The Prisoners
SOUL-WINNING
Handbook

Dr. LeRoy DeMasellis
All Scripture is King James Bible

Contents

Introduction…………………………………………………1
A soul winner must be converted…………………..3
A soul winner must be “Soul Conscious”……….5
Everyone is to be a soul-winner……………………..7
The “How-to” of “Soul-Winning”………………….9
The urgencies of the matter…………………………11
Excuses refuted…………………………………………..13
More Excuses refuted………………………………….17
My Personal Tract………………………………………19
“Soul Winning” stories………………………………..21
Sample Soul Winning Presentation………………26
Conclusion of the “Whole Matter”……………….27

Introduction
Most inmates today are confused about what “Soul Winning” really is. Having a spiritual conversation is not soul-winning! Soul winning is, “taking souls for Christ.” It is confrontational. If you died tonight, are you 100% sure that you are going to heaven? That is putting it right up front.

As believers, we are commanded to tell folks about Christ and His shed blood for redemption. Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. “…Ye shall be witnesses…” is a command. There are people all around you that have not heard the truth about salvation through Jesus Christ. I remember a young man that was in prison with me, in 1977. He asked me who Jesus was? He never had anyone tell him. Right here in the USA. I was 34 years old before I heard the Gospel one time and it was in prison. Inmates need to hear the truth.

Jesus, himself, was a soul winner.
I am reminded about the story of Jesus going through Samaria in John 4:4 “And he must needs go through Samaria.” Here was a town that had been forgotten by the religious crowd of the day. They were forgotten because of the wickedness that Revised 3-28-2022 Copyright © 2016 Page 2 (Prisoner’s Soul-Winning Handbook) was evident everywhere. No matter how wicked, God still does not want anyone to die and go to hell. Today the prisons are a forgotten field by most.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
In our story, Jesus arrives at the well and He meets a harlot who came for water. Jesus is God so He knew already who was going to be there. She was part of a whole town of forgotten people. We see here a good example of confrontational soul winning by the Lord Himself.

John 4:16-18 “Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands, and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.”

As you go soul winning in prison, it is going to be the power of the Scriptures that shows inmates their sin. We are not only to show them their sin but cause them to want salvation. Jesus offered her “Living Water” and in John 4:15 she says, “Sir, give me that water.” When folks see their real condition, based on the Bible, they will want salvation, just as I did on June 11, 1976.

The power of the Scriptures will reach the lost and it will change their lifestyle. This woman received the “Living Water” and immediately it changed her.

In John 4:28 of our story, it says, “…she left her waterpot”. When we truly are born again into the family of God, changes begin to take place. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we read, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” I have a hard time believing real salvation has taken place when there is never a change in one’s lifestyle. Not only do changes begin but also we want to tell others. This woman, at the well, got living water and she told everyone in the city, “come see a man…” John 4:29. When we get saved we ought to have a desire to tell others what God has done for us.

Soul winning is what God is referring to, when He says, “Go ye into all the world…” He wants us to aggressively seek out those who are lost. We must first win them to ourselves before we can present the Gospel to them. This thing that is going on in America where we ask someone, “Do you want to go to heaven?” Well then, pray this prayer, and then they pray but nothing happens. I am afraid that is not what the Lord meant. The Holy Spirit of God shows them their need and convicts them of their condition. Then He draws them to a saving knowledge of Christ. The Holy Spirit of God did just that, with the woman at the well and she received “Living Water” or in other words salvation.

This is why we must always be looking for opportunities to tell others. One Friday morning Pastor Fish and I were out visiting a member of his church. When we got to the home, a brother-in-law of the man we went to visit came out of the kitchen, so I invited him to join me at the dining room table. He agreed and I began to witness to him and tell him how the Lord saved me. I told him how that I was in prison, minding my own business, and a preacher visited me and in just a few minutes I realized, for the first time in my life that I indeed was going to hell and I did not want to do that. So, I prayed and asked the Lord to forgive me and save me. Then I asked the man if he would like to do that and he said, Yes. Then I helped him pray and receive Christ. He got saved and stood up and showed me his tether on his ankle. He had just been released to house arrest and God sent an ex-con by to tell him about Jesus. Soul winning is seeking out the lost wherever we go, even if it is out in the yard or the pods.

A soul winner must be converted.
We cannot be effective soul winners if we have never experienced a true conversion ourselves. Real conversion comes when we, as sinners, see ourselves as a sinner and are willing to admit it. 1 Kings 8:46 says, “…for there is no man that sinneth not,…” In Romans 3:23 we read, “..all have sinned and come short…” Once we acknowledge our sinful condition, we then must repent and receive the gift of God. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

It takes faith and repentance to truly be born again.

