The proper response to God’s whole counsel is first to find one’s need-love met in sharing with Him, through the Holy Spirit (the joy experienced by God), and then second to make that joy full by talking about it with other people… We will also want to "double our joy" by discussing with fellow Christians the implications of God’s great purpose for the world. So even though there will be no more evangelizing to do in (heaven), yet we Christians can continue to have the increased joy of talking about God’s love with others.
The Unity of the Bible, Zondervan, www.zondervan.org, 1992. Get this book!
For all of us it should be unthinkable to keep to ourselves the knowledge that God’s ultimate delight is to do the greatest good for others by letting them share in the supreme joy He has in Himself. How could any of us enjoy heaven unless we mobilized our time, talents and treasure to do our utmost to get the good news to the rest of the world? Sadly, many professing Christians do not feel this imperative demand because they, through unbelief, are themselves not experiencing God’s great joy and peace.
The Unity of the Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, 1992, p. 160. Get this book!
Nature teaches us that every believer should be a soul-winner. It is an essential part of the new nature. We see it in every child who loves to tell of his happiness and to bring others to share his joys.
Most men are not satisfied with the permanent output of their lives. Nothing can wholly satisfy the life of Christ within His followers except the adoption of Christ’s purpose toward the world He came to redeem. Fame, pleasure and riches are but husks and ashes in contrast with the boundless and abiding joy of working with God for the fulfillment of His eternal plans. The men who are putting everything into Christ’s undertaking are getting out of life its sweetest and most priceless rewards (John Campbell White).
The Laymen’s Missionary Movement, 1909.
Nature teaches us that every believer should be a soul-winner. [As Andrew Murray said,] “It is an essential part of the new nature. We see it in every child who loves to tell of his happiness and to bring others to share his joys. Missions is the automatic outflow and overflow of love for Christ. We delight to enlarge our joy in Him by extending it to others. As Lottie Moon said, “Surely there can be no greater joy than that of saving souls.”
Desiring God, 1996, p. 205-206, Used by Permission, www.desiringGod.org.
The church was [Paul’s] joy (1 Thes. 2:19-20) because in their joy in Christ his joy in Christ was greater. More of Christ’s mercy was magnified in multiplied converts of the cross. So when Paul chose suffering in the cause of world evangelization and said that his aim was to “gain Christ,” he meant that his own personal enjoyment of fellowship with Christ would be eternally greater because of the great assembly of the redeemed enjoying Christ with him.
Desiring God, 1996, p. 205-206, Used by Permission, www.desiringGod.org.
I think beloved, it will not be hard for you to learn. The angels of heaven rejoice over Sinners that repent: saints of God, will not you and I do the same? I do not think the church rejoices enough. We all grumble enough and groan enough: but very few of us rejoice enough. When we take a large number into the church it is spoken of as a great mercy; but is the greatness of that mercy appreciated?
The Sympathy of the Two Worlds, Sermon, Luke 15:10.
To be a soul winner is the happiest thing in this world. And with every soul you bring to Jesus Christ, you seem to get a new heaven here upon earth.
Sermons, 11.431.
Joy is the winsome magnet that draws people in because it is the one thing they do not have.
We must not treat that knowledge simply as a source of delight. We must do something more. We must follow in the train of those who, knowing God, have proclaimed Him. Here is our task. Here is an additional delight. This knowledge, like all knowledge, is enjoyed best when it is shared. And this knowledge of God, like no other knowledge, will bring life and health to a sin-sick world. It is the glory of the Christian to tell out the glory of God. God made us for this. Let us arise and do it with all our might!
A Vision for Missions, Permission by The Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle, PA. p. 106.
