The Art of Soul Winning by J.W. Mahood
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J.W. Mahood >> The Art of Soul Winning
This direct testimony to our adoption is given only by the Holy Spirit,
and given only to believers because they are the sons of God. It is
God's seal which he places upon his own, and we then no longer receive
the spirit of bondage unto fear; but we receive the spirit of adoption
whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The voice of God is heard in the soul
bearing witness to our acceptance, and then the fruit of the Spirit
speedily follows in the life to corroborate the inner voice and "give
unmistakable confirmation to the testimony which was primary and
direct."
To some, this assurance comes like a sudden flash from the sky; to
others, like the gentle breathing of the evening zephyr. But it comes,
_it surely comes_; and no soul should be satisfied until it comes; for
it is essential to a useful, joyous life. Look up now, and with eager
expectancy await the "blessed assurance."
"Why should the children of a King
Go mourning all their days?
Great Comforter, descend and bring
The tokens of thy grace.
Assure my conscience of her part
In the Redeemer's blood;
And bear thy witness with my heart,
That I am born of God.
Thou art the earnest of His love,
The pledge of joys to come;
May thy blest wings, celestial Dove,
Safely convey me home!"
STUDY XI.
EVERY WEIGHT.
Memory Verse: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the
sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the
race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and
finisher of our faith."--(Heb. xii, 1, 2.)
Scripture for Meditation: 1 Cor. viii, 9-13; ix, 24-27.
We hear much about "personal liberty" in these days, and, to hear some
talk, one would think that personal liberty was a gift to be selfishly
guarded rather than to be sacrificed for the good of others. But Paul,
the apostle, sacrificed his liberty for the sake of others; so did
Onesimus, the Christian slave. Surely those professing Christians who
make "personal liberty" their plea for engaging in some form of worldly
amusement (such as dancing, card-playing, or theater-going), and those
who are given to some filthy habit (such as the use of tobacco), have
not studied the life of Jesus, or of Paul, or of Onesimus.
If there were no other reasons why these things should be renounced,
that they injure our influence as soul-winners would be sufficient; for
who ever heard of a man or woman who engaged in these forms of
questionable amusement becoming illustrious as a soul-winner? To say the
least, they are "weights," and must be laid aside.
In a revival service, a lady rose, and, with tears raining down her
face, said: "I have taught a Sunday-school class of sixteen young men
for three years, and have not seen one of them converted. I believe I
know why, and now confess my sin. Being a teacher in the city schools, I
thought I must see a Shakespearean play, and went to the theater one
night. I saw several of my class there, and they all seemed to be
looking at me as if surprised. Next day I met some of them, and they
confessed surprise that I was at the theater. I have been conscious
from that time that I had lost my influence to win these young men to
Christ." Within one week after this confession was made this lady had
won seven of her class for the Savior.
A young lady, once a society belle and fond of worldly amusements,
consecrated her life to the Lord's work. In a rescue mission she was
asked to speak to a poor wreck of a man who had been a gambler. He
looked at her suspiciously as he asked, "Do you play cards, or dance, or
go to the theater?" "No, not now," she replied. "Well, then you may talk
to me; but I won't listen to one word from you fine folks who are doing
on a small scale the very things that brought us poor wretches to where
we are." And the young lady afterwards said she had found more real joy
in leading that lost soul to Christ than she had ever found in the
pleasures of the world.
_Lay aside every weight; lay aside every weight, just now._
STUDY XII.
PRAYER.
Memory Verse: "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much."--(James v, 16.)
Scripture for Meditation: Gen. xxxii, 24-30; Luke xi, 1-13.
Nothing is more essential to the soul-winner than prayer. Prayer will
generate a spiritual atmosphere in the individual life. The prayers of
many will generate a spiritual atmosphere in a community. In answer to
prayer, the Holy Spirit will do his office, and produce such pungent
conviction of sin that men will carry out, as on the day of Pentecost,
"Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
In the Life of Mr. Finney it is related that, during a revival at Rome,
New York, the air seemed surcharged with Divine power. A sheriff, who
had laughed about the meetings, came over from Utica. He felt this
strange influence when he crossed the old canal, a mile west of town.
