The Character Journal is a monthly e-zine designed to help parents teach Biblical character qualities to their children. Each month a different character quality is presented with suggestions for Bible lessons and projects.

If you have received this mailing from a friend and would like to subscribe to The Character Journal, please follow the instructions below.

TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE: Simply visit our web site - www.characterjournal.com - and follow the instructions.

Please note that your e-mail address will NOT be passed on to any third party neither will you be sent any unsolicited messages.

In His Service!

Morris Hull

Home Life Ministries, England

Bible Verses Related to Persuasiveness

For a more complete study, we suggest you use the Online Bible which you can download free of charge from our web site at www.hlm.org/html/files.htm.

NOTE: The black coloured text indicates the number attributed to the Greek or Hebrew word in Strong's Concordance as well as a transliteration of the word and its pronunciation. The blue text shows all of the ways that the original word is translated in the Authorised Version. The number beside each of the various words indicates the number of times it is translated in that way; and the number at the end indicates the total number of times the original word appears in the Bible. The red text gives a more technical definition of the original word. In each case, the first time the original word is used is listed first. For the sake of space, not all occurrences of the original word is given but enough to show the various ways in which the word is used.

374 anapeiyw anapeitho an-ap-i’-tho

from 303 and 3982; ; v

Acts 18:13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth <374> men to worship God contrary to the law.

AV-persuade 22, trust 8, obey 7, have confidence 6, believe 3, be confident 2, misc. 7; 55

1) persuade

1a) to persuade, i.e. to induce one by words to believe

1b) to make friends of, to win one’s favour, gain one’s good will, or to seek to win one, strive to please one

1c) to tranquillise

1d) to persuade unto i.e. move or induce one to persuasion to do something

2) be persuaded

2a) to be persuaded, to suffer one’s self to be persuaded; to be induced to believe: to have faith: in a thing

2a1) to believe

2a2) to be persuaded of a thing concerning a person

2b) to listen to, obey, yield to, comply with

3) to trust, have confidence, be confident

Galatians 5:10 I have confidence <3982> in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgement, whosoever he be.

3988 peismonh peismone pice-mon-ay’

from a presumed derivative of 3982; TDNT-6:9,818; n f

1) persuasion

2) treacherous or deceptive persuasion

Galatians 5:8 This persuasion <3988> cometh not of him that calleth you. 

4135 plhroforew plerophoreo play-rof-or-eh’-o

from 4134 and 5409; TDNT-6:309,867; v

1) to bear or bring full, to make full

1a) to cause a thing to be shown to the full

1a1) to fulfil the ministry in every part

1b) to carry through to the end, accomplish

1b1) things that have been accomplished

1c) to fill one with any thought, conviction, or inclination

1c1) to make one certain, to persuade, convince one

1c2) to be persuaded, persuaded, fully convinced or assured

1c3) to render inclined or bent on

Luke 1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed <4135> among us,

Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded <4135> that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let <4135> every man be fully persuaded <4135> in his own mind.

2 Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof <4135> of thy ministry.

2 Timothy 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known <4135>, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

06601 htp pathah paw-thaw’

1) to be spacious, be open, be wide

1a) (Qal) to be spacious or open or wide

1b) (Hiphil) to make spacious, make open

2) to be simple, entice, deceive, persuade

2a) (Qal)

2a1) to be open-minded, be simple, be naive

2a2) to be enticed, be deceived

2b) (Niphal) to be deceived, be gullible

2c) (Piel)

2c1) to persuade, seduce

2c2) to deceive

2d) (Pual)

2d1) to be persuaded

2d2) to be deceived

Genesis 9:27 God shall enlarge <06601> Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

Exodus 22:16 And if a man entice <06601> a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.

Deuteronomy 11:16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived <06601>, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;

Judges 14:15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice <06601> thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?

Judges 16:5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice <06601> him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.

2 Samuel 3:25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive <06601> thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

1 Kings 22:20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade <06601> Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.

1 Kings 22:21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade <06601> him.

1 Kings 22:22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade <06601> him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

2 Chronicles 18:19 And the LORD said, Who shall entice <06601> Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.

2 Chronicles 18:20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice <06601> him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?

2 Chronicles 18:21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice <06601> him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.

Job 5:2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one <06601>.

