PERSONAL EVANGELISM
THE TASK
We shall notice seven reasons for the importance of this
work of personal evangelism.
SCRIPTURE ENDORSES IT IMPORTANT OF PERSONAL EVANGELISM
1.
God himself desires it: God proves this
by the revelation of His name. God’s name predicates his character. God speaks
of himself as ‘’Saviour’’ seven times in the old testament. Look these
references: Psalm 106:21; Isaiah 43:3; 45:3; 45:15; 45:21; new testament (Luke 1:47; 1timothy 1:1; 4:10; Titus 1:3;
2:10; Jude 25).
It is the desire of His heath (Ezekiel
33:11; 18:23, 32; Hosea 11:8; 1Timothy 2:4; 2Peter 3:9).
In sending His son, God proves His desire for the salvation of men.
Christ came, not in order that God might love us, but because God
loved us (1 John 4:14 Galatians 4:4; Acts 3:26 John 3:16, 17) Thus the great
God himself is intensely concerned with the salvation of sinners.
2.
CHRIST REVEALED IT: He did his first by
his own example. He knew he had out 3 to 4 years of public ministry, yet He did
not neglect personal work. He choose his disciples individually (mark
3:14; 11,16; John 1:43; Mathew 4:21; 22;
9:9) He engaged in personal conversations. John 3:4; 5:1-9; Luke 10: 38; 7:36-50;
23:39-43; etc. The great truths then new birth and worship were revealed to
individuals.
His own command to and commission of his
disciples reveals Christ’s passion for the souls of men (Mark 16:15; 16; Mathew
28: 19, 20). Note the four ‘’alls’’ of Matthew 28:19, 20 one speaks of his power:
one of the Perish: ‘’all
nation,’’ one of His Program: ‘’teach
all things ‘’, and one of his presence: ‘’with you all the days. ‘’ ‘’In Mark
1:17 is an invitation , an obligation, ‘’follow, a contemplation. ‘’me,’’ and
an occupation, ‘’fishers of men ‘’.see the margin of Luke 5:10 the revised
Verson. It reads, ‘’Take men alive’’. Compare it with 2 Timothy 2:26. Here are
two fishermen, Satan and the Christian, both seeking to ‘’take men alive’’.
Consider Luke 8:39 and compare it
with Mark 5:19. Here Christ commissions His disciples to show by this life and
by His lips what Christ had done for him. someone has said ‘’it is the double
testimony of lip and life that convinces confounds demons’’. See also Acts 1:8.
We are his within to tell what we have seen, heard, and know of him.
3.
THE EARLY CHURCH PRACTICES IT
4.
THE CHURCH TODAY CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT IT –The
church that does not go with the gospel will be soon be gone. The assembly self
–Complacency as ‘’headquarters for the truth ‘’ will soon might be scattered,
and all its members became personal evangelist (Acts 11:19).
The courses came upon the people of meroz, not because of any wrong they
did, but because of the right they failed to do. Instead of striving together
with their brethren against the common enemy, they did nothing (Judges 5:23).
The Christians who gives nothing to the Lord , and does nothing for being
good-for-nothing-Christians.
5.
IT IS THE BELIEVER’S RESPONSIBILITY
Read preferably on your knees and alone with God, Ezekiel 33:1-6;
proverbs 24:11; 12; James 5:19, 20 1 Corinthians 9:16-27. Reading these solemn
truths, of the supreme importance and responsibility of soul
willing.
Consider the following weighty words from the pen of T.
C. Horton, ‘’soul winning is the divine art. Men are not born soul winners, but
made. Some Christian seem to think that only few believers are called to this
work, and that the obligation is not universal; that it may or may not be done
as we choose. This is false. Unscriptural, and illogical. It his committed to
every believer, all may become soul winner if they give them self to it.
Dr. Nettleton, a
great evangelist and soul winner, once put to himself the question, ‘’ what
shall I wish I had done with my life a thousand years from now? ‘’ He answered
his own question by devoting his life to the winning of souls for Christ.
Suppose you were
offered $1,000.00 for every soul you earnestly sought to win for Christ .would
you, for this reward , seek to win more souls for Christ than you are doing
right now? If so, your love for money is greater than your love for Christ or
your fellow man.
It is said that Rome
‘’conquered the world with the sort word. It enabled them to get at close grips
with the enemy. In modern warfare it takes over a ton of still to kill a man,
and often a ton of someone to convert one soul. This is not so with the ‘’
short sword’’ of personal dealing with individuals.
Judge margins in his
youth had been an infidel in Philadelphia. He Left that city and was converted
to God. Sometime after his conversation he revisited Philadelphia, and stayed
in the home of his old time infidel friends. After three days in his home his
friend said , ‘’George, I here you’re a Christian’’. ‘’yes’’, was his reply.