How then, do we know for sure if we have the real thing?

Things should begin to change in our life. When I got saved, immediately I stopped cussing and taking the Lord’s name in vain. I stopped looking at the wrong things. I’m telling you, I was a different person in Christ.

I liked being around other Christians. I liked going to church. 1 John 3:14 says, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” Before we were dead in sin. Ephesians 2:1- “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;..” After I got saved, I wanted to be around life. I wanted to sing the songs of Zion. I wanted to tell others.

Our spirit bears witness with other believers and with the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:…” We are also to be led by the Spirit. Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” We know we have the real thing when we allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our lives.

When we get saved we then produce the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: …” Real conversions will produce real love. I could not love my wife like I should until I was born again and knew the love of God. Along with love comes joy. A joy that passes all understanding. Even in a time of sorrow, we can still have the joy of the Lord. The balance of these fruits begins to be part of our life.

Along with all of the above, we also get “Discernment of the Scriptures”. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” We cannot understand the true spiritual content of the Word of God until we are saved. Oh, you can understand the English words but not the spiritual meaning.

This is just a few ways to know for sure if we are saved. It is so important to have this settled before we launch out and attempt to win folks to Christ.

My Personal Conversion: I got the “Real Thing”
As I tell this story, I wish I could say I was saved at the age of six or seven and not have all the baggage I have in my life. That truly is a testimony to strive for, but I was a sinner, deep in sin when Jesus found me. I was born in Detroit, Michigan. to Dario and Gladys DeMasellis. My great grandfather Dominico DeMasellis came over from Italy in the 1870s. I grew up Catholic and attended Catholic school until the 9th grade at which time I started in the public school system of Waterford, Michigan. That is where I met my wife to be. Then at 17 years of age, I was told to go either into the military or to a juvenile prison. Well, I thought, I am sick of taking orders so I joined the United States Marine Corps. When I was 19 (she was 17) Katherine Groves and I were married. At 21, I was discharged from the Marines and began working in construction for $2.35 per hour in Southern California.

We moved back to Michigan from Vista, California and I started a construction company. However, along with the business I began to drink even heavier than before. I became an alcoholic and my business and marriage were suffering because of it. My goal was to be a millionaire by the time I was 30 years old. At this point in my life, I was building 100 new homes a year. Even with all this money, power, and fame, God was nowhere to be found. I blasphemed His name and mocked the things of God. I ended up unable to meet monthly obligations and was shut down. I was then charged with the misuse of funds. After 3 years of court battles, I pled “no contest” and was sentenced to 2 1/2 to 10 years in the Michigan prison system.

Well, my wife was sick of me and all of our problems so she went to church in January of 1976, and in the second week of attendance, she got saved and I went to prison in March of that year. She then took all the kids to church and they got saved. They began to pray for me and on June 11, 1976, her pastor visited me in a prison in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. At 3:40 in the afternoon, I bowed my head and asked Jesus to forgive me and save me. I told him I was sorry for my sin and that if He would let me, I would serve Him the rest of my life. About four years after I was saved God called me to preach and I have been preaching for over 43 years. I attended Midwestern Baptist College and graduated when I was 42 years old. I went to Ortonville, Michigan in 1985 and began a New Testament Baptist Church. After pastoring for 10 years, at age 54, God called me to be a missionary to the prisoners of America. I have had the privilege to see many inmates come
to Christ and many folks in the community as well. Cornerstone Baptist Church of Ortonville is still going today.

His name! It all started with my wife and then me, getting real Salvation and telling others about Christ.

A soul winner must be “Soul Conscious”
Once we have it settled about being saved ourselves, we then must learn to be “Soul Conscious,” always looking for opportunities to tell others which the Lord allows to come in our path. One danger that we must guard against is doing good things but not witnessing when we should. God will place folks in our daily path. We just need to be looking and listening. That is being “Soul Conscious”.

One particular day my wife needed to have an MRI done on her knee. So, I took her to the location for the test. That is doing something good, but now here is where being “Soul Conscious” comes into play. While I was sitting in the waiting room waiting for my wife to return, a man was sitting across from me. I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit and so I began a conversation with the man. One thing led to another and he asked me what I did for a living. I told him that I was a prison preacher. He thought that was unusual and asked me more about it. I got up and went over and sat down next to him and began to tell him how that I was in prison and how I got saved.

Then I asked him if he had ever asked the Lord to forgive and save him. He responded with a “No.” I said, “Could I help you to do that right now?” And he said, “Yes.” We bowed our heads right there in the waiting room and Glen prayed and asked the Lord to forgive him and save him. God kept anyone from coming into the room until we were done. Praise His name!

