"Building a Church Through Outreach"
Power From God
-Part 4-
Adapted from the book "Power from God" by Charles Finney
ELCOG 4/1/07
Text: Matt. 28:18-20
Today I continue in the series from Charles Finney’s book, "Power from God". This will be the last week of this series. I have not preached everything from this book. I would strongly encourage you to purchase this book and read it for yourself. It is a great book that will bring you to a deeper understanding of your need to win the lost.
Today, I want focus on How to win Souls.
1 Tim. 4:16
16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
There are several points that I want you to consider this morning in winning souls.
1. People are in rebellion against God. People are free moral agents, rational, accountable. They are in rebellion against God, wholly alienated and committed against Him. They are committed to self-gratification as their purpose for living. This committed state is moral depravity, the foundation of sin within them. Their hearts are wicked and in need of a radical change. God loves the unconverted sinner, but they are opposed to God and his will. They are selfish and unconcerned with God’s love for them. This commitment to self gratification in bible terms is the "carnal mind"
Rom. 8:7
7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
2. Enmity against God is overcome by the Word. The enmity (hostility) is voluntary and must be over come by the word of God. This overcoming is made effective by the teaching of the Holy Spirit. When the gospel is wisely presented, we can expect the help of the Holy Ghost. Remember that God has promised to be with us as we fulfill the great commission. It is the word of God that we teach the world. It is the word of God that we place our hope in. It can not be in any other source. It is still the plan that was set down in you bible. The only way to overcome sin is through the delivering power of the cross and the message of Christ written in the bible.
Psa. 119:11
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psa. 119:105
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
3. God works through and with Natural Laws. In winning souls, as in everything else, God works through and in accordance with natural laws. When presenting the Gospel; we can not present some false mental philosophy that is not supported by the bible. Don’t promise roses without thorns; just promise them a gardener that will help them remove the thorns.
4. The knowledge of Sin comes from the law. Sinners must be convicted of their enmity. They do not know God; consequently, they are often ignorant of the opposition of their hearts to Him. The law (the word of God) the sinner acquires his first true idea of God. The sinners learn by the word that God is love and that they are opposed to Him. All men know that they have sinned, but not all are convicted of the guilt and deserved punishment of sin. Many are careless and do not feel the burden of sin or the horrors and terrors of remorse. They do not have a sense of conviction of the fact of being lost. Without this they can not appreciate the gospel method of salvation.
It is absurd to think that a careless sinner, without the conviction of sin, can make a good decision and with a thankful heart accept the offer of forgiveness for our sins. Conversion to Christ is a change in the mind; therefore, the conviction of the deserved punishment must precede the acceptance of mercy. Without conviction the soul does not understand its need for mercy.
In some men the conviction is already ripe, and the preacher may just present the gospel and that person will receive Christ. However, most of the time, the mass of sinners are careless, not convicted. Therefore, to assume that they are convicted and ready to receive Christ is foolish. They will not understand the teaching and our results will be discouraging. The sinner must be convicted by the Holy Ghost that they are in need of a savior. The word, the law, does its work; it annihilates the sinner’s self-righteousness and shows him that mercy is his only hope. The sinner must have an understanding that sin will keep them out of God’s presence and in God’s eternal punishment. This happens when we present them with the word of God that is laced with the conviction from the Holy Spirit.
5. Present the Atonement as a Revealed Fact. Point out that Christ was his own sin offering. God accepted the death of Christ as a substitute for the sinner’s death. We must show the world that Jesus loved them enough to die in their place. They must begin to understand they can not forgive themselves. They must begin to know that Christ it the only way to get to the father. Without his blood, no man can be saved.
6. Give People a Personal Interest in the Gospel. People need to know that we are talking to them. Many times preachers preach and sinners think that he is talking to someone else. Often we use examples as we witness and the people never realize that they are the people we are trying to reach. We must present a personal Jesus. We must present Christ is a way that the sinners are aware that we are talking about them.
7. Use Common Sense and Spiritual Wisdom. There is a right time, a right place, and right manner. We must treat people with love and respect. We must treat them with a dignity. As we represent the gospel we must use spiritual wisdom and discernment. In other words, be sensitive to the spirit. Let God lead you.
8. Instruct according to Intelligence. We must give the gospel on the appropriate level. A few wise words to child can bring conviction and a conversion.
9. Explain spiritual terms. Some people will not understand what it means to be carnally minded. We must explain things that we assume everyone knows. Assume nothing when presenting the gospel. Be simple and teach what the terms mean.
10. Stress mental efforts and Acts of will. People need to know that to stay saved takes effort. One has to work at it. You have to be willing to read the bible and pray to grow in your relationship with Christ. You have to stay away from the places and things that tempt you to sin.
11. Present a personal savior. We must show people that Jesus is personal. He is there for us in all situations. He is here for us to talk to. He is here to guide us and to protect us. He is more than a God that sits in heaven; he is a God that dwells in our hearts. He is a personal friend.
12. Be Thorough. The devil is the master of deceit. Cover all your bases so that there are no "loop-holes" we want to make sure that we present a full gospel. That doesn’t mean that give them a life time of teaching in a day, but we give them enough information to build a life time relationship with Christ.