‘’well, George, you believe in God ? ‘’yes’’ ‘’and in hell, and that all the
impenitent will go there for all eternity’’? ‘’yes’’. ’’well, ‘’ said it has
Yours? ‘’ ‘’what do you mean? ‘’ inquired the judge. ‘’well, ‘’said believing
all this, and you have not put your hand on my shoulder, or said one word to
save me . ‘’could the same be said of
us?
THOSE WHO WIN SOUL ARE ‘’WISE’’
(PROVERBs 11:30)
The marginal reference of this verse reads,
‘’taketh souls’’ what does it means to ‘’win’’ souls? Joseph kept points out
that the word ‘’win is a military term .To win a city is to lay siege to
it and take it. This is not easy works. It calls for skills, patience, bravery
and endurance. To capture the city of man soul is indeed a great feat of arms.
Each student should read Bunyan’s “Holy war” to appreciate this fact.
THREE TERMS OF
EXPLAIN:
1.
MILITARY TERM
2.
OCCUPATIONAL TERM
3.
MATRIMONIAL TERM
It is also an occupation term. To “take” a soul suggest a
fisher man who, in the face of all kinnds of weather and risks, applies himself
to the task of pitting his skills against the fish to the cost of the latter.
All disciples of Isaac Walton can readily appreciate his illustration. Moreover
it is a matrimonial term. The way to win a bride is by captivating her
affections. See how the bride was won for Isaac in Genesis 24. When a man pays
court to a woman with the object of winning her as his bride, how does he go
about it? He pays her attention; call on her; walk with her; talk with her;
send her presents; sacrifices his own case and self interests in order to be
with her; and finally places a proposition of marriage to her which she answers
“yes”. He has won her!
Now applying this to the winning of soul to Christ, and you
have a striking example of the path of true wisdom. Chadwick well says. “It is a noble work, for its results are seen
in eternity. It is a soul profiting work, for it makes for a spiritual success,
happiness and freshness”.
THE VALUE OF THE SOUL
By the word “soul” is meant the spiritual part of man, as
stinct from his body (Mark 8:36, 37)
Psalm 49:8; Matthew.10:28). There is nothing great on earth but man, and there
is nothing great about man but his soul.
We compute the value of the soul in several ways:
1.
Its Nature and Origin: Man was created by
God and is a tripatite being (Genesis.2:7; 1Thessalonians.5:23). Through his
body he become would conscious, through his soul he becomes self
conscious. It is this, the possession of a spirit, that distinguishes, man from
bruth creation.
2.
It capabilities and Powers: Man has a
capacity for God, or for evil, fellowship with God, of service for Devil; of
being a blessing or a curse to his fellow man, or the vast possibilities for
good or evil in each soul.
3.
Its valuation by Christ: Calvary proclaims
God’s estimation of the value of the soul. The precious blood of Christ was
shed to secure its redemption (1Peter.1:18, 19). Note Christ’s own illustration
(Matthew. 13:44-46; compare Galatians. 2:20).
4.
Its eternal Existence: The soul exists
forever either in heaven or the lake of fire (Mark.9:43-48). Christ taught this
fact clearly (Luke.16:19-31; Matthew.10:28).
5.
The Battle for its Possession: The human
soul is the battle ground between God and the Devil. (Luke.11:21-23). Christ’s
word “strive” means “agonize” (Luke.13:24-30). The soul winner is up against
the devil and his host (Ehpesians.6:11,12).
Sir william Hamilton said, “There is nothing great on earth
but man, and there is nothing great about man but his soul. The personal worker must see men, not so much as
bodies having souls; soul for Christ. Worlds cannot compensate a person for the
loss of his soul. A diamond digger endures all sorts of privations and untold
hardships; but counts them well invested if he can but find one valuable gem,
who know s that we may be the means of winning a moody or a spurgeon for our
blessed Lord?
THE FACT OF ETERNITY
Read Matthew.13:41-43; 49-54; 25:30-46. What shall we say
about eternity? No human language can adequately descript it , or mind conceive
it.
General Booth; founder of the salvation Army, used to say
that every Christian ought to be sent to hell for as week, for this would make
a lost eternity so real to him he would spend the rest of his life on earth in
seeking to deliver people from the possibility of eternal damnation.
Firmney, the famous evangelist, advise Christians to look,
as though through a telescrope, and see the misery of the lost and hear their
groans; and then look to heaven and see the joys and hear the songs of the
redeemed. Then each believer should ask, “Is this possible that i should so prevail with God as to be the means of
elevation the lost sinner to that glorious place?”
