02.10. A Brief Appeal

10. A BRIEF APPEAL

After an invitation that failed to bring results, I have had some wonderful services on the following proposition.

"How many are there here who have something in your life over which you do not have complete victory? something over which the devil keeps fighting you, making it hard for you to keep at your best for God?

"It may be one of many things. It may be some habit you have found hard to give up. It may be some thing or it may be some one. You do not need to tell me or anyone else what it is, but there is something hindering you spiritually. There is power in prayer and God is still on the throne. If you want complete victory, come and kneel and we will have the saints gather around you and pray. Prayer changes things."

This appeal will nearly always bring a response, and I have known some remarkable deliverances and fixed habits of many years broken because of this appeal.

Use Men

The following appeal has proved worth-while. "I want every man in the audience who is a Christian, and you have definitely settled it to go with God, you are proud to take your stand for Him and you would like to recommend this way of life to the men and boys of this congregation and you urge them to take this step now, will you please stand?" While they are standing make your appeal to the unsaved. The same appeal may be made with the ladies.

Personal Appeal

To make your appeal somewhat personal to the individual is often effective. For instance, "I want the young man in the center section who raised his hand," or, "I want the young lady in the rear who held up her hand to step out during the first stanza of song and come forward."

Appeal for Help

The call for help has always appealed to some people. It was the method Jesus used with the woman by the well in Samaria, "Give me to drink."

This has helped me. "I want you who raised your hands to assist me in giving this invitation.

"You may think, What can I do? "

"If you will step out and come forward as soon as we start singing, it will encourage others and greatly help."

Couples

It is thrilling to see a young couple step out for Christ. Many would like to do this, but each is waiting on the other to make the start. The following suggestion has often brought both to the altar. "If there is an unsaved young couple here, will each of you turn to the other, take his hand, and say, ’I will go if you will’?" Often that is all that is needed, and together they step out just as surely and literally as Simon Peter turned from his fishing boat to follow the Master.

If either the wife or husband steps out alone, go immediately to the other and ask him to come and kneel alongside. If he is already saved, it will not hurt him; and if not, he will most likely settle it in that service. In this way, God has enabled me to win many a husband or wife to Him.

Christians

This appeal to Christians has aided me many times in getting a break in the invitation. "It is hard to get sinners to move out ahead of Christians who are walking back of light. Some of you are doing that now. Jesus said, ’Tarry ... until ye be endued with power.’ You haven’t done that. He said, ’Wait for the promise of the Father.’ You haven’t done that. You have never been filled with the Holy Ghost. You have thought about it. You have meant to. You know you ought to, but you have put it off. This attitude on your part is a hindrance to others. If you would step out and seek Him in all His fullness, sinners would step out and come into the Kingdom."