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Let's Talk About Obstacles To Soulwinning · Bible Tract Echoes Podcast

• 0:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: Hey friends, Mike McCurray here and I have the grand privilege of being the director of Bible Traxxing Corporate and the host of this radio program you're listening to right now Bible Traxxt echoes with me today on the program.
• 0:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: I have a special guest pastor, Dennis Leatherman.
• 0:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: We're going to talk about how I met him in just a moment here, but he's the pastor of mountain link independent Baptist Church in Oakland, Maryland, and actually
• 0:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: by his own admission.
• 0:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: He is a listener to this program, and we're very thankful for that.
• 0:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: But the Leatherman, you and I met a couple months ago now.
• 0:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's crazy how fast time flies.
• 0:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: We met a couple of months ago in on the way to, I should say, New Zealand.
• 0:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: And what a time we had.
• 0:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: We had a great time over there, Australia, New Zealand, and talked to us for just a few moments about why we were over there.
• 0:51
  [SPEAKER_02]: Well, brother Lewis Howe is a missionary in New Zealand, and he has started years ago back to 2015, I believe, these soul winning conferences, soul winning revival, I believe it calls it.
• 1:06
  [SPEAKER_02]: And so he might folks over from the states, preachers that have had an influence in his life,
• 1:13
  [SPEAKER_02]: helpful in the matter of winning souls reach in the world with the gospel.
• 1:16
  [SPEAKER_02]: And so that's how we ended up going over is to preach these soul winning revivals for him and God is the first time in tremendous ways.
• 1:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Amen.
• 1:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: The first time you and I got to be each other was essentially walking on to this plane and it was San Francisco, Los Angeles, something like that and we had a very long flight to Sydney, Australia and by the end of it, I had a wonderful time, got to preach both of us about a dozen times or so and saw some great results.
• 1:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: But while we were there, of course, speaking on being a witness,
• 1:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: speaking on, using gospel tracks.
• 1:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: All of these things, you spoke about some obstacles to Christians being a witness.
• 1:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: And we can both agree, and you'll talk much more about this, about how we have a responsibility as Christians to proclaim the good news of the gospel.
• 2:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: And so without further ado, we'll interact a little bit more, but would you just dive right in for the next 10 minutes or so and talk to us about this burning desire
• 2:17
  [SPEAKER_02]: This proverb's chapter 11 verse 30 tells us very well-known verse in a lot of churches that the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and he that when a soul is wise.
• 2:29
  [SPEAKER_02]: And so we're given this instruction and scripture as believers that we're to share the gospel with other folks and in such a way that they believe and receive Christ as their personal Savior.
• 2:41
  [SPEAKER_02]: And it's been my experience over the years in the ministry that when a person trusts Christ the Savior and they really get a hold.
• 2:52
  [SPEAKER_02]: of what it means to be forgiven and what salvation really is, something down inside their heart and soul stirs them to want to have others come to Christ, to want to share what Christ is done for them, to want to share that message of the gospel.
• 3:07
  [SPEAKER_02]: And so I found that to be true, whether we act on that or not, or not, or not.
• 3:12
  [SPEAKER_02]: you know, is varies, but that desire, that burden, that is down in the heart and soul placed there, I believe, by the Holy Spirit of God, when He in dwells the believer.
• 3:23
  [SPEAKER_02]: Now the challenge is, you know, that desire is there.
• 3:26
  [SPEAKER_02]: I talk to people.
• 3:27
  [SPEAKER_02]: I ask folks, you know, from the pulpit, how many folks here want to see other people say, without exception, that's 100% positive response.
• 3:35
  [SPEAKER_02]: We want to see people say,
• 3:38
  [SPEAKER_02]: And so the burdens there, the understanding is there of the need, however, the breakdown is not actually doing what needs to be done to see people say.
• 3:50
  [SPEAKER_02]: And so that's what we try to address in this message and in some of our seminars and revivals.
• 3:59
  [SPEAKER_02]: We try to help folks overcome these obstacles, and I believe there's numerous ones.
• 4:03
  [SPEAKER_02]: And the ones I'm listing here, it's no way it's a complete list.
• 4:07
  [SPEAKER_02]: You know, a lot of people could come up with others, but it's once I've observed over the years that are challenging.
• 4:14
  [SPEAKER_02]: I'll just read Romans chapter number 10.
• 4:17
  [SPEAKER_02]: I think deals with this.
• 4:19
  [SPEAKER_02]: He says there in verse number 13, again, a familiar verse, verse, who's whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved?
• 4:26
  [SPEAKER_02]: It's a tremendous promise, who's so ever?
• 4:29
  [SPEAKER_02]: But then he goes on and explains the process of getting that gospel to people to them to be saved.
