Song – Lead Me To Some Soul Today

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Song – Lead Me To Some Soul Today

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr


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Tonight, being the 5th Sunday, we want to resume our examination of songs we sing from time to time.  The last lesson in this timeslot, we examined the wording of some of the songs we sing.  Thus it has been about 6 months since we last examined a song.  Of course, this is a worthwhile exercise as we understand when we sing we are “teaching and admonishing” one another (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19).  Therefore, it behooves us to ensure that what we sing is both understandable and true to God’s word.

Tonight, I want to examine the song, Lead Me to Some Soul Today.  This song was published by William Henry Houghton in 1936.  He was a Baptist minister who became president of Moody Bible institute.  He wrote vs. 1 of this song.  It was put to music by Wendell Phillips Loveless.  About 50 years ago, verses were added to the original song.  Eugene Compton added 2 verses (not found in our book) that appeared in a brotherhood periodical Gospel Guardian (which later became Guardian of Truth) in 1974.  Ellis J. Crum (publisher and editor of Sacred Selections) added the 3 verses we find in our hymnal, and first appeared in 1977 in his second song book (Special Sacred Selections).

As is always the case, the primary purpose of this lesson is to examine the message of the song.  This song is written as a prayer request to God to help us find someone looking for truth.  Let’s examine this song.