An infidel once said, “If i truly, firmly and consistently
believe, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion
in this life influences destiny in another; religion should be to me
everything. I would cast aside earthly enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as
follies, and earthly thought and feelings as less than vanity. Religion would
be my first waking thought, and my last image when sleep sunk me into
unconsciousness”. It was these words that stirred C.T. Stud to the depths, and
sent him first to China, and then to Africa to turn out for Christ.
Alexander Marshal, author of the greatly use booklet God’s
way of salvation, used to say. “A soul saved, saves that soul from more
misery, anguish and torment than has ever been suffered by all the people of
the world from the beginning of time, to this time, and from this time to the
end of time; for that soul has been saved from eternal punishment. A
soul saved brings that soul into possession of more joy, peace and blessing
than has ever been enjoyed by all the people of God fromthe beginning of time
until this time, and form this time until the end of time, for that soul has
been brought into possession of eternal joy”.
No wonder one earnest soul winner prayed, “Lord, stamp
‘Eternity’ no my eyeballs, that all i see, may be seen in the light of
eternity!”
THE SHORTNESS OF TIME
Read John.9:4; Ephesians:14-16, 2Corinthians.6:1; 2;
2Timothy.4:2;3; Romans.13:11; 12. Life’s little day will soon draw to a close,
and the time of our opportunity for service be gone forever.
A french philosopher said, “He who value his life must be
careful of his time; for time is the stuff out of which life is made”. Boreham
said “Just as space is a tabloid of infinity, so time is a tabloid of
eternity”. David Brained, missionary to the Indians, who died at the age of 36
wrote in his diary “ i wanted to wear myself out in His service for His glory.
I cared not how or where i lived or what hardship i went through, so that i
could but gain souls for Christ”.
Some has said that Paul’s concern for the lost was produced
by a three-fold conviction. He was conviced of one great verity all must face
the judgement of God (Rom.14:10) of one great experience through which all must
pass, the resurrection, either of life or comdemnation; and of one great
destiny toward which all men are moving; eternity.
The farmer who neglects to plough and sow his fields in the
spring, must face the prospect of empty barns in the fall, unless he desires a
harvest of weeds! (Ecclesiastes.11:1-6).
How can we get this concern for souls, and learn to value
rightly the opportunities that the to our hand? It is only as we face the word
of God in the presence of God. Let us ponder prayerfully what is involved by
the words: “condemned already”; “hath not life”; “lose” and “perishing”
(John.3:18; 1John.5:12; 1Corinthians.1:18).
GOD HONOURS PERSONAL WORK
Andrew is a picture of the personal worker. He is mentioned
three times, and each time he is described as bringing someone to Christ
(John.1:40-42; 6:8; 12:22).
We are faced today with a great deal of professional “mass
evangelism, with its high pressure methods it has manufactured thousands of
false conversions. The great need is for consecrated Christian who will give
themselves to the task of personal evangelism. One soul genuinely saved is
better than ten thousand empty professions. Lets us go in for quality
and not quantity.
Trumbull, a great soul winner and author of taking Man ALIVE
said “I can talk to a multitude, and not see any move; but i can talk to a
multitude of individuals in the course of time and i can get preliminary to the
individual work in the inquiry room”.
The word of God gives us no authority to say, “come ye from all the
world and hear the gospel from our platform”. Christ said “Go ye into all the
world and preach the gospel to every creature.
There is a vast difference between being evangelical and evangelistic.
The former may be sound doctinally and sound asleep at the same time. The
evangelical serves the truth on ice; the evangelist gives the truth on fire.
Let us not be like the Christian who, on his death bed, confessed, “I am saved
and going to heaven, but i am going empty handed, without having won one soul
for Christ my saviour”.
It has been calculated that if 100 believers each brought
one soul to Christ each year; and each soul won, in turn, brought another to
Christ each year; in 25 years over a billion and a half souls would be saved!
As it now is, the average conversion is about four a year for every hundred
Christians, a poor showing. A proverbs says “You can count the acorn on a tree,
but you cannot count the number of oak trees in an acorn”- providing, of
course, that the acorn dies (John.12:24).
The distinction between the preaching of a sermon and a
personal effort is the same difference as a patent medicine “cure all”, and the
personal visit of the doctor. The doctor examines the patient, diagnoses the
disease, and prescrives the remedy, let us develop this ability for individual
effort, and seek, by all the means at our command, to win souls by personal
evangelism.
VERSES TO MEMORIZE
“I even i, am he that blotteth out they transgressions for
mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins”. (Isaiah.43:25).
“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth:
for i am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah.45:22).
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised
for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His
stripes we are healed.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone
to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all”. (Isaiah.53:5,6).
“But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot
rest, whose waters cast up mire and dire. There is no peace saith my God, to
the wicked.” (Isaiah.57:20,21)
“Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights
in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their
fears upon them; because when i called, none did answer; when i spake they did
not hear; but they they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which i
delighted not” (Isaiah.66:3b, 4).
