How to Deal With Those Who Have Difficulties

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new

spirit will I put within you: and I will take away

the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give

you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit

within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes,

and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."

"What does God here promise to give?" "A new

heart." "Are you willing that He should give you

a new heart in place of that hard and wicked heart

that you have?"

Another passage which is helpful in much the same

way is 2_Corinthians 5:17:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new

creature: old things are passed away; behold, all

things are become new."

"Yes," you can say to the one in trouble, "your

heart is too hard and wicked. What you need is to

be made all over new; there is a way to be made

all over, to get a new heart and to be a new man.

Let me show you what that way is." Then let him

read the passage. When he has read it, ask him,

"What does the one who accepts Christ become?" "A

new creature." "What becomes of the old things?"

"They are passed away." "Do you want to be a new

creature, and have old things pass away?" "Yes."

"What then is all that you have to do?" "Accept

Christ." "Will you do it?"

III. "I MUST BECOME BETTER BEFORE I BECOME A

CHRISTIAN."

This is a very real difficulty with many people.

They sincerely believe that they cannot come to

Christ just as they are in their sins, that they

must do something to make themselves better before

they can come to Him. You can show them that they

are utterly mistaken in this by having them read

Matthew 9:12-13:

"But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them,

They that be whole need not a physician, but they

that are sick. But go ye and learn what that

meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice: for

I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners

to repentance."

When they have read it, if they do not see the

point for themselves, you can ask, "To what does

Jesus compare Himself in this verse?" "To a

physician." "Who is it needs a physician, well

people {61} or sick people?" "Sick people."

"Ought a person who is sick to wait until he gets

well before he gets the doctor?" "No, of course

not." "Ought a person who is spiritually sick to

wait until he is better before he comes to Jesus?"

"No." "Who is it Jesus invites to come to

Himself, good people or bad people?" "Bad

people." "Is then the fact that you are not good

a reason for waiting or a reason for coming to

Jesus at once?"

Luke 15:18-24 also fits the case exactly. Show the

inquirer that we have in this story a picture of

God's relation to the sinner, that God wishes us

to understand that He would have the sinner come

in all his rags, and that He will give him a

hearty welcome, a robe, a ring and a feast if he

comes just as he is.

Luke 18:10-14 also applies. You can say, "Here are

two men who came to God. One came on the ground

that he was a sinner, the other came on the ground

that he was righteous. Which of the two did God

accept?" "The one who came on the ground that he

was a sinner." "Well, God would have you come just

the same way."

IV. "I CANNOT HOLD OUT," OR "I AM AFRAID I SHALL

FAIL IF I TRY").

1. GENERAL TREATMENT. First see if the inquirer is

in dead earnest, and if there is not some other

difficulty lying back of this. Many a man gives

this as a difficulty, when perhaps it is not the

real one.

There is perhaps no better verse in the Bible for

this difficulty than Jude 24:

"Now unto him that is ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM

FALLING, and to present you faultless before the

presence of his glory with exceeding joy."

Its application is so plain as to need no comment.

Another useful passage is 1_Peter 1:5:

"Who are KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD through faith

unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last

time."

When the inquirer has read it, ask him by whose

power it is that we are kept. Then you can say,

"It is not then a question of our strength at all,

but of God's strength. Do you think that God is

able to keep you?" {62}

Other passages which are helpful along the same

line are:

"For the which cause I also suffer these things:

nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I

have believed, and am persuaded that HE IS ABLE TO

KEEP that which I have committed unto him against

that day." 2_Timothy 1:12.

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not

dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen

thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold

thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Isaiah 41:10.

"For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand,

saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

Isaiah 41:13.

A passage which will help by showing the absolute

security of Christ's sheep, is John 10:28-29:

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall

never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out

of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is

greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father's hand."

In many cases a good passage to use is Hebrews

7:25:

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the

uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he

ever liveth to make intercession for them."

2. SPECIAL CASES.

(1) THOSE AFRAID OF SOME TEMPTATION THAT WILL

PROVE TOO STRONG.

The best passage to use in such a case is

1_Corinthians 10;13:

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is

common to man; but God is faithful, who will not

suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;

but will with the temptation also make a way to

escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

(2) THOSE WHO DWELL UPON THEIR OWN WEAKNESS.

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for

thee; for MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my

infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon

me." 2_Corinthians 12:9-10.

"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that

have no might he increaseth strength. Even the

youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men

shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the

Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount

up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not

be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Isaiah 40:29-31.

One evening a lady called me to a man whom she was

trying to lead to Christ and asked me if I could

help him. I said to him, "What is your

difficulty?" He replied, "I have no strength."

"Ah," I said, "I have a message that exactly fits

your case," and read Isaiah {63} 40:29, "He

giveth power to the faint, and to them that have

no might he increaseth strength." "You say you

have no strength, that is, no might; now this

verse tells us that to those who have no might,

that is to people just like you, God increaseth

strength." The Holy Spirit took the word of

comfort home to his heart at once, and he put his

trust in Jesus Christ then and there.

V. "I CANNOT GIVE UP MY EVIL WAYS."

1. YOU MUST OR PERISH. In order to prove this

statement, use:

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of

God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our

Lord." Romans 6:23.

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for

whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh

reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

Galatians 6:7-8.

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the

abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and

sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall

have their part in the lake which burneth with

fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

Revelation 21:8.

Drive this thought home. Show the inquirer no

quarter, but keep ringing the changes on the

thought, "You must give up your evil ways or

perish." Emphasize it by Scripture. When the

inquirer sees and realizes this, then you can pass

on to the next thought.

2. YOU CAN IN THE STRENGTH OF JESUS CHRIST. To

prove this, have the inquirer read Philippians

4:13 and John 8:36:

"I can do all things through Christ which

strengtheneth me."

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye

shall be free indeed."

