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Sermon of the Week 
Wednesday, July 27 2016

Bringing Our Loved Ones To Christ

One of the questions most frequently asked is about how to get unsaved loved ones saved. First, we must realize that the Father draws people through the Holy Spirit. When the Word of God is shared, the Holy Spirit brings conviction upon people through the Word, and it doesn’t have to be King James, since God knows what He said. When Jesus said in John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” He said what He meant and He meant what He said. What we haven’t understood is this: There’s nothing wrong with your unsaved loved one (or any other unsaved person) except the devil. No human being who truly understood the salvation Jesus has offered to us would reject that salvation of his own free will. No one! Why, then, are so many people still unsaved?

II Corinthians 4:4 tells us it is because “The god of this world [the devil] has 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.” We must be sure of our own right relationship to Christ and those we interact with. If we are dead and dry in our own experience, we cannot help them into to a real, vibrant and clear Christian experience. If we are earth-minded, careless and prayerless, we have nothing to offer them until we get right ourselves. We must have a living fire in our own hearts, shining out through our eyes, and radiating through our own words and deeds, if we would impress and win them for Christ. A dead soul cannot give life to a dead soul. Backslidden parents and companions cannot lead their loved ones to Christ.

Our next responsibility and opportunity is to live the Christ Life in the presence of our loved ones. It takes a holy life to generate holy influence. Christian carefulness, in word and deed, should be in our daily conduct. We must watch our conversation around the table and in the family circle. We must avoid questionable remarks and negative conversation in their presence. We must be especially careful in our expressions about other Christians and ministers of the gospel. We must also be more careful in our business dealings, not only to deal according to Bible principles to impress our loved ones and all others that our love for people we interact with, goes much deeper than with their actions, their outward appearance and their stuff. We must lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven in the form of the souls of our precious loved ones, instead of material wealth on earth. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

If we are to win our loved ones for Christ, we must do it through prayer, and even sacrificial fasting. In different cases earnest and constant prayer and fasting will be very much needed. Scripture states… "Howbeit, such cometh not out but by prayer and fasting." If we are not earnest enough to fast, can we expect God to answer? It is so easy to get wrapped up in caring for the physical needs of our loved ones that we fail to take care of the more important issues of their soul.

One Christian, got so burdened for his family that he could not rest until he had done his best to lead them to Christ. Since he was converted later in life, most of his large family had grown up in sin, and some of them were married. After prayer and fasting, he felt that he should invite all his children in for a special dinner. He was especially prayerful and careful in providing and preparing the dinner.

When it was ready, he served all the plates in a most careful manner, but his own plate was left empty. When his children noted that his plate was empty, they asked why, and insisted that they fill his plate as well. By this time his burden for his lost family had so overpowered him that he pushed back his chair from the table and broke down and as he went around hugging each one, he cried out, "How can I eat any dinner when all my family are lost?"

The Spirit of God so moved his unconverted children until they broke into tears and weeping, and dinner was forgotten and a revival broke out instead. Falling on their knees around the table, most, if not all, of his large family were gloriously converted. Several of them became ministers and useful Christians and still are the backbone of his Church. Doubtless as he looks down from heaven on them, his heart breaks out in praise to God that he prayed and fasted until his words gripped and softened their hearts.

Many times our words are too dead and our efforts too tame. Why? If we would only take the same careful precautions and preparations, and then put forth as much interest for the souls of our families as we do their bodies, many of them now lost would be saved. 4th. We should manifest a radiant, trustful attitude toward God and in front of our loved ones. We cannot win them to Christ in careless neglect; neither can we win them by being sad faced, negative and no fun at all. If our salvation does not satisfy us, how can we expect others to want it?

There is a difference in being a spoil sport and wet blanket and carrying a burden for the lost. We need a demeanor that is grounded in faith and gratitude toward God, while demonstrating a tender love for our lost ones. We can feel a deep concern, and yet trust God while we carry it. Our radiant, unapologetic and heartfelt tears will awaken their consciences and make them long for what we possess.

A mother prayed all night for her lost son in a distant city and came home from church the next morning shouting. The son who was restless all night decided to get saved at the very hour that his mother "prayed through" and began shouting the victory. Mixing faith, love and confidence with our deep soul burdens, moves God and motivates us. As scripture says, "According to your faith, so be it unto you." Parents should take special time for the spiritual instruction of their children in the family setting and at other times. We should not leave all of this important instruction, for the church to do. Our children need to see that God’s word and His will is a natural part of our home. The deep impressions made on children's minds and consciences warrant any and every effort. Hearing their parents call their name in prayer, or listening to their Godly instructions and admonitions, move children's hearts more than we know.

One child, came in the house from working outside on the farm, to get a drink of water. Just before he entered the house, he heard his mother praying. He stopped as he heard her mention his name in prayer. His childish heart was deeply stirred, and he was so overcome that he hurried back to work without the water. There is a thirst in human hearts for God and reality greater than their thirst for natural bread and water -- if our parents only realized it in time. Family worship should afford a special time to refresh and instruct us. Instead of waiting till we are tired and worn, until we cannot really pray, we should select a time best suited for the most important part of our family life, and worship God in Spirit and in truth. Sing songs of praise and encouragement as we are with our family and make melody in our hearts and in our homes. These are memories that will last a life time.

