An example of how a soul winner converted a person's will is seen in the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8.
An angel instructed Philip to go to the desert south of Jerusalem.

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.... Then Philip...preached unto him Jesus.

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

...and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
(Acts 8:27-31;35-39)
Notice in verse 28 that the eunuch was reading from the scroll of Isaiah, and in verse 30, Philip asked him, "Understandest thou what thou readest?" In verse 31, the eunuch replied, "How can I, except some man should guide me?"

The eunuch's will was not yet converted to the living Word of God. In verse 35, Philip began to "preach Jesus" to the man. In this time span, verses 35 and 36, Philip the evangelist convinced or converted the eunuch's will, and the eunuch chose by an act of his will (not his emotions) to be saved.

This resulted from Philip "preaching Jesus" to him. Therefore, Philip won this eunuch to the Lord and became a soul winner for Jesus!

Jesus Our Example
"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Peter 2:21).

In order for us to follow someone as an example, our "example" would have to have experienced and overcome whatever we are asked to follow. In other words, examples must be obtained in order to be examples.

Jesus is our example in this life. The scriptures clearly show how He chose or "willed" to obey God throughout His entire life (John 5:30;6:38).

Jesus did not allow His mind or emotions to sway Him from doing and saying what His Father required of Him. Thus, He gave us a perfect example to live by.

We can trace Jesus' total obedience to His Father's will to His childhood. When He was 12, he accompanied His family on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover, but afterwards remained behind, unknown to them, at the Temple, conversing in a learned manner with the doctors of the Law.

Let's look at this story, found in Luke 2.
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.

And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
(Luke 2:41-52)
When Mary asked her Son why He had treated them that way, He replied, "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (verse 49).

Jesus at a young age had chosen to do the will of the Father, but He was not rebellious toward His earthly family. Notice in verse 51, He was "subject unto them."

An average person living in today's world makes thousands upon thousands of choices during his or her lifetime. Some are difficult to make, and some are easy. The thing to bear in mind as you make choices is whether or not they are fruitful for God's glory.

Copyright © Todd Bailey Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.