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This
is a very touchy subject for many
people. I think almost every Christian
out there that I know personally has got
a lost family member that they have been
praying for years to get saved. Every
prayer request they put in has this
persons name on it. Their biggest burden
is for this person and they carry it
everywhere they go. So you have to
believe me when I say you’re not alone
in this matter. Just look to your left
and then to your right, while sitting at
your pew, at least one of the two
persons is carrying the same burden that
you are. So if you will read on to these
next few points I hope they can be a
blessing and a help to you.
1.
Remember you’re not the only one
hoping they come to salvation.
The
Lord Jesus Christ would love nothing
more than to see your loved one saved.
After all he died for their soul. He has
a love for that person that you cannot
surmount. It is an immaculate and
compassionate love like no other person
could possibly have. So now it is your
job to introduce your loved one to that
love. Not to be-little your task in the
least bit, but the hard part is done.
Cavalry has already taken place. The
blood has been shed, the grave has been
emptied, and the King of Kings has
ascended to his throne. Now it is your
job my friend to tell your love one
about the death burial and resurrection
of our Lord and Saviour. Just remember
that Jesus Christ is hoping your loved
one finds him just as soon as you also
want them to.
2.
Be honest, yet not harsh.
John
17:19
And for their sakes I
sanctify myself, that they also might be
sanctified through the truth.
You
are doing nothing for your loved one by
beating around the bush. You will get
nowhere by lying to them either. I know
how difficult it is to tell your loved
one that they’re bound for a
sinner’s hell. Where the worm dieth
not and the fire is not quenched. And it
would be so much easier if we could just
leave parts like these out. But you must
be honest with them. Yet at the same
time you have got to be gentle with
their emotions. Because this is where
I’d say 7 out of 10 people are driven,
by their emotions. So by walking up to
them questioning them on their sins and
being relentless about how stubborn they
are or how sinful they are you are just
going to drive them away. It is not our
job to judge. And trust me a person can
spot someone judging them from a mile
away. So if all means possible tell them
the truth, yet speak to them with love.
This subject is where a lot of churches
fail also. Preachers nowadays preach
against alcoholism, drugs, pornography
and adultery. This is understandable and
definitely needs to be addressed with
fire breathing preaching. No doubt about
it. But giving your loved one the 5th
degree about his drinking problem
isn’t going to by any means coerce him
into giving it up. The only way he will
is by conviction from the Holy Spirit,
and being born again. So instead of
pointing out your loved ones addiction
or problem they have, just point them to
Jesus. Then after they’re saved,
slowly let them know how their living
like the world hurts them spiritually,
and can produce for them a
“friendly” reminder to get on track
by none other than God. This is where
the Holy Spirit will really start to
work in their life.
3.
In the best way you can explain to them
what salvation really is.
You
know honestly some individuals have no
idea what you are really attempting to
do for them. Some think you’re trying
to make them change their religion or
trying to get them to come to your
church. Which would be great, but is not
your main goal. Some have no idea what
salvation truly is. Yes it’s calling
upon Jesus, they may get that, but what
does it mean to them? Why would they
possibly be forsaking everything thing
they have ever been taught. Why would
they choose to believe what you are
telling them? You have to explain to
them what salvation really is. It’s
not them switching their church
membership. It’s not them coming to
your church and getting baptized in
front of your whole congregation. (We
know water has no power to save). It has
nothing to do with them “changing
their religion” at all. All it
consists of is them calling upon the
Lord Jesus Christ and asking him into
their hearts to live. This is what you
have to explain to them. Explain to them
that salvation is them taking advantage
of a love that has been their since
before their birth. Yet remember to know
what your talking about because how can
you explain salvation to them if you
don’t know what it truly is yourself.
Don’t
push to hard, because you will push them
off a cliff.
Remember
to honor this persons request to you. A
way I like to do this is when they say
“I don’t want to talk to you about
this”, or “just leave me alone about
it ok?” three times, that is when I
back off. Because anymore than that and
you are going to definitely offend them.
Then I always like to wait about two or
three days to bring up the subject to
them again (sometimes longer depending
on how many times I’ve spoken to them
about it). In between this time it is
all up to the Holy Spirit to work and
water the seed you have planted in their
hearts. You have to give God time to
work. Because if your constantly talking
to them about it, then when will God get
a chance to put a word in? Remember this
is such a touchy subject for them.
Sometimes what you’re telling them is
extremely controversial to what they
have been taught their whole life! Plus
the thought that they, could even
possibly be bad enough to go to hell!
How dare you! This is a reaction that is
very common and could anger the person
you are speaking with. Just remember to
not speak harshly to them. Do not accuse
them either. Speak to them with love and
honesty, but honor their requests at the
same time.