This is a good time to inquire into the children's spiritual needs and conditions and give testimony to God's wonderful grace and help. Children love to hear the stories of our own journey, of the tests, trials and victories. Special personal instruction for living life well, should be given to each member of the family at set times. John Wesley's mother had nineteen children besides her duties as a pastor's wife, but she gave one hour of personal instruction to each child each week. But you say, "I just cannot take time for such duties." Time for what? Which is worth more? The bodies or the souls of our family? Scripture gives us the mandate…"Life is worth more than meat, and the body more than raiment."… "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (food and raiment) shall be added unto you."

God provides our food and raiment through natural laws, but our souls are only fed as we take the time and effort to make it so. How often is it that we feed the bodies of our children and other loved ones, and then send them out with starving souls. How much time do you spend with your children's souls? A young woman in a Christian school got under conviction, and weeping, cried out, "Neither my father nor my mother have ever spoken to me about my soul." The father made a practice of telling others about this great salvation, but never mentioned it to his children. Was he sincere? When shall we lead our loved ones to Christ? We cannot do it too early, but we may wait too late. The devil begins in their early months and years. We need to begin their spiritual shaping and molding as early as possible. We must begin while they are young and tender, for we dare not wait till they are hard and rebellious. We must do our best to reach them before their important choices are made without Christ.

Let us not feel that they are all right until they grow up and live in rebellion against God and all we have ever lived for. Let us not wait till the devil gets them and then spend our time trying to undo the results of our neglect. Children learn more in the first three years of their lives than in any other period. The first seed sown in their hearts spring up first. Most great men and women have been converted in early childhood. How many of your children or other loved ones are saved? What have you done about it? What are going to do about it, and WHEN? Many die in youth or childhood. We cannot use fear or force to get our loved ones to be Christians, but we can keep loving and watching for a chance to woo or warn them. Keep at it, the devil never lets them rest, but approaches them every time from every angle and at every turn of the road. Does he hate them more than we love them?

To train up a child in the way it should go does not mean to turn them loose and let them go. Most people wait till it is too late to win their loved ones. There are many short coffins and graves, and many grown-ups in sin who once were tender and hungry for God. We must discipline and restrain our children until they are saved and afterward, If they do not know how to yield to their parents, they will not know how to yield to God.

A young man once came to the pastor’s office, in a Christian school. under conviction for sin and said, "I have always had my own way at home and every other place, so I am finding it difficult to know how to surrender to God." Eli the priest, had sons who were vile and he restrained them not." It is easy to let sympathy smother out our intelligent love. Restraint is difficult, but it is a parental duty. When to say no and yes: when to let them go and when to make them stay is the test of our love and better judgment. When it endangers their morals or jeopardizes their souls, say no. Let us be kind but firm. Parents must decide and act together. If father tells them to do one thing and mother another, authority is divided and destroyed.

When mother buts in when father is correcting the child, his influence is canceled, and the child rebels against his own soul and resents what is put in place for his own protection. Parents disagreeing and arguing in the presence of their children is one of the most fatal sins against themselves and their children. It undermines and Interferes with discipline so sorely needed in this rebellious generation, and it is a crime against God and your children. Do not plead the child's case, but back your companion in his or her effort to hold them in the right path, or delay a decision until you both can agree. Parents should never punish their children in anger but they must be firm and kind. Where there are so many allurements all about them, there must be a strong, loving, restraining hand, or our children will drift and rush to destruction with the wrong crowd.

It takes more love to hold them in and lead them to Christ, than it does to relieve our nerves by letting them go to destruction. It must be done in the right spirit, with the right purpose ever before us -- for their good, not our convenience. "Father's, provoke not your children to wrath, lest they be discouraged, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." We must not embarrass or humiliate them in the presence of others, except in extreme and rare cases. Many mothers and fathers bring up their children in idleness, while they themselves become slaves for their children, with the result that their children become slave masters over their parents. If you want your children to love you, let them serve you. Receiving makes one selfish, while giving and helping others makes one unselfish and kind. If you raise your children in idleness, they will waste your substance and let you die in the poor house, while they die in the prison house.

Luxury and laziness ruin more children than all other things. Let them learn to bear responsibility and learn to work hard, if you want to save them. "Idle brains are the devil's workshop and idle hands are his tools." We must take our children to church if we want them to be Christians. If we send them to church and stay at home ourselves, they will soon follow our example. Children raised carelessly, without restraints, do not thank God or their parents. If they stay in school all week, they should be able to remain in church a short while on Sunday. You may lose them after you do your best, but you will never win them to Christ by letting them neglect His house and develop faulty patterns for their lives. It is in taking responsibility in honoring God’s house, that they learn to reverence God and their parents. Irreverence and rebellion go together in forming a rebellious generation.

You must hold them accountable, while they form the right habits and get their priorities in the right order with God. Teach them to respect God and His house and you will never be sorry. Then you should lead them to Christ by leading them to the altar. It is not commendable for parents who profess to be the recipients of grace to stand still while the spirit of God moves in the service, and never invite their children to the altar or pray with them if they do go. Don’t wait for the pastor to invite them to the altar, invite them yourself, and go with them. Human love, plus divine love, will surely accomplish more than divine love alone. If you have not lived so that your children trust you and want your walk of faith, confess your sin and ask their forgiveness, and get something that you can recommend to them. If you have lived right before them, do not let the devil bully you.

When they grow up and live and die in sin, you will hate your cowardice when it is too late. If parents did their duty before, during and after the spirit moves upon a child’s heart, pastors and evangelists would find it easier to help them win their loved ones to Christ. Let us put their salvation first, and all else second. God loves our children, but he will not make exception for them, since his mercy is mixed with justice. They