Questions and Answers
Shepherd His Sheep
How can we lead people to Christ?
Dr. Timothy Lin
How can we lead people to Christ?
A. Pray that Holy Spirit will move people's hearts.
John 16:8 And He (Holy Spirit), when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.
In this world, no one is able to make another believe in the Lord! For a person to believe in the Lord, it is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit restores the function of a person’s spiritual understanding, or in other words, has opened his spiritual eyes, he will see the practicality of salvation. He will also very naturally receive the Lord. God will accomplish in his heart the promises in accordance with the New Testament. He will make him obey God very naturally. He will understand his high and precious position in God’s sight. He will recognize the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. He will also enjoy the peace and joy from the forgiveness of sins. All these are accomplished in a flash - instantly! In other words, the salvation of a person is entirely God’s work. It is our duty to tell others what God has done in our lives. The Holy Spirit will ask that person to believe that God will also accomplish the same in his life. God will complete it according to his faith! This is salvation. This is the gospel. This is what God does personally in people.
B. Accept Jesus as our personal Savior.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.
You have to be forthright in asking people to receive Christ and not drag the seekers in running round and round. Just treating a person in love and not guiding him to invite Jesus into his heart is only mixing him up! You should be direct and lead him to the Lord. Once, the Lord enters into his heart, everything else will take care of itself! In Hebrews 8:10-12, there are several ‘I will’ statements. Say Amen to them all.
You can ask him if you can tell him some small experience that you had. After you have his permission, thank God that He has opened the way. Then tell him about what you were like before you believed in the Lord. How you received Jesus into your heart. How Jesus changed you. Perhaps you can also give him some examples about how the Lord was gracious in treating you. At the end, don’t forget to ask him by saying, “Are you willing to accept Jesus like how I have accepted Him?” Perhaps he may reply, “Give me some time. Let me think it over.” or such polite turndowns. We should not force him but ought to say, “It is okay, take your time.” Following your answer, ask him or her a favor. Normally, people will answer, “Sure, but I don’t know if I am able to?” You should then say, “You can for sure.” Normally, he would say, “Please tell me.” Then you say, “Can you pray these words daily: God, I want to believe in you but I don’t know how. Please show me?” If he is really willing to pray like this, he will definitely meet Jesus. Some people may take three or four days. Others may take ten days or a month. Also, there was one that met Jesus on the same day.
After a person says that he is willing, the next step is to bring him to the Lord Jesus. You are to lead him in prayer. You pray a sentence and ask him to pray the same. First you lead him to confess his sins. Certainly you don’t know what sins he committed. So, you can confess some common ones such as lying, jealousy, and hatred et cetera. But the best, if possible, is to let his confess himself and ask Jesus into his heart. At the same time, you pray for him. This is more effective. Then after the prayer has ended, you should ask him, “Can you tell me where Jesus is now?” Most people will point to their heart and say, “Here!”
C. Present every man complete in Christ
Colossians 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
2 Peter 1:11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
The Scriptures tell us that to believe in the Lord Jesus is only the beginning. It is comparable to getting registered at school. Following that, we have to study hard. There is a lot of homework to do. There are many credits to earn. Then we will reach the graduation day. In the same way, after we believed in Jesus, we become the students of Jesus. There are many lessons ahead to be learned. There are paths and ways to run! Unfortunately, most Christians do not know about them! They “have come to need of milk and not solid food.” (Heb. 5:12)
The purpose Jesus has in saving us and the purpose God has in creating us are identical: they both want us to be overcomers and inherit the Kingdom God prepared for us. So, we may enter the Kingdom and reign with the Lord and to reign with Christ! May all those who have believed in Jesus know that there is a small gate to enter and a narrow way in front for them to enter. Then we can accomplish God's will for us set before the foundation of the world!
(Please visit this website: Kingdom Truth – A Recruitment call for overcomers)