Job 31:9 If mine heart have been deceived <06601> by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;

Job 31:27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed <06601>, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

Psalms 78:36 Nevertheless they did flatter <06601> him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice <06601> thee, consent thou not.

Proverbs 16:29 A violent man enticeth <06601> his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

Proverbs 20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth <06601> with his lips.

Proverbs 24:28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive <06601> not with thy lips.

Proverbs 25:15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded <06601>, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

Jeremiah 20:7 O LORD, thou hast deceived <06601> me, and I was deceived <06601>: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.

Jeremiah 20:10 For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed <06601>, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

Ezekiel 14:9 And if the prophet be deceived <06601> when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived <06601> that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

Hosea 2:14 Therefore, behold, I will allure <06601> her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

Hosea 7:11 Ephraim also is like a silly <06601> dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

Related Hymns and Choruses

• God's Final Call (John W. Peterson, 1921-)
• Almost Persuaded (Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876)
• When We See Christ (Esther Kerr Rusthoi, 1909-1962)
• Rescue the Perishing (William H. Doane, 1832-1915)
• Work, for the Night Is Coming (Annie L. Coghill, 1836-1907)
• I Am Resolved (Palmer Hartsough, 1844-1932)
• Ye Must Be Born Again (William T. Sleeper, 1819-1904)

Bible Stories

• The story of Ahithophel in 2 Samuel 16:23 and chapter 17
• The story of Esther in Esther chapter 7
• Paul using his testimony to convince his hearers of the power and truth of God (Acts 26:13-28)

Character Definitions

• Guiding vital truths around another's mental roadblocks - Character First!
• Convincing others to follow God's ways because of how His ways are working in our lives - The Power for True Success
• Thinking through all the objectives before presenting our case. Demonstrating commitment to our convictions by the example of our lives. Understanding the basic needs of our opponents - Character Clues

How to Demonstrate Persuasiveness

At Home

• Older children motivating the younger ones by being a good example
• Parents revealing how commitments to following Christ will strengthen the family and benefit each individual member
• A parent showing children how wise decisions will protect them

At Work or School

• Persuading rebellious sons or daughters to clear their consciences and get back under the authority of God and their parents
• Convincing friends who are considering a divorce not to go through with it
• Going the "second mile" to demonstrate the love and forgiveness of Christ
• Taking every opportunity in words and actions to witness for Christ

At Church

• Encouraging other Christians to dedicate their lives totally to Christ by the example which you set
• Taking ministry opportunities to persuade others to follow Christ

The "I Wills" of Persuasiveness

• I will point others in the right direction
• I will not stretch the truth to make it more attractive
• I will appeal to a person's conscience in terms of character
• I will wait for the best time
• I will not argue

-Character First!

How The Home Authenticates Our Ministry

1 Timothy 3 gives the qualifications for leadership in the local church. These are not just general guidelines, but the qualities God expects from His servants. The more our life falls in line with God's requirements the more persuasive our message will be. C.H. Spurgeon said, "The most persuasive sermon is the example which leads the way." This is not to suggest that the power lies in these qualities themselves. The power comes from Christ. But the absence of these qualities in a Christian leader's life indicates that there are unresolved conflicts and problems that are hindering the power of Christ working through him.

Paul places particular emphasis upon the Christian's home. The home is where you discover the reality of a person’s spirituality. If you want to see how an animal really behaves, you don't go to the zoo or circus where they are on display or perform, you go to it's natural habitat - it's day by day environment. If you want to find out what a Christian is really like, where do you go?  You don't go to the Church!!  No, you must go to the home.  If you want to find out the sincerity of a man's commitment to Jesus Christ and to following Biblical principles, you don't ask his Pastor or Church leaders, you need to ask his wife and children. The reality of a person's spirituality is not found in the church, but in the home. And if our Christianity is going to be effective in reaching a lost world for Jesus Christ, then it must first prove itself in the Christian home.

Does your family see the reality of your spirituality in the home?  Do they see you behave one way in the church and another way in the home?  Our children - more than any others - will resent our hypocrisy and inconsistencies and most likely reject the God we claim to be serving!

1 ¶ This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 ¶ Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

ON BEING ALMOST PERSUADED

TO BE CHRISTIANS

by Charles G. Finney

 

“Agrippa said unto Paul — almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”

— Acts 26:28

 

Discussing the subject presented here, I shall,

I. NOTICE THE FACT THAT MEN ARE MADE CHRISTIANS

BY PERSUASION.

