Tag Archives: Leadership

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)

(4) Be protective of your own testimony. 

Jude says “hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” It is possible that the words “save with fear” go with this phrase which would mean Jude is saying that when you are dealing with certain kinds of people, you have need to be in fear yourself. In order for you to protect your own testimony and conscience, you must “hate even the garment spotted by the flesh.” This speaks of ceremonial uncleanness. Many a man has fallen into doctrinal heresy while trying to rescue someone from doctrinal heresy. Many a man while trying to rescue a drowning man has drowned himself. Many a soulwinner has fallen into moral sin while trying to rescue the immoral.

How do you protect yourself? 

You must “hate even the garment spotted by the flesh.” The OT Jews had to be very careful to avoid ceremonial defilement. If a clean person touched an unclean garment, he was defiled. The point Jude is making here is that not every soulwinner is equipped to deal with every situation. There are two warnings I would give as an application to these words of Jude:

(1) When dealing with the immoral always have someone with you! Always protect your testimony. Accusations do not have to be true to ruin your testimony! If you are dealing with those under Satanic influence you should make sure you have a very strong, praying Christian with you! Remember the seven sons of Sceva in Acts? The demons said, “Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are you.” In order to deal with the Satanically oppressed or possessed your name had better be known in hell!

 (2) If you are dealing with false doctrine and those you are dealing with put questions in your mind, it is time to back off and get someone to help you who knows the Scripture and how to “give an answer to every man.”

Protect Your Testimony!

Always, in soulwinning, make sure you protect your testimony. Make it a habit to visit with someone else and never visit alone. Not only does this practice help to protect your testimony from those who might accuse (remember Satan is the accuser of the brethren), it also gives you boldness to witness! Many Christians who once were soulwinners are now shipwrecked because they did not “hate even the garment spotted by the flesh.” The soulwinner must not just be adept at presenting the gospel plan, he must also be separated and hate sin.

Above all the soulwinner must constantly ask God for wisdom and power! When is the last time God used you to win a precious soul to the Lord Jesus Christ?

Questions to Ponder

1. What did I mean when I said, “When dealing with the Satanically oppressed or possessed, your name had better be known in hell”?

2. How do you know when to leave a cultist alone and when the Spirit of God is still dealing with them?

Would You Consider Purchasing…

Willmington’s Guide to the Bible By Harold Willmington / Tyndale House This easy-to-read Bible reference guide is perfect for those wanting to learn about God’s Word. This guide covers the chronological method and theological methods of bible study through numerous detailed illustrations, charts and maps. It is like having eight Bible reference volumes in one: Bible commentary, topical dictionary, archaeological handbook, Old Testament/New Testament cross-reference guide, theological manual, illustrated Bible encyclopedia, prayer fact-finder, and history of Israel textbook. This guide allows you to study the 300 most important Old and New Testament individuals, holy land statistics, historical study of the nine most important Old and New Testament peoples, and twelve major doctrinal themes. A must have resource.

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…

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