A Passion For Souls

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

⁶I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. ⁷So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

I. Rachel’s passion to have children

Genesis 30:1

¹And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

            There was just a passion in the heart of Rachel that she would she would die if she didn’t have children

II. Jacob’s response

²And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

            They both fulfilled their obligation as husband and wife but yet no children.

            Jacob became very upset because she petitioned him. He knew that this was in the hands of God and God alone.

³And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. ⁴And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. ⁵And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

            When things don’t go the way we think they should, we find ourselves reverting to             human intervention. Although it may produce results, it does not fulfill God’s will.

III. God always comes through

²²And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. ²³And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: ²⁴And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

Abraham and Sarah: Hagar/Ishmael, Sarah/Isaac

Jacob and Rachel: Bilhah/Dan, Rachel/Joseph

As we can see through the genealogies of Israel that God had a plan to fulfill His will to bring about the preservation of Israel during the time of famine.

IV. God’s plan concerning His church for growth

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

⁶I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. ⁷So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

            We must do our part for only God can bring the increase.

            There must be a passion that burns within us for the lost to do all we can to see souls born into the Kingdom of God

⁸Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. ⁹For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. ¹⁰According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

V. Building on the right (ONLY) foundation

1 Corinthians 3:11

¹¹For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

            If we are to see souls being born into the kingdom of God, we must be willing to do it God’s way.