3. SHOW THE RISEN CHRIST WITH ALL POWER IN HEAVEN

AND ON EARTH. It is in the power of the risen

Christ, and through union with Him, that we are

enabled to give up our evil ways, so the one who

has this difficulty should have the fact that

Christ is risen made clear to him. The following

passages will serve well for this purpose.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel

which I preached unto you, which also ye have

received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye

are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached

unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I

delivered unto you first of all that which I {64}

also received, how that Christ died for our sins

according to the Scriptures; and that he was

buried, and that he rose again the third day

according to the Scriptures." 1_Corinthians

15:1-4.

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All

power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

Matthew 28:18.

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the

uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he

ever liveth to make intercession for them."

Hebrews 7:25.

4. SHOW HOW TO GET VICTORY OVER SIN. There is

perhaps nothing in the Bible that makes the way of

victory over sin more plain and simple than Romans

6:12-14:

"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body,

that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of

unrighteousness unto sin: but YIELD YOURSELVES

UNTO GOD, as those that are alive from the dead,

and your members as instruments of righteousness

unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over

you: for ye are not under the law, but under

grace."

You can say to the inquirer, "In this verse we are

told how to get victory over sin: we are told what

not to do, and what to do. What is it we are told

not to do?" "Not to let sin reign in our mortal

body; not to yield our members as instruments of

unrighteousness unto sin." "What are we told to

do?" "To yield ourselves unto God as those that

are alive from the dead; and to yield our members

as instruments of righteousness unto God." "Now do

you believe that through union with the risen

Christ your Savior, you are alive from the dead?

Will you yield or present yourself unto God as one

alive from the dead? Will you now and here present

your members as instruments of righteousness unto

God?" After the inquirer has been led to do this,

show him that whatever we yield to God, God

accepts, and that he can now TRUST God for victory

over sin, and have deliverance from his evil ways.

VI. "I HAVE TRIED BEFORE AND FAILED."

Those who have tried to be Christians and have

failed in the attempt, very naturally hesitate

about trying again, and such a case needs to be

dealt with, with great care, wisdom and

thoroughness.

1. The first thing to do is to say to such a one,

"I CAN SHOW YOU HOW TO TRY AND NOT FAIL." Then

point him to 2_Corinthians 9:8:

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward

you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all

things, may abound to every good work." {65} When

the person has read the verse, to be sure that he

gets its meaning you can say, "This verse tells us

that God is able to make all grace abound toward

us, that we, 'always having all sufficiency in all

things, may abound to every good work.' It is

clear then, that there is a way to try and not

fail."

2. FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. In finding out

the cause of failure, there are seven points to be

looked into:

(1) DID YOU PUT ALL YOUR TRUST FOR PARDON IN THE

FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST?

This is a very frequent cause of failure in the

attempt to be a Christian, the person has never

been led to see clearly the ground of his

salvation, and to trust wholly in the finished

work of Christ for pardon. Isaiah 53:6 is a useful

passage at this point:

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have

turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath

laid on him the iniquity of us all."

(2) DID YOU SURRENDER ABSOLUTELY TO GOD?

Many are led to make a profession of faith in

Christ without having been led to absolute

surrender and the Christian life thus begun, is

very likely to prove a failure. The passage to use

at this point is Acts 5:32:

"And we are his witnesses of these things; and so

is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to

them that obey him."

(3) DID YOU CONFESS CHRIST OPENLY BEFORE MEN?

This is one of the most frequent causes of

failure. I have talked with very many who have

said that they have tried to be Christians and

failed, and a very large proportion of them I have

found failed at this very point, the lack of a

constant, open confession of Christ. Good passages

to use at this point are Matthew 10;32-33 and

Romans 10;10:

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,

him will I confess also before my Father which is

in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men,

him will I also deny before my Father which is in

heaven."

"For with the heart man believeth unto

righteousness; and with the mouth confession is

made unto salvation." {66}

(4) DID YOU STUDY THE WORD OF GOD DAILY?

Here is another frequent cause of failure, neglect

of the Bible. Very few of those who have really

begun the Christian life, and who have made a

practice of daily study of the Word, fail in their

attempt to be Christians. Good passages to use at

this point are 1_Peter 2:2 and Psalms 119:11:

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the

word, that ye may grow thereby."

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might

not sin against thee."

(5) DID YOU LOOK EACH DAY TO GOD ALONE, AND NOT TO

SELF AT ALL, FOR STRENGTH AND VICTORY?

To emphasize this question, use:

"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that

have no might he increaseth strength." Isaiah

40:29.

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for

thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my

infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest

upon me." 2_Corinthians 12:9.

"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the

elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another,

and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth

the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."

1_Peter 5:5.

(6) DID YOU PRAY CONSTANTLY?

Use at this point:

"Pray without ceasing." 1_Thessalonians 5:17.

"He giveth power to the faint; and, to them that

have no might he increaseth strength. Even the

youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men

shall utterly fall: but THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE

LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount

up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not

be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Isaiah 40:29-31.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of

grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to

help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16.

(7) DID YOU GO TO WORK FOR CHRIST?

Here use Matthew 25:14-29.

VII. "THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS TOO HARD."

1. If a person states this as his difficulty,

first show him that THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT

HARD. In Matthew 11:30 Christ tells us His yoke is

easy: {67}

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Proverbs 3:17 shows us that wisdom's ways are ways

of pleasantness,

"Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her

paths are peace."

1_John 5:3, that God's commandments are not

grievous:

1_Peter 1:8 pictures the Christian life as a life

of joy unspeakable and full of glory:

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though

now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with

joy unspeakable and full of glory."

In using the latter passage you might say, "We

have a picture of the Christian life in 1_Peter

1:8, let us see if it is a hard life." Have the

inquirer read the verse, and then ask, "What kind

of a life according to this passage, is the

Christian life?" "A life of joy unspeakable and

full of glory." "Do you think that is hard?"

2. Show him that THE WAY OF SIN AS HARD. Show the

inquirer that it is not the Christian life, but

the life without Christ that is the hard life. For

this purpose use the last half of Proverbs 13:15,

and Isaiah 57:21:

"But the way of transgressors is hard."

"There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."