“For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken
me the fountain of living waters and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns;
that can hold no water” (Jeremiah.2:13).
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his
name JESUS; for He shall save His people from their sin (Matthew.1:21).
“For i say unto you, that except your righteousness shall
exceed the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, ye shall in no case
enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matt.5:20), John.1:11, 12,14, John.3:3,
17,36; Mark.1:15; Matthew.11:28; Acts.3:19, 23; Acts 17:30; Romans.3:23;
Romans.6:23; Romans.8:9; 2Cor.5:10, 17,19; Ephesians. 2:12; Proverb.14:12;
Rev.3:20; Rev.20:15. 1John.3:8; 1Pet.2:9; Heb.9:27, Heb.7:19,25; John.3:16.
THE FACT OF ETERNITY
Read Mattew13:41-43; 49-54; 25:30-46. What shall we say
about eternity? No human language can adequately describe it, or mind conceive
it.
GENERAL
BOOTH; founder of the salvation Army, used to say that every Christian ought to
be sent to hell for a week, for this would make a lost eternity so real to him
he would spend the rest of his life on earth in seeking to deliver people from the possibility eternal
damnation.
FIRNNEY,
the famous evangelist, advised Christians to look, as though through a
telescrope, and see the misery of the lost and hear their groans; and then look
to heaven and see the joys and hear the songs of the redeemed. Then each
believer should ask, ‘’Is this possible that I should so prevail with God as to
be the means of elevating the lost sinners to that glorious place? ‘’
An
infidel once said, ‘’if I truly, firmly, and consistently believed, as millions
say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life
influences destiny in another; religion should be to me everything. I would
cast aside earthly enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as follies, and earthly
thought and feelings as less than vanity. Religion would be my first waking
thought, and my last image when sleep sunk me into unconsciousness ‘’. It was
these words that stirred C.T. Study to the depths, and sent him first to china,
and then to Africa to burn out for Christ.
Alexander
Marshal, author of the greatly used booklet God’s
Way of salvation, used to say, ‘’A soul saved, saves that soul
from more misery, anguish and torment that has ever been suffered by hall and
from this time to the end of time; for
that has been saved from eternal punishment. A soul saved brings that soul into
possession of more joy, peace blessing than has ever been enjoyed by all the
people of God from the beginning of time until this been brought into
possession of eternal joy’’.
No wonder one
earnest soul winner prayed, ‘’lord, stamp ‘Eternity’ on my eye bells, that all
I see, may be seen in the light of eternity’’.
THE SOURTNESS OF TIME
Read
John9:4; Ephecians14-16;2 Corritians6:1;2;11 Timothy4:2;3; Romans13:11;12.
Life’s little day will soon draw to a close, and the time of our opportunity
for services be gone forever.
A French philosopher said, ‘’he
who values his life must be careful of
his time; for time is the stuff out of which life is made’’.
Boreham said, ‘’just as space is a tabled of
infinity, so time is a tabloid of eternity’’. David Brainerd, missionary to the
Indians, who died at the age of 36, wrote in his diary, ‘’I wanted to wear
myself out in his service for his glory. I cared not how or where I believed,
or what hardship I went through, so that I could gain souls for Christ.’’
Some
has died that Paul’s concern for the lost was produced by a three-fold
conviction. He was convinced of one great verity all must face the judgement of
God (Rom. 14:10); of one great experience through which all must pass, the
resurrection, either of life or condemnation; and of one great destiny toward
which all man are moving eternity.
The farmer who neglects to blow and show his fields in the
spring, must face the Prospects of empty barns in the fall, unless he desires a
harvest (Eccleciastes11:1-6.)
How can
we get this concern for souls, and learn to value rightly the opportunities
that to our hand? It is only as we face the word of God in the presence of God.
Let up ponder prayerfully what is involved by the words: ‘’condemned already’’;
‘’hath not life’’; ‘’lose’’ and ‘’perishing’’ (John23:18; 1John4:12;
1C0rrinthias1:18).
GOD HONOURS PERSONAL WORK
Andrew is a picture of the personal workers. He is mentioned
three times, and each time he describe as bringing some to Christ (John1:40-42
6:8; 12:22).
We are faced today with a great deal of professional.’’ Mass evangelism, with its high pressure
methods it has manufactured thousands of
false conversions, the great need is for concentrated Christian who will give
themselves to the task of personal evangelism. One soul genuinely saved is
better than ten thousand empty professions. Let us go in quality and not
quantity.