When he sat in the hotel dining-room, he had to get up and go to the
window two or three times to divert his attention and keep from weeping.
After dinner he hurried away, but was afterwards converted.
See what spiritual triumphs and great revivals the early Church
witnessed; but the secret of it all was that "they continued steadfastly
in prayers." Why is it that to-day many have so little courage and so
little power to win others to Christ? They neglect prayer. "They that
wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with
wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and
not faint." How little time we spend daily in prayer! Study the life of
Paul, and Savonarola, and Catherine of Siena, and Martin Luther, and
John Knox, and see how they all gave themselves continually to prayer,
and so prevailed. All they who have become illustrious as great
soul-winners have been, without exception, men and women mighty in
prayer. They came to understand that God's storehouses of wisdom,
prayer, and grace are inexhaustible, and with the key of prayer they
unlocked every door.
Prayer avails for the salvation of others when every other means seems
to fail. The disciples spent ten days in prayer. Then came Pentecost and
a revival that brought thousands into the kingdom. John Livingstone,
with a few friends, spent a whole night in prayer, and the next day five
hundred persons gave themselves to Christ. Two sisters agreed to spend
the night in prayer in behalf of an unconverted brother. That night,
although twenty miles away, the young man tossed on his bed in agony of
conviction, and next day started for home, and found salvation.
Prayer is omnipotent; and, if we would see the kingdom of Christ come
speedily in the world, we must have a great revival of prevailing
prayer.
STUDY XIII.
FAITH.
Memory Verse: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me,
the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these
shall he do; because I go unto my Father."--(John xiv, 12.)
Scripture for Meditation: Heb. xi.
Not the mystery of faith, nor the philosophy of faith, does the
soul-winner need to study; but the simplicity, the childlikeness of
faith. To believe God implicitly is to have victorious faith. "I can do
all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," said Paul; and
everywhere in the Bible we find the clear teaching that "God and one
make a majority." To realize this in one's own life is to live the
victorious life.
But perhaps we should distinguish between trust and saving faith. Trust
gives the life to God; faith takes from God that which he has promised
in his Word. Trust is continuous; faith is a definite act. "Faith is
the giving substance to things hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen." (Heb. xi, 1.)
It is true that we walk by faith now; but faith has a clear eye. Faith
can see the clouds full of chariots and horses. Faith can see legions of
angels marshaling themselves for our defense. Faith can see that every
promise of God is steadfast, and will surely be fulfilled, and can claim
its fulfillment.
"Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,
And looks to that alone;
Laughs at impossibilities,
And cries, 'It shall be done.'"
Of Barnabas it is said, "He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost
and of faith." The fullness of faith will make unbelief and moral
darkness impossible in the soul, and will generate a triumphant
confidence in God.
To have faith is to have power; and the little child, as well as the
grown man, may possess this power, and exercise it in winning souls for
Jesus. A little girl who had bowed at the altar and given her heart to
God, pulled the pastor's coat at the close of the service, and said,
"Will you please pray for my mamma?" "Certainly," said the pastor. And
the next evening the little girl brought her mother to the service. When
the invitation was given, she took her hand and led her to the altar.
That little girl's faith won her mother to Christ.
Faith will give courage for personal work. With a strong, unfaltering
confidence which takes God at his word, we shall not hesitate nor fear
to approach the unsaved and seek to win them to the Savior.
Faith is nourished by the Word. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the Word of God." If we feed our faith upon the Word, and exercise it,
then we shall have the faith of those mentioned in the eleventh chapter
of Hebrews, and we shall prove the promise of the Savior, "All things
are possible to him that believeth."
STUDY XIV.
SELF-SACRIFICE.
Memory Verse: "For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; and
whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it."--(Matt.
xvi, 25.)
Scripture for Meditation: Matt. xvi, 24; 2 Cor. iv.
The words of Christ, "If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me," can not be mistaken. The
earthly life of Jesus was a supreme example of self-sacrifice. All the
way from Bethlehem to Calvary his life was a constant denial of self.