VIII. "THERE IS TOO MUCH TO GIVE UP."

This is often the difficulty even when not stated.

1. First show the inquirer that NO MATTER HOW MUCH

THERE MAY BE TO GIVE UP, IT IS BETTER TO GIVE UP

ANYTHING THAN TO LOSE ONE'S SOUL. For this purpose

use Mark 8:36:

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain

the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

2. Show the inquirer that THE ONLY THINGS WE HAVE

TO GIVE UP ARE THE THINGS WHICH WILL HARM US. This

is made clear by Psalm 84:11: {68} "For the Lord

God is a sun and shield, the Lord will give grace

and glory; NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD from

them that walk uprightly."

When the inquirer has read the verse, ask him,

'What does this verse tell us that God will not

withhold from us?" "Any good thing." "The things

then that God asks you to give up, are what kind

of things?" "Evil things." "Then all God asks

you to give up are the things which are harmful to

you. Do you wish to keep them?"

I have found Romans 8:32 very effective, for it

emphasizes the thought that if God loved us enough

to give His Son to die for us on the Cross, He

will freely give us all things:

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him

up for us all, how shall he not with him also

freely give us all things?"

I once had a long conversation with a young woman

who was having a great struggle about accepting

Christ. She was very fond of the world and certain

forms of amusement, which she felt she would have

to give up if she became a Christian. Finally I

said to her, "Do you think God loves you?" "Yes,

I know He does." "How much does God love you?"

"Enough to give His Son to die for me," she

replied. "Do you think if God loved you enough to

give His Son to die for you, Me will ask you to

give up anything that is for your good to keep?"

"No, certainly He will not." "Do you wish to keep

anything not for your good to keep?" "No." "Then

do you not think you had better accept Jesus

Christ right here and now?" "Yes," and she did.

Another verse which is useful as showing the

inquirer that the things which he has to give up

are the things which are passing away, is 1_John

2:15-17:

"Love not the world, neither the things that are

in the world. If any man love the world, the love

of the Father is not in him. For all that is in

the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of

the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the

Father, but is of the world. And THE WORLD PASSETH

AWAY, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the

will of God abideth for ever."

3. Show the inquirer that WHAT WE GIVE UP IS

NOTHING TO WHAT WE GET. For this purpose use

Philippians 3:7-8:

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted

loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all

things but loss for the excellency of the

knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have

suffered the loss of all things, and do count them

but dung, that I may win Christ." {69} You can

call the inquirer's attention to the fact that it

was Paul who spoke these words, that perhaps no

one ever gave up more for Christ than he did, and

yet he here tells us that what he gave up was to

what he got only as the refuse of the street.

IX. "I CANNOT BE A CHRISTIAN IN MY BUSINESS," (or

"It will hurt my business," or "I will lose my

position.")

This is a very real difficulty with many, and must

be met honestly and squarely.

1. It is well to bear in mind that even when a man

really thinks this is true, it is not always so.

Many people have an idea that it is impossible to

be a Christian in any line of business except

Christian work. They must be shown that this is a

mistake. When a man makes this excuse, it is often

well to ask him what his business is, and why he

cannot be a Christian in it. Sometimes you will

find that it is a business in which there are many

Christians, and you can tell him that there are

many Christians in the same business.

2. But oftentimes it is true that the man with

whom you are dealing is in a business in which it

is impossible to be a Christian. For example, the

man may be a bartender or a theatrical manager or

something of that sort. In that case say to the

man, "You had better lose your business (or

position ) than to lose your soul." To drive this

statement home, use Mark 8:36:

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain

the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

Do not pass on to the next point until the man

sees this and realizes it. Make the man feel that

he had better lose every dollar that he has in the

world than to lose his soul. When the man sees

{70} this, and is ready to give up his business

at any cost, you can use Matthew 6:33:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his

righteousness; and all these things shall be added

unto you."

This verse will show him that if he puts God and

His kingdom first, all needful things will be

supplied to him. It is better to starve than to

reject Christ, but no man who accepts Christ will

be left to starve.

Another very useful passage is Mark 10:29-30:

"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto

you, There is no man that hath left house, or

brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or

wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the

gospel's but he shall receive an hundred fold now

in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters,

and mothers, and children, and lands, with

persecutions; and in the world to come eternal

life."

X. "I WILL LOSE MY FRIENDS."

Many a person who contemplates beginning the

Christian life has none but ungodly companions,

and he sees very clearly that if he becomes a

Christian he will lose these friends, the only

ones that he has; so this difficulty is a very

real one.

1. First show the inquirer that he is better off

without these friends, for they are enemies of

God. Use for this purpose James 4:4:

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that

the friendship of the world is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world

is the enemy of God."

Before giving it to the inquirer to read, say,

"Yes, it may be that you will lose your friends,

but if your friends are godless, you are better

off without them. See what God's Word says about

it." Then show him the passage. If this verse does

not prove sufficiently effective, follow it up

with Proverbs 13:20:

"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but

a companion of fools shall be destroyed."

Follow this up with Psalm 1:1-2:

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the

counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of

sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

{71} But his delight is in the law of the Lord;

and in his law doth he meditate day and night."

Call the inquirer's attention to the fact that God

has promised an especial blessing to those who

turn their backs upon godless friendships in order

to obey Him.

2. Having made this first point clear, you can

say, "You may lose your godless friends, but you

will get better friends," and turn him to 1_John

1:3:

"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto

you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and

truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with

his Son Jesus Christ."

When they have read it you can say, "If you do

lose your godless friends by coming to Christ,

what two new friends do you get?" "The Father and

His Son Jesus Christ." "Which would you rather

have for friends, your godless worldly companions,

or God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ?" All

this may be followed up again by Mark 10:29-30.

XI. "I AM AFRAID OF RIDICULE."

1. Show the awful peril in being governed by the

fear of man. Use Proverbs 29:25:

"The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso

putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe."

You might explain that this snare which catches

him who is afraid of ridicule and rejects Christ,

often results in the eternal ruin of the soul.

