SOUL-WINNING:
Triumph Over Hindrances
Lesson Text: 2 Corinthians 2:14, 17; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Revelation 12:11.
Devotional Reading: Stumbling blocks, Romans 14:13-21.
Aim: To show how a would-be soul winner should overcome and gain victory over personal and Satanic hindrances.
Home Readings
Monday: Satan’s Hindrances, Mark 4:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:16-18
Tuesday: Personal Sin Ruins Testimony, 2 Samuel 12:10-14.
Wednesday: Triumph over Prejudice, Acts 10:13-16, 34, 35
Thursday: Triumph over Lack of Confidence, Exodus 4:10-15, 29-31.
Friday: Triumph over Handicap, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Saturday: Triumph over Fear, Jeremiah 20:8-11
Sunday: Triumph over Fainting, Galatians 6;9; Luke 18:1; Philippians 4:13.
1. Satanic Hindrances.
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4). A distinct work of Satan is hindering the lost from being saved. This is one of his prime objectives in opposing God. And, since a lost person is Satan’s child spiritually (John 8:44). He is constantly under the Devil’s influence and control.
One way Satan hinders the lost is through his churches. A false church with a false gospel and other false beliefs and practices keeps the lost from being saved. Often a person grows dissatisfied with the ritualism and formalism of his church, but he joins another false church because of Satan’s control. Satan doesn’t mind swapping members among his churches. The result is the lost person thinks he has found the truth and he is extremely difficult to win to the Lord (Matthew 23:15).
Satan has convinced some they do not need to be saved. They have a false sense of hope, and they do not feel lost. As in the case of the Pharisee in Luke 18:11,12, the Devil has blinded them to the true Gospel. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
On of Satan’s favorite methods of hindering the lost is delay. Many realize their lost and sinful condition and they know Christ will save them if they believe on Him, but Satan convinces them to delay (Acts 24:25; 26:28). Satan never gives up, even when the truth is preached to the lost. “Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” (Luke 8:12).He convinces the lost they have plenty of time to decide the matter. All the while he is hindering the lost from being saved. One day it will be too late to be saved (Jeremiah 8:20).
2. Personal Hindrance.
Satan uses the human instrument to hinder the lost. “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.” (Luke 11:52). It is a case of the blind leading the blind, when a lost man is hindering another lost man from being saved. The tragedy is they will both “fall into the ditch” or Hell (Matthew 15:14).
Saints may also hinder the lost. Paul recognized the need for keeping one’s life clean to make his message believable. “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27). If the vessel is filthy, the lost will not drink the testimony which comes from it.
However, even a clean vessel can be a personal hindrance to the lost. Satan actively hinders believers from being a personal witness for Christ. “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.” (Galatians 5:7,8). Only Satan would cause such a thing to keep God’s people from witnessing to the lost. Sometimes he merely hinders them from witnessing in a certain place. “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:18). “Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.” (Romans 1:13)
The Bible even mentions a lack of harmony in the home will hinder prayer, thus hinder the lost from having a testimony of Christ (1 Peter 3:7).
Therefore, God’s people must clean up their lives and submit to the Lord to use them as His witnesses. Then, and only then will personal hindrances be overcome (Hebrews 12:1). In the past God’s people have overcome hindrances, so can the believer today.
3. Personal Victory.
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14). There is absolutely no call for believers to live in anything less than personal victory in Christ. Satanic and personal hindrance should not dominate one’s live in Christ. The believer should be able to make “manifest the savor of his knowledge…in every place.” “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:17).
The personal victory for the lost is also in Christ.” And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11)
The blood of the Lamb. Herein lies the sinner’s only hope of spiritual cleansing. “…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7). Anything short of that offer no victory over Satan.
The word of their testimony. Having spiritual cleansing “by the blood of the Lamb.” The believer needs victory for his life of service to God. Revelation impresses the Bible student with the importance of one’s testimony for Christ. I one’s work for God has no testimony for Christ. Satan is still hindering that believer.
They loved not their lives unto the death. This indicates the dedication necessary in one’s life to enjoy victory over Satan. Selfishness wins no victories over Satan. “The death” refers to a willingness to die for the testimony of Christ. That is real dedication. Many talk about dedication, but few are willing to pay the price required for it. One must fall out of love with himself.
4. Spiritual Victory.
While Satan tries to hinder from doing right things, God leads His people in the path of righteousness.
“Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
“After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.” (Acts 16:6,7)
The Lord led Paul and Silas to go to Macedonia (Acts 16:9,10).
The believer’s victory is in trusting God. Who is always working actively. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:37). God does not win by a narrow margin. When one trusts Him, God wins spiritual victory by a wide, surpassing margin. Not only is the enemy of souls defeated in salvation, but the believer may prove again and again the power and love of God in Christ. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4).
The believer dares to stand along with God, because the ultimate victory belongs to those who stand with God. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Each believer knows his victory over the grave in the resurrection also depends on the Lord. It is a challenge to stand true (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Triumph Over Hindrances
Lesson Text: 2 Corinthians 2:14, 17; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Revelation 12:11.