II. SHOW WHAT ARE NOT REASONS WHY THEY ARE NOT

ALTOGETHER PERSUADED.

III. WHAT ARE THE REASONS WHY THEY ARE ONLY

ALMOST AND NOT ALTOGETHER PERSUADED.

 

I. You recollect the connection, which gives us the occasion and the

circumstances of this remark. Paul had been arrested and brought before

Agrippa to defend himself against the Jews. In this defense he gives his

early history, a sketch of his conversion to the faith of Christ, then, of his

labors and persecutions subsequent to that event, and finally appeals to

Agrippa himself, as if assured that one, familiar with Judaism as he was,

must believe the ancient prophets, and hence could not reasonably reject

Jesus of Nazareth. “King Agrippa, said he, believest thou the prophets? I

know that thou believest.” “Agrippa answered, Almost thou persuadest

me to be a Christian.” To which Paul nobly responds, “I would to God

that not only thou, but all that hear me this day, were both almost and

altogether such as I am, except these bonds.”

 

Paul had so preached that Agrippa felt almost persuaded to become a

Christian. Of course under Paul’s preaching, men naturally inferred that

the change from being a sinner to being a Christian is wrought by

persuasion. Assuming that Paul preached not only the true gospel, but in

the truest method and with the soundest philosophy, we infer that men

become Christians by means of persuasion. Consequently, they do not

become Christians by virtue of any physical change in the substance of

either soul or body. It is not, strictly speaking, by any act of creation, an

act which gives existence to either substance or qualities, not existent

before. Persuasion requires no new creation of faculties. It supposes a

mind already in existence and in action, capable of appreciating truth as a

motive. Men are persuaded by truth — truth which addresses the

intelligence and appeals to conscience or to some form of self-interest.

Thus men are persuaded to become Christians.

 

Now here I do not by any means intend to say that this persuasion is

merely human. Far otherwise. It is far more divine than human. There is

such an interposition of divine agency as sets truth in order before the

mind, and brings forth its strength. Thus to human persuasion is

superadded the divine. Yet the influence is altogether of a moral nature.

We are compelled to the same conclusion by the nature of this change. If

the change were in the substance of the soul, or in any of its original,

created powers, we might then assume that the power by which the change

is wrought is creative, not moral. But since the change consists entirely in

the voluntary attitude of the mind towards God, we infer that it is caused

by those agencies which are adapted to produce voluntary change in the

mind’s free action — viz., truth and argument, assuming the form of

motive. Hence, in every point of view, it is plain that men are made

Christians by persuasion.

 

II. IT IS NEXT PERTINENT TO INQUIRE WHAT ARE

NOT THE REASONS WHY MEN FAIL OF BEING

PERSUADED TO BECOME CHRISTIANS

Ordinarily, it is not for want of intellectual conviction that they ought to

become Christians. For the most part, in Christian lands, the gospel has

been preached so fully and so truly that the general intelligence is

enlightened, and all men know that they ought to put away sinning and

embrace the salvation provided for them in the gospel. They fail to do this,

not for want of sufficient reasons to carry conviction that they ought to.

Especially, we may say, that almost everyone has light enough before his

mind to carry conviction of this duty, if he were honest and would weigh

this question seriously and with candor.

 

The real and exact difficulty is, they do not make up their mind to obey

the decisions of conscience and their better judgement. They are not so

persuaded as to determine to act now. For the most part they hope to

become Christians at some time. As Agrippa, so they, do not yield to their

convictions. Selfish considerations overrule their better judgement.

 

Here I may safely appeal to your own consciences. Let me come very near

to you, even as if I were alone with you and were to urge upon your

honest hearts this plain question. Is it not a matter of fact that you are in

reason and conscience convinced that you ought to become Christians, but

yet you suffer some selfish reasons to prevail over you, and deter you

from doing manifest duty? You know you ought to do it; you know the

reasons why you do not are utterly unsound — radically selfish!