• 4:38
  [SPEAKER_02]: He goes on verse 14, he says, how then shall they call on him of whom they have not believed?
• 4:43
  [SPEAKER_02]: And how shall they believe on him?
• 4:45
  [SPEAKER_02]: of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher.
• 4:49
  [SPEAKER_02]: And so the need is for God's people to go to the unsafe and share the gospel with them.
• 4:58
  [SPEAKER_02]: Now the problem isn't on God's end.
• 5:00
  [SPEAKER_02]: God has done everything necessary for a soul to be saved.
• 5:04
  [SPEAKER_02]: The problem is, and on the unbelievers end, they're lost.
• 5:08
  [SPEAKER_02]: They just need somebody to come and tell them.
• 5:09
  [SPEAKER_02]: Now, there are obstacles on the unbelievers end that we keep them from receiving Christ and accepting the message.
• 5:17
  [SPEAKER_02]: But I see the breakdown and soul winning in our churches and in our personal lives.
• 5:22
  [SPEAKER_02]: is in between there between the the savior and the unsafe center is that believer, the saints in between there and that's where the breakdown comes and and that's where the obstacles come up.
• 5:34
  [SPEAKER_02]: So, and again, I'm not an expert soul winner.
• 5:38
  [SPEAKER_02]: I want to be better than what I am, but these are some observations.
• 5:42
  [SPEAKER_02]: The one, the first one I want to dress.
• 5:46
  [SPEAKER_02]: The first obstacle I want to dress is this lack of assurance.
• 5:50
  [SPEAKER_02]: first John chapter five and verse number 13.
• 5:54
  [SPEAKER_02]: The Bible says this, He says these things have I written unto you that believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.
• 6:06
  [SPEAKER_02]: I think sometimes people struggle with witnessing to others
• 6:10
  [SPEAKER_02]: is simply because they don't have assurance of their own salvation, we're not positive that our sins are forgiven and that we're on our way to heaven and I found it's awfully difficult to lead somebody to someplace I'm not at myself.
• 6:26
  [SPEAKER_02]: You know, so I think one thing we have to settle right up front, if we're going to win others to Christ, is I need to know for sure that God has saved me, that my sins are forgiven of Moid haven't.
• 6:37
  [SPEAKER_02]: I think there's folks that genuinely have trusted Christ this Savior.
• 6:42
  [SPEAKER_02]: They have been born again, but maybe through false teaching or maybe they haven't been discipled a whole lot and they really don't understand this matter of assurance of salvation.
• 6:53
  [SPEAKER_02]: And so then that would cause them to maybe be a little hesitant.
• 6:57
  [SPEAKER_02]: to share their faith with someone else if there's some questions or doubts in their own own mind.
• 7:03
  [SPEAKER_02]: I know when we travel to New Zealand and every time you fly, the stewardess gets up there in front and she gives these safety instructions.
• 7:14
  [SPEAKER_02]: and one of the things they tell us is that in the unlikely event of a loss of cabin pressure, the oxygen mass will fall from the ceiling, and then they instruct how to put them on, you know, and all that.
• 7:28
  [SPEAKER_02]: Then they make an interesting statement that I think applies to this.
• 7:32
  [SPEAKER_02]: Is they always say this, if you have young children, make sure you put your mask on first,
• 7:38
  [SPEAKER_02]: before you put the mask on anyone else.
• 7:41
  [SPEAKER_02]: You try to help anyone else.
• 7:42
  [SPEAKER_02]: Make sure you have yours on first.
• 7:45
  [SPEAKER_02]: And the reason for that is this, I'm not going to be able to help another person if I can't breathe myself.
• 7:51
  [SPEAKER_02]: I'm not going to be able to get it on the child if I'm not able to breathe myself.
• 7:56
  [SPEAKER_02]: And I think that applies to salvation.
• 7:57
  [SPEAKER_02]: I'm going to have a hard time sharing a gospel with other people if I don't have that settled in my own heart and mind.
• 8:04
  [SPEAKER_02]: And so I think that could be a significant obstacle to folk share in the gospel.
• 8:10
  [SPEAKER_02]: They're just unsure of their own salvation.
• 8:13
  [SPEAKER_02]: And so that makes it important for us as pastors.
• 8:17
  [SPEAKER_02]: It makes it important for soul winners, individual soul winners, that when we do lead someone to Christ, it's very important.
• 8:26
  [SPEAKER_02]: give them from Scripture a assurance of their salvation so that they can very confidently then go on and share what Christ is done for them with other folks.
• 8:36
  [SPEAKER_02]: So a lack of assurance is One area, I think but
• 8:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: When a letterman, we have about three or four minutes left.
• 8:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe could you give practically people that would call themselves Christians?
• 8:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe their names on the church roles of a church member, so called her.