Devotional Reading: Stumbling blocks, Romans 14:13-21.
Aim: To show how a would-be soul winner should overcome and gain victory over personal and Satanic hindrances.
Home Readings
Monday: Satan’s Hindrances, Mark 4:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:16-18
Tuesday: Personal Sin Ruins Testimony, 2 Samuel 12:10-14.
Wednesday: Triumph over Prejudice, Acts 10:13-16, 34, 35
Thursday: Triumph over Lack of Confidence, Exodus 4:10-15, 29-31.
Friday: Triumph over Handicap, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Saturday: Triumph over Fear, Jeremiah 20:8-11
Sunday: Triumph over Fainting, Galatians 6;9; Luke 18:1; Philippians 4:13.
1. Satanic Hindrances.
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4). A distinct work of Satan is hindering the lost from being saved. This is one of his prime objectives in opposing God. And, since a lost person is Satan’s child spiritually (John 8:44). He is constantly under the Devil’s influence and control.
One way Satan hinders the lost is through his churches. A false church with a false gospel and other false beliefs and practices keeps the lost from being saved. Often a person grows dissatisfied with the ritualism and formalism of his church, but he joins another false church because of Satan’s control. Satan doesn’t mind swapping members among his churches. The result is the lost person thinks he has found the truth and he is extremely difficult to win to the Lord (Matthew 23:15).
Satan has convinced some they do not need to be saved. They have a false sense of hope, and they do not feel lost. As in the case of the Pharisee in Luke 18:11,12, the Devil has blinded them to the true Gospel. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
On of Satan’s favorite methods of hindering the lost is delay. Many realize their lost and sinful condition and they know Christ will save them if they believe on Him, but Satan convinces them to delay (Acts 24:25; 26:28). Satan never gives up, even when the truth is preached to the lost. “Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” (Luke 8:12).He convinces the lost they have plenty of time to decide the matter. All the while he is hindering the lost from being saved. One day it will be too late to be saved (Jeremiah 8:20).
2. Personal Hindrance.
Satan uses the human instrument to hinder the lost. “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.” (Luke 11:52). It is a case of the blind leading the blind, when a lost man is hindering another lost man from being saved. The tragedy is they will both “fall into the ditch” or Hell (Matthew 15:14).
Saints may also hinder the lost. Paul recognized the need for keeping one’s life clean to make his message believable. “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27). If the vessel is filthy, the lost will not drink the testimony which comes from it.However, even a clean vessel can be a personal hindrance to the lost. Satan actively hinders believers from being a personal witness for Christ. “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.” (Galatians 5:7,8). Only Satan would cause such a thing to keep God’s people from witnessing to the lost. Sometimes he merely hinders them from witnessing in a certain place. “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:18). “Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.” (Romans 1:13)
The Bible even mentions a lack of harmony in the home will hinder prayer, thus hinder the lost from having a testimony of Christ (1 Peter 3:7).
Therefore, God’s people must clean up their lives and submit to the Lord to use them as His witnesses. Then, and only then will personal hindrances be overcome (Hebrews 12:1). In the past God’s people have overcome hindrances, so can the believer today.
3. Personal Victory.
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14). There is absolutely no call for believers to live in anything less than personal victory in Christ. Satanic and personal hindrance should not dominate one’s live in Christ. The believer should be able to make “manifest the savor of his knowledge…in every place.” “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:17).
The personal victory for the lost is also in Christ.” And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11)
The blood of the Lamb. Herein lies the sinner’s only hope of spiritual cleansing. “…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7). Anything short of that offer no victory over Satan.The word of their testimony. Having spiritual cleansing “by the blood of the Lamb.” The believer needs victory for his life of service to God. Revelation impresses the Bible student with the importance of one’s testimony for Christ. I one’s work for God has no testimony for Christ. Satan is still hindering that believer.
They loved not their lives unto the death. This indicates the dedication necessary in one’s life to enjoy victory over Satan. Selfishness wins no victories over Satan. “The death” refers to a willingness to die for the testimony of Christ. That is real dedication. Many talk about dedication, but few are willing to pay the price required for it. One must fall out of love with himself.
4. Spiritual Victory.
While Satan tries to hinder from doing right things, God leads His people in the path of righteousness.
“Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
“After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.” (Acts 16:6,7)
The Lord led Paul and Silas to go to Macedonia (Acts 16:9,10).
The believer’s victory is in trusting God. Who is always working actively. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:37). God does not win by a narrow margin. When one trusts Him, God wins spiritual victory by a wide, surpassing margin. Not only is the enemy of souls defeated in salvation, but the believer may prove again and again the power and love of God in Christ. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4).
The believer dares to stand along with God, because the ultimate victory belongs to those who stand with God. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Each believer knows his victory over the grave in the resurrection also depends on the Lord. It is a challenge to stand true (1 Corinthians 15:58).