Trumbull, a great soul winner and author of taking man Alive
said, ‘’I can talk to a multitude, and not see any moved: but I can get a
multitude of result’’. D.L. moody said, ‘’my Sermon is but the preliminary to
the individual work in the inquiry room’’. The word of God gives us no
authority to say, ‘’come yet from all
the world and hear the gospel from our platform’’. Christ said, ‘’Go ye
into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
There
is a vast differences between being evangelical and evangelistic. The former
may sound doctrinally and sound asleep at the same time. The evangelical serves
the truth on ice; the evangelist gives the truth on fire. Let us not be like
the Christian who, on his death bed, confessed, ‘’am saved and going to heaven,
but am going empty handed, without having who one soul for Christ my saviour’’.
It has been
calculated that if 100 believes each brought one soul to Christ each year; and
each soul won, in turn, brought and brought another each year; in 25 years over
a Billion and a half souls would be saved;. As it now is, the average
conversion is about a year for every hundred Christians , a poor showing. A
proverb says, ‘’You can count the acorns on a tree, but you cannot count the
number of oak trees in an acorn’’. –providing, of course, that the acorn dies
(John12:24).
The
distribution between the preaching of a sermon and a personal effort is the
same differences as a patent medicine ‘’cure all’’ and the personal visit of
the doctor. The doctor examines the patient, diagnoses the diseases, and
prescribes the remedy. Let us develop this ability for individual effort, and
seek, all the means at our command, to souls by personal evangelism.
VERSES
TO MEMORIZE
‘’I even I, am he that blotteth out they transgression for
mine own sake, and will not remember by sins’’. (Isaiah43:25).
‘’Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth:
for I am God, and there is none else’’. (Isaiah45:22).
‘’But he was wounded for our transgression, He was bruised
for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was up on Him; and with his
stripes we are healed.
All we like
sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; that the lord
hath laid on him the iniquity of us all ‘’. (Isaiah 53:5,6).
‘’But
the wicked are like troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up
mire and dire. There is no peace said my God, to the wicked.’’ (Isaiah57:20,21).
‘’Yea, they have
chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations.
I also will choose
their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called,
none did answer; when I Speak they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in
which I delighted not’’. (Isaiah66:36,4).
‘’For my people
have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living water
and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns ; that can hold no water’’.
(Jeremiah2:13).
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou
shall call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sin
(Mattew1:21).
‘’For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall
exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case
enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matt.5:20); John 1:11, 12, 14. John3:3, 17,
36: Mark 1:15: Matthew 11:28; act.3:19, 23, Act 17:30; Romans 3;23; Romans
6:23; Romans 8:9; 11Kor. 5:10,17, 1John 3:8; 1Peter. 2:9; Heb. 7:19, 25; John
3:16.
CONVICTION THAT MEN ARE LOST WITHOUT CHRIST
It is only as a doctor properly diagnoses the disease of the
patient that it can only correctly prescribe the remedy.
The word of God leaves no doubt about man’s state by nature.
Thoroughly familiarise your self with the deep need of those
to whom you witness e.g.
1.
The unsaved man is dead, needing regeneration.
John3:1-6; Effesian2:1-9.
2.
The unsaved man is lost, needing salvation. LK.
19:10 15:3-7.
3.
The unsaved man is a slave , needing redemption.
John8:34-36; Rom. 6:15-16.
4.
The unsaved man is blind, needing illumination 2 Corintias4:4; Effesus4:17-19; 1Cor. 2:14; John3:19.
5.
The unsaved man is a rebel, needing
reconciliation. Rom. 5:10; Colonial 1:21; Titus 3:3; 11Cor. 5:19-21.
6.
The unsaved man is a criminal, needing
justification. Rom. 3:24; 5:1; 8:1; Rom.
3:23, Rom. 1:28-32.
7.
The unsaved man is a debtor, needing pardon. LK.
7:41, 42: Rom. 14:12: Heb. 9:22; Isaiah 43:25; 44:22.
HANDRANCES TO PERSONAL EVANGELISM
Since
soul winning, through personal evangelism, is so essential and so greatly
blessed of God, why are more Christian not engaged in it? This section will
attempt to answer this question by viewing negatively what we have started positively in the previous section.
THE FEAR OF MAN (PROVERBS 29:25)
Many
Christians have allowed themselves to be silenced in their witness by their
fear of the approach and riducule of men. The thought of being view as
‘’peculiar’’ by the ungodly, by the carnal Christian, Has thousand, of their
courage to testify for Christ (Rom8:15)
God’s
path for the his people has never been a popular one, This fact was plainly
stated by the son of God himself (John15:18-21; Mattew5:11, 12.). It is evident
from the book of acts where the history if the early Church was one of constant
persection. The Epistles make clear that the ‘’offence of the cross’’ has not
ceased (Gal.5:11). The cross is an offence to morality, because neither
works nor character can fit a man for the presence of God (Gal. 2:16). To Philosophy,
because it appeals to faith and not to human reason, or secular learning (1Cor.
1:19-31). To culture, because its truth is revealed to babes (Math.