 

III. LET US SEE WHAT THESE REASONS ARE —

THE REASONS WHY YOU ARE ONLY ALMOST

PERSUADED TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN

 

1. Ambitious schemes. This is the case especially with the young, and

particularly with students. Often the young become students for the sake

merely of distinction. They cherish worldly aims. They are determined

that, for themselves, they will become something. They are to be

prominent. Hence, when you come to such a young man with the gospel

offers, his first thought is — how will my reception of these offers affect

my cherished plans of aggrandizement? Ah, how can I become a Christian

at the sacrifice of the favorite object of my life and labors? You exhort him

to yield his will to God’s so that henceforth he shall have no schemes but

such as please God. Alas, he says, but I have schemes of my own that are

too dear to my heart to be relinquished yet. Is it not even so with you who

are yet young, but not converted? Have you not some ambitious schemes

which you seek to realize, and which you suppose are in conflict with the

higher claims of the gospel?

 

This is for many reasons more often the case with young men than with

young women, yet is sufficiently apt to occur with the latter, in some

seductive form, and of such power as to overrule all the demands of

conscience.

 

2. Many are kept back from full persuasion by a subtle form of selfrighteousness.

He cannot quite affirm to himself or to others that he has no

sin; and yet he does allow himself to think he has never done anything so

very wrong, but has always done about right. He has not been a liar, nor an

adulterer. He can almost say with Saul of Tarsus, “I have lived in all good

conscience before God.” He thinks, and perhaps truly, that he has had

many good feelings; kindly, humane impulses, and these he is sure are

good. Really he has no heart to renounce all his self-righteousness as filthy

rags that cannot profit. He might consent in a very general sense to be

indebted to Christ for his salvation, but to renounce all self-righteousness

and do all that is implied in being a Christian, he cannot.

 

3. Some have too much self-will. Often and for a long time, have they been

urged and have resisted, until habitually ascendancy of the will has given it

giant strength, and it can easily overrule every appeal which conscience or

God can make.

 

Some even indulge resentment against God, or against His servants.

Supposing themselves to have been abused because something has been

done by somebody, they fancy they do well to be angry. Thus they harbor

a spirit directly opposed to the spirit of the gospel, and this suffices to

overrule all the arguments which are presented to induce them to become

Christians.

 

Those who have advanced in age to middle life, have their schemes of

ambition, or their plans of business, so that when you make your appeal

to them, they have interests that repel it. To you who occupy this period

of life, I appeal, if it be not even so. When the gospel has come to you,

demanding your attention, and even the warmest reception you can give it,

has not some scheme of business or ambition stood in your way and held

you back? The political aspirant has too many hopes excited, and has

committed himself too fully to his political friends; how can he turn away

to be religious? Some years ago, I knew a young man of fine talents and

extra-ordinary powers of persuasion, who, from a course of preparation

for the ministry, was drawn into public life; studied law — lost his piety

— claimed at first that benevolence called him into that department of

labor, but soon he showed that he was ambitious as Caesar, and that really

he had no conscience, but that of saleable politicians. Such men are in

political bondage. Like Agrippa, they owe their place to some higher

functionaries, and are intensely sensitive to their own position and

standing as before that higher influence. Agrippa held his place under

Rome; so did Pilate; therefore neither of them had independence of soul

enough, in a position of so much dependence, to be a whole man. Many

now, like them, are in political bondage to Caesar. Mark how Pharisees and

rulers of synagogues bore themselves towards Jesus and His cause, and

you see, as in a mirror, true to nature, how most political men are in such

bondage that they will not break away enough to comply with their sense

of duty. I have in mind the case of a gentleman who became greatly

disturbed in respect to his salvation. I saw him often and urged him to give

himself to the service of God. That, he replied, is a step I can by no means

take, without the consent of my political friends. I have long been in the

habit of consulting them in all matters which might affect my standing

before the community. Furthermore, all my religious friends think

differently from you. And my worldly friends, I am quite sure, would be

opposed to my becoming a Christian in this revival. How, said he, can I

look my friends in the face if I were to become a Christian? I answered,

“how can you look God in the face, if you do not?” He said. “I am always

in the habit of consulting my friends in matters so important; I will do so

in the present case, and then will see you again.” I told him I already knew

how such a course would result, and had no hopes that could be

disappointed. And so it proved. I mention the case only as an illustration

of the political bondage into which many fall.