Next use Mark 8:28:

"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of

my words in this adulterous and sinful generation,

of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when

he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy

angels."

2. Show that it is a glorious privilege to be

ridiculed for Christ. Use for this purpose Matthew

5:11-12:

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and

persecute you, and say all manner of evil against

you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be

exceeding glad; for great is your reward in

heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which

were before you." {72}

XII. "I WILL BE PERSECUTED IF I BECOME A

CHRISTIAN."

Never tell any one that he will not be persecuted.

On the contrary say, "Yes, I presume you will be

persecuted, for God tells us in His Word, that all

who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer

persecution." To prove it show him 2_Timothy 3:12:

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus

shall suffer persecution."

But then tell him that it is a great privilege to

be persecuted for Christ's sake, and brings an

abundant reward. Have him read Matthew 5:10-12,

and drive home the thought that we ought to

rejoice at the privilege of being persecuted

rather than to shrink from being a Christian on

that account.

Then show him the result of suffering with Christ.

Turn to 2_Timothy 2:12:

"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him; if we

deny him, he also will deny us."

Use Romans 8:18 to show him how shall are the

sufferings of this present time in comparison with

the glory that we shall obtain through them:

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present

time are not worthy to be compared with the glory

which shall be revealed in us." (Compare

2_Corinthians 4:17.)

Acts 5:40-41 is useful as showing how the early

church regarded persecution, rejoicing in it

rather than shrinking from it:

"And to him they agreed: and when they had called

the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that

they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and

let them go. And they departed from the presence

of the council, rejoicing that they were counted

worthy to suffer shame for his name."

Another passage which is also useful in such a

case is 1_Peter 2:20-21:

"For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for

your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if,

when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it

patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even

hereunto were ye called; because Christ also

suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye

should follow his steps."

XIII. "I HAVE NO FEELING."

This is a very common difficulty. There are many

who wish to come to Christ, but do not think they

can come because they have {73} not the proper

feeling. The first thing to do in such a case, is

to find out what feeling the inquirer thinks it is

necessary to have in order to become a Christian.

1. "THE JOY AND PEACE THAT CHRISTIANS TELL ABOUT."

The feeling that many inquirers are waiting for is

the joy and peace that Christians speak of. Of

course the thing to do in such a case, is to show

the inquirer that this joy and peace is the result

of coming to Christ, and that we cannot expect the

result before we come. The first passage to use to

show this is Galatians 5:22:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith."

This shows that joy and peace are the fruit of the

Spirit, and we cannot expect to have the fruit of

the Spirit until we have received the Spirit, and

we cannot receive the Spirit until we have

accepted Christ. This is brought out very clearly

in Ephesians 1:13:

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the

word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in

whom also, AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, ye were sealed

with that Holy Spirit of promise."

Emphasize the point that it is AFTER we believe

that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of

promise.

Use also Acts 5:32:

"And we are his witnesses of these things; and so

is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given TO

THEM THAT OBEY HIM."

This will show that the Holy Spirit is given to

those who obey Christ, and we cannot expect to

receive the Holy Spirit until we have obeyed God

by putting our trust in Jesus Christ and

confessing Him openly before the world. A verse

which will be useful in this connection as showing

that it is after we confess Christ that He

confesses us before the Father, is Matthew 10:32:

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,

him will I confess also before my Father which is

in heaven."

And so we have no right to expect the sealing of

the Holy Spirit until we have confessed Christ

before men.

It is after we have believed that we rejoice with

joy unspeakable and full of glory, 1_Peter 1:8:

{74}

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though

now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with

joy unspeakable and full of glory."

Our duty is believing with the heart and

confessing with the mouth, leaving the matter of

feeling to God; Romans 10:10:

"For with the heart man believeth unto

righteousness; and with the mouth confession is

made unto salvation."

2. "SORROW FOR SIN." The feeling that many are

waiting for, is a feeling of sorrow for sin. If

you find this to be the case with any individual

with whom you are dealing, proceed as follows:

(1) Use the passages already given to produce

conviction of sin. (See Chapter Six, Section I.)

(2) Show that it is not sorrow for sin, but

turning away from sin and accepting Christ that

God demands. For this purpose use the following

passages:

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the

unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return

unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

Isaiah 55:7.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he

power to become the sons of God, even to them that

believe on his name." John 1:12.

"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,

and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts

16:31.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be

baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus

Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall

receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38.

XIV. "I HAVE BEEN SEEKING CHRIST BUT CANNOT FIND

HIM."

1. It is well oftentimes to say to one who raises

this difficulty, "I can tell you just when you

will find Christ." This will probably awaken

surprise, but insist, "Yes, I can tell you just

when you will find Christ. If you will turn to

Jeremiah 29:13, you will find the exact time when

you will find Christ." Then let him read:

"And ye shall seek me, and find me, WHEN YE SHALL

SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART."

"Now this verse tells the time when you will find

Christ, when is it?" "When ye shall search for me

with all your heart." "The fact is, up to this

time, you have not been seeking for Him with all

your heart. Are you ready to let go of everything

else and seek Him today with all your heart?"

This passage has been used in a {75} great many

cases to lead out one who has been seeking Christ

for years, into a real acceptance of Him.

2. It is well sometimes to say to one who raises

this difficulty, "Then you are seeking Christ?

Well, did you know that Christ also is seeking

you?" Then turn to Luke 19:10 (or Luke 15:3-10)

and read. "Now you say you are seeking Christ, and

Christ says He is seeking you, how long ought it

to take for you to find one another? Will you just

come to Christ and trust Him here and now?"

3. Sometimes the best thing to do is to say,

"Well, if you are earnestly seeking Christ, let me

show you how to find Him." Then deal with the

inquirer in the way described in Chapter Five.

XV. "CHRISTIANS ARE SO INCONSISTENT."

This is one of the most common difficulties that

we meet. Probably the best passage to use is

Romans 14:12:

"So then every one of us shall give account of

himself to God."