The early Church followed their Master. They were ready to sacrifice
all. Men sold their fields and houses for the work's sake. They counted
nothing too good for sacrifice, even to life itself; and many went
gladly to the arena and the fiery stake rather than be untrue to their
Lord. As long as the early Christian Church maintained this spirit, she
went from victory to victory. Nothing could withstand her progress. And
when the followers of Jesus Christ in this twentieth century shall again
put on the beautiful garments of self-sacrifice, the Church will become
invincible.
There is now a great opportunity for men and women to sacrifice, in
personal liberty, in popularity, in social standing, and personal
comfort, for the sake of the perishing multitudes. None are too poor,
none too old, to do something to win souls.
An aged widow, who had all her money invested in a farm in a
drouth-stricken part of the West, found herself almost penniless. She
was compelled to find shelter in a Refuge Home. At first she was
discouraged and heart-broken; but God put upon her heart the multitudes
of perishing women in India. She tried to occupy her mind piecing a
quilt. This she sold, and the money was sent to India. Then she made
another for Africa, then another for Japan, until now, in six years,
she has given four hundred dollars to home and foreign missions, and has
six people at work as her substitutes in foreign lands. And she says, "I
was surely called of God to teach that no one is too poor to give to
missions, or too old to work for God and souls."
A young man, twenty-four years old, working on a farm for twenty dollars
a month and board, has, in nineteen months, sent six substitutes, and
says, "I pray God to make me a Christian drunkard, that I may spend my
time and money for him as the drunkard does for the devil." And when the
whole Church shall begin to show the same spirit of self-sacrifice in
giving time and money, and in sacrificing pleasure and comfort and
social standing for the Lord's work, and for dying multitudes about
them, then we shall soon see the dawn of the millennial day.
THE SOUL-WINNER'S EQUIPMENT.
"COMPLETELY FURNISHED."
STUDY XV.
KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES.
Memory Verse: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all
wisdom."--(Col. iii, 16.)
Scripture for Meditation: Heb. iv, 12; 2 Tim. iii, 13-17; Ps. cxix,
1-11.
A thorough knowledge of the Word of God is essential to success in
soul-winning. The Word is "the sword of the Spirit," "the hammer that
breaketh the rock in pieces." If we are not skilled in the use of the
Divine sword and the Divine hammer, then we can not expect that the
Spirit will use us.
In an excellent little book on "How to Obtain the Fullness of Power,"
Dr. R.A. Torrey says:
"There can be no fullness of life and service if the Bible is neglected.
In much that is now written on power; also in much that is said in
conventions, this fact is overlooked. The work of the Holy Spirit is
magnified; but the instrument through which the Holy Spirit works is
largely forgotten. The result is transient enthusiasm and activity, but
no steady continuance and increase in power and usefulness. We can not
obtain power, and we can not maintain power, in our own lives and in our
work for others, unless there is deep and frequent meditation upon the
Word of God.... Of course, it is much easier, and therefore much more
agreeable to our spiritual laziness, to go to a convention or
revival-meeting, and claim a 'filling with the Holy Spirit,' than it is
to peg along, day after day, month after month, year after year, digging
into the Word of God. But a 'filling of the Spirit,' that is not
maintained by a persistent study of the Word will soon vanish....
Evidently Paul knew of no filling with the Spirit divorced from deep and
constant meditation upon the Word."
The most remarkable movement among young men in this generation is the
World's Christian Student Federation, organized by Mr. John R. Mott.
Through this movement multitudes of young men the world over have been
led to keep what is called "The Morning Watch," by which they rise at
least half an hour earlier than usual each morning, and spend the time
in devotional Bible-study and prayer. What a mighty impetus would be
given to Christian work everywhere if all Christian young people would
form the habit of keeping "The Morning Watch!"
Have a plan for your Bible study, and faithfully follow it. Commit to
memory the texts found in Study Twenty-seven, and thus be able to use
skillfully the Sword of the Spirit.
STUDY XVI.
TACT.
Memory Verse: "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all
means save some."--(1 Cor. ix, 22.)
Scripture for Meditation: 1 Cor. ix, 19-27.
The successful business man knows the value of tact, and the Christian
worker should know the value of consecrated tact. A special study of the
life of Christ to notice his methods of dealing with various people, and
to see the aptness with which he used parable and exhortation, would
prove very helpful to every soul-winner. The life of Paul might also be
studied in the same manner with profit. He knew how to become all things
to all men to save some.