11:25). To caste, because God chooses the poor and the humble (James 2:1;5,6)
and to the will, because it calls for unconditional surrenders (Romans 8:7,8).
We
live in a world that despised, rejected, and crucified the Lord of glory. Its
attitude to him is still unchanged. Therefore the Christians must be prepared
to face courageously the opposition bound to rise against him as the lifts up
to his voice for his master and seeks to live to his glory. The adherents of
first cults seem to salesman seem to suffer from no inferionity complex as they
go from house to house selling their wares and insurance agents suffer no embarrassment
pointing out the advantages of taking out a life insurance policy. Surely, as
‘’ ambassadors for Christ’’ we should, be at his command, go forth boldly to
witness for him, and worthily represent the one who saved us by his grace (2
Cor. 5:20; Acts 4:13).
Torrey was once asked the best method of
soul willing. He replied, ‘’go and do it’’ courage can be developed by
practice.
PRAYERLESSNESS
The lord Jesus has left us an example that
we should follow his steps’’. This applies
to prayer, as in every other aspects of the Christians life (1 Pet.
2:21). How often it is recorded of him that he prayed, sometimes the whole
night through. If he needed prayer, how much more we. Luke 18:1 LK6:12, Matt
9:37-38, James 5:17-18, 1Sam 12:23.
When
the titanic struck an ice burg and sank to Canivonial was close by, but her
fires were banked and the radio engineer was fast asleep. The distress signals
of the doomed vessel passed unheard. She was ‘’out of touch’’, and the
Opportunity of a lifetime was lost forever. Prayer prepares the servant of the
lord both to know and do the will of his master. To neglect prayer is to lose
sensitiveness to the spirit’s leading (Isa. 11:2, 3). The Christian is all
together too busy for God who has no time for prayer. Make and take time to
supplicate the throne of grace for only thus can you do effective service (Luke
18:1; 6:12; Matt 9:37; 38; James 5:17, 18; 1 Samuel 12:23. 1John 3:4,6,8-9 Heb,
12:1 1John 5:21 1 Cor. 3:11-15,9:29).
SECRET SIN
Any
harmful habit that defiles our conscience; beclouds our spiritual faculties,
weakens our sensitiveness to the spirit’s leading, or robs us of communion with
God and joy or his service must be
resolutely confessed and turned from as sin (Psa. 51:12, 13).
John closes his epistle with the words,
‘’little children, keep yourselves from
idols.’’ An idol is anything that displaces God in the affections. It may be
something quite legitimate in itself, but if it robs Christ of the preminence
in the life, or obscures our spiritual vision, it must go (1John5: 12 ). ‘’ lay
aside every weight’’ of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 9:27).
IGNORANCE OF GOD’S WORD
Many
say nothing because they have nothing to say: and they have nothing to say
because they have been listening to God. Children learn to talk by hearing and
talking: so we must (Isa.50:4.5). we need ‘’opened ears’’ if we are to have ‘’opened
lips’’ (Psalm51:15).
Just as a doctor studies and ‘’reads up’’ on
his case, so we must apply ourselves to the scripture. We must learn what God
has to say about the disease of the
sinner and the remedy that God prescribes, ‘’where there is no vision, the
people perish’’ (Proverbs29:16);18). Are people perishing because of your
ignorance (Hosea 4: 6)? Often, during the cause of evangelistic meeting, I have
approached people who have been Christian for many years and asked them to
speak to some anxious soul, only to hear them reply, ‘’I ‘m sorry, but I don’t
have any experience in that sort of thing’’. Just imagine: A Christian of
mature years not knowing how to load a soul to Christ: there are many such.
Each Christian should earnestly seek after such knowledge (Proverb 2:1-6
3:13-18; Titus 1:9; 2Timmothy 2:15).
SELFISHNESS
Soul
winning is not easy work, for it calls for streneous effort and self-denial. It
costs time, money and energy. Many will give this effort to further their own
business, but not for ‘’the father’s business’’ (Luke 2:49). Many a so-called
‘’successful business’’
Self
prevention may be the first law of nature, but it certainly not a law of grace
(2 Cor5:14; 14:26, 27 Romans12:11). Carey, who opened India to the gospel, when
asked, ‘’what is your business? Replied, ‘’my business is to preach the gospel,
and i cobble shoes to pay expenses,’’ many a young Christian, who have evidenced
no desire to go and preach the gospel at his Lord’s command, has been complied to respond when
drafted by his country. Whether willingly, or reluctantly, he has had to
exchange the comforts of civilization for the privations and horrors of war. There
is surely no question as to which call was the more important. If one is
prepared tom sacrifice himself for one’s country, why do not for
Garibaldi,
the liberator of Italy, addressed himself to those who Volunted their services
in his cause, ‘’I offer you hardship, hunger, rags thirst, sleepless nights,
foot sores, privations innumerable, and victory in the noblest cause that ever
asked you.’’ Men responded to that challenge. May we respond to Christ’s,
‘’Come, take up your cross and follow me.
