The Pain of SoulBirthing

The greatest challenge in Christendom is that of winning souls to Christ. The lack of births in the House of God is even more of a curse than the barren home. The very first command that came from the mouth of God to man was, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth…” (Genesis 1:28a). There was no pain in the births that occurred before sin and disobedience. The pain of birthing both in the natural and in the spiritual is directly related to fallen man.

A dear wife that becomes pregnant is a beautiful picture of multiplying life. My Juanita was so darling to me when she carried our three children in her womb. I will never forget the thrill of seeing the body tumbling in her womb and laying my hand on the bulge. We talked to them and prayed for them while they grew and were getting ready to emerge. Until this day when I walk into a delivery room where a new life has slipped out of its hiding place, I cannot help but rejoice with tears. ItÂ’s a miracle. Only God the Creator could create such an awesome design.

Winning souls to Christ is the toughest work of a saint’s life. In fact, it is so tough that most Christians spend their entire Christian life barren and unfruitful. It is our deepest shame, and our Father has no secondary plan. We either win the lost or they are lost forever. The Apostle Paul made it plain that reconciliation is the business of the church. He said, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (II Corinthians 5:19).

We have the entire business of reconciling sinners to God. Jesus Christ is the Redeemer and we are His channels of grace. He is the only name that saves, but He sits at the FatherÂ’s right hand. His Holy Spirit never floats around in mid-air but abides in the skin tent of the willing. Our lips are His sound system and He waits for the yielded vessel that is prepared by grace to carry the message of forgiveness. The coming judgment demands that the saints pursue the harvest with vigor and passion.

The first step in soul winning is a God breathed passion for the lost. The Holy Spirit is searching for Godly saints in whom He can pour the Spirit of weeping for the unredeemed. It must begin with travailing in prayer. “For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8b). “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5b). Idle weeping is not the idea but a passion for souls that allows the Spirit to pour travail out of us to Him. Our Father will give us the burden and then pour out conviction on those for whom we weep.

Lips of those that weep will soon speak words of the gospel message with power to save. No one can be born again except by the power of truth. There must be a preacher who delivers the message of hope. (Every saint is a preacher in this Biblical sense.) This is a public or private crier that proclaims the truth. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15).

If you are truly born again and transformed into a child of God, then you are called to this task. There are only two steps: weeping in prayer and then witnessing to those for whom you have been weeping. The rest is the work of the Holy Spirit. Give yourself a few weeks of weeping and then proceed with tears to carry the wonderful message of His death on a cross and His readiness to save. They may well seek you out to pray with them as they weep their way to new life.

Do not be afraid. In fact, after weeping for a soul, you will probably lose all fear to go the second step. The Lord of the Harvest is calling you to become fruitful in His harvest. Remember what Jesus said, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:2).