Christ's exhortation to his disciples was, "Be ye as wise as serpents,"
but how little wisdom many seem to have in seeking to win the unsaved to
Christ! And this, too, when we have the promise, "If any of you lack
wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and
upbraideth not: and it shall be given him."
"Now if I could tell you," said a pastor to an unsaved business man, who
had been relating how much a friend had helped him in business, "how
much Christ has helped me, and what he has been to me, I believe I could
win you to him."
The value of tact was well illustrated in an incident which occurred
during Mr. Finney's meetings in New York City. The big cutlery firm of
Sheffield, England, had a branch house in New York. The manager was a
partner of the firm, and very worldly. One of his clerks, who had been
converted in the meetings, invited his employer to attend. One evening
he was there, and sat just across the aisle from Mr. Arthur Tappan. He
appeared affected during the sermon, and Mr. Tappan kept his eye on him.
After the dismissal, Mr. Tappan stepped quickly across the aisle,
introduced himself, and invited him to stay for the after-service. The
gentleman tried to excuse himself and get away, but Mr. Tappan caught
hold of the button on his coat and said, "Now, do stay; I know you will
enjoy it;" and he was so kind and gentlemanly that the cutlery man could
not very well refuse. He staid, and was converted. Afterwards he said,
"An ounce of weight upon my coat-button saved my soul."
To watch for opportunity, and then to know how effectively to make use
of the opportunity, is all-important in soul-winning. And there is no
better teacher than the Holy Spirit, of whom it is said, "He shall teach
you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance."
STUDY XVII.
EARNESTNESS.
Memory Verse: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy
might."--(Eccl. ix, 10.)
Scripture for Meditation: Mark ii, 1-12.
The testimony of Charles H. Spurgeon should have weight here. He said:
"If a man is to be a soul-winner, there must be in him intensity of
emotion as well as sincerity of heart. You may repeat the most
affectionate exhortations in such a half-hearted manner that no one will
be moved either by love or fear. I believe that for soul-winning there
is more in this matter of earnestness than in almost anything else."
When we become as much in earnest to rescue our friends and dear ones
from eternal death as we are to save them from physical suffering and
death, then we shall see the rapid spread of the kingdom of Christ. A
man falls overboard from the deck of a vessel, and his wife screams:
"Stop the boat! My God! My husband is drowning!" But no one criticises
the woman for her passionate outcry, or bids her keep still. It was so
natural for her to cry out for help. And when the Church of Jesus Christ
becomes thoroughly awake to the worth of a soul and the awful danger to
which all out of Christ are exposed, it will be the most natural thing
in the world for them to show an undying earnestness in seeking the
lost. Then propriety, and reticence, and restraint, and rules of
rhetoric will be thrown to the winds, and a divine passion will possess
the life. The world may sneer at it as fanaticism, but it is the
fanaticism of Pentecost. When the crowd saw the intensity of emotion
shown by the newly-anointed disciples, they exclaimed, "These men are
full of new wine." Here was shown an enthusiasm that leaps over all
difficulties and rises above every discouragement--the enthusiasm of
Pentecost; and every soul-winner must have it. Then, like Paul, wishing
himself accursed that Israel might be saved, or like John Welch, wrapped
in his plaid, kneeling in the snow, unable to sleep, and praying
mightily for the souls of men, this holy earnestness will not let us
rest until we see the salvation of the lost.
It will tell in look, and tone, and manner. It may lead us to do things
that may shock the sense of propriety of the dead, formal Church member,
such as being obedient to the Master's command, "Go ye out into the
highways and hedges, and compel them to come in." Jeremiah preached
repentance in the streets; and the early Church preached everywhere, on
the streets, by the river's bank, in the market-places, and in prisons.
John Livingstone stood on a tombstone, and preached with such power in
the midst of a falling rain that multitudes were born in a day. So did
John Wesley. O that the great Church of Jesus Christ might now have the
enthusiasm of Pentecost!
STUDY XVIII.
PERSEVERANCE.
Memory Verse: "Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, take no
rest."--(Isa. lxii, 6, R.V.)
Scripture for Meditation: Luke xv, 1-10.
