"That I May By All Means Save Some"

by Toms, A. F. | Category: That I May By All Means Save Some | Mar 1960

(1 Corinthians 9.22)

(A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOUNGER FELLOW-SERVANTS)

Over the hills and valleys of Esau's land there rang the urgent cry, "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?" (Isaiah 21.11, 12). Back again came the answer from the hilltop, where the watchman waited the dawning of the day, "The morning cometh, and also the night." It is a cry which thrills the heart of every Christian. "The morning cometh," the glad morning, which shall never again fade away into night. But the watchman's message did not finish there. As he looked he saw the night coming too. It is a solemn thought that when, for the believer, "The morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair," for the perishing of men and women there will be ushered in the long, dark night, which shall never again see the light of the morning. Peter writes about it, and Jude also, as "the blackness of darkness ... for ever."

The Lord Jesus saw it coming, and to His disciples He said,

" We must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day : the night cometh, when no man can work" (John 9.4).

"We must work," He said, linking Himself with the men who had been called to share with Him in the work to which His Father had sent Him. And although nineteen centuries have passed, His words are as urgent today as on the day they fell from His lips. "We must work." What a privilege to be called to work for Him in bringing the light of the gospel to the darkened hearts of men!

There are many ways in which this work may be pursued, but perhaps one of the most effective is that which has been described as the "one by one" method. Those with a desire after the souls of men have used it effectively in all ages. Did it not begin with the Greatest-of-all Lover of souls, who trod the dusty road to Sychar that a sinful Samaritan woman might drink the water of life? (John 4). 'Twas He again who one night answered the call of the troubled ruler, and during those nocturnal hours pointed his weary soul to the way of life and peace (John 3). That He found time, not only for the multitude, but for individuals, cannot but impress us with the importance of this aspect of the work.

Examples abound in Scripture of men and women who were turned to the heaven-ward way by the simple but faithful witness of those who loved their God. "Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! then would he recover him of his leprosy," said Naaman's servant girl to her mistress (2 Kings 5.8). Doubtless it took some courage on her part, but what a stream of blessing and glory to God issued from her simple testimony! Andrew, although perhaps not given to spectacular things like his brother Peter, is a shining example of one whose life was made fruitful because of his aptitude in introducing enquiring ones to his Master. "He findeth first his own brother Simon ... He brought him unto Jesus" (John 1. 41, 42). He found, and he brought it. It does not sound difficult, does it? But thereby another life was reached and made anew.

It is with a desire to encourage one another in this aspect of soulwinning that the following notes are prayerfully passed on. That this method of winning others is becoming more and more important seems evident, for in these days of indifference, when many will not stop to heed the message preached in the streets, and far less accept an invitation indoors, the personal word, spoken quietly to the heart, seldom fails to provoke some response. And the delightful thing about personal work is that it knows no restrictions. All can engage in it, and at all times and in all places it is equally effective. The train or the bus, office or workshop, home or hospital, all provide opportunities of speaking of Christ, not to mention the close of a gospel meeting, which is a most valuable time for this type of work. "Button-holing" is undesirable, but a kindly "Glad to see you this evening ... " is often sufficient to draw forth a reply which will indicate whether or not further conversation would be appreciated.

If we are to win souls we shall not be content with speaking only when we are spoken to, although that is also very important, as Peter says in his first epistle (3.15). We must watch and pray for opportunities, for the more we tell, the more will be reached. The reaping will be in proportion to the sowing. It is said of John and Betty St am, who were martyred in China, that they began each day with the prayer,

"Lead me to some soul today,

O teach me, lord, just what to say;

Friends of mine are lost in sin,

And cannot find their way.

Few there are who seem to care,

And few there are who pray:

Melt my heart and fill my life,

Give me one soul today."

Theirs is an example worth copying. How much more interesting life would be, if as each new day dawned, we went out expecting opportunities to speak of the Saviour

Is it not true, young Christian, that oftentimes we arc slow to speak of the Master we follow? Slow to tell of Him who died to save us? But the heart cannot but speak of the one it loves. Could it be that love to Him is lacking? "What is thy beloved more than another beloved?" was the question asked by the daughters of Jerusalem, which drew forth from the lover so effective a description that their next word was, " Whither is thy beloved gone ... that we may seek him with thee?" (Song of Songs 6.1). Her words sprang from the love of her heart, and others are quick to recognize love. "That we may seek Him with thee." How we long to hear men saying that to us about our Lord Jesus! But how can this desire be instilled into their hearts ? What will be required on our part ?