After Glen was saved he told me that he had retired from General Motors as a plant manager. He said that he always wondered just what all those folks were doing in the plant when it was lunch break, praying and doing Bible studies. He said that it just did not make sense to him but now it does. He went on to say that just the week before one of his old friends that was also a manager had called him and told him that he had gotten saved and that Glen should consider it as well. Then he said, “You come along and make it all clear.” It was the Lord!

If all I had on my mind was my wife and her knees I would have missed an opportunity that God had set up for that time. We must be “Soul Conscious!”

Being soul-conscious means, we must be prepared as well. Always carry Gospel tracts. We may not be able to always give a verbal witness but we can always give a tract. 1Peter 3:15 “…be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…” If you need tracts, there are many sources where they can be found for free.

Learn to use tracts. Place them in unusual places for people to pick up. A prisoner by the name of Ed was in the Brushy Mountain Prison working in the reception center. He came to a Rock of Ages prison revival and was saved. He went back to his job the next day and began to put a tract in every new inmate’s bedroll and clothing. He did that for over two years and when he was released he trained the next man to do the same. Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ…” Glory! Being “Soul Conscious” all day, every day is what will get the job done for the glory of the Lord and change your prison.

Another illustration of being “Soul Conscious” is the following:
I had just returned home from a prison revival in Angola, Louisiana. I had gotten home Friday evening late and slept in my own bed. Saturday morning I got up and just as I did, AJ our grandson who lives with us, called. He was on his way to a youth meeting in Charlotte, Michigan. He said that he had a flat tire on the Interstate about 10 miles from us. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper when he could not get the lug nut off of one bolt. So, I got dressed and headed his way. I got there and was unable to get it lose myself. So, we went to town and borrowed a special wrench that was to do the job. It did not work. So we headed back to the place where we borrowed the wrench and spotted a police officer. So, I asked him for a wrecker’s phone number in the area. He gave it to me and I gave him a Gospel tract and then called the wrecker. We returned the wrench and then met the wrecker at the car. He towed us to the place where we had borrowed the wrench. I paid him $70.00 and gave him a Gospel tract. The man at the garage had to burn the nut off. He replaced it and the other four as well along with two bolts. I paid him $68.00 and gave him a Gospel tract. The tire was shot so we went to a tire store nearby and had two matching tires put on. You guessed it, another $88.00 and a Gospel tract. I was fit to be tied. As we headed home, AJ offered to buy me lunch. I took him up on it. He paid the bill and gave our waitress a Gospel tract. As we headed for home, now 3 pm, I saw the Livingston County Jail and said to A.J., “I sure would like to get in there and preach.” This was on Saturday. On Monday morning, I was sitting at my desk and the Lord laid on my heart the jail once again, so I called. The Chaplain said, “He had an opening just that week for every Thursday from 1- 4 pm. I said, “Glory!” and booked it. My pastor and I went and at the very first service, we saw two men saved. GLORY!!! GLORY!!! So you see, God used that flat tire, my $226.00, and my grandson A.J., to get us started in a new ministry, right near home. Praise His name! I am reminded of the Scripture, “Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations.” James 1:2. Being “Soul Conscious” everywhere we go and in all that we do, is what God wants from us.

Everyone is to be a “Soul Winner”
Matthew 9:37-38 ”Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

Soul-winning is not a call of God on just a few folks. It is a command by God to all His disciples. Some of us may be more outgoing than others and can present the Gospel easier than others but every one that is saved is told to go and tell. 1Corinthians 15:34 says, “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”

1. It is a wise thing to go and tell.
Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Daniel 12:3 “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. “

God tells us in His Word that we are wise people if we go to the lost and help them find their way to the Saviour. God also tells us that we will shine if we go. This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. I have an urge to sing right here but I better not.

2. We are chosen to go and tell.
John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:..”

John 15:8 “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
God has chosen each of us to go and bear fruit. That is, to see others saved. The man that led me to the Lord is Pastor Ken Hauser and I will be his fruit forever. As we sit around the throne in heaven we will see our fruit. Won’t it be sad if everyone there has someone but you? There is a song, “Must I go empty handed?” The chorus says, Must I go empty handed? Must I meet my Saviour so?

Not one soul with which to greet Him: Must I empty handed go?

3. We are commanded to go and tell.
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Mark 16:15-16 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Jesus Christ has given His all for us and all His command is for us to tell others. If He was not going to need us to do that, He would have saved us and taken us home. The only Christ that people will see in this life is the Christ they see in you and me.