When a person raises this difficulty, you can say,

"So you are troubled about the sins of Christians;

let me show you from God's own Word what He says

about that." Then have him read the passage. When

he has read the passage, ask, "Who does God say

you will have to give an account of?" "Myself."

"Not of inconsistent Christians then?" "No." "Are

you ready to give an account of yourself to God?"

The mere reading of this verse without comment,

has led many who have been dwelling upon the

inconsistency of others, to see themselves lost

and undone before God, and to turn and accept

Christ right there.

Another useful passage is Romans 2:1-5. Hand it to

the inquirer and ask him to read it carefully.

When he has read it, ask him if this passage does

not describe him, if he is not judging others for

doing the very things he does himself. Then ask

him what God says about those who judge others for

what they are doing themselves. Ask him further

what God says in the third verse that such a

person will not escape. Ask him what the fourth

verse tells him that he is really doing; and then

ask him what the fifth verse tells him he is

treasuring up for himself.

In many cases Matthew 7:1-5 will be found useful.

{76}

XVI. "THERE IS SOME ONE I CANNOT FORGIVE."

This is often the difficulty even when it is not

stated. I have frequently found that when people

told me they could not accept Christ and did not

know why, the real difficulty was here, there was

some one who had wronged them, or who they thought

had wronged them, and they would not forgive him.

1. The first thing to do with such a one is to

say, "YOU MUST FORGIVE OR PERISH." To prove this,

use Matthew 6:15: {@Ed.cmt}

"But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,

neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Follow this up with Matthew 18:21-35:

2. Say to the person, "THE WRONG THEY HAVE DONE

YOU IS NOTHING TO THE WRONG YOU HAVE DONE JESUS

CHRIST." Here use Ephesians 4:32:

"And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted,

forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's

sake hath forgiven you."

You might also use Matthew 18:23-35.

3. Next show the inquirer that he can forgive the

other in Christ's strength. Use for this purpose

Philippians 4:13 and Galatians 5:22-23:

"I can do all things through Christ which

strengtheneth me."

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

meekness, temperance: against such there is no

law."

XVII. "A PROFESSED CHRISTIAN HAS DONE ME A GREAT

WRONG."

1. First you can reply by saying, "THAT IS NO

REASON WHY YOU SHOULD WRONG CHRIST! HAS HE WRONGED

YOU?" Use Jeremiah 2:5:

"Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your

fathers found IN ME, that they are gone far from

me, and have walked after vanity, and are become

vain?"

Ask the inquirer if he has found any evil in

Christ, that that is what God is asking Him. One

night I turned to an aged man and asked him if he

was a Christian. He replied no, that he was a

backslider. I asked him why he had backslidden,

and he said Christian people had treated him

badly. I opened my Bible and read Jeremiah 2:5 to

him, and asked him, "Did you find any iniquity in

God; did God not treat you well?" With a good deal

of feeling, the man admitted that God had not

treated him badly. I held him right to this point

of God's treatment of him and not man's, and his

treatment of God. It is well to follow this

passage up with Isaiah 53:5 as bringing out very

vividly just what Christ's treatment of us has

been.

2. In the next place you can say to the one who

raises this difficulty, "THE FACT THAT A PROFESSED

CHRISTIAN HAS DONE YOU A GREAT INJURY IS NO REASON

WHY YOU SHOULD DO YOURSELF A GREATER INJURY BY

REFUSING CHRIST AND LOSING ETERNAL LIFE AND BEING

LOST FOREVER." Then you can say, "Let me show you

what injury you are doing yourself by rejecting

Christ." Use for this purpose John 3:36, and

2_Thessalonians 1:7-9:

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting

life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not

see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when

the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with

his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking

vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey

not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

XVIII. "I HAVE DONE A GREAT WRONG AND WILL HAVE TO

MAKE IT RIGHT AND CANNOT."

1. TELL THE INQUIRER TO TAKE CHRIST FIRST, AND

LEAVE THE MATTER OF SETTLING THE WRONG WITH HIM,

that he cannot settle the matter as it ought to be

settled until he has first taken Christ. Make it

very plain that the only thing God requires of a

sinner is to accept Christ, and all other

questions must be left until that point has been

settled. Use John 3:36 for this purpose, and Acts

10:43.

2. Show him further that IF THERE IS ANY WRONG TO

BE MADE RIGHT, CHRIST WILL GIVE HIM STRENGTH TO

MAKE IT RIGHT, and use for this purpose

Philippians 4:13.

XIX. "I HAVE SINNED AWAY THE DAY OF GRACE."

This is a very serious difficulty. It often arises

from a poor state of health and a morbid condition

of mind, but I have never found a case that would

not yield to prayerful and judicious treatment.

The best passage to use, and one that generally

proves sufficient, Is John 6:37, the last clause:

{78}

"Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast

out."

It is oftentimes necessary to read it over and

over and over again, sometimes for days and days.

Hold the inquirer to the one thought that God says

He is ready to receive any one who will come,

urging him to come now.

Another useful passage is Romans 10:13:

"For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the

Lord shall be saved."

Dwell upon the "whosoever."

The case of Manasseh as recorded in 2_Chronicles

33:1-13 is useful as showing the extent to which

one can go and yet how God will receive them to

Himself, if they only humble themselves before

him.

Luke 23:39-43 is oftentimes useful as showing how

one was saved even the hour of death.

XX. "IT IS TOO LATE."

This difficulty is very much like the preceding

one, and the same passage, John 6:37, is also

useful in this case. Oftentimes, however,

Deuteronomy 4:30-31 will prove more helpful:

"When thou art in tribulation, and all these

things are come upon thee, EVEN IN THE LATTER

DAYS, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt

be obedient unto his voice; (for the Lord thy God

is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee,

neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of

thy fathers which he sware unto them."

In using the passage, emphasize the thought, "even

in the latter days."

Still another passage is 2_Peter 3:9:

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as

some men count slackness; but is long suffering to

us-ward, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, but

that all should come to repentance."

