P- Pleasant words and tones. "Pleasant words make a man persuasive" Prov.16:21.
E- Encourage. Cheer their victories and comfort their sorrows. People will be open to you.
R- Rapport. Build rapport or common ground. Look for at least one thing you both enjoy.
S- See their better future. Share how you believe going God's way will be so much better for them.
U- Urgency. People often procrastinate. Help them to take action, sooner than later.
A- Ask! Ask and it shall be given to you. Want to AMP your results? Ask More People.
S- Speak with conviction. Let them hear it in your voice and see it in your eyes that you believe in such.
I- Interest. Show a genuine interest in others. Ask about what's on their HEARTS.
Now let's discover what the last two ingredients of being a person of PERSUASION are.
O- Others oriented. In the late 1800's the founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth, sent a telegram to his army personnel. Back then you paid for every single word, so he kept reducing his message. What he finally sent out was just one word- "Others." Good leaders and loving people are others oriented. Such people persuade out of love. Lord, help us to serve others in love.
N- Never give up! Christopher Columbus had that "never give up" attitude. He spent 7 years trying to persuade bankers to fund his "wild-eyed" voyage. Finally, he was able to convince King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to be his angel investors. Abe Lincoln's persistence in running for office, despite defeat after defeat, is legendary.
Politics involves so much persuasion and patience. Lincoln never gave up. So don't give up as you seek to persuade others and they say, "No" to your request. Take a lesson from Lincoln and Columbus. Also take a lesson from children. What does "No" mean to a child? Absolutely nothing!:) They just keep renegotiating their request. Or they will go ask mom.
So what should you do if someone you invited to join M3 hasn't yet responded? I'll tell you what the easily deterred do. They give up, believing that if a person was really interested, he would have acted by now. But recognize that most people are slow starters. Just because they didn't call you back, doesn't mean they're not interested. Life is lived in the fast lane with so much data coming at us. It's easy to put things off, and then forget. We are also in a spiritual battle. The enemy does not want men to be activated and armed to fight with God's word and in a band of unstoppable brothers. Yet we know that men will really be helped in M3. So persevere. Aren't you glad that people and God persevered with you in drawing you to salvation and growth? So never give up. What those people need is a follow up call. Make a mental note, or better yet, a written note to give your friend a call in a few days after giving him an M3 card. (If you didn't get some from me Sunday, they will be available at the Resources corner in the lobby. I will be at another church this Sunday for a high school graduation ceremony for my daughter.) If there's an altar call, make me proud and "Go to the front!" There will be men there that need your help.
But what if your friend he gives you this objection which I've gotten repeatedly, even from men who are now in M3- "It sounds good, but I'm too busy." Don't you dare give up! Think of objections as invitations for more information and help. He said, "It sounds good" so he's saying he likes it. He has even told you what his problem is. "I'm too busy." So we might then ask him, "May I share with you how you could make a huge impact with your life with very little extra time?" Then say something like this- "You're already spending time reading God's word anyway, right? So now just do so with us. It's going to help you get so much more out of your Bible reading time and enable you to make a huge impact in other people's lives. We're all busy. But we want to make sure that we are not crowding out God's best for second best things, right?" Then you could share how M3 is benefiting you and others. A lot of times you may find that the guy hasn't even watched the M3 stories video. So again, ask him to watch it and then tell him you'll get back to him in a few days. Don't ask him to call you. Never give up! Remember, we are in a spiritual battle. Don't lose sight of this and act like no one is interested. Some might be living in sin, so they are not interested in coming to the light. But others need help. Help them. Persevere with them. Advancing God's kingdom and conquering the enemy is too important to not keep reaching out. Never give Up!
Lastly, imagine recruiting someone as if you were going courting in your youth. You wouldn't send out a form letter to several women asking them to call you back if interested. You'd turn off the good candidates and you wouldn't want the ones who would respond to such, would you? So be personal. Talk to people individually. Let your friend sense this is important to you. You're not simply offering him a stick of gum. This is a game changer, a life changer. His legacy is at stake. After you've talked one on one, then it would be appropriate to send him an individual email, followed by your call. Never leave it to the individual to call you back. Prove that this is so important that you will call back in a few days. You'd do this in courting; do this in making disciples. We know our commission from our Commander- "make disciples." Then we cannot excuse ourselves from seeking to persuade others. "Since then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men" 2 Cor.5:11.
1.-We have been called and commanded to multiply our lives and make disciples. Will you adopt a "Never give up, unstoppable attitude" in seeking to gently persuade others toward discipleship?
A man will never get married if he waits for a woman to come to him to persuade him to marry her. And fish won't jump in your boat. Be intentional. AMP it up- Ask More People. Never give up! Your legacy is on the line.
2.-Read Prov.17:14-28 and pick a verse or phrase from it that strikes you. Then share some of your thoughts from it with us.
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