Winning Our Friends

TEXT: Acts 16:1 TOPIC: Winning Our Friends

Bobby Earls, First Baptist Church, Icard, NC

October 19, 1997 “The hinges of human history turn on the insignificant personalities who have linked their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.” (John Sullivan) The passage before us deals with a little known personality in human history who had so linked her life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ that others around her were drawn to her savior. As we prepare for what promises to be our single greatest day of the year, Friend Day, I want us to focus on certain biblical principles which teach us how to win our friends to Christ.

1. THE PRINCIPLE OF ENDURING FAITH, “believed” in verse 1, “well-reported” in verse 2 (see also 2 Timothy 1:5 “unfeigned faith”) Eunice means “good victory.” When it came to the Christian faith, this woman had won the victory. We aren’t told how Eunice became a Christian, (2 Timothy 1:5), or perhaps she was a convert of Paul when he preached at Lystra. What is important for us is that Eunice was not ashamed of her faith in Christ and she boldly gave witness to all that she was a believer. APP. If we hope to help our friends to Christ we must consistently and boldly give witness to our faith in Christ. The Bible admonishes us to “so live that men may see your good works and glorify God.” Our lost friends and loved ones rarely read the bible or attend church, but they do witness the kind of life and example you set for them daily. 2. THE PRINCIPLE OF ABIDING LOVE, I CORINTHIANS 13:4-8 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. (NIV) Love is “agape” love. Agape love is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. The kind of love that gives without expecting anything in return. If we are to win our friends to Christ we will have to do it with agape love.

3. THE PRINCIPLE OF URGENT PRAYER

“Whatever you ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive.”

“You have not because you ask not.”

How to pray for lost friends and loved ones.

Never pray, “if it’s your will, please save my friend.” It is always the will of God that the lost should be saved! “It is not the will of God that any should perish...”

John 16:8

8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: (NIV)

1. Pray for conviction.

2. Pray for convincing “that their eyes be opened to the truth about Jesus”

3. Pray for conversion “that the Holy Spirit may do a life-changing work in their lives.

4. Pray for opportunity (Ephesians 6:19-20)

Ephesians 6:18-20

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (NIV)

What would happen if we Christians began to practice our faith consistently before others? What would happen if we began to love unconditionally the lost? What would happen if we started praying without ceasing for our lost friends? What would happen? I’ll tell you what would happen. Days like Friend Day next Sunday would be unnecessary because every Sunday we would have overflowing crowds where our friends and loved ones come to trust Christ because of our example.