  1. 1 – Lead me to some soul today
    1. The faithful Christian always has it on his heart the desire to win others to Christ. It is a much needed disposition and the future of the Lord’s church, both locally and abroad, depends on it.  Matthew 28:19-20 records the “great commission”; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 warns of upcoming judgment for all mankind and “knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men.”   1 Peter 3:15 calls for us to sanctify ourselves (set ourselves apart as holy to God) and “be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.”   We have concerns about erring brethren.  Jude 22-23 notes how we ought to be seeking to have compassion on some and others to save with fear, “snatching them out of the fire.”  So scripture is clear that we ought to be concerned about reaching others.
    2. Lead me to some soul today – do we pray to God for opportunities to reach others.
      1. This demonstrates our understanding of the value of A soul. Even one soul is worth great effort on our part.  Matthew 16:26 – what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world…
      2. It also demonstrates our understanding that we need God. Do NOT leave God out of your process of reaching others.  I am a believer that we can ask God to open doors for us to reach others.  Colossians 4:3, cf. Revelation 3:8 – Philadelphia.  The question is, are we willing to walk through if it is there.
      3. NOTE: This is NOT implying the miraculous or direct revelation or His leadings as in the first century. But it does demonstrate that He WANTS to save the lost – 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:4.
      4. This is MORE about my desire to find those who are lost and looking.
    3. O teach me Lord just what to say – we ought to be praying for wisdom to say the right thing at the right time. I am convinced that most Christians WANT to reach others, BUT they are fearful – of rejection, possible loss of relationship, or being unable to answer their questions and/or objections.
      1. Often our inability is a result of lack of preparation and/or inexperience. That is why we provide tools to help give us courage and information to deal with whatever might come up.
      2. But, this is also something to pray about – Ephesians 6:19 – Paul requested they pray for Him, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel…
    4. Friends of mine are lost in sin and cannot find their way. We all have close contacts – family, friends, fellow workers and acquaintances that are not saved.  Yes we ought to be concerned about EVERY soul, but those who we know best ought to mean the most to us.  What if we are able to convert hundreds, but we fail to convert our family and closest friends?  It ought to tear at us!  NOTE: You may NEVER win your family and friends, but that does not change the hurt that is there, and it should not be for your lack of trying.  Consider Paul – Romans 9:1-3 – he tells you how much he wants his Jewish brethren to be saved.  This attitude will keep us trying.
  2. Lead me to some wayward soul
    1. Lead me to some wayward soul – not only should we concerned about those in the world who are lost, but we are also concerned about our brethren who have gone astray. Galatians 6:1-2, James 5:19-20.
    2. To one who’s wandered from the fold – Recall the parable of the lost sheep – Luke 15:1-7. The shepherd leads the 99 to find the one that was lost. When found there is joy in heaven.
    3. Help me turn him unto Thee, Thy blessings to behold – It is a challenge to try and reach one who has never obeyed the gospel (the obstacles are many).
      1. But it can be even more challenging to go to an erring brother to turn him back. BUT it is something we must do!
      2. But we also have the most tools to work with. They know, at least some, truth.  If things are as they ought to be, they will know that you care.
      3. And it ought to be our desire to say the right thing at the right time. Let your speech be with grace, seasoned with salt – Colossians 4:6.  Ephesians 4:14 notes that speak the truth in love.  1 Thessalonians 5:14 – we warn, comfort and uphold, with patience.
  3. Lead me from self-righteousness
    1. Lead me from self-righteousness. This verse reminds us to live with proper attitudes of humility and meekness toward others.
      1. Self-righteousness sometimes gets in our way. Consider Luke 18:9-14 – where Jesus contrasts 2 men going to the temple to pray.
      2. God resists the proud – 1 Peter 5:5-6.
      3. And often, so do people. People are turned off by the prideful and arrogant.
      4. How can we convert someone if we are looking down upon them. This is the sinful judging of Matthew 7:1-5, and the partiality attitude of James 2:1-9.
      5. We need to be careful to not judge someone as unworthy without cause. They may judge themselves unworthy by their response (cf. Acts 13:46), but that is different from judging without cause.
      6. AND we need to be praying about this as well.
    2. May Christ always be seen in me – Our GREATEST evangelistic tool is our example – Matthew 5:13-16 – we are salt and light. 1 Peter 2:21-24 – when reviled, Jesus did not revile in return.  If we are going to win others to Christ, they have to see Him in us first.
    3. How can I do any less than lead more souls to Thee – it ought be our mission to reach others.
      1. Paul said, “Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” – 1 Corinthians 9:16.
      2. AGAIN, in this we are reminded of the power of our influence. We need to be living pure, godly and righteous lives.  Not only will others see this, but it will also make you useful to God – (cf. 1 Peter 2:11-12).  He cannot and WILL NOT use one whose life is shrouded in sin.
  4. Open hearts of those I love
    1. Open hearts of those I love – open hearts is where reception of the gospel begins. Consider the “good and honest heart of the parable of the soils (Luke 8:15).  God (and His word) can open hearts – cf. Acts 16:14-15 – Lydia.  NOTE: This does not mean something miraculous for God to accomplish His will.  Nevertheless, we ought to be praying that God will open doors and hearts so that we can reach them.
    2. To hear and heed the gospel call –
      1. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 speaks of us being called by the gospel. The point is the gospel when taught can cause some to respond and obey.  Consider Acts 2:37 – when Peter finished, they were “cut to the heart”…
      2. We are reminded of the power of the gospel – Romans 1:16, Hebrews 4:12, 1 Corinthians 1:18 – it may be folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
    3. May they start to heavn above – simply stated, when one obeys the gospel, they are saved – Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16. It is the saved who are headed to heaven.  When one FIRST obeys they gospel, they are beginning their walk with him – Romans 6:3-6, 2 Corinthians 5:17 – if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away…
    4. And may they never fall – don’t just teach “the 5 steps”, help them understand what they are doing and the commitment.
      1. The “plan” is not complete until we emphasize faithfulness to the end – Hebrews 10:38-39, Luke 9:62, etc.
      2. Matthew 28:19-20 – this is what being a disciple is about. We must remain faithful to the end.
      3. Revelation 2:10, while spoken to the church at Smyrna, the call to “be faithful until death and you will receive the crown of life” was clearly addressed to individual saints there.
      4. If we are blessed with the opportunity to convert someone to Christ, PLEASE do not leave them in a state of infancy. Keep studying for as long as it takes for their faith to take root.
  5. Chorus – just one soul today
    1. Few there are who seem to care – sadly, far too many in this world do not care.
      1. In this phrase I am reminded that not everyone will be saved. As Jesus taught, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).
      2. BUT, we need to consider this phrase introspectively. Do I care enough to try and reach others.
      3. And if I don’t, WHO WILL?
    2. Few there are who pray –
      1. We cannot abandon prayer and be faithfully serving our Lord and God – 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Colossians 4:2. Many Christians struggle with their need to pray, how often they pray and HOW to pray!
      2. And when it comes to reaching the lost, we need to be praying about that as well. Colossians 4:3 – meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains
    3. Melt my heart and fill my life – the heart is where our care for others is going to originate.
      1. If there is ANY hardness in my heart, I ought to desire that it be softened so that I will not avoid any potential convert to Him.
      2. 1 Peter 3:15 – we sanctify Him in our hearts and prepare to give a defense.  Matthew 6:21 – where you treasure is, there you heart will also be.
    4. Give me one soul today – if we understand that every soul is important, we ought to be willing to do whatever to reach ANY soul that is searching.
      1. Every soul is going to spend eternity somewhere. Sadly, the majority will be lost (cf. Matthew 7:13-14).
      2. Let us be willing to do whatever, even if it only means wining one. Consider Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 – he did whatever to win whoever was willing.
      3. Illustration: Consider the man speaking to his friend returning from a flight. He told his friend about how all he could think about was how virtually everyone on that plane was likely lost. IF only he could stand up and shout and preach their need to respond but that would not be possible.  His friend then asked him, “But did you speak to the one next to you?”

This song serves as a great reminder that we need to be thinking about others and their need to obey the gospel.  Let us each pray that if there be someone who is searching around us, that somehow the Lord will lead me to that soul.  AND on my end, that I will have my eyes open and looking, and be willing to use His word to lead him to Christ.  What about you? Are the souls of others on your mind? Think about it!

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