CALLOUSNESS
Notice
Christ’s compassion for the Lost. It was the compassion of a shepherd for lost
sheep (Mark 6:34) of a physician for a patient (Mattew14:14); of a benefactor
for the hungry (Matt.15:32); of a comforter for the bereaved (Luke7:13); of a
deliverer for the oppressed (Mark5:19). It should be a cause for concern if we
are not concerned for the lost. John know cries, ‘’Give me scot land, or I
die.’’ Notice Paul’s concern (Rom.9:1-3), see Jeremia’s cry jeremia9:1). Christ
wept as he viewed doomed Jerusalem (Luke19:41).
Our
callousness will surely disappear if we face four facts in the presence of God.
(1)think of God’s plain statement regarding the lost (Rom3:10-19; 5:23; 1Cor.
1:18). (2)Remember the Love of God as shown in the gift of His son (John3:16;
1John4:9). (3).Think of the Love of Christ as demonstrated by the sacrifice of
Himself for sinners (1 John3:16). (4).ponder the awful doom of the Christ
rejecter (Rev20:11-15; Mark9:43-48; Mattew25:30-46).
The
story as told of a California gold digger who was returning by ship to his
home. His head of precious gold dust was carried in a belt won around his body.
The ship took fire not far from land. Being a strong swimmer, he thought that
even with the weight of the gold he could swim safely to land. As he prepared
to leave the vessel, please save me?’’ Then the struggle began, he knew he
could not save both the girl and his gold. One or the other must be left
behind. Throwing away his belt of gold he took the little girl and swam with
her to safety. Do we not hear the voices coming from earth’s Christ millions
pleading, ‘’won’t you please save me?’’ let us cast away all that hinders in
the way of selfish gain, pleasure and case, and devote ourselves to the task.
VERSES
TO MOMORISE
‘’He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye
therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.’’ (John8:47)
‘’And I give unto them eternal life; and
they shall never Perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My
father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck
them out of my father’s hand.’’ (John10:28).
‘’Jesus said unto her, I am the
resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live: and whosoever Liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
Believest thou this?’’ (John11:25, 26).
‘’Jesus saint unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me.’’ (John14:6).
‘’and when he His come, he will reprove the
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: of sin, because they
belief not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my father, and ye see me no
more; of judgement because the prince of this world is judged.’’ (John16:8-11).
‘’But these are written, that ye might
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; and that believing ye might
have life through his name.’’ (John20:31).
‘’Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved.’’ (Acts4:12).
‘’Be it known unto you therefore, men and
brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sin:
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.’’
(Acts13:38, 39).
THE CARELESS
This
person, is by far the most common type and, perhaps, the most difficult. The
average man seems absolutely indifferent to eternal realities, he is immersed in his business, his home life,
or his pleasures. These are his horisons, and he does not wish to see any
further. If thoughts of God , sin, death, and
eternity penetrate his consciousness, as they will at times , he
dismissed from his mind as quickly as possible. He does not shake his first in
the face of God or deny the existence of God; but he orders his life as thought
no such being as God exists, and deliberately shuts his eyes to such realities as sin, salvation, death, and
eternity. His motto is, ‘’Let us eat drink and be merry.’’ Truly, ‘’God is not
in all his, thoughts (Luke12:19; Psalm10:4).
The
problem in such a case is to arouse and awaken him to a sense of his need and
danger and exclaim, ‘’what meanest thou, oh sleeper’’ arise and call upon thy
God’’ (John1:6 ).
THE DECEIVED
These
also form a common class. They have given ear to false teachings and their
minds consequently have been perverted from the true. Very often the error that
blinds them seems to have a foundation
in the word of God, due to a text divorced
from the context of the scripture in which it is found (2Peter3:16).
One
of the marks of the ‘’last day’s is the
multiplicity of false teachers and their doctrines (1Tim.4:1-3; 2Timothy 3:1-7;
4:3;4; Matt.7:15; Acts20:29). It matters not how ridiculous, illogival or
unscriptural a theory may be; there will always be those who will lend a ready
ear to it, and become enthusiastic in propagating the error. Adherents of false
cults are often more zealous in spreading their strange doctrines than Christians
in preaching the truth of God. Among the deceived could be mentioned seventh
day Adventists, Ruselites or Jehovah’s witnesses, Christian scientists,
mormons, Unitarians, Universalists, Theosophists, Spiritists. Etc.
The
problem is to deliver them from their false ideas, by the wise use of the word
of God. This is anything but an easy task for error seems to exercise an
hypnotic influence on its victims and rob them the capacity for clear thinking
and logical discussion.