5.
Be prepared to have your feelings hurt.
The
loved one of whom you are witnessing to
very well may become angry with you. If
they are a member of a different kind of
religion and have been taught their
heretical beliefs all their life, then
be prepared for them to get offended.
They may become very angry with you
also. Like I have stated above, no one
wants to here they have been deceived.
No one wants to hear that what they have
been taught their whole life is based on
a lie! But even if they don’t have an
“established” religion or church,
they may still get offended at you
calling them a sinner. Yet despite all
of their hurtful sayings, their hurtful
actions and their hurtful remarks,
don’t let it hinder your work for
them. I’m not going to say you’re
not going to get hurt, because honestly
they may say some things to you that
they know are going to go straight to
your heart. I’ve read a lot of
soul-winning books and pamphlets, and a
lot of them only tell you the peachy crème
side of all of your efforts. But I’d
love to be honest with you. It is not
all going to be roses. Don’t get me
wrong, the fruit for your efforts are
going to be insurmountable. But their
will be sometimes when you are going to
think, “Why am I even doing this? They
don’t need me.” You cannot let this
go to your head. The truth of the matter
is my friend, they need you. They need
you more than they even know. They need
what you have to tell them more than
their car, their pocketbook, friends,
schooling, or even any other family.
They need Jesus Christ more than
anything this old wicked world has to
offer. So anytime you get your feelings
hurt or you get discouraged, just think
about this. You are the one who gets to
deliver this message to them. What a
blessing!
6.
Keep your testimony!
This
is by far where most Christians mess it
up. Keep your testimony while around the
person you are witnessing to. (You
should be keeping it everywhere else you
go also) Look, if your telling this
person “ye must be born-again”, and
your not acting like you have never seen
conversion yourself, you outta get right
with God yourself before you attempt to
introduce him to your loved one. You
know I love the old preacher Daniel
Marshall. He is one of my favorite
preachers of the past. But their isn’t
a whole lot written about him, and if he
were alive today and I was supposed to
introduce him to a friend, it would be
real hard because I don’t know too
much about him. So how are you going to
introduce Jesus Christ to somebody when
you don’t even know that much about
him? Make sure your testimony is in
check at all times because it can be a
very affective soul-winning tool all on
its own. You know if your loved one knew
what you were before you were saved, and
they can see you now, it may be just
that which causes them to receive Jesus.
They also may put your testimony to the
test. Remember most people wanna know if
this thing is real! So they may just say
a curse word around you just to see your
reaction. They may pop a rock music cd
into their car radio as soon as you’re
around. So it would be in your best
interest not to sing along with them!
Show them what Jesus Christ can
do for somebody. Show them with your
life that he can help them. Tell them
just exactly what he ahs done for you.
Tell them about the tears you used to
have, the burdens you carried, the
heartache you faced, and show them how
it was all lifted by Jesus Christ! If
you can’t share that then you might
just need to get saved your self!!! Be
happy about serving Jesus Christ!!! If
you’re constantly a happy person,
people will start to notice that. Then
pretty soon they’re going to want to
know how to get that joy that you
possess. Then you can tell them that you
can’t help but be happy, knowing what
Jesus did for you! Knowing he died to
save your soul, knowing his blood was
shed on cavalry, knowing that in his
last few breaths he used them to forgive
the sins of mankind, and knowing that he
gives you the humble opportunity to
serve him. If you cannot jump for joy
about that then you just might need to
go and buy a new blesser because yours
is broken!!! Then tell them they also
have this joy, and they can get it just
by calling upon Jesus. Hallelujah!
7.
Just keep on praying
Colossians
1:9- For
this cause we also, since the day we
heard it,
do not cease to pray for you, and to
desire that ye might be filled with the
knowledge of his will in all wisdom and
spiritual understanding;
When
everything else seems to fail, and you
are at your end, just pray. You may have
been praying for years for your loved
ones salvation and every prayer has been
heard. Yet now you must show some
diligence, character and a whole lot of
faith and keep on praying for them when
you are not seeing any results. Yet you
may NEVER see any outside results, but
that doesn’t mean something isn’t
happening on the inside. And remember to
love them no matter what. How can I love
a lost person! Jesus loved you when you
were lost. Not only did he love you, but
he died for you. So show them love every
time you see them. Now I’m not saying
to become best pals and do everything
together because family or not we are to
be separate from the world. But what I
am saying is to show them a love that
they haven’t seen, and through that
love they very well may want to know how
they can produce a love like that also.
Then this is where you explain to them
how they can find an unconditional love.