How we are willing to persevere to save our friends from physical
suffering and death! No night is too long to watch, no sacrifice too
great to make, no burden too heavy to bear, that the life of a loved one
may be saved. But should we not be just as persistent in our efforts to
save from eternal death those whom we love?
Perhaps we have no more illustrious example of devotion to soul-winning
than evidenced in the life of Uncle John Vassar. Two incidents, related
by the Rev. Walter B. Vassar, illustrate the perseverance with which he
sought the perishing.
A young man was noticed to come night after night to revival-meetings,
but would slip away before one could grasp his hand. Mr. Vassar felt he
must see this soul, and walked five miles to the farm where he lived,
arriving as the family was about to eat an early dinner, of which he was
urged to partake. After being seated, the face of the young man not
appearing in the family group, Mr. Vassar excused himself from the
table, and hunted through all the farm-buildings where a man might
possibly be in hiding. At last, when about to confess himself defeated,
he walked to the further end of the corn-crib, and there, in an old
hogshead, he found the fellow lying low. He confessed afterward that he
had taken satisfaction in looking through the bunghole of the hogshead,
in believing Uncle John would not find him there. But this "winner of
souls," knowing his opportunity, leaped over by the side of the runaway,
and then and there turned, as Charles Spurgeon has said, "the hogshead
into a Bethel," and won a soul for heaven.
An Irish woman in a village was told about a strange man calling about
her place, and affirmed he would not be kindly treated if he knocked at
her door. Mr. Vassar, not knowing her feelings, came there in his
visits, but the moment she saw he was the man--according to the
description of him--she slammed the door in his face. He sat at once
upon her doorstep and began to sing:
"But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe."
In a few weeks she wanted admission into the Protestant Church, and all
her experience was, "Those drops of grief, those drops of grief; I could
not get over them."
See how men persevere to get rich or to gain political prestige! See how
insurance agents, and book agents, and traveling men persevere in their
efforts to convince men! They seek most favorable times, and then often
go again and again. And shall we who win immortal souls be any less
diligent?
STUDY XIX.
TENDERNESS.
Memory Verse: "I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd giveth his life
for the sheep."--(John x, 12.)
Scripture for Meditation: Luke xv, 3-7; John x, 1-18.
What infinite depths of tenderness are revealed in these sweet parables
of the Lost Sheep and the Good Shepherd! The tender, loving heart of the
Savior goes out in eager compassion and pity for the straying. What
boundless sympathy is revealed in the words, "He calleth his own sheep
by name;" "He goeth after that which is lost;" "When he hath found it,
he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing!" The seeker after souls must
be like his Master. A heart ready to melt at the sight of human
suffering and human need is necessary to successful soul-winning. There
are many whose hearts are hardened by long years of rebellion against
God; whose power of will is emasculated by long years of neglect; and
they will never be saved until some earnest Christian worker shall find
them, whose heart has been touched with the same sorrow that Jesus felt
when he stood on the Mount of Olives weeping over Jerusalem.
J. Hudson Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, tells that when he was a
college student he had charge of a man with a gangrenous foot. It was
his duty to dress the man's foot every day. He soon learned that his
patient was not a Christian, and had not been in a church for forty
years. Such was his hatred of religion that he refused to go inside the
church at his wife's funeral. Young Taylor made up his mind to speak to
this man about his soul every time he visited him. The man cursed him,
and refused to allow him to pray. The student persisted in presenting
Christ until one day he said to himself, "It's no use," and was leaving
the room. When he reached the door, he turned around and saw the man
looking after him as if saying, "Why, you are going away to-day without
speaking to me about Christ!" Then the young man burst into tears, and
returning to the bedside, said: "Whether you wish me to or not, I must
deliver my soul. Will you let me pray with you?" The man assented, began
to weep, was converted. Mr. Taylor says, "God broke my heart, that
through me he might break this wicked man's heart."
Ask now that the Holy Spirit may give you a tender heart, and make your
eyes a fountain of tears, that, with the sympathy of Christ, you may
seek the lost and perishing.
STUDY XX.
BURDEN FOR SOULS.
Memory Verse: "For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ
for my brethren."--(Rom. ix, 3.)