Surely the first requirement is love. We shall need to love them with the love of Christ, which "suffereth long, and is kind." By nature we love ourselves, but the soul-winner must needs learn to love others more than he loves himself. " Others" was the one word on a telegram that a Christian leader sent to a Conference of workers, and "others" must be written on our hearts. Some whom we set out to reach will not be easy to love, for sin has carried them far down until they are most unlovely. We shall need to set our hearts upon the One of whom we delight to sing,

"Out of the ivory palaces, into a world of woe,

Only His deep, eternal love, made my Saviour go."

"Abide ye in My love" He said, and His is a love which removes all barriers and makes all things easy.

Love that never faileth

Love that all prevaileth

Saviour Christ, 0 hear me now

And give Thy love to me

Round me souls are dying,

Deep in darkness lying;

Thou didst love them unto death,

0 give Thy love to me!

Love that ever burneth

Love that ever yearneth

Saviour Christ, 0 hear me now

And give Thy love to me

And love begets compassion: Six times over the Gospel-writers speak of the Master having compassion. The blind, the lepers, the hungry multitude all drew forth His compassion. Are our hearts easily touched by the need of others? If so, we are on the way to reaching them for Christ.

Secondly, we shall need wisdom, for "he that is wise winneth souls" (Proverbs 11.30). Human wisdom will not avail here; it is the wisdom which is from above which we require. We have all felt the need of this when seeking to help a troubled soul. Each case is different. No two are alike. Where shall we begin? And what shall we say? Surely Solomon was right. Only the wise can win souls. But we need not fail because of this, for the promise is, "If any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1. 5). Wisdom to win souls-liberally, in full measure, all that we need. And simply for the asking! Christian, let us bend the knees today, and ask in faith for this wisdom.

With the matter of wisdom Solomon links a third requirement.

He says,

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life

And he that is wise winneth souls " (Proverbs 11. 30).

Holy living and the winning of souls are linked together. Our speaking must needs be backed by a righteous life, living daily in touch with God. We know this from experience. How difficult it is to speak of Christ when something in the life has broken our fellowship with God! When the heart is right the lips can speak. "The lips of the righteous feed many" (Proverbs 10.21). What a promise! Many there are today who are hungry for the words of life, but there are few to feed them. In the Master's day "the multitude pressed upon Him and heard the word of God"(Luke 5.1). Let us keep our lives right, and then our lips will be ready for Him to use. Day by day we shall rise to say, " Take my lips, and let them be

Fitted with messages from Thee,"

and the Lord will gladly take them, and use them to His glory in a way which will surprise us.

In the fourth place we must know our Bibles, and that well enough to turn without hesitation to the various portions of Scripture which the Holy Spirit will bring to our remembrance. The word of the aged apostle to his son, Timothy, bears forcibly on this point. "Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2.15). Who has not been intrigued watching a craftsman handling his tools? It all seems so easy until we pick up the tool and try to do it ourselves. Then we soon discover the difference between being trained and untrained ! Diligence will certainly be required if we are to handle God's word competently. Watch Philip at his work with the Ethiopian eunuch! Running up to his chariot he heard him reading aloud, and recognizing the part without any difficulty, he began from that scripture and preached unto him Jesus, with the delightful outcome we all know so well. In Samaria his message had

been the same, he "proclaimed unto them the Christ" (Acts 8.5). It was Christ they needed, and Christ he preached. The apostle Paul followed the same pattern, for, writing to the Corinthians, he says, "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2.2). Souls will be saved, not by clever arguments or well-polished words, but by some word of God, brought home to the heart by the Holy Spirit. Our part is to know the sacred writings, and store them in our hearts, so that as men and women of God we "may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3.17).

Then there is the vital need for prayer, for little is ever accomplished for God without this exercise on our part. No amount of toil or earnestness can take its place. God delights to give in answer to our asking. 2 Kings 4 tells of the death of the Shunammite's son, and how in response to her plea Elisha sent his servant in haste to lay his staff upon the face of the child. The servant returned with the message, "There was neither voice, nor hearing ... The child is not awaked." When Elisha came, "he went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD." And what the touch of the rod had been unable to effect, the power of prayer accomplished. There is a lesson here. Only by earnest believing prayer will souls that are dead through trespasses and sins receive new life-the life that is in Christ Jesus.

In the Philippian prison Paul and Silas were praying about midnight. Was it, perhaps, for the jailor? It was while Peter was praying upon the housetop that the men came with the message from Cornelius. There is no doubt that God's method is to give, in answer to prayer. It is a precious experience to have the heart burdened about a soul, and to pray for that one until God grants the request for Jesus' sake. The story is told of a dear Christian man in a large engineering works, who during the lunch hour used to preach to his mates at the gate of the works, and how sometimes he would sing the hymn which has the refrain,

"For you I am praying ... I am praying for you."

Only a praying man could do that. And praying men win souls.

Toms, A. F. | Mar 1960
That I May By All Means Save Some