How to Secure Decisions (Conclusion)

The basic idea we need to make use of is desire and conviction. This is not to infer that if we work along these lines we are always ensured of a decision. The human mind can and often does resist making a decision to follow the truth even when the presentation is the proper inter­weaving of the factors of desire and convic­tion.

But if decision is not secured, it is be­cause these two elements were not intensi­fied in this person to the requisite point where they merged into decision and ac­tion. The highest skill in soul winning is the ability, under God, to fan the sparks of desire and conviction into the flame of de­cision and action.

If we do not work along these lines, then we are blundering along, groping in the dark to no purpose. But he who does, is giving himself the advantage of the most favorable prospect of securing the desired action.

Can't Improve on Christ's Methods

There is no better way to learn how to secure decisions than to study Christ's methods. These cannot be improved upon. There is no place where Christ's methods of leading to decision are so fully disclosed as in John 4  the winning of the outcast woman at Jacob's well.

How did He do it? By arresting her at­tention, arousing her interest, creating de­sire for what He had to offer, and implant­ing conviction of its supreme worth, and of her need of it. Then at the opportune mo­ment He intensified her desire and convic­tion into decision and action for the truth. This is the "know-how" of soul winning ac­cording to Jesus. Every real sermon will carry the hearers along this fivefold pro­gression, and it is our task to build such ser­mons under God. In order to achieve this, some of us may have to give more study and thought to our sermons than we have been giving. This will pay rich dividends in bet­ter results.

Proving a Point Insufficient

The evidence of our doctrines is so con­vincing that any Adventist minister can, under God, arouse conviction in the minds of his hearers as to the truthfulness of these doctrines. But how few know how to arouse the desire to obey. This is one point of Ad­ventist evangelism that needs more study. Here is where our preaching is falling short.

Jesus shows us that decision for the king­dom of God is like a man seeking goodly pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price went and sold all that he had to secure it. This man was moved by a powerful conviction and a paramount de­sire so dominant, so compelling, that he gladly, willingly, and immediately, without hesitation, parted with all that he had to secure the pearl.

The desire for salvation and an eternal home in heaven should be the "pearl," or the major factor, in leading souls to sur­render. If this dominant desire is truly aroused, nothing can stop the person from moving straight forward to obey the truth. And isn't this what we want to see in our evangelism?

Admire, Desire, Acquire

The parable of the Pearl of Great Price reduces the formula for decisions to three words—admire, desire, acquire. When the man saw the pearl it was so lovely he ad­mired it. Then he so admired it that he desired it. And then he so desired it that he acquired it, even at the cost of all that he had.

In our attempt to secure decisions let us present every line of truth in the most at­tractive manner so the people will admire it when they first hear it. Then work in all the factors of desire in each subject as you present it so that your listeners will desire to obey each truth. And then help them to so desire to obey that they will acquire the truth, let the price be what it may. In other words, make desire the major factor in all your preaching, Bible studies, and per­sonal talks.

Majoring on Desire Needed

Have we been following this method? Adventist doctrinal preaching is generally deficient on the factors of desire. We major on conviction and minor on desire. Our evangelistic preaching generally places the major emphasis on obligation and duty for securing decision. There is a more ex­cellent way. Make desire the major factor and you will see better results.

In the final analysis people can be in­duced to do only what they want to do. So in leading others to become Adventists, we must work on the premise that they can be induced to do only what they desire. Along with the proofs for the truthfulness of the doctrines let us endeavor in all our preach­ing to create and stimulate the desire to fol­low the sermon proposal.

Remember, Christ's methods cannot be improved upon. Study His six statements to the woman at the well from the angle of the factors of desire and conviction. You will find that the factors of desire are more than double those of conviction. When prepared a list from His statements I found 27 desire motivations and 12 convictions.

Before or After?

We need to do more than we have done in building up this dominant desire for Jesus and heaven before a person is brought face to face with what he must give up in order to take his stand with the Advent Movement. We have lost many prospec­tive converts because we have urged the keeping of the Sabbath, the giving up of tobacco, jewelry, worldly amusements, be­fore a strong desire to obey Jesus has been developed in them.

Can an unconverted man really keep the Sabbath? No! "The carnal mind is . . . not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Rom. 8:7). Therefore are we working along the right line when we urge the unconverted person to do so?

Ezekiel 11:19, 20, shows that God con­verts people. He gives them a new heart so they can obey His laws. This means that we must direct our efforts for their con­version before we ever present the Sabbath truth. We will secure more decisions for keeping the Sabbath if we do.

The servant of the Lord says: "If, in con­nection with the theory of the truth, our ministers would dwell more upon prac­tical godliness, . . . we should see many more souls flocking to the standard of truth."—Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 375. (Ital­ics supplied.)

The Right Setting

A word of caution is needed here. Some have thought Christ-centered preaching outside the setting of the everlasting gospel is all that is needed. If this were the case, then the preaching of well-known evange­lists like Billy Graham is fully adequate for these days. But there is only one kind of preaching that meets the demands of the Word of God for this mighty hour, and that is Christ-centered preaching in the set­ting of the everlasting gospel of the three­fold message.

Never forget that God has given us a glorious wheel of truth on which we can go places for Him. The hub of this wheel is justication by faith and the cross. The spokes are all the doctrines, such as the Sec­ond Advent, the nearness of the end, the sanctuary, the judgment, the Ten Com­mandments, the Sabbath, Christ as the Cre­ator and re-Creator, our only Saviour, con­ditional immortality, tithing, healthful liv­ing, separation from the world, et cetera. These should be presented as proceeding from the hub—the cross and justification --and fastened on the other end in the rim, which is the threefold message, or the everlasting gospel. This is what binds them all into a complete, harmonious system of truth, to make ready a people for the Lord. Take this wheel of truth and under God go places for Him until He shall say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."