It shows that God is not willing that any should

perish, and that the reason why He delays His

judgment is that men may be brought to repentance.

Luke 23:39-43 is useful as showing that one was

saved even as late as his dying hour, and

Revelation 22:17 tells us that WHOSOEVER WILL may

take of the water of life freely. {79}

XXI. "I HAVE COMMITTED THE UNPARDONABLE SIN."

1. The first thing to do in this case is to SHOW

JUST WHAT THE UNPARDONABLE SIN IS. For this

purpose use Matthew 12:31-32, noting the context.

This passage taken in its context makes it plain

that the unpardonable sin is blasphemy against the

Holy Ghost, and that blasphemy against the Holy

Ghost consists in deliberately attributing to the

devil, the work which is known to have been

wrought by the Holy Spirit. Having shown just what

the unpardonable sin is, ask the inquirer, "Have

you done this? Have you deliberately attributed

the work which you knew to be done by the Holy

Spirit to the devil?" In almost every case, if not

in every case, it will be found that the inquirer

has not done this.

2. Having shown what the unpardonable sin is, and

that the inquirer has not committed it, USE JOHN

6:37 as in the preceding case. Even if the

inquirer thinks that he has committed the

blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, use John 6:37.

Ask the inquirer what Jesus Christ says about

those who come to Him, and then ask him if he will

come to Christ right now. If he says, "I have

committed the unpardonable sin," reply that it

does not say, "Him that has not committed the

unpardonable sin that comes to me I will in no

wise cast out," but, "Him that cometh to me, I

will in no wise cast out," and put the question

again, "Will you come?" to every new excuse that

arises, simply repeat the promise, "Him that

cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," and

repeat the question, "Will you come?"

If he raises some new difficulty as probably he

will, simply say, "Jesus says, 'Him that cometh to

me, I will in no wise cast out,' will you come?"

Repeat and repeat and repeat, over and over again,

until this promise is fairly burned into the heart

praying all the time for the Holy Spirit to carry

it home.

A man was once sent to me who was in the depths of

despair. He had attempted suicide some five times.

He felt that he had sinned away the day of grace,

and committed the unpardonable sin, and that the

devil had entered into him as he did into Judas

Iscariot. Day after day I dealt with him, always

using John 6:37. To every excuse and difficulty he

would bring up I would simply say, "Jesus says,

'Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast

out." I met him at last one day for a final

conflict. I said to him, "Do you believe what

Jesus says?" He replied, "Yes, I believe

everything in the {80} Bible." "Well," I said,

"did not Jesus say, 'Him that cometh to me I will

in no wise cast out'?" "Yes," he replied. I said,

"Will you come?" He replied, "I have committed the

unpardonable sin." I said, "Jesus did not say, 'If

any man has not committed the unpardonable sin,

and comes to me I will in no wise cast him out';

He said, 'Him that cometh to me I will in no wise

cast out'; will you come?"

He said, "I am possessed of the devil." I replied,

"Jesus did not say, 'If a man is not possessed of

the devil and comes to me I will in no wise cast

him out'; He said, 'Him that cometh to me, I will

in no wise cast out.'; will you come?"

He said, "The devil has actually entered into me."

I replied, "Jesus did not say, 'If the devil has

not entered into a man and he comes to me I will

in no wise cast him out'; He said, 'Him that

cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out'; will

you come?"

He said, "My heart is too hard to come." I

replied, "Jesus did not say, 'If a man's heart is

not too hard and he comes to me, I will in no wise

cast him out'; He said, 'Him that cometh to me, I

will in no wise cast out'; Will you come?"

He said, "I don't feel like coming." I replied,

"Jesus did not say, "If any man feels like coming,

and comes to me, I will in no wise cast him out';

He said, 'Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise

cast out'; will you come?"

He said, "I don't know that I can come in the

right way." I replied, "Jesus did not say, 'If any

man cometh unto me in the right way, I will in no

wise cast him out'; He said, 'Him that cometh to

me, I will in no wise cast out'; will you come?"

He said, "I do not know that I want to come." I

replied, "Jesus did not say, 'He that wants to

come, and comes to me I will in no wise cast out';

He said, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise

cast out'; will you come?"

He said, "I don't know that I know how to come." I

replied, "Jesus did not say, 'He that knows how to

come, and comes to me I will in no wise cast out';

He said, 'Him that cometh to me I will in no wise

cast out'; will you come? Will you get down here

now and come just the best you know how?"

Hesitatingly the man knelt down. I asked him to

follow me in prayer. I prayed about as follows:

"Lord Jesus, thou hast said 'Him that cometh to

me, I will in no wise cast out'; now the best I

know how, I just come." The man repeated the words

after me. I said, "What has Jesus done? Never mind

what you feel, but what does Jesus say He has

done? 'Him that cometh to me I will in no wise

cast out.' What has Jesus done, what does He say

He has done?" He replied, "He has received me." I

said, "Are you willing to stand there on the naked

Word of God?" He replied, "I am." "Now," I said,

"you are going to your room. I have no doubt that

the devil will give you an awful fight, but will

you stand right there on the word of Jesus, 'Him

that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out'?"

He replied, "I will." He went to his room. The

devil did come and assail him, and try to get him

to look at his own heart, his own feelings, and

his doubts, but he kept looking to the promise of

Jesus, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise

cast out"; he believed that naked promise, he came

out of his struggle a victor. This was eight or

nine years ago. Today he is one of the most useful

men in America.

XXII. HEBREWS 6:4-6.

"For it is impossible for those who were once

enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift,

and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and

have tasted the good word of God, and the powers

of the world to come, IF THEY SHALL FALL AWAY TO

RENEW THEM AGAIN UNTO REPENTANCE; seeing they

crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and

put him to an open shame."

Very many men and women are in deep distress of

soul over this passage. They fear that it

describes them, and that there is no hope of their

salvation. The way to deal with such a person is

to explain to him the exact meaning of the

passage.

1. Show him first of all, that it is addressed to

Hebrew Christians who were in danger of

APOSTATIZING, RENOUNCING CHRIST and going back to

Judaism. Then ask him if this describes his case.