4. We have a responsibility to go and tell.
Romans 1:14-15 “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.” Ezekiel 33:8 “When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” Paul said that he owed someone for telling him about the Saviour. You say, “Who told him?” The first martyr of the church. His name was Stephen. He heard him preaching and then stood by while they stoned him. You had better believe he saw Jesus, in Stephen, and realized that he now owed a debt to others. We do too.

We are all to be soul winners because 1. It is a wise thing to do. 2. We are chosen to go. 3. We are commanded to go. 4. We have a responsibility to go.

5. Sinners are going to Hell.
Psalms 9:17“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Revelation 20:15 “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him

John 3:18 “…he that believeth not is condemned already,…”

I will never forget when I realized that I was condemned, even though I had heard about Jesus all my life. It is not good enough to just hear about Him, we must realize we are sinners and deserve hell and that Christ is the only way to heaven. Jesus Himself said in John 14:6 “… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

6. There is joy in going and telling.
Psalms 126:5-6 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Luke 15:10 “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

We must all be about our Father’s business. Time is fleeting and today is the day of salvation. There is joy in going and telling. There is nothing that will bring about a spirit of revival in your prison, like newborn babes in Christ showing up for church. Do you want “Revival?” You want “Joy?” Go and tell!

The “How – to” of “Soul Winning”
There are many different ways to approach personal soul winning. Because I am writing this booklet I thought I would tell you how I do it.

1. I introduce myself.
As I do, I give them a Gospel tract.

2. I make myself friendly.
I try to just talk about something general.

3. We should always look like we are Christians.
My overall appearance changed when I got saved. I cut my hair and stopped wearing worldly clothing. We represent the King of Kings. Let’s look good.

4. Find out their religious background.
This helps me to know how to approach them.

5. We must see all people lost.
We cannot think, because they come to services, that they are saved.

6. There must be a conviction.
As we present the Gospel, the Holy Spirit must bring conviction or there will be no real conversion. I remember the day that I got saved. As the Scriptures were quoted, I came under such conviction that I began to weep. I tried not to but I could not stop it. Now, tears are not necessary but conviction is. The Holy Spirit will let us see a real conviction.

7. Some common Don’ts.
Don’t argue with them. Don’t be self-righteous. Don’t wear out your welcome. Don’t rush the witness, take your time. Don’t condemn their religion.

8. Be alert to your surroundings.
Other people may be listening. Do not say something that might embarrass the person you are talking to.

9. Drawing the net.
After we have presented the Gospel, it is time to “draw the net.” What I mean by “drawing the net” is, we attempt to have them receive Christ as Saviour. Ask them, “Do you understand what the Bible says about salvation?” If the answer is yes, then say, “Would you like to receive the Lord as your Saviour? ” I ask them if they would like to pray and ask the Lord to forgive them and save them. If they are not sure how to pray and need help, I usually say a sample sinner’s prayer so they see that there is not a trick I am trying to play. Then I say, “If you will repeat this prayer after me, and mean it, God will save you right here and right now.

The urgency of the matter
In the book of Esther, we see a great illustration of urgency. The Jews were hated by Haman and because of this hatred; he was able to have a death warrant placed upon all the Jewish people. However, because of a good deed done by Mordicai a new decree was written and sent by post to all of the Jews. The posts were like our Pony Express in the early days of our country. With this, we see a great example for us today. Why “Soul Winning” is so urgent.

1. They had a decree from the king.
The Jews had a new decree but were unaware of it. The new decree would set them free from the old one. We have a decree from our King. His name is Jesus. He tells us to go and tell. Mark 16:15 says, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

John 4: 35 we read: “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” Can you tell? It is an urgent request. We need to drop everything and get busy.

James 4:13 says, “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. “

We must put aside our pleasures and tell them of Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” They had a decree from the King and so do we.

2. Deliverance was available.
Esther 8:11 “Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life,…”

Oh, how the prisoners need to hear that deliverance is available. They can be delivered from the penalty of their sin. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is …. not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Jesus came and died that we could escape the wrath to come.

John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

3. The deadline was fast approaching.
Esther 8:12 says, “Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.” The date had been given for the execution of all the Jews. We do not have a date of the return of Jesus Christ but we have a promise that He will come again. When he does it will be too late for those who are unsaved.

Matthew 24:36 says, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Rev. 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

The Bible goes on in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 to say, “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

The message that we have will not be any good if it is received too late.

