As believers, we have been called and commissioned to preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to every nation. Jesus Christ died and rose again so that every human being can find salvation in the living God.

“…by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole… Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” Acts 4:10,12.

However, it can be tough and tiring getting people to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Many believers have given up on the preaching of the gospel especially as the world is becoming more intolerant. Nevertheless, we must obey the Lord. We must preach the gospel. We must rescue the perishing from the coming damnation and Jesus is the only way.

Here are a few tips that will help you in encouraging people to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and become saved:

• Understand that Getting People Saved is a Spiritual Battle. Satan doesn’t want people to get saved. He will do everything to make sure your efforts are futile. He will becloud and confuse the person that you are trying to convince. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says, “…if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” You are not just dealing with humans but the spiritual forces behind the resistance to the gospel message you have brought to them. Note that the god of this age blinds the mind of those who do not believe. So, there is a spiritual undertone behind the things we often tag as psychological or intellectual battles. If you have this understanding, you will not allow their indifference to discourage you.

• Understand that it takes the Power of the Holy Spirit to get people saved. The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts people of their sins and convinces them to make Jesus their Lord and Saviour. Speaking of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged” John 16:8-11. Getting people genuinely saved cannot be a product of eloquence or oratory powers. If a person’s faith is based on fancy talks, it will not survive the tests and trials of time.

• Pray a lot and earnestly for the People You Are Encouraging to Make a Decision for Jesus. Mention the names of people that you have been speaking to in prayer. Break the veil of sin and Satan over their souls as you ask the light of God to shine through their hearts. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate their hearts. Your encouragement can only work as far as you have done private interceding for them. Bringing people to salvation is like giving birth to children, you will go through labor pains in prayer. Paul understood this. He said, “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you” Galatians 4:19.

• Live an exemplary life. Your life is the most powerful tool for telling people about Jesus. It is the primary way you encourage people to accept the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. People will be forced to ask about your faith when you convincingly and consistently live a life of integrity. While we must evangelize by our lips, it is far more important that we do it by our lives. The words in our mouths are as powered as the integrity of our lives. Your words will be weak and you may even stammer if you are not living up to what you preach. Peter wasn’t preaching when someone identified him as a follower of Jesus. Do you have such a powerful life that people can see the glory of God in your life without preaching?

• Share your testimonies. Let the story of what Jesus is doing in your life be in your mouth all the time. It is an indirect way of encouraging people to accept the gift of salvation. Be intentional about this; acknowledging the power of Jesus in bringing about your breakthroughs.

• Invite them to meetings where they can hear God’s word. If there are special programs or Christian gatherings where the people you have been encouraging to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, invite them to such meetings. Most of the time, the atmosphere and the anointing that comes with special programs often facilitate the ability of people to decide to follow Jesus. Many believers today got saved in crusades, conferences or special programs.

• Be patient with them. Don’t give up because you are not getting any results despite your efforts in encouraging people to accept Jesus Christ. You are not the Saviour. You are only an instrument in God’s hand for saving them. All you can do is patiently keep waiting and trusting God that someday, they will come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Focus on doing your best while you trust God to do the rest.

• Trust God for Healing, Miracles, Signs and Wonders. People hardly resist the message of salvation when it is accompanied by an obvious display of the power and superiority of God over sicknesses, diseases and situations. They are part of the equipment God has given to us to carry out the great commission effectively. And you don’t have to be a special minister of God to be used in performing miracles, signs and wonders. God promises that “these signs will follow those who believe” Mark 16:17. Once you are a believer, you are qualified to carry out signs and wonders in Jesus’ name. After Jesus brought back Lazarus to life, the Bible declares that “…on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus” John 12:11.

God wants people to be saved. He never gives up on anyone! We must have the same commitment to every soul God has shown us. May God make us fishers of men and women!

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