THE BOJECTOR
This
type of person is full of objections, mostly of a second-hand variety, which he
tries to convince himself as original, and which he imagines are unanswerable.
He
questions the authority of the bible and announces that it is ‘’ full of
contradiction.’’ He objects to being classified as a lost and guilty sinner,
and to being informed that he cannot have himself by any efforts of his own. He
particularly objects to ‘’hypocrites’’ and leaves the impression that all
personal workers belong to that same to that same category.
He
wants know, if there is a God, why does he allows this or that, and points to
all the injustice that prevails in the world. When cornered, he will even
pretend to have an interest in Foreign
missions and inquire, ‘’what about the heathen?.
The
problem in this case is to meet his objections calmly, courteously, and
faithfully from the word of God. This is not so of course , these objections
are only a blind to give an excuse for continuing in his sin.
THE AGNOSTIC, SKEPTIC, AND ATHEIST.
(a)
THE AGNOSTIC declares that no one can know
whether God is, or is not; whether the bible is the word of God or not; whether
salvation is real or only imaginary; or
whether there is a hell. The agnostic denies the possibility of knowing, with
certainly and finality, the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith.
(b)
THE SKEPTIC frankly confesses this unbelief in
the existence of God and in the whole bible as the salvation of expressing his
contempt for Christianity and the God of Christianity.
(c)
THE ATHEIST denies flatly that there is any God
at all. He seeks to explain the phenomena of creation by natural causes.
The problem here is to show to
each that God is, that he has revealed himself fully and finally in his word,
and particularly in his son, the saviour of all men.
5 THE EXCUSER
He has plentiful supply of excuses by which he
covers up his real reasons for not trusting Christ and becoming a Christian.
Someone has said that an excuse is a statement of the circumstances surrounding
our failure to do what we know we ought to have done. There is nothing new in
excuses. They began in the garden of Eden and have gone on ever since.
The
problem, as in the case of the objector,
is to meet each excuse with a scriptural and logical answer. This will show the
unreasonableness of the excuse in the light of both the word of God and common
sense.
6 THE IGNORANT
These
have never heard the gospel and have never read and literature concerning God,
Christ, and salvation, this class is more numerous than we suspect, for there
are many in our midst who are just as ignorant of Christianity as the unreached
tribes of Africa.
The problem here us to enlighten
them by proclaiming the fact of God and his revelation, the missionary is faced
with a similar task as he penetrates to regions where the gospel has never been
heard.
7 THE ANXOIUS
This
person has convicted of his sin and need of salvation but he is not yet saved,
he would like to be, but he don’t know how. There are many such, for more than
we imagine.
They are longing for someone to
speak to them, and it is indeed a blessed day when they convicted and anxious
sinner is brought into touch with an earnest and intelligent personal soul
winner.
The problem here is to lead the
anxious soul to an intelligent apprehension of the finished work of Christ, a
reception of him and saviour, and acknowledgement of him as lord of the life.
THE
CONFUSED
The
person has been convinced of his need as a lost sinner. He has heard the gospel
and, perhaps, has ever been dealt with by an intelligent worker. He is full of
forebodings, fears and doubts; he is occupied largely with his own feelings,
ideas and difficulties, he imagine he has ‘’committed the unpardonable sin,’’
or has ‘’sinned away the day of grace’’, or he says, + I have tried before and
failed.’’ Like Bunyan’s pilgrim, he flounders in the Bog of Despondency waiting
for someone to help him out of his doubts, darkness and despair.
The
problem, in this case, is to direct his thought with God’s word from himself to
Christ, and from his feelings to the scripture.
THE BACKSOLDIER
These
were once joyous Christians but now the most miserable of people. They have
lost the joy and in some cases, the assurance of their salvation. Like Naomi
they have to say, ‘’call me not Naomi (pleasant) but Mara (Bitter) ‘’Ruth
1:20). There harps have been hung in the
willows and they have no songs to sing (psalm 137:1-4, compare 126:1-4
The problem with
this person is to seek to bring about a restoration of soul. This can only came
through the confession and forsaking of his sin. This will result in soul
revival so that once again he will be enabled to ‘’joy in the God of his
salvation.’’
THE
DISCOURAGED CHRISTIAN
This
discouragement may be due to adversity in business, loss of health, bereavement
in the family, or the trial of life. While in this condition they are neither
inclined, nor fit to be of much help to anyone.
The
problem is to discover the cause and seek to ‘’Strenghten their hand in God’’.
See also . by doin so we shall become ‘’fellow helpers to the truth.
VERSES
TO MEMORISE
‘’And
the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every
where to repent.’’ (Acts17:30).
‘’For i am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is
the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first;
and also to the Greek.’’
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