Many people freely admit that they believe in the great doctrines of the second advent message, but yet they do not step out and unite with those who are giving the message. They cannot give any particular reason for their course, but they seem to lack that compelling conviction which constrains to obedience in walking in the light.
An important factor in bringing people to a definite decision accompanied by corresponding action, is to possess a deep burden for souls, and faith that lays hold of the convicting power of God in their behalf. At one time I was talking with a brother who was discouraged because he saw so little results from his work. I thought I would test the reality of his faith, as Mr. Spurgeon did with a young preacher, so I said:
"You do not expect to win souls every time you preach a sermon, do you?"
"Oh, no," he replied, "of course I could not expect that."
"Well, that is probably one reason why you do not see greater results. You must have confidence that God has called you to win souls, and genuine faith that He will give you fruit."
When I started in the ministry I had a very perplexing time. I was timid, and not only could not preach, but could hardly bear my testimony in public. If I undertook to give a simple Bible study, I never knew how I was going to get through. My first year in the ministry was a very miserable one for me, for I was sent out to accomplish something in spiritual work, and I could not preach, and did not know how to win souls. But at that time a kind providence brought to my attention a pamphlet entitled "The Shorter Life of Moody," by the reading of which I was deeply impressed by Moody's first experience in soul winning, and was greatly encouraged to believe that, although I might never be able to preach, I could become a successful soul winner. Then immediately I began to study books on the science of soul winning; for it is a science,—"the highest of an sciences is the science of soul saving." —"Ministry of Healing," p. 398.
After my first thrilling experience in seeing an individual accept Christ and yield all to Him in response to my earnest invitation, it seemed to me that nothing else in the world was of any particular importance compared with such ministry; and the burden of my prayer was that God would bring me in touch with those who needed to know Christ as their personal Saviour, and that He would teach me how to help them.
About that time I visited one of our schools where I had never been before, and the first thing I did after being assigned to my room was to kneel down and ask God to send to me someone in that school who needed help to find the Saviour. Almost before I had risen from my knees, there came a knock on my door. On opening the door I found a teacher, a stranger to me, who said, "There is a young man in my office who wishes to speak to you." I inquired as to the name of the young man, but it was unfamiliar to me, and the teacher did not know what he wanted. But he came to my room, and I began the conversation by asking a few questions about his home and his work, hoping that through a tactful approach I could get acquainted with him, and then I could talk to him about his Christian experience. But his answers to my questions were so brief that I decided it would be wise to approach the all-important subject at once. Then, as near as I can remember, the following conversation ensued:
"Are you a Christian?"
"No, sir."
"Do you not think that to become a Christian is the right thing to do?" "Yes, sir."
"Would you like to be a Christian?" "Yes, sir."
"Do you understand what it means to be a Christian,—to realize that you are a sinner, that you have transgressed God's law and are under the condemnation of death, but that God loves you, and that Jesus came here and bore your sins and died in your place; that if you confess your sins and give your heart to Christ, He will forgive and cleanse you and accept you as His child?"
"Yes, sir, I believe I understand."
"Well, then, will you kneel with me right now and tell the Lord that you believe what He says, and ask Him to perform this miracle in your life?"
The young man readily assented, and we kneeled down. After I had prayed, he prayed,—for the first time in his life, I think,—and the Holy Spirit wrought the miracle of divine grace in his heart.
So within perhaps an hour of the time I had prayed for the Lord to use me to bring some soul to Jesus, He had answered my prayer. This and many similar experiences have given me a deep conviction that one of the supreme secrets of soul winning (which is more than soul convicting) is possession of a burning passion to save souls which makes every other desire or ambition secondary, and brings the human heart into living union with the heart of Christ.
"The love that is of heavenly birth is a resistless power, and it can be obtained only by a living connection with God. Would you move the hearts of men, you must come into actual contact with the God of love. God must first take hold of you if you would take hold of others."—"Appeal to Ministers," p. 31. Many times we fail in our work because we are halfhearted. The Spirit of the Lord has said, "You let go of the arm of the Lord too soon." We are not willing to endure the travail of soul which is necessary for spiritual birth.
Another essential in bringing people to a decision for Christ and truth is that we have a thorough knowledge of the truth we present, not as theory or argument, but as a personal experience. "It is not enough to believe the theory of truth. It is not enough to make a profession of faith in Christ and have our names registered on the church roll. 'He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him.' . . . This is the genuine evidence of conversion."—"Christ's Object Lessons," pp. 312, 313.
(To be concluded)
*Talk to Bible Workers at General Conference.