FISHERS OF MEN

Nehemiah 4:6 KJV 1900

So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

PURPOSE IN SOUL-WINNING

The enemy had broken down the wall, and Nehemiah had undertaken to rebuild it. He called upon his own people, the Jews, to help him in this mighty task, and the people "all had a mind to work".

So if we are to win souls for Christ we must have a strong purpose, a determination that cannot be set aside.

This illustration may be helpful

A certain sea captain was making his first, and record trip with a newly launched steamer.

He had been crossing the Atlantic with splendid speed and everything bid fair for a splendid finish.

Then as he sped along he heard the cannon sounding its call for help from some sinking ship. The captain gave no heed, but kept his own ship in high speed, straight on its course.

But he was destined to pass very near the sinking ship which lay near his course, farther ahead. As he passed within sight of the steamer he could hear the cries of "Help!" but he kept on his way.

He entered New York harbor in splendid time, making a wonderful record for his ship. The steamer officials warmly congratulated his success—but alas, as he left them, their praise seemed to chafe him, for he could not rid himself of the vision of the sinking ship.

Their cries of Help! Help! grew louder and louder in his ears. Finally his reason reeled and he became a mad-man crying ever and anon, "Can't you see the sinking ship, hear their cries, oh, stop the engines, and save those drowning folk." Is it not true that many of us are so deeply engrossed in earthly pursuits, that we have no ear for the cries of dying men and women?

We need to fall on our faces and consecrate ourselves to God for the work of soul-winning.

Who has a mind for the work?

PLAN IN SOUL WINNING

John 4:5–7 KJV 1900

Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

The best plan in soul-winning is personal work,—that is, the "one by one" method of reaching the lost.

Christ gave notice to the disciples, "I must needs go through Samaria".

There lies back of this "must needs", the vision of a lost woman, a sinner, who surely possessed a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

What she needed was the personal touch of Christ. And so the scene is given.

There is Christ sitting, wearied, at the well curb, talking salvation to the woman from Sychar.

It is the hand-picked fruit that is the marketable fruit. We need to press the importance of personal work.

Today the unsaved seem to be staying away from the churches, more than ever before.

If we are to win them, it must be by going to them, where they are, and by going to them one by one. Even if the unsaved attend the church they often need the personal word to seal the preacher's testimony.

There may be some difficulty in the way, or there may be needed just the helpful aid of some interested friend to complete the work which has begun within their life.

The eunuch had been to Jerusalem for to worship, and was returning without the longed-for peace of soul.

The Holy Spirit saw his plight and quickly summoned Philip to speed along the desert road toward Gaza.

Thus Philip overtook the eunuch, and found him reading in the Prophet of Isaiah, concerning the Cross of Christ.

To Philip's query of "Understandest thou what thou readest"? the eunuch replied: "How can I, except some man should guide me"?

This is ever true.

The great need of the lost man is the helping hand of some one who knows the way of life and who can explain the message of the Cross.

May God help us to be equipped and ready for personal work.

The Place to Practice Soul-Winning

Luke 8:39 KJV 1900

Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

1. The first place to do soul-winning work is in one's own home. Surely we should "learn to show piety first at home," and we should seek first of all to win those next to us unto God. How many young men and women are hindered in their longing after God, because they of their own household seem so utterly indifferent to their lost estate. The fact is, that too often the ones at home, who are saved, would feel utterly at a loss if their unsaved loved ones asked them to point them out the way of salvation. If we cannot talk Christ to the ones at home, who know us best and love us most, the reason is because our life "behind the doors," our home life, is inconsistent with our Christian profession. If one can talk to some other person's brother or sister better than he can talk to his own, the reason doubtless lies in the fact that his own brother or sister knows him too well.

2. The second place to do personal work is in the church and the Sunday School.

There are always those who are truly interested, and who need just a word to encourage them on their way.

A believer awake to his opportunities can quickly find some one to point to Christ.

Soul-winning churches must always be those where Christ is faithfully preached from the pulpit, and where Spirit-led personal workers are active in the pew.

3. Another place for personal work is on the street.

This may be done in many ways. The giving of a tract, or the turning of a conversation, may prove very fruitful in leading to the all-important question of salvation.