's got pain everyone's got problems okay we all go through heaviness it's part of life we can't get live life without issues and problems but again when you go out and you preach the gospel to a lost person and you realized when you compare your problems in light of someone being tormented day and night forever and ever in hell all of a sudden your heaviness doesn't seem that major and it isn't it really isn't you know and you think about i know even if my heaviness even if my trials kill me i'm going to be in heaven i mean how that's exciting i mean how bad can problems be you say well it's so bad i'm going to lose my life over it whoa because i can finally see christ you know i truly have life you know i can you know i'm not battling sin anymore in this wicked flesh i'm not having to deal with the problems of life anymore because i'm with christ jesus it's the joy that overcomes heaviness look at first peter chapter one verse number six first peter chapter one verse number six it says we're in ye greatly rejoice though now for a season if need be ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations see we are all in heaviness we all go through trials and problems but notice it says there for a season because life's not very long it's a vapor right i'm in my 40s i feel like i haven't even lived that long but then i kind of look at my kids and kind of think i have lived that long and then i think if i double my age i'll be in my 80s and do i even want to be living that long right because i know how my body's going to break down and things like that and life goes so quick doesn't it it's just a season and most problems aren't going to be life most problems are for a period of time in your life and then they you resolve them and you resolve them then there's another problem okay you resolve that problem is another problem that's that's life generally speaking okay but look at verse number seven that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisher though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of jesus christ whom having not seen ye loved you've not seen christ you love him though okay in whom though now you see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory joy unspeakable the title for the sermon is the joy of soul winning i can't even speak about like i can't even put into words really how much joy god gives us i can't even put into words how much joy soul winning gives us i'm doing my best but i really can't it's joy unspeakable okay and full of glory look at this verse number nine receiving the end of your faith this is like receiving the result of your faith or the end result of your faith receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls isn't that wonderful even in heaviness and trials and difficulties and problems you know when you think about salvation the salvation of souls you know you realize man the problems i'm going through just a season you know it's god's trying me god's putting me through fire so i can come out better in the long run you know and that one day that i can be with christ what a great glory we can't even speak about how much joy this gives us and so i'm just sharing with you know if you are troubled if you feel the lord is far from you if you feel like i've got i'm overwhelmed with problems and you know why god why are you putting me through these things you know what's going to help you come out soul winning come out as a solid partner you know and then when you see these people with no joy no hope no no no you know no hope of eternity then truly it puts into picture just how little suffering we truly go through okay in comparison to the joy that we receive the salvation of our souls can you turn to me to first thessalonians chapter two first thessalonians chapter two speaking about the return of christ here and the next thing i want to bring to your attention is that soul winning is the joy of eternal rewards the joy of eternal rewards in first thessalonians chapter two verse number 19 first thessalonians chapter two and verse number 19 please it says for what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing i want you to answer that question before we keep reading the verse you know and you don't have to tell me just just within yourself what is your joy what is your hope what is your crown of rejoicing i'll ask you like what makes you the happiest in life what is it what is what makes you the happiest in life i say pastor it's um watching my sporting team win the grand final pastor it's and look some of these things aren't you know one of my joys is my family yeah a loving marriage that gives me a lot of joy you know faithful children that gives me a lot of joy faithful church gives me a lot of joy there's a lot of things that give us joy okay but what is your number one joy what is your number one joy what is your crown of rejoicing because it says there are not even ye in the presence of our lord jesus christ at his coming for ye are our glory and joy paul is saying to the thessalonians church he planted that church he got them saved these people that he got saved because you you're my rejoicing you're my joy the coming of the lord jesus christ and he says there but the crown of rejoicing he's thinking about of course the eternal rewards you know christ is coming to give crowns of rewards and treasures upon in in heaven and again i don't know exactly what all these treasures are and and how the economy in heaven works i don't need to know all i all i know is that we're going to hope for more crowns we're going to hope for more treasure you know there's going to be some level of regret that we've not done more for jesus christ but one of the things that he rejoices about the most at the coming of the lord jesus christ is that he's going to see those that he won to christ isn't that amazing at the rapture even if you've gone even if you've passed away before the rapture you know we know that all people are going to get caught up all believers are going to receive their new resurrected bodies and you know what's going to happen you look around you're going to find the people that you want to the lord and you're going to be like yes in heaven you know i can only imagine i don't know i can't point you to a scripture here i can only imagine as you enter into heaven you know there's going to be people coming up to you thank you for giving me the gospel thank you for allowing yourself to be used by god to win my soul to tell me the good news of salvation hey that's going to make that's going to give you a smile on your face but then if you win those souls and again i know not everybody can go i understand and you know i don't want you to be like oh i'm a pastor you know i've got health conditions and you know i've got little children and it's hard for me or whatever it is but don't forget we can still give the gospel to our neighbors our family our friends on a plane ride you don't even have to be officially soul winning we're always officially soul winning actually a plane ride whatever it is any opportunity that god gives you one-on-one take it the uber driver you take it okay and i'm telling you i want you i want you to be rejoicing in heaven you know even if it's one soul praise god for one soul that's your crown of rejoicing that you've seen you know most christians aren't going to win a single soul that's why it gives me tears sometimes just thinking about the lack of work by the vast majority of christians hey use your time that god has given you you know these great words of eternal life win some souls and you too will be rejoicing at the coming of jesus christ when you look at those that you've led to jesus one more passage please go to psalm 51 psalm 51 and verse number 12 psalm 51 verse number 12 i hope i've encouraged you to to get out soul winning you know and if you haven't gone for a while and you're not comfortable or you've never been hey come out as a silent partner you know hey check check with me you know i know that sundays are hard for some people i'm usually available other days of the week hey check with me you know if you're free hey we can go out soul winning together but psalm 51 verse 12 psalm 51 verse 12 you see sometimes the reason we don't go soul winning already kind of started with this is that we've lost the joy of our salvation we've taken it for granted and i guarantee i'm confident to say that every one of us at some point in our life maybe multiple times have taken our salvation for granted it's like well i'm saved going to church you know and you can't just forget how wonderful salvation truly is you forget the joy and you know i want you to have that joy restored just like david had his you know needed his joy restored in salvation it says in psalm 51 verse 12 restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit so important that you have the joy of salvation in your heart you say why because then verse number 13 says this then will i teach transgressors thy ways and sinners shall be converted unto thee see david forgot the soul in him because he lost the joy of his own salvation and he went a long time okay against the lord of course this psalm is about his sin of bashiba you know gone many many months not being right with the lord and he lost the joy of his salvation and he asked the lord lord can you give me that joy again please restore it unto me i want to be excited like i was when i first got saved and he says once that joy then i can get out there and teach transgressors your ways what's god's way for salvation i am the way the truth and the life said jesus christ okay i am the way and sinners shall be converted unto thee you know what we need our joy restored going to melbourne energized all right but that joy is restored whatever way we want to explain it that's true i feel i feel energized i feel excited again you know about soul winning you know about other brothers being excited and you know being able to talk to them and many of them that want to come up and visit our church and you know and when they visit our church that's our chance to try to convince them to stay i know it's not easy for everybody moving moving city moving town but you know it is an opportunity you know that god gives us so you know the title of the sermon was the joy of soul winning it is a lot of work it is you know it's like giving birth you know it is tiring you know it's tiring mentally and spiritually as well you know there's great joy there's great joy and if you're not happy you say pastor i'm not very happy i'm not a happy person then let me strongly encourage you ask jesus christ for the joy to return to your heart and come out soul with us all right let's pray