 

Some men have a pride of personal character which prevents their

becoming Christians. One says, “My wife has become converted, and I

shall be deemed weak as a woman if I change now.” I have heard men taunt

one another, asking, “Will you be persuaded to be religious by such and

such a preacher? Will you be one of his disciples?” So it might have been

said to Agrippa, “Are you almost persuaded by the prisoner, Paul? By a

man who stands before you in chains, and you the honorable judge upon

the bench? Will you change your religion and go over to one whom all Jews

hold to be a heretic?”

 

In some cases, the hindering cause is sheer infatuation. They know the

truth on all important points; they will say, “I know it all.” Why, then,

don’t you yield? “I can’t tell why.” Then, the reason is, simple infatuation

in sin.

 

Another reason is a spirit of deep contempt for God.

Those who feel this may not be fully conscious of it; but such is the fact.

God’s rights do not weigh, in their minds, as a straw. You may talk to

them of God’s right to govern them; you make no sort of impression.

What is the reason of this? It is not that they regard God’s claims as a

dream of somebody’s imagination, and deny the fact; but it is because they

have a deep and overpowering contempt for God, and therefore no appeal

on that ground reaches their sensibility — nothing arouses them to action.

So deep and so utter is their want of moral honesty, every appeal based on

God’s rights falls powerless. In their esteem, moral obligation is equivalent

to no obligation at all. There is in their minds a total lack of all honorable

sentiments, feelings and principles of action, as towards God. Not one

sentiment of honor toward the great God! Does honor bind the child to

revere his parent? What would you say of one who had been dependent on

you for everything, and yet should totally disregard all his obligations to

you? Suppose the obligation to be the greatest possible from man to man;

and the disregard to be as utter as the sinner manifests towards God, how

would you feel? Horrified! You would have such feelings of indignation,

you could scarcely think of the offender with calmness. And yet what are

the utmost obligations of man to man, compared with those of all men

towards God?

 

Add to this a total destitution of true self-respect. What? shall I shame my

own face by refusing to do my duty? Can a man have true self-respect,

who, knowing his obligation, refuses to become a Christian? Certainly if he

respected himself, he never could disobey, refuse, and dishonor his God!

What! shall I be such a wretch as to abuse my God? No! I would as soon

leap into hell as dishonor Christ and pour contempt on my infinite Father!

The very thought of so outraging His feelings is horrible. Sooner would I

suffer anything in the world than the self-abhorrence and selfcondemnation

which must result from such contempt of God!

 

Add to this a total destitution of all benevolence, which must of coarse be

the case with all those who will not become Christians.

Next, a total recklessness in regard to the evils of a course of impenitence.

Said one man, as his eyes began to be opened to see himself, “The thought

that I was giving my whole influence against Christ and against the

salvation of souls, came home upon my conscience as an awful sin! I was

appalled at myself!” Suppose a man could sit in his window, open

towards the street, and there load and fire his rifle into the thronging

masses, just for amusement. How horrible must his state of mind be! You,

sinner, may not be firing leaden balls into quivering flesh, but you are

sending forth streams of influence that damn souls to eternal death! You

reply, “I do not tell them not to become Christians.” Aye, not with your

lips, perhaps, but with your life! — a thing far worse, more surely fatal

and more widely and terrible destructive! Not those who say most, or sin

most openly, do most hurt; but your most moral sinners, who are quite

intelligent, and know best their duty, yet are far — O how far from doing

it! A fair moral man, of high standing — what can he not do for mischief?

 

Look at that young man, accomplished, popular and moral; he has such

control over the minds of the young people in his village, that you can do

nothing to turn them from sin to God. Is it said — then pray for him? You

cannot. It will do no good. Preach a sermon to meet his case; he will pick it

all to pieces. You cannot talk to him, he knows so much and frames his

objections so skilfully. What makes all this mischief? That young man

happens to possess the very attributes that give him the power to do great

mischief. He can do more harm than all the rowdies in town.

 

So of a young woman who is accomplished and moral, yet withholds her

heart from God. She is altogether in the way of saving souls, and all the

more because she has so much morality. I saw a young lady of this

description enter a sick room where lay one of her young associates, just

passing away to the realities of another world. Calling forward this moral

sinner, she reached forth her pale hand, saying, “I am not a Christian

because I leaned on you. You were so moral and so happy in sin, you had

the greatest influence over me, and I easily put off the claims of my God

and Savior.” That young lady trembled and begged to be excused that she

might retire from such a scene, but the dying girl said, “No, no; you must

hear me now, my last words. How could you let me go on in my sins! Oh,

my soul is lost!”

