This morning we come to our final topic in this series, “How to Win Friends and Influence People for Jesus”. At times as a pastor, I've assumed the burden for reaching some soul. I relate to Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:28 when he says, “. . . besides many things, I am under daily pressure {burden} because of my anxiety for all the churches.” If you are a pastor… a parent… believer… you’ve felt that burden for maybe your child's salvation, or a loved one. God has to be the primary bearer of that burden, otherwise I think it crushes us.
Be encouraged to know that we're God's co-laborers. In 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 Paul asks, “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and each will receive wages according to their own labor. 9 For we are God’s coworkers, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.” The really great news is to remember that Jesus is the Chief Shepherd and overseer of our souls. The Holy Spirit is the Chief Evangelist and wooer of our souls. God the Father is the Chief Gardener and grower of our souls.
So far, we've explored the power of Divine Conviction, Contending Prayer, Conscientious Kindness, Incarnational Connection, and Humble Curiosity. In all these things we are imitators of Christ. He is the master. This morning we add to our list one final phrase—what we'll call—Pivotal Persuasion. There comes a point in our lives where we can resist God no longer and we declare “I repent! I confess! I believe! I see! I do!” I know that in this room some of you are right on that line. God's is bringing you to that point of decision. God is saying, “What are you waiting for—get up and be baptized! Die to self. Be born again. Become new creations in Christ.
Every so often we announce a Decision Day at Lakeside. Sometimes we have a dozen baptisms. We almost always have at least one! God is always calling someone forward to come out of the crowd. Is God calling your name? Consider 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, “As we work together with him, we entreat you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation!” Paul also speaks in that passage about removing “obstacles” to serve people. On Decision Day we take care of all the logistical and practical matters of being baptized so you can simply obey Christ's call. Maybe Decision Day will be the Day of your Salvation. Now is the acceptable time!
We know what a person persuaded by the gospel does. They obey Christ. Faith, Confession, Repentance, Baptism are some first steps. But how does a person get persuaded in the first place? There are two passages that transformed my thinking (confidence) as a young pastor. The first was Peter's pivotal confession in Matthew 16:15-18, “Jesus said to [The Twelve], “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Many points here. Who brought Peter to a pivotal understanding of the identity of Jesus? Jesus says, “my Father in heaven! And who is that promises to build the Church? And whose Church is it? Jesus is the chief architect, the chief cornerstone, the chief builder. And with what does Jesus build his church? With every believer, with every living stone, who’s made that rock-bed confession, “thou art the Christ!” Could someone write a worship song, “Build Jesus Build…” Mitch?
We do the confessing, or professing. God reveals. God does the pivotal persuasion. This brings me to that second passage. As the day of Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, and death near he says something rather remarkable to the crowds. John 12:32-33, “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Jesus declares that by his death, as he is lifted up on that cross, he will not only be driving out Satan but also drawing all people to himself. Here again, who is doing the pivotal persuading? Who is doing the “drawing and wooing?” In what manner does God build his Church? What is God's part, what is our part?
Our task is simply this—keep holding up Jesus. Keep raising up his name. Keep exalting Jesus. Keep pointing people to the cross. It's that simple, it's that powerful. I was taught every sermon, every worship service, much point to Jesus. Preaching must be Christ-centered. Worship must be Christ-centered. Every conversation—1 Peter 4:11--"Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” If we're faithful to lift up his name, God will be faithful to build, to draw, to woo.
Our problem in the modern church is instead of trusting the name of Jesus to draw people we trust our in own opulence, charisma, wisdom, cleverness of speech, ostentatious buildings, facilities, programming, strategizing.
Pivotal Persuasion 101. Maybe we’ve forgotten the basics? Romans 1:18-19 “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is God’s saving power for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith, as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”
In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul expresses his concern that empty the cross of Christ of its power. How can that happen? Listen in! 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of the proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews ask for signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.”
God doesn’t need our powered-up presentations and ministry machines. Pivotal Persuasion is a matter of faithfully, if not seemingly foolishly, even despite our weaknesses, holding up the name of Jesus to others. Tell me you are not encouraged by this. In 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Paul reminds the Corinthians how they came to faith. “When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the testimony of God to you with superior speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4 My speech and my proclamation were made not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.” We don't need put on a show to lead people to Jesus—we just need show them Jesus.
Remember Good ole' Moses? God tells Moses, “Go, I am sending you to Pharoah…” And Moses responses, “Who am I? Who should I say sent me? What should I say? What if people don't listen or obey? What if, what if…” I'm so glad people's destiny doesn't hinge on demonstration of flesh and blood power but a demonstration of God's Spirit and Power. Acts 4:12-13, the preaching of Peter and John on the Day of Pentecost. “12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.” If you feel like Moses. If you feel too uneducated or ordinary to matter—what matters most is if you've been with Jesus and have faith to hold him out to others.
What do you most need to Win Friends and Influence People for Jesus? Would you say you need a deep dose of Divine Conviction? Do you need to take a class in Christ's School of Prayer on the power of Contending Prayer? Do you need to become more imaginative, and cultivate a lifestyle of being a more conscientiously kind person? Do you need help getting stickier, more hospitable, more incarnationally connective? Do you need to learn how to take a posture of humble curiosity, that engenders true understanding and meaningful spiritual dialogue with people far from God? Do you need to master the art of pivotal persuasion?
The benediction in Hebrews 13:20-21 is a pretty powerful place to begin. The writer makes this amazing appeal to God… and maybe this ought to be our appeal this morning… “20 Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, as he works among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever. Amen.”
If it's truly your desire to win friends and influence people for Jesus, ask God (the Lord of the Harvest) to equip you and make you complete in everything needed to do this great work. Hear Jesus’ invitation and promise to the Disciples, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” I will build my church. I will draw all men to myself. I will make you fishers of men. I will equip you for every good work. Moses, I will be with you. I will give you the words. Jesus… Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I commanded… and remember, I am with you always to the end of the age.
Hear God saying this morning that evangelism is not about you, you, you. It's about God, God, God. God says, “I, I, I will…” So that success and glory rests not on man, but on God Himself.
What’s next? Decision Day. Are you ready trust Jesus. Is there someone you know ready to step out of the crowd and come forward to follow Jesus…
Prayer: make us fishers of men. Make us competent to win friends, influence…