John 3:18 tells us, “…he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

If Jesus does not come for 100 years, everyone reading this booklet will either be in Heaven or Hell and all of our family as well. We have the message from the King of Kings and because of His shed blood, deliverance is available, but time is of the essence and this is the urgency of the matter

I’ll wish I had given Him more
By and by when I look on His face, beautiful face, thorn-shadowed face;
By and by when I look on His face, I’ll wish I had given Him more’
More, so much more, More of my life than e’er gave before
By and by when I look on His face, I’ll wish I had given Him more.
By and by when He holds out His hands, welcoming hands, nail-riven hands,
By and by when He holds out His hands, I’ll wish I had given Him more.
More, so much more, more of my love than I e’re gave before,
By and by when He holds out His hands, I’ll wish I had given Him more.
In the light of that heavenly place, Light from His face, beautiful face,
In the Light of that heavenly place, I’ll wish I had given Him more.
More, so much more, treasures unbounded for Him I adore,
By and by when I look on His face, I’ll wish I had given Him more.

By Grace Reese Adkins

Excuses refuted

1. How to witness to lost folks who think they are saved.
When someone says that they are saved but in all appearance they have no fruit of salvation, explain to them that being faithful to church will not get anyone to heaven. John 3:3 says, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” I can drive on a freeway but that will not make me an automobile. Attending church, all your life, will not make you a Christian.

John 3:1-2 speaks of a man that was religious but lost. “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”

One way that we can test our Christianity is by Hebrews 12:6-8 “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

If there is no chastisement, there is no salvation.

2 Timothy 2:19 says, “ …The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. “

2 Corinthians 5:10-11 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”

There are only two beings that know whether we are saved or not. That is we ourselves and God. And there is no second chance. Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:..” If we are saved and backslidden we will receive the chastening of the Lord and possibly our families as well. God just might set our barley fields on fire to get our attention. 2 Sam.14:30.

Rev. 20:15 says, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” We must have our names written down.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” John 1:11-13 says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

2. Good works will not save us.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” Salvation is never of good works. If it were, we could say that we did it and the Bible is clear that Christ only is the way.

3. The blood is important.
1 Peter 1:18-19 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

Notice it is not tradition but by the blood.

Hebrews 10:11-12 “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;..”

It is the blood that is important.

4. Preaching the Gospel of Jesus is important.
Galatians 1:9 “As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have, let him be accursed.”

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

It should be clear that Jesus is the only one to preach about.

John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Some try to say that Jesus was created and is the firstborn of creation but this verse says He did the creating. Colossians 1:13-14 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

Forgiveness of sin is found in Jesus.

Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

5. God is Triune.

Matthew 28:19, Matthew 3:16-17, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 11:7, Isaiah 6:8

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

The Holy Spirit is a person and is God and many refuse to accept this.

6. The existence of Hell is real.
Revelation 20:15, Matt.5:22, 8:11-12, Revelation 14:9-11

7. Salvation is in the Completed work of Christ.
Romans 10:17, 19, John 1:29, Revelation 13:8, Leiticus17:11, Hebrews 9:22, Colossians 1:20, II Corinthians 5:21

 

Jesus is Messiah:
Many do not believe that Messiah has come yet. So with great compassion and sincerity, we need to show them Yeshua. Yeshua is Jesus in the Tanakh. The Tanakh is the Hebrew Old Testament Scriptures. Every time the Old Testament uses the word “Salvation,” it is the same word for “Yeshua” (Jesus) that is used in, Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Remember that the angel who spoke to Mary and the angel who spoke to Joseph in his dream did not speak in English, Latin, or Greek, but in Hebrew, and neither was Mary or Joseph slow to grasp the meaning and significance of the NAME of this divine Son. In the Old Testament, all great characters were given names with a specific meaning. Now then, when the angel spoke to Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus, this is what he said: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus [YESHUA]: for he shall save his people from their sins.” In Hebrew it is YESHUA, in Greek it is Iesus and in English it is Jesus.

When the Patriarch Jacob was ready to depart from this life, he by the Holy Spirit was blessing his sons and prophetically foretelling their future in his blessings. In Genesis 49:18 he exclaims, “I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.” What he did say was, “To thy YESHUA [Jesus] I am looking, O Lord” or “In YESHUA I am trusting! “

It was YESHUA whom Jacob was trusting to carry him safely over the chilly waters of the river of death. In Psalms 9:14 David says, “… I will rejoice in thy salvation.” What he was actually saying was: “I will rejoice in thy YESHUA [Jesus].” In Habakkuk 3:13 we have the greatest demonstrating of the name “Jesus” in the Old Testament. Here we have both the name as well as the title of the Saviour. “Thou wentest forth for the salvation [YESHUA] of thy people, even for salvation [YESHUA] with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked,…”[Satan] Here you have it! The very NAME given to our Lord in the New Testament, JESUS CHRIST! Do not let anyone say that the name of Jesus is not in the Old Testament.

Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS [YESHUA]; for He shall save His people from their sins!”

More Excuses Refuted
(For not getting saved.)

1. When I stop sinning.
Matthew 6:33 “Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven…”

2. God would not send anyone to Hell.
John 3:18 “He that believeth not is condemn already..”

3. My sin is too bad.
1 Timothy 1:15 “Christ Jesus came to save sinners..”

4. I do not believe the Bible.
1 Corinthians 2:14 “The natural man receiveth not the things of God…”

5. I like what I do.
Hebrews 11:25 “.. the pleasures of sin for a season;

6. I have plenty of time.
Isaiah 55:6 “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found:..”
James 4:14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. “

7. There are too many hypocrites.
Romans 14:12 “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

8. How do we know that there is a God?
Psalms 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

9. It is too late for me.
John 6:37 “… him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

10. I have always been a Christian.
Psalms 51:5 “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. “

11. I am not a sinner.
Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. “

You Forgot My Soul

You lived next door to me for years,
We shared our dreams, our joys, and tears.
A friend to me you were indeed,
A friend who helped me when in need.

My faith in you was strong and sure.
We had such trust as should endure.
No words between us ever rose,
Our friends were alike and so our foes.

What sadness, then, my friend, to find,
That, after all, you weren’t so kind.
The day my life on earth did end,
I found you weren’t a faithful friend.

For all those years we spent on earth,
You never talked of second birth.
You never spoke of my lost soul,
And of Christ who’d make me whole.

I’m lost today eternally,
And tell you now my earnest plea.
You cannot do a thing for me,
No words today my bonds will free.

But do not err, my friend, again.
Do all you can for souls of men.
Plead with them now quite earnestly,
Lest they be cast in hell with me.

Author Unknown

I was in Prison

In March of 1976, I received a 2 1/2 to 10-year sentence in Jackson Prison in Michigan. As I was taken from the courtroom
that day in handcuffs, I looked at my wife thinking that I would not see her again. I went through the regular entrance
formalities at the state prison, after being transported in an orange jumpsuit with leg and wrist shackles. I felt empty and
alone.

I did not believe that there could be a God. I not only was in prison but I was also in the prison of sin. For years, I had
mocked spiritual things, used God’s name in vain, and laughed at the thought of any spiritual accountability.

There I was, in prison for 2 1/2 years and condemned to spiritual death as well (Revelation 20:15).

But... A Preacher visited me and told me that:

1. God loved me.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”
II Peter 3:9b God’s “…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” For the first time in my life:

2. I realized that I was a sinner.
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

3. I realized that I deserved Hell.
Romans 6:23a “For the wages of sin is death…”

4. I realized that I could be forgiven.
Romans 6:23b “…But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

I bowed my head that day and asked God to forgive my sin and save my soul.

I prayed:

Dear Lord,
I admit that I am a sinner and I am sorry and ask that you forgive me and save me and give me your gift of eternal life. Help me now to live for you. In Jesus Name. Amen

GUESS WHAT? HE DID!
And, He will do the same for you. Just pray the above prayer with all your heart and you too can be released from the prison of sin. I have been saved for over 47 years now. I am out of prison in both cases and I expect to spend eternity in Heaven, based on the Bible, God’s Word. John 10:27-29 & I John 5:11-13

Soul Winning Stories

The Work Of God Hindered

I was in Ripley, WV. For a series of meetings. On Thursday evening the church gathered for weekly soul-winning. One of the men had a burden for his grandfather who only had weeks to live, so he and I went to see him. When we arrived, he already had visitors so we just made ourselves friendly for a while. It appeared that the visitors were not going anywhere so I began to witness. As I did, his 45-year-old son came in. He claimed to be saved but started butting in as I presented the Gospel. He said that I did not have to tell his father anything but the father admitted to me that he was not saved. As I continued, the son, who had been drinking got very nasty and quenched the Spirit of God. I finally asked him to be quiet and that almost triggered a fight. By this time it was too late, the father was not interested in what, I supposedly had, or what I had to offer. We left there sorrowful that the devil was able to stop our efforts.

Understandest What Thou Readest

We had just completed a 3-day prison revival in Clarksdale, Mississippi. We went to bed and got up at 3 a.m. to head for Michigan at about 4 a.m. In Clarksdale, at 4 a.m. nothing is moving. My partner and I saw the little Gas and Go shop was open, so we decided to get some coffee. As we pulled into the parking lot an 18-wheeler pulled in also. So, Mike went and talked to the trucker. As I walked into the shop, there was a young girl about 90 pounds and maybe 20 years old behind the counter. She was reading a small New Testament.