 

The great difficulty with sinners is that they take a selfish view of the

whole subject. Having fully committed themselves to their own interests,

all considerations are viewed in a selfish light. They regard nothing, save as

it addresses either their hopes or their fears. If this striking fact were

properly considered, it would show the need and the character of the

divine Spirit’s influences.

 

Sinners, taking only a selfish view of God’s claims, are not at all prepared

to take a disinterested view of the subject. They are not prepared to

become Christians, although they are quite prepared to look around and

see if they cannot become more happy.

 

Once more, many are not fully persuaded now because they expect in

some way to have another call and a better opportunity. Full of hope as to

this, they consequently deceive themselves. Often conscious that they

egregiously trifle with their own souls, they yet are so reluctant to meet

God’s claims today that they let it slide over. They say, “I am not yet

persuaded to become a Christian, but when God’s resistless power comes

down upon me, then I shall yield.”

 

In fact, when you get at the bottom of the case, you find they are

desperately depraved. Their depravity is so deep, so radical, it bids

defiance to all your motives for persuasion. Sometimes the sense of being

greatly obliged, breaks down a really hard heart. But even this

consideration many sinners can resist. The sense of being loved and pitied

of God, makes some impression on their hearts, but often fails to move

them much. So dead are they to the attractions of the morally beautiful and

true, that much of the most glorious truth concerning God, seems to fall

powerless upon their hearts. They seem incapable of being moved by

anything save it be some hope of greater selfish good. For the honor of

God they care not. If they could get anything from Him to promote their

own selfish good, they would be ready to grasp it. For God, they care not.

They would not care if He were dead. If their course were to bring mischief

on Him, they would not care. They know they act meanly, cruelly,

wickedly towards God; yet they are not persuaded to desist from this

course and forsake their sins. Specify some particular form of sin; bring it

before their mind; convince them they had better forsake it, yet they will

not. In fact, a besotted will not is the only reason why they do not.

 

REMARKS

Sin is the greatest mystery in this world. How can it be accounted for? I

have often wondered at the case of men convinced of duty, who yet will

persist in their sins, despite the utmost reason to forsake them. Sometimes

they seem to be infatuated. In fact, they are. It is a spiritual infatuation!

 

How strange to hear sinners object to the mysteries of religion. Indeed!

They assume that there is something vastly mysterious in religion, and

therefore they cannot embrace it! There can be no greater mystery than

sin! All the mysteries in religion are as nothing compared with the mystery

of sinning! It is safe to say that if we had not facts to prove it, nobody

could believe that men would persist in sin as they do, despite all

conceivable reasons to the contrary course. What can be more strange? Sin

is indeed a mystery so deep, who can tell what it is and why it is? Surely,

no sinner can tell. See that sinner hold his soul, as it were, in his hand, play

with it as with a top, and then in the face of Calvary, throw it into hell!

Knowing full well that sin brings him no good, but only evil; assured, too,

that all good is given by piety, he can yet throw his soul away, for

nothing! Truly, this is one of the mysteries of the universe, to be resolved

into the sovereignty of a free agent abusing his liberty of free action, having

been created with power to abuse it at his own option.

 

The infatuation of the sinner is an obvious fact. People may abuse Adam

and other agencies tending to sin, as much as they please. Yet they cannot

help knowing that this infatuation is a matter of their own, and that

whatever relation it may bear to any other beings or agencies in the

universe, themselves alone are to blame for their own sin. They inwardly

know that they are the sole authors of their own sin, how much so ever

other agencies may have been its occasions and temptations. The dreadful

infatuation lives and reigns in their own souls. Suppose you were to see

thousands of people rushing towards and over a precipice, and should also

see all sorts of influences thrown in their way to stop them; fathers and

mothers rushing in before them with imploring cries, beseeching them to

stop — pleading, rebuking, yet all in vain; on they go, and over, and down,

down they plunge, with eyes wide open; how astonishing! Whole oceans

of men, rushing down the steep of death — an army of maniacs! No

wonder that when Christians get their eyes open to this fearful scene, they

almost die! They would if they were long subjected to this dreadful view

without some sort of alleviation. You hear them saying, “Lord, I shall

surely die unless Thou interpose to save these sinners, or in some way

relieve me from this dreadful position of seeing souls perish before my

very eyes!”

