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THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
March 1925
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MARCH 8, 1925 The M aster’s Method of W inning Followers John 1:35-51 The great principle for the growth of Christianity is found in this chap te r (sometimes called the “E u reka Chapter” ),— the finding of one disciple by another. This method of work is commonly called “Personal W ork,” or “ Individual Evangelism .” This was our Lord’s method, perhaps His pre ferred method,— one a t a time. We do no t know how all “ the twelve” were won to Christ, but the record shows th a t at. least seven were brought to Him through personal effort. If we are followers of Christ, if we belong to Him, we will w ant to have the same purpose in life th a t He had (Luke 19:10; John 17:18; Rom. 8 :9 ). We notice th a t our Lord went where the individuals were whom He desired to bring to H imself (Luke 19:5, 10; John 4 :4 ). The reason He must go through Samaria was to win this wom an. Let us go to people w ith the Gos pel. He always directed the attention and thoughts, of men to Himself, His Messiahship and His Deity (John 4: 10; Matt. 11:28— “Come unto Me” ) ( “ Follow Me” ). So we, in our dealing w ith men, should follow His example and never place anything,—works, ceremonies, prayer, church membership, etc.— be tween th e sinner and the Saviour. His call is not to reform ation or to the per formance of ceremonies and rituals, or to church membership, but to personal, whole-hearted su rrend er to Himself, and to obedience to His Word and His will (Matt. 4:19, 21, 22; 9 :9 ; 10:36- 39; 11:28-30; 19-21). So m ust we follow His example (2 Cor. 5:19, 20). His appeal was direct and involved choice or decision on th e p art of the listener (Matt. 12 :30 ). So in our per sonal work we should seek to lead men to the place of definite decision for Christ. He often appealed to the heart- hunger of men (John 5 :6 ; 7:37; Matt. 1 1 :28 ). So may we successfully fol low this method. He was always quick to diagnose each case. Carefully note how He dealt w ith the m oral sinner in John 3, w ith the imm oral sinner in John 4, and w ith the slave to avarice in Luke 18: 18-30. He never spared sin or com promised w ith wrong in any form when dealing w ith men, yet His h ea rt was overflowing w ith love and compassion for them (Mark 10:21; John 5:5, 14; 8 : 1 1 ). His method of work produces re sults. It succeeds where other m eth ods fail. It may be carried on any time, anywhere, by any tru e believer (Matt. 4 :19 ; 28:20; Jas. 5:20; Prov. 11:30; Dan. 1 2 :3 ).
MARCH 15, 1925 P reparation for W inning O thers to Christ Matt. 4:18-20; Acts 1:14; 2:1-4. Any child Of God, regardless of age, education or talen t, may successfully win others to Christ, and every child of God, regardless of age, education or talen t, is commanded to engage in this most glorious and joyful of all work (Matt. 20:28; John 17:18; Luke 19: 10; 2 Cor. 5:19, 20; Acts 1 :8 ; John 15: 16; Jas. 4 :1 7 ). Certain preparation is necessary for th e work of w inning others to Christ. You must have a personal experience of salvation. You, yourself, m ust be a saved person, w ith a definite assu r ance of your salvation, based on the Word of God (1 John 5 :13 ; 2 Tim. 1:12; John 5 :24 ; John 1 :1 2 ). You m ust live a clean, consistent life, separated from every known sin and from fellowship w ith the world (1 John 1:6, 7, 9; 2 Cor. 6:17, 18; Rom. 14:16, 21-23; 1 Cor. 8:9-13; 10:31- 33). Your life must be a prayerful one. Every successful w inner of souls has been a person of prayer, and the con verse is also tru e. Souls are only born again through the travail of our own souls in prayer (John 14:13, 14; 15: 16; 16:23, 24; 1 John 5:14, 15). You must have a practical working knowledge of the Bible,-Hmust know a few of the best verses w ith which to meet the excuses of sinners, to refu te th e ir argum ents and to produce con viction of sin. Study the Bible to gain a knowledge of men. It is the best practical book on psychology known (Heb. 4:12, 13); You must have a special infilling of the Holy Spirit to be well equipped for service (Acts 1 :8 ; 4:31; Eph. 5 :1 8 ). S urrender to Him is essential (Matt. 4 :1 9 ). To catch men is the g reatest business in the world. Learn of Him, study Him, obey Him, follow Him, and He will make you a successful w inner of souls. This promise is to the feeblest, most igno ran t, poorest equipped and untrained child of God. MARCH 22, 1925 W hat Can We Do to W in O thers to Christ? 1 P eter 3:8-16; 1 Thess. 1:8 Make the w inning of men your busi ness in life. (It is your business.) Study it, pray about it, concentrate on it, be absorbed w ith it. Apply many of th e principles of salesmanship to it. Definitely claim the following.promises of God (Matt. 4 :19 ; Phil. 4:13; 2 Cor. 9 :8 ; 1 2 :9 ). His Word never fails. Lay siege to the souls of men—by prayer. In a small notebook w rite down the names of those you w ant to win for Christ and follow them by prayer day and
night, day afte r day; if need be, year afte r year. The prayer list makes your praying definite. By personal work. In a real, defi nite way try to lead men one by one to Christ, using the Word of God pri marily, for it is the in strum en t used by the Holy Spirit to produce convic tion of sin. God has definitely prom ised to bless His own Word (Isa. 55: 11 ) . By your personal testimony. The story of one’s own conversion is often used to touch the h earts of men. By th e p rin ted page. Well-chosen Gospel' tracts and books have been wonderfully used in w inning men to Christ. The w riter of one tract, before his death, had letters from 1700 peo ple, saying they had been brought to Christ through his tract. Hand them out directly, leave them where people may pick them up and read them , en close them in letters, etc. Of especial value is the Gospel of John. This fou rth Gospel was w ritten for the pur pose of bringing men to Christ (See John 2 0 :31 ). Separate copies of this Gospel may be obtained for a few cents each. By personal le tte r. There are many we cannot reach by. conversation, but whom we can reach by letter. Often a le tte r is more effective th an a personal conversation, and often more effective th an a trac t or a book. By persistence. Do not become dis couraged. You will make m istakes. You may be rebuffed. You may be considered crazy, bu t keep going. One soul is of more value th an the whole world, and is worth all the effort ex pended. By living th e life of Christ before men. A clean, consistent, daily walk always has a m ighty influence upon people,:—a life of victory, of joy, of peace, of courage. The daily manifes tation of the fru it of th e Spirit (Gal. 5 :22) is very effective in w inning men to Christ. MARCH 29, 1925 F riendliness as Expressed through Evangelistic Missions Matt. 9:35-38; Acts 8:35-37 Evangelistic work is the one g reat and im portant work of th e Gospel m is sionary,^—the seeking of sinners and telling them of the Savior who loved them and gave Himself 'on the Cross in th e ir stead and for th e ir sake. Any other m issionary activity must be only a means to this end. Evangelistic work is the n atu ra l resu lt of the life of God, for He dwells w ithin those who have been born again, and His life is evangelistic. The best friendliness known is friendliness for the souls of men. The highest expression of friendliness is (Continued on page 133)
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