Of course he will say that it does not.

Furthermore show him that it does not describe a

person who has merely fallen in sin, but one who

has FALLEN AWAY, that is apostatized, and

deliberately renounced Christ. Ask him if this

describes his case. In most cases, of course, it

will be found that it does not.

2. In the next place show him that the difficulty

is not that God is not willing to receive such a

one back, but that it is impossible "to renew them

again unto repentance." That is, that their hearts

are utterly hardened, and they have no desire to

come to Christ. Then show him that this does not

describe his case, the {82} very fact of his

being in anxiety and burden of heart proving that

it does not.

3. Sometimes all of this fails, if so, simply go

over the fourth verse, and ask him if that has

really been his experience, if he has actually

been made a partaker of the Holy Ghost.

4. Show him by the case of Peter that one who has

been a follower of Christ may fall into deep sin,

and yet be restored and become more useful than

ever. Use for this purpose, Luke 22:31,34; Mark

14:66-72, John 21:15-19.

5. Finally use John 6:37, as described above.

XXIII. HEBREWS 10:26-27.

"For IF WE SIN WILLFULLY AFTER THAT WE HAVE

RECEIVED THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH, THERE

REMAINETH NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SINS, but a

certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery

indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."

Many are troubled by this passage just as others

are troubled by Hebrews 6:4-6. I have met many in

deepest anguish because they thought that this

described their experience. The way to deal with

such a one is to show him exactly the meaning of

the verse. Explain to him that the word

"willfully" means deliberately, and of stubborn

choice. It is the same word that is translated

"willingly" in 1_Peter 5:2. It does not describe a

man who in weakness falls into sin, but a man who,

with his whole heart, rejects obedience to God and

the service of Christ, and throws himself with all

his soul into sin. Ask him if this describes his

case. Finally use John 6:37.

XXIV. "GOD SEEMS TO ME UNJUST AND CRUEL."

1. The shortest way of dealing with many who say

this, is to take them at once to Romans 9:20:

"Nay but, O man, WHO ART THOU THAT REPLIEST

AGAINST GOD? Shall the thing formed say to him

that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?"

Apply the verse directly to the inquirer's case.

Ask him if he realizes who God is, and who he

himself is, and say, "You are replying against

God. You are accusing God of sin. Now this is

God's message to you, 'Nay but, O man, who art

thou that repliest against God?'" This verse has

been used of the Holy Spirit to break down {83}

in repentance and tears many a man who has

complained against God.

This may be followed up by Romans 11:33:

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and

knowledge of God! HOW UNSEARCHABLE are his

judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

Show the inquirer that the reason God seems to him

to be unjust and cruel is because such is the

depth of the riches both of the wisdom and

knowledge of God, and so unsearchable are His

judgments, that he cannot find them out.

This can be followed up still further by Isaiah

55:8-9:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither

are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the

heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways

higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your

thoughts."

Another excellent passage to use is Job 40:2:

"Shall he that CONTENDETH WITH THE ALMIGHTY

instruct him? HE THAT REPROVETH GOD, let him

answer it."

When the complainer has read the verse, ask him if

he wishes to contend with the Almighty. Show him

further that he is reproving God, and God says he

must answer for it; ask him if he is ready to

answer for it.

2. IF THE INQUIRER IS COMPLAINING OF GOD'S CRUELTY

BECAUSE OF SOME SORROW OR ANGUISH IN HIS OWN LIFE,

it is well to use Hebrews 12:5-7, 10-12:

"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which

speaketh unto you as unto children, My son,

despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor

faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the

Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son

whom he receiveth.

"If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as

with sons; for what son is he whom the father

chasteneth not?"

"For they verily for a few days chastened us after

their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we

might be partakers of his holiness.

"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be

joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it

yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto

them which are exercised thereby.

"Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and

the feeble knees."

One should deal very tenderly with a case like

this, yet at the same time faithfully. Show the

inquirer that the sorrows and disappointments

{84} and afflictions that he has suffered are

God's loving dealings with him, to bring him into

a life of holiness and higher joy, that God does

not willingly afflict.

One can follow the above passage with Isaiah 63:9:

"In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the

angel of his presence saved them; in his love and

in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them,

and carried them all the days of old."

In order to lead the sorrow-stricken soul to see

that the sufferings of this present time are not

worthy to be compared with the glory which shall

be revealed in us, use Romans 8:18:

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present

time are not worthy to be compared with the glory

which shall be revealed in us."

Another useful passage is 2_Corinthians 4:17-18:

"For our light affliction, which is BUT FOR A

MOMENT, worketh for us a far more exceeding and

eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the

things which are seen, but at the things which are

not seen: for the things which are seen are

temporal; but the things which are not seen are

eternal."

3. Sometimes it is well to say in such a case,

"You would not think that God was unjust and cruel

if you only realized the depth of your own sin

against Him," and use Matthew 22:37-38 to show him

the greatness of his sin, in the way described in

Chapter Six. No man {85} after he has been led

by the Word of God and His Spirit to see himself

as God sees him, will any longer have any

difficulty with God's way of salvation, but will

be only too glad to find that a sin-bearer has

been provided for him.

XXVI. "THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS IN THE BIBLE THAT

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND."

1. The first step in such a case is to show the

objector why he cannot understand. A good passage

to use for this purpose is 1_Corinthians 2:14:

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of

the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto

him: neither can he know them, because they are

spiritually discerned."

It can be used in this way: when the man has said,

"There are so many things in the Bible that I

cannot understand," reply, "Yes, that is just what

the Bible says." Then show the man the passage,

and say to him, "This verse tells you just why you

cannot understand what is in the Bible, because

'the natural man receiveth not the things of the

Spirit of God: for they are foolishness UNTO HIM,'

and I suppose that many of them appear like

foolishness to you." "Yes." "This verse tells you

why it is, 'because they are spiritually

discerned.' The truth is, you are spiritually

blind. If you will turn from sin and accept

Christ, you will get spiritual sight, and then

many things which you cannot understand now will

become as plain as day."