• 8:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: Mama's a saint, her daddy was a saint, a school teacher, but they're struggling with this.
• 8:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: Could you talk to us for just a few minutes, practically speaking for some that's struggling right now?
• 9:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: I will say for those that are listening, I give this text number all the time.
• 9:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: I would love to communicate with you and talk to you about this.
• 9:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can text me directly at 309.
• 9:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: three, one, six, seven, two, four, zero.
• 9:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'll give that number again at the conclusion of the program in case you missed it there.
• 9:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: But let them and talk, I'm sure you've dealt with people that have struggled with assurance, and some of that ones get victory over this thing.
• 9:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: What would you tell a struggling person with assurance?
• 9:31
  [SPEAKER_02]: Well, first of all, I would want to make sure that if they're struggling with the assurance, I would want to first of all make sure that they genuinely trusted Christ in the first place.
• 9:40
  [SPEAKER_02]: And that simply is, you know, recognizing the fact that I'm a sinner, the Bible says for all of sin that comes to the glory of God.
• 9:47
  [SPEAKER_02]: We know in our own heart and mind, our own experience that, you know, we've said things that this please God, we've thought things, we've done things, we haven't done things,
• 9:58
  [SPEAKER_02]: that God instructs us to, and we come short of His glory, we come short of the standard that is required for God to accept us in those presence.
• 10:09
  [SPEAKER_02]: And because of that, if we die in that condition, unsaid, Jesus put it this way, if we die in our sins,
• 10:17
  [SPEAKER_02]: them were separated from God for all eternity.
• 10:19
  [SPEAKER_02]: Jesus described it as a horrific place called hell.
• 10:23
  [SPEAKER_02]: And he wanted a great detail in some cases describing what this experience would be to die unsaved, die in my sins unforgiving.
• 10:33
  [SPEAKER_02]: And so that's where Christ comes in, you know, Romans
• 10:39
  [SPEAKER_02]: the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
• 10:42
  [SPEAKER_02]: So salvation is a gift that God offers a gift, you don't purchase it or it ceases to be a gift, you don't earn it, becomes a payment if I'm trying to earn it.
• 10:52
  [SPEAKER_02]: God says no, it's a gift and he offers this, the reason he can offer us eternal life, forgiveness of sins, a home in heaven, as a gift, is because Jesus paid for it on the cross.
• 11:04
  [SPEAKER_02]: and he died and suffered the judgment of our sins for us.
• 11:07
  [SPEAKER_02]: He paid that hell price that was on our sin for us in our place.
• 11:13
  [SPEAKER_02]: He took responsibility for our sins, was buried rose again.
• 11:17
  [SPEAKER_02]: So if we'll come to him in faith, like we read in Romans 10, 13 there, for who's so ever shall call upon name of Lord shall be saved.
• 11:25
  [SPEAKER_02]: just because Jesus down across was buried and rose again doesn't mean everybody's going to heaven we have an option of accepting receiving that gift or we can say no thank you I'm not interested and go our way and try and earn it or whatever so so to be saved simply means I recognize I'm a sinner I believe
• 11:43
  [SPEAKER_02]: that Christ died for me was buried rose again and then I'm putting my trust in.
• 11:47
  [SPEAKER_02]: I'm relying upon I'm depending upon him to forgive me.
• 11:53
  [SPEAKER_02]: Give me this new life eternal life and then ultimately get me into heaven in God's presence and so it's on Christ and I'm just simply trusting him to do it for me.
• 12:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: I've heard it put this way.
• 12:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: People that wonder, you know, the Bible says, no man can pluck you out of his hand.
• 12:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, you yourself are a man, which means you can't pluck yourself out of his hand either.
• 12:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: Once saved, always saved, and all of a sudden, and all serious, if you're listening right now, you're struggling with this.
• 12:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: We got about 20 seconds left.
• 12:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Would you please reach out?
• 12:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'd love to hear from you.
• 12:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can text me at 309.
• 12:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: three, one, six, seven, two, four, zero.
• 12:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: Pastel 11 is going to be back with us tomorrow.
• 12:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: There's about five or six more shackles, more weights, more things that keep us from being a witness.
• 12:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: I want you here about all of them, because maybe one of them will apply to you.
• 12:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for listening.
• 12:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: Because the Bible check echoes radio program will talk to you very soon.
• 13:12
  [UNKNOWN]: Thank you.
• 13:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you for tuning in to Bible Tract Echoes, the radio ministry of Bible Tracts Incorporated.
• 13:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: Want to see our gospel tracks and other resources?
• 13:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: Visit us online at BibleTracksink.org that's BibleTracksink.org or follow us on social media to learn how you can partner with this ministry.
• 13:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: Thanks again for listening.
• 13:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: May the Lord richly bless you as you live for him.