Dr. Dan Reed was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1951. He was saved at the Woodland Avenue Baptist Church in 1973 while studying engineering at Auburn University. Sensing the call to preach in 1973 he enrolled at Tennessee Temple College under the ministry of Dr. Lee Roberson. Finishing his B.A. in December of 1975 he was called to Emden, Missouri , a town of 61, to pastor the Community Baptist Church. Pastor Reed has started two churches and two Christian schools during his 33-year ministry. He is currently the pastor of Harvest Baptist Church of Acworth, Georgia. (Learn more about Dr. Reed HERE)
Scripture Reading: Jude
Text: (Jude 1:22-23) “And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” (KJV)
Jude’s desire was to write about the simple truths of salvation but he was directed of the Holy Spirit to write about contending for the faith. False teachers were creeping into the church and he needed to warn the church about them. All through this little book Jude gives the characteristics of these false teachers. Then when he comes to the end he gives two exhortations: (1) How to keep yourself pure from the false teachers’ heresies (20,21) and (2) How to win some who have fallen prey to their heresies (22,23).
How do we apply Jude’s instructions to our day?
There are people everywhere who have been duped by the TBN preachers and many false prophets, of our day, with their prosperity theology and other heresies. Plus there are some in our own churches who are disgruntled and murmurers (verse16). They are usually lost people whose friends or family are in the church. Therefore, they stay within the church but do not believe what the church teaches and preaches.
How do we reach these people?
Jude gives some instructions on this type of soulwinning. These verses are a great commentary on Proverb 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and he that winneth souls is wise.” and Dan. 12:3 “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.” Reaching lost souls takes wisdom, but reaching religious, deluded souls takes real wisdom and compassion! We know that God has to save a soul but God has told us that we have a part in winning them. In Acts 8 when Philip came alongside the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch who was reading from Isaiah 53, Philip said, “Understandest thou what thou readest?” He replied “How can I except some man should guide me?” God uses human instrumentality in the winning of other men to Christ! Jude gives us four instructions on reaching difficult people:
(1) Be perceptive (about people) –
“Of some having compassion making a difference; and others…” The words “making a difference” does not mean specifically here that compassion makes the difference, though it certainly is true that compassion does make a difference. Rather, it means that we must learn to make a difference in the way we deal with different kinds of people.
There are some people you will only win by your compassionate dealing with them; others will be won by dealing simply and with bold declarations. Soulwinners must learn to distinguish different types of people and their needs. A soulwinner doesn’t treat every sinner alike no more than a doctor treats every patient alike. Paul said in first Corinthians 9:22 “To the weak became I as weak that I might gain the weak; I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some.”
The Bible tells leaders in the church that there are different types of people and they must treated differently. In first Thessalonians 5:14 we read “Now we exhort you brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” If I would be a soulwinner I must learn to discern the kind of people I am dealing with. Jesus rebuked the disciples in Luke 9 because they made a misdiagnosis of the lunatic boy. He said, “This kind cometh forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting.” Jesus did not have a canned presentation but treated each one of the 33 individuals He led to salvation in the gospels differently. (I realize when you first begin soulwinning you must learn a prescribed plan.)
Look for Part 2…
Would You Consider Purchasing…
 |
Matthew Poole’s Commentary, 3 Volumes
By Matthew Poole / Hendrickson Publishers Perhaps the only true rival to Matthew Henry! Charles Spurgeon said: “If I must have only one commentary, and had read Matthew Henry as I have, I do not know but what I should choose Poole. He is a very prudent and judicious commentator . . . not so pithy and witty by far as Matthew Henry, but he is perhaps more accurate, less a commentator, and more an expositor.” 3104 pages total, three hardcovers from Hendrickson. |