Who produces this love, none other than
Jesus Christ. So don’t stop praying,
it may be the only mediator between them
and God. You know almost never will a
lost person turn down your prayers.
Everyone likes to know someone is
praying for them. Believe it or not, but
a lost person loves to know someone is
praying for them. So, remember to just
keep praying for your loved ones, and
you will see results.
This
will be my last point.
8.
Be patient.
1
Thessalonians 5:14-
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn
them that are unruly, comfort the
feebleminded, support the weak, be
patient toward all men.
To be
very honest with you, a loved one does
not decide to accept Christ the first
time it is presented to them. Usually
they will have to think it over or
decide is this “religion” thing
really right for them. But God is
working on their heart the most at this
time. You very well may get blown off
the first, second, third, fourth or
forty-seventh time you tell them about
Jesus Christ and what he did for him.
But every time you tell them about it, a
seed is getting watered in their heart,
and God is definitely speaking to them.
Yet don’t EVER give up. And if you
truly want to see that person saved,
then you never will. You may shed an
ocean of tears for that person, and you
may miss countless nights of sleep over
it. And God sees your tears and he knows
your pain. Yet don’t let your tears
cease’ to fall. You may not see
results for 30 years, but don’t ever
stop desiring to see that loved one
saved. They will probably tell you to
leave them alone about Jesus a number of
times. They may even get down right mad
at you. But to be honest, usually
they’re not even mad at you. They’re
mad at themselves because they know what
your saying is right, and they know
they’re going to have to accept it!
But please, I beg you in Jesus name, be
patient, and love them. The Lord is
always good to those who are good to
others.
Mark
11:24- Therefore
I say unto you, What things soever ye
desire, when ye pray, believe that ye
receive them, and ye shall have them.
How
do I start the conversation?
The
conversation part is usually where the
soul-winner lacks. We can all get into
our cars to go soul-winning. We can all
knock on the door. And most of us can
even hand someone a track, all without
saying a single word. A lot of people
have perfected the “silent partner”
routine. So I would like to give just a
few instances and circumstances, and
then tell you the best way to start the
conversation.
You
knock on the door.
Either
they come directly to the door or they
answer with…
“Who
is it?”
Yes,
my name is ______ and I am visiting from
the ________ and I would love to give
you some good news!
OR
My
name is ______ and I am visiting from
the ______ located at ______ and I would
just love to give you this invitation to
our church.
(This
is my favorite one to use because even
if they tell you to scram, they already
know the name and address of your
church)
Then
sometimes they very well may respond
with this.
“No
thanks or I don’t need any of that!”
You
could do one of two things here you
could either say…. “Well then
could I just leave our flyer here on
your door?"
OR
The
bolder more aggressive soul-winner might
try this….
“Sir you may not think you need it
now, but hell is on its way and it waits
for no man!”
OR
“Sir
you are very sure of yourself, may I
speak to you about why?”
Usually
if you can get away with leaving a flyer
in their door no matter the outcome of
the initial conversation, you have come
out ahead.
So now
what do you do if you get them to answer
the door?
“Hello
sir as I said before my name is ______
and I am visiting from the _______ and
I’m just out and about in the
neighborhood inviting people to our
church. Can I ask you do you have a
church home, or do you regularly attend
church somewhere?”
Usually
the answer will be yes, I go to such and
such church, and then you could respond
with this.
“Well,
I’m glad you attend church somewhere
but if you are ever looking for a church
where people love you and the bible is
preached we would love to have ya!”
“Now
going to church is very important for
your spiritual growth, but more
important than going to church is
knowing for sure that you are going to
heaven.”
“Can
I ask you, do you know for sure heaven
will be your home, or would you have
some doubt about it?”
If
they tell you I may have some doubt
about it, there is your entrance.
“Well,
I would love to help you get that doubt
settled today if you would let me?”
You
now present to them the plan of
salvation.
PRAISE
THE LORD!
Now if
you ask them if they know for sure
heaven is going to be their home and
they say…. “Yes I know for
sure”
Don’t
take their word for it. Ask them…. “Well,
can I ask you how you know for sure, or
what you’re trusting in to get you
there”?
If
they can give you a legitimate answer
and they can show you true proof that
they have been born-again then you could
try this…..
“Well
that is great news to hear”!
“But
now that you are in the family of God,
it would be a great time for you to
grow.
“And
we would love for you to visit our
church where our preacher and church
family could help you with that.”
Yet,
now if they give you an answer that does
not show you that they have seen a true
“Grace only salvation”, (I do good
things for my community, I go to church
at such at such or etc.) then you should
definitely explain to them what a true
salvation is and how they can come to
conversion!
Steven Achs
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