As I walked up to her I said, “Understandest what thou readest?” She began to weep and said, “I can’t make any sense out of it.” I asked her if she had ever had someone show her how to be saved from the Bible. She responded with, “No.” I went on to say that she would never understand the Bible until she knew Jesus as her Saviour. Then I took her Bible and showed her what God says and how to be saved. She bowed her head right there and prayed and asked Jesus to save her.

The young lady was now smiling because she got saved, and I left with our coffee. As Mike got to our car he jumped in rejoicing that the Trucker had gotten saved. Then I informed him that the lady inside also had trusted Christ. How we rejoiced together on our way back to Michigan.

God will set your Barley Fields on Fire

A preacher by the name of Mayes Jackson was preaching at a camp meeting and he spotted a family that he had not seen in some time. He noticed that something was just not right and asked the man, “John are you still in church?” “No” was the answer. This night he preached a message entitled “God will set your Barley fields on Fire!” Many responded but John did not. Bro. Jackson looked right at John and said, “If you do not get back in church God will set your barley fields on fire.” Then John said, “You do not understand what that church has done to me and how they treated me.” Bro. Jackson said, “It really does not matter what they have done. God wants His children in church, serving Him. If you do not get back in church He will set your barley fields on fire.”

Several months went by and on a sunny afternoon, John came home after working in the coal mines all day, got himself a glass of sweet tea, and sat down on the front porch. His little boy was in the front yard playing catch by himself. Throwing the ball up and then catching it. After a while, he went to his father and said, “Daddy please play catch with me,” but John was just too tired and said, “not now.” After a while, the boy went back to his father and said, “Daddy, I really don’t care if you play ball with me but would you come to church with Mommy and me this Sunday?” John got very angry and said, “I will not ever go back to that church and if you ask me again I will whip you.”

The little fellow walked away and began throwing his ball up even higher and catching it. He threw the ball so high that it curved towards the road. As he ran to catch it, John heard the screeching of the tires and as he looked up, he saw his son’s body flipping through the air, only to land face first in the red clay. As John reached him and held him, the little boy said, “All I really wanted was for you to come to church with me,” and then he died. John then remembered the preacher and the message, “God will set your barley fields on fire.”

What’s Wrong With Today?  

John was suffering from an attack of the flu. His life was not in danger, but he felt weak and ill. The doctor was called and after his exam, he gave John a bottle of medicine to take. He was about to say good-by when John’s wife asked, “When should he take this medicine?” The doctor looked at John and said, “You’re not very ill, suppose you begin taking it in a month.” “In a month!” Cried, John. “I could be dead by then.” “That is true,” said the doctor, “but you are not really that bad yet.” John cried out, “What’s wrong with today?”

Just as foolish as putting off taking the medicine for the flu is, so is putting off the decision to get our sins forgiven, for we have no guarantee of tomorrow. Hebrews 9:27 “…it is appointed unto man once to die…”

Leave Tracts in Unusual Places

My wife and had been on the road all day and we were tired. It was about 6 p.m. and I decided to look for a motel room for the night. We were in Des Moines, Iowa and every motel was booked. Finally, at the fifth motel, the woman said she had just had a cancellation for one night and that if I promised to leave in the morning she would let us have this room. I said ok but wondered why everything was so booked. She explained that a cult group had rented the stadium and all the motels for the week. She went on to tell me that the folks that had just canceled were also of that same cult and that they would be there in the morning.

Well, in the morning as I considered who was coming into our room when we left, I wanted to leave a tract for them. One that the maid would not find or get. I would leave her one anyway. I thought about how they will never take my literature but want me to take their perversion. Anyway, I am thinking, and all of a sudden I get this idea. I unrolled the toilet paper 20 feet and placed my Gospel tract in the roll and then re-rolled it very carefully. Folding it to a point when I was through re-rolling it. I do not know about you but I am looking forward to somebody telling that story someday in heaven and the Lord reveals that it was that fanatic DeMasellis that did it.

Harvesting
If you want a harvest in a Year- ………………………… Plant Wheat
If you want a harvest in 10 Years- ……………………..Plant Trees
If you want a harvest in 100 years-………………………Plant People
If you want a harvest that will last for Eternity-…….….Plant the Gospel

Cheyenne River Indian Reservation

My partner, Bro. Howard Smith and I were in prison revival in the evenings but free during the day. Therefore, we went soul winning in the local town. We were driving by the graveyard and saw 10 inmates weed whacking around the tombstones, so we stopped. I went up to the Officer-in-Charge and asked if I could preach to those men working. He said, “What?” I told him that I was a prison preacher and that I would really like to share the Gospel with those inmates. He said that he had never had a request like that before and said that he would have to get it cleared from the main office. He went on to tell us that if we would be right here in this same place at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow if he had permission, he would let me do so.