 

How shocking to hear sinners claim that they are doing about right, while

yet they live in utter sin against God and the Lamb! They claim that they

have none but honorable feelings and sentiments, and even talk of their

moral honesty! What a burlesque upon the truth is all such talk as this!

Especially, how strange is it that such sinners should set themselves up for

reformers! There is something supremely ridiculous in these pretensions to

be reformers. They, who have not the first particle of genuine benevolence

— who can rob God of everything they owe Him, yet profess to love the

poor slave and the poor inebriate! How deep does this love go down? Is

there any moral bones in it at all? If I am morally honest, can I rob and

abuse my own mother? Having done just this and all this, can I then turn

around and make pretensions to honor and propriety? Yet the sinner,

having robbed God all his life-time, pretends to honor, and even to

practice, righteousness!

 

When a man has all needful convictions of duty, he is then and thenceforth,

without excuse. Every honest man’s position is this: Show me what I

ought to do, and I will do it. No other question need be asked than this one

— Ought I to do this? This question settled, nothing more is needed. To

settle the question of oughtness, and then stop there without doing duty,

is to tempt God. It is to provoke Him to consuming wrath! Such a sinner

is utterly without excuse. “I know, says he, that I ought to do this.” Then

you must do it — as you would be a man, and would acquit yourself of a

man’s responsibilities! Say — “Anything that is my duty, I will do at all

hazards; if it be my duty, I will begin now!” But to see intelligent and

moral beings throw all these obligations and convictions to the winds —

how fearful!

 

For sinners to wait God’s time to repent, is infinitely absurd. God’s time

is now; you wait, just to miss His time and provoke Him to deny you any

more time at all. You are persuaded of your duty now. What more do you

ask of God than this? What more can you in reason desire of God than that

He should reveal to you your condition, your peril, your way of escape,

and the reasons which urge you to flee for help to the Lamb of Calvary?

All this He has done; and now, in tones of love and pity, calls on you to

give heed to His call. Will you do it?

Sermon by Charles G. Finney

Personal Evaluation

• Do you persuade others to believe on Jesus Christ?
• Do you persuade rebellious sons or daughters to clear their consciences and get back under the authority of God and their parents?
• Do you convince friends who are considering a divorce not to go through with it?
• Do you persuade others to dedicate their lives to God?
• When someone disagrees with you, are you more concerned about proving your point or winning his spirit?
• Is one who rejects Scripture able to draw you into an argument?
• Do personal weaknesses diminish the effectiveness of your public message?

Character Clues

Two Basic Motivations for Persuasiveness

1. What will I gain if I do it?

2. What will I loose if I don't?

- The Power for True Success

SPIRITUAL PERSUASION

Of the Divine Ability

#Ro 4:21

Of the Inseparable Love of God

#Ro 8:38,39

Of the Divine Keeping Power

#2Ti 1:12

Of the Certainty of the Divine Promises

#Heb 11:13

- The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible

Persuading Others by Going the Second Mile

During New Testament times, Roman soldiers had the authority to compel any Hebrew boy twelve years or older to carry his heavy military pack one mile in any direction. The Jews already hated this occupying force and this law added insult to injury. Jesus taught his disciples to carry it two miles. Carrying the pack for one mile was simply doing what was expected of them, but going the second mile provided the opportunity to witness when the soldier would ask, "Why are you doing this?"

Our willingness to "go the second mile" is one of the most persuasive ways of demonstrating the love of Christ and our willingness to forgive.

Your Words May Whisper But Your Actions Shout!

Your walk talks and your talk talks;

But your walk talks louder than your talk talks.

You cannot hide what's inside; It's sure to come out.

Your words may whisper but your actions shout!

- Patch the Pirate

Quotes

• We are all missionaries...Wherever we go, we either bring people nearer to Christ, or we repel them from Christ. - Eric Liddell
• The most persuasive sermon is the example which leads the way. - C.H. Spurgeon

Sources used for compiling this mailing:

• The Online Bible
• Character First! Education Series 4, Oak Brook, IL
• Character Clues Game (IBLP)
• Achieving True Success: How to Build Character as a Family, International Association of Character Cities, Oklahoma City
• The Power for True Success, IBLP, Oak Brook, IL
• The Master Christian Library CD-ROM