Winning Someone - Discussion
Q1 What are the two main reasons that explain the poor levels of personal work in this country?
A lack of ‘concern’ for others.
A lack of confidence and training in how to do win others.
Q2 What are the important aspects in a Christians training that will help him be effective?
Can you give a clear testimony as to how and why you became a Christian in two minutes?
Can you explain the ‘Potted Gospel’ in one minute?
Can you demonstrate how Christ can forgive a person through His death on the cross.
An Old Testament example of ‘Winning someone’.
Read Genesis chapter 24. The word ‘win someone’ is usually used for winning someone’s affection. This beautiful story tells how Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, won a bride for Isaac. It can also illustrate how to be a personal worker for Christ.
What were his qualifications?
1) He had an intimate knowledge of his Master. He had been born in Abraham’s house and had lived with him for many years. Similarly a person intent on doing something for Jesus needs to know him well. He or she must be ‘born again’ and know and be committed to doing what Jesus wants.
2) His whole life was yielded unselfishly to his master. Genesis 15 v. 2-4 shows that Eliezer was originally Abraham’s heir. When Isaac was born, he took the glory, honour and wealth as his inheritance. What was Eliezer’s reaction. Was he jealous? No, he was already totally given to his master. Abraham knew this and therefore trusted him.
What was his Mission?
1) See verse 4, “Go, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” What is the church’s mission? See Matthew 28 v. 19-20.
2) Was Eliezer told to go and look anywhere, find any woman and pop the question? No, he was given specific instructions. Are we called to go up to everyone we see and start preaching or should we only go to those we are directed to?
How does God direct us? Usually it is by giving us a desire to speak to a specific person. As in this story, it is usually one of our own family or friends. Can you give any examples as to how God has led you to speak to someone for Him?
We often think ‘Oh dear, I know I should do this but I am just no good at this sort of thing.’ What do you think Eliezer thought when he was asked to pick up a wife for Isaac? Look at v. 7. Do you think the meaning of the word ‘Eliezer’ is significant?
Yes, this is all very well, but suppose everything falls flat and the person I approach says that they are not interested? Verse 8 shows Eliezer had this same fear, how was he reassured? The famous French Surgeon Ambrose Pare taught, ‘I dress the wound, God cures it!’
His Attitude
1) Doubtless Eliezer would be concerned about approaching a strange girl in this way. He did know the great advantage there was in being the wife of Isaac, but the girl didn’t! Is this not the same for us?
2) If only we could take Jesus with us to show others what we are talking about. This was also Eliezer’s suggestion in verse 6. Look Abraham, let me take Isaac with me. No, Isaacs place is with me, at my side. You offer him in a verbal message – tell everything about him. Say that you will see everything later, but they must act on faith.
Do you feel at times that the message of the Bible seems painfully inadequate to draw a peson away from living their own life to living with Jesus. Remember that ‘God’s Word has power’ and that ‘God is help’ (i.e. Eliezer).
3) Note that as Eliezer goes off he was assured of an Angel’s help, but he acted as if it depended on him. He knew that God had chosen Isaac’s bride but he still prayed to be sent to the one of His choice. He acted and expected God to lead.
If we want to be personal workers we must acknowledge our commission and step out to seek to win someone for God. God will then direct. Remember what Paul said, ‘I, being in the way, the Lord led me.’ It is like a car that cannot be steered until it is moving.
Notice how dedicated Eliezer was.
Note how often he talks to his master (v. 12, 27, 34)
Look at v. 33. He wouldn’t eat until he had finished his job.
Wilfred Pickles had a program on the radio called ‘Have a Go’. (He died in 1978) He went around the country interviewing elderly people and would often ask them for ‘one wish’. The replies were often trite, such as ‘I would love Letchworth to win the F.A. Cup’. One old man replied, ‘I would love to see one more sinner come to God before I die’. That man had the right attitude!
Technique
He was a man of Prayer. Note how often he prayed,
v. 12 Before the proposal
v. 26 During the talk
v. 52 Afterwards
2. Notice how he delivered his message
He presented the simple, clear truth, ‘Isaac wants a wife and God has pointed you out.’ He then extols the virtues of Isaac.
In the same way we must explain who Jesus is and that he wants us, extolling all that he has done and will do for us.
So many people stop at that point, with a religious discussion. Eliezer doesn’t.
v. 48,49 He presses Bethuel and Laban to make a response one way or another.
v. 58 Later he gently resists any delay in completing his task.
This is so important, learning to ‘Pop the Question’.
To get to a discussion on personal faith ask ‘Are you certain you are a real Christian or aren’t you sure about these things yet?’ or ‘Do you have a faith that helps you at a time like this or aren’t you sure about these things.’ Note that it is important not to corner the person you are talking to by too direct a question, but always give them a way out that can lead on to further discussion.
No undue pressure is used.
Eliezer is a man of love. He obviously longed for a positive answer but he was gentle, waiting for God’s time. However he did not loose the opportunity of pressing his business.
A young minister went up to the great preacher C. H. Spurgeon and said, ‘I have been preaching now for some months and I do not think I have had a single conversion.’
‘Do you expect that the Lord is going to bless you and save souls every time that you open your mouth?’ said Spurgeon.
‘No Sir’, replied the young man.
‘Well then, that is why you do not get souls saved. If you had believed, the Lord would have given you the blessing.
2. Eleizer expected sudden success
v. 55 ‘Wait 10 days’ came the reply ‘Don’t delay me’.
Sometimes there are genuine questions that need to be sorted out but if someone is ready don’t let them postpone finding Jesus for themselves, encourage an open commitment as Philip did when speaking to the Ethiopian eunuch.
3, Eliezer continued to look after her after Rebecca made a positive response. He didn’t ‘Leave it to the Spirit to guide’. There can be little doubt that he explained what young Isaac was like, how to please him, how many sugars he liked etc.
In the same way we must help new Christians until they are really grounded. Follow up is essential.
Final Picture
Eliezer (God is help) is thrilled. He is now back with Isaac. Imagine what he felt like. He had done his master’s will (with God’s help). Similarly it is thrilling to help someone to find Jesus Christ.
We also have
A commission
We are promised God’s help
Now let’s go!
Prof. Henry Drummond said, ‘The crime of evangelism is laziness, and the failure of the average mission church to reach intelligent working men arises from the indolent reiteration of threadbare formulae by teachers, often competent enough, who have not first learned to respect their hearers’.
Sir William Grenville met the American evangelist D.L.Moody and explained how he had been converted at one of Moody’s Missions whilst he was a medical student at the London Hospital. Moody replied, ‘Oh yes, and what have you done since then.’
