ARE YOU FRUITY ENOUGH FOR HEAVEN?
Proverbs 11:30 (KJV)
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
OR
Matthew 7:16-19 (ASV) 16By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
I find it very sad and quite interesting that both John the Baptizer and our Lord Jesus used the illustration of a productive fruit tree in reference to how Christians lives should be. What is the fruit that the Word of God is talking about? If we believe the Word of God then Solomon told us that the fruit of our righteousness is wining souls. I like how the word in the original Hebrew means "to take from, to take out, carry away or take away from something or someone." So, whom are we taking the souls from? James the half brother of Jesus gives us some real good insight. James 5:20 (RSV) 20let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. Did you get that? Winning a soul will save that person from death. Not just death but eternal punishment in Hell. So what are your fruits my friend?
Let me throw some numbers at you. In the 1920's out of 300 denominational churches that spent $300,000 for 46,000 meetings, 87 people were converted. That means that for the $300,000 in 1920's dollars 1/10 of one percent of the meetings saved someone. In the 1930's of the churches that reported 7500 did not even have one conversion. Ok, I know you're are going to say that was then and we have television etc today. We have new and better ways to preach the gospel and more people are coming into the church today. So let's look at some recent figures. Did you know that 80 to 90% of the people who make decisions for Christ fall away? Recently one major Denomination proudly announced that they had 290,000 decisions for Christ in one year. Later they discovered that they could only find approximately 14,000 in regular attendance. My friends that is less than a 5% success rate or 95% of their converts are falling away. John 1:40-41(NLT) 40Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of these men who had heard what John said and then followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother, Simon, and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means the Christ).
Acts 2:41 (NLT) 41Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church-about three thousand in all. Andrew did not have the ability to win thousands to Christ but Peter did. Interesting how God works. Notice all it took was one person to tell Peter and Peter turns around and wins 3000 people on Pentecost. Years ago a man went into a shoe store in Boston and found a young man selling shoes. He talked to him about Jesus Christ and won him to Jesus. The name of the young man selling shoes was Dwight L. Moody. Do you know the name of the man who led Moody to Christ? Nope but you know Dwight L. Moody. It only took one individual to win Moody but Moody saved thousands. Years ago a young pitcher for the Chicago White stockings was sitting on a corner after coming out of a whisky house and heard some mission singers. He went to the mission and one woman led him to Christ. That was Billy Sunday who lead thousands to Christ. Do you know the name of the woman? Nope, but you know of Billy Sunday. In 1934 a traveling evangelist named Mordecia Ham preached a sermon and at the end a young 16 year old came forward to make his commitment to Christ. That 16 year old was Billy Graham who has lead thousands to Christ.
Do you get my point yet. Look at the verse above again. Proverbs 11:30 (KJV) 30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. When Jesus walked this earth and gave his life for you and I, He had great disgust with the religious leaders of the day, Why? Let's look at the Words of Christ. Matthew 23:15 (NLT) 15Yes, how terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn him into twice the son of hell as you yourselves are. If we have a major denomination proudly saying they had 290,000 converts and then only finding 14,000 of them in Church there is a problem. The largest Christian broadcasting network claims over 10 million souls saved. But, my question is, "has anyone done any follow up to see how many are still following Christ?" It does you no good to claim 10 million souls saved if 99% of those have fallen away.
What I see in the Word of God is that it is our responsibility to spread the word. I cannot count how many people have come up to me during my years as a pastor to ask if I would talk to some friend or relative. Each time I ask the same question. Have you talked to them about Christ. Each time I get the same answer. " No! I haven't, I would not know what to say or how to approach them. That is why I asked you. You're a pastor and know how to do these things. " He that wins souls are wise! My friends what we need are more truly dedicated Christians. We need more true followers of God's Word and less pew sitters, less singers, less deacons, less ushers, less religious souls attending church each Sunday and then spending the next six days working for old slue foot. We need more on fire Christians who when they see their friend come home from the bar drunk, weep because they know that soul is condemned to hell. Then they get off their religious duff and go and tell that friend just what Jesus has done for them and how much they want to share His love with them.
The problem with the church is that is has no drive to save souls. It has become a giant self serving social club that wants to promote its own beliefs. A month ago I was at a small church here in Wyoming and I was getting excited as I heard the Grand Poobah of this small churches local conference preaching of his heart for rural America. He had me until he said " We need to get people into our churches so we can teach them what we believe." You see my friends he did not have a heart for souls. He had a heart to win converts to his way of thinking. For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn him into twice the son of hell as you yourselves are.
He that wins souls is wise. Are you wise or stuck in your religious rut. When Judgment day comes your church attendance will not matter, your choir attendance will not matter, your tithes will not matter. What will matter is the fruit of your lives. Solomon said it " the fruit of the righteous is the tree of life." Going to church, singing in the choir, having house church with your brothers, correcting all those who preach a word different from you, finding fault in all religions but yours, not being Christ to that person who just drives you crazy, or sending your great teachings or words of encouragement out over the Internet or e-mail will not produce fruit! Why, because you are preaching to those who have heard the word. We need to get into the trenches and reach the lost!
He that wins souls is wise. God took the form of man in Jesus His only Son. Jesus took all our sins and washed them away by His death on the Cross. Yet, you are too timid to tell someone about Jesus. If you were flying in a plane and the pilot had a heart attack and died and you were sitting there as the plane was going down. I bet, if someone jumped out of his or her seat and ran to the controls and landed the plane saving you and everyone on board you would be retelling the story with no problem. But, Jesus gave His live for you! Why won't you give yours for Him.
Get back to the word and see what Jesus told us Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) 18Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. 19Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Will you??
God Bless