Isaiah 55:8-9 can also be used:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither

are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the

heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways

higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your

thoughts."

You can say to the one with whom you are dealing,

"This tells why you cannot understand God's truth.

Why is it?" "Because His thoughts are higher than

my thoughts."

Daniel 12:10 is also useful:

"Many shall be purified, and made white, and

tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and NONE

OF THE WICKED SHALL UNDERSTAND; but the wise shall

understand." {86} Before the man reads it, you

can say to him, "I can show you a passage in the

Bible that tells you just exactly why you cannot

understand, and also how you can understand." When

he has read it, ask him who it is that does not

understand. "The wicked." "And who shall

understand?" "The wise."

A passage which can also be used to good effect is

2_Peter 3:16-18:

"As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of

these things; in which are some things hard to be

understood, which they that are unlearned and

unstable wrest, as they do also the other

scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye

therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things

before, beware lest ye also, being led away with

the terror of the wicked, fall from your own

steadfastness."

1_Corinthians 13:11-12 and Romans 11:33 can also

be used.

2. The second step is to show how to understand.

John 7:17 makes this as plain as day:

"IF ANY MAN WILL DO HIS WILL, he shall know of the

doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak

of myself."

Follow this up with Psalm 119:18 and James 1:5:

"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous

things out of thy law."

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,

that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth

not; and it shall be given him."

XXVII. "I CANNOT BELIEVE."

We will take up skeptics more at length in Chapter

Eleven. At this point we take up the matter merely

as an honest difficulty that some find in the way

of accepting Christ.

1. When one states this as a difficulty, it is

often well to ask him what he cannot believe. A

man once said to Mr. Moody, "I cannot believe."

Mr. Moody said, "Whom can't you believe?" He

replied, "I cannot believe." "Whom can't you

believe, can't you believe God?" "Yes," the man

replied, "I can believe God, but I cannot believe

myself." Mr. Moody said, "I don't want you to

believe yourself, I want you to believe God."

Oftentimes the difficulty is with some doctrine

that has nothing directly to do with salvation;

for example, a man will say, "I cannot believe the

account of creation given in the first chapter of

Genesis, and I cannot {87} believe the story

about Jonah and the whale." Now of course a man

ought to believe the Bible account of creation

given in the first chapter of Genesis, and he

ought to believe the story about Jonah, but these

are not questions to discuss with an unsaved man.

When a man states some such difficulty as this,

the best thing to do is to say, "Can you believe

in Jesus Christ?" "Yes, I can believe in Jesus

Christ." "But will you believe in him, will you

accept Him as your Savior, your sin-bearer, and

your Lord and Master?" Show the man that it does

not say, believe this doctrine or that doctrine

and thou shalt be saved, or this incident or that

incident in the Bible, but "Believe on the Lord

Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." For this

purpose use Acts 16:31 and John 3:16:

"And they said, BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,

and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only

begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM

should not perish, but have everlasting life."

After the man has really believed on Christ and

been saved, and grown somewhat in Christian

knowledge, he will be in a position to take up

secondary questions. Many a well-meaning worker

makes a great mistake in discussing secondary

questions with an unsaved man, when he is in no

position to understand them at all, but should be

held to the vital point of the acceptance of Jesus

Christ as a Savior and Lord and Master.

2. In many cases, perhaps in most cases, when one

says, "I cannot believe," the real difficulty that

lies back of their inability to believe, is

unwillingness to forsake sin, and it is well to

say to such a person, "Is your unbelief the real

difficulty, is there not some sin in your life

that you are unwilling to give up?" I was once

called to deal with a man, and was told that he

was a skeptic, and needed help along that line. I

said to him, "Are you a skeptic?" He replied,

"Yes." I asked him what made him a skeptic, and he

said because he could not see where Cain got his

wife. I said to him, "Is that your real

difficulty?" "Yes." I replied, "Then if I remove

that difficulty, and show you where Cain got his

wife, will you become a Christian?" He said, "Oh,

no, I cannot promise that." "But," I said, "you

said that was your difficulty, the thing that kept

you from accepting Christ; now if I remove that

difficulty, {88} and you are honest, of course

you will accept Christ." The man laughed and saw

that he was cornered. "Now," I said, "let me ask

you a question; is not the real difficulty some

sin in your life?" The man broke down and

confessed that it was, and he told me what the sin

was, and professed to give it up and accept Christ

then and there. When you are convinced that the

real difficulty in the case is sin, a good passage

to use is John 5:44:

"How can ye believe, which receive honor one of

another, and seek not the honor that cometh from

God only."

Say to the man before he reads it, "Yes, I suppose

you cannot believe, bet Jesus Christ tells us just

why it is that men cannot believe," and then have

him read the passage. Then you can say to him,

"The reason why you cannot believe according to

this verse, is because you are seeking the honor

that comes from man and not the honor that comes

from God alone. Is this not so?" Be courteous, but

do not let the inquirer dodge that point.

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the

unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return

unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

This will show the man that he not only needs to

forsake his way, but his thoughts as well, and

that if he will, and return to the Lord, He will

have mercy upon him and abundantly pardon.

3. Finally in dealing with this difficulty, it is

well to show a man how to believe. You can say to

him after you have dealt with him along the lines

already mentioned, "I can show you how to

believe." Then give him John 7:17:

"If any man WILL DO HIS WILL, he shall know of the

doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak

of myself."

Ask him if he will be willing to do the will of

God, if he will surrender his will to God. Then

show him James 1:5-7:

"If any of you lack wisdom, LET HIM ASK OF GOD,

that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth

not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in

faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is

like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and

tossed. For let not that man think that he shall

receive any thing of the Lord." {89}

Follow this up with John 20:31:

"But THESE ARE WRITTEN, that ye might believe that

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that

believing ye might have life through his name."

Then give him the Gospel of John to study

prayerfully. We will go into this more at length

in Chapter Eleven.