The next morning we were there, and along comes the work van with 10 inmates. The officer had them all get out and stand at attention and I preached and gave an invitation. One man came forward and knelt right by a tombstone and prayed and asked Jesus into his heart. Glory! Another man came forward and rededicated his life to the Lord. The other eight men all bowed their heads and we had prayer for them and the officer. Ain’t God good?

Cedar Rapids Jail Conversion

I was invited to preach in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa jail on Tuesday morning. Pastor Mordh asked me to go with him. When the men came out, there were only seven, so I asked them how many were saved and they all raised their hands. So I shifted gears and changed my message. At the close of the message, I asked again, “How many of you are 100% sure you are going to heaven when you die?” Only one man raised his hand. I was perplexed. Pastor Mordh took three men and so did I. The very first man that I dealt with, I asked what he meant by raising his hand the first time. He said that God had definitely saved him from dying out in the streets and that is why he is alive right now. So, I went on to show him how that God would save him from more than that. How He would save his soul from Hell, forever. He bowed his head and was gloriously saved from his sin.

I traveled to Dupree, South Dakota to be with Pastor Owen and his church on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation for a 4 day Revival in his church. We went to the tribal jail on Friday and got permission to go to the tribal prison on Saturday morning. When we got there, the call was made for church. Two Native American men came out, I preached, and both men were saved. Bro Owen dealt with Evan and after he was saved he asked the pastor to visit his wife and 7 children that lived right there on the reservation.

On Monday, Bro. Owen made the visit he had promised to make to Evan’s wife. He introduced himself to Evan’s wife at the door and then asked her if she had ever heard about being saved. She said not until yesterday. Bro. Owen was confused. He asked her what she meant and she replied that yesterday her husband, Evan, had called her and told her what he had done and then helped her do the same thing on the phone. So, she got saved too. Praise His Name! So much for being trained before you can tell others about your conversion.

THE WHIPPOORWILL POEM

I set the boundaries of the Ocean vast
Carved out the Mountains from the distant past
Molded a man from the miry clay
Breathed in him life and he went astray

I hold the waters in my mighty hand
Spread out the heavens with a single span
Make all creation tremble at my voice
But my own sons come to me by choice

Even the oxen know the Master’s stall
And sheep will recognize the Shepherds call
I could demand your love, I own you twice
But only willing love is worth the price

And if you want Me to, I’ll make you whole
I’ll only do it, if you say so
I’ll never force you, for I love you so
I’ll give you freedom, is it Yes or No?

I own the cattle on a thousand hills
I write the music for the whippoorwills
Control the Planets with their rocks and hills
But I give you freedom to use your own will.

A Sample Presentation

1. The Greeting.
I’m, and your name __________
What is your name? or You are? _______ ask their name.

2. Make yourself friendly.
Make the general conversation about something they may be interested in.

3. Has anyone ever shown you from the Bible how you can know for sure that you are going to heaven?

4. Now use the Scriptures.
A. Romans 3:23 All have sinned…
B. Romans 6:23a The wages of sin is…
C. Romans 6:23b The gift of God is…
D. Romans 10:13 Whosoever shall call…

5. Would you like to pray and ask the Lord to forgive you and save you?
Ask them to pray, and maybe give them an example prayer:

Dear Lord,
I admit that I am a sinner and am sorry for my sin, I ask that you forgive me and give me your gift of Eternal Life. Help me now to live for you. Amen.

Then give them some assurance verses. John 10:27-28

Conclusion of the “Whole Matter”
Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Visiting is not “Soul Winning” The Lord makes it very clear that we are to go and confront men and women with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As I have already stated, in no way have I tried to exhaust anything in this little booklet. I have only tried to share my way of going and sowing in hopes that it will provoke and help you.

What our Founding Fathers Believed

George Washington
“You do well to learn…above all about Jesus Christ”

Benjamin Rush
“My only hope of salvation is in the infinite, transcendent love of God manifested to the world by the death of His Son upon the cross. Nothing but His blood will wash away my sin….”

Roger Sherman
“I believe that there is only one living and true God, existing in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the same substance equal in power and glory. That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments is a revelation from God and a complete rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.”

John Witherspoon
“I shall now entreat you in the most earnest manner to believe in Jesus Christ for there is not salvation in any other. If we are not clothed with the spotless robe of His Righteousness, we must forever perish.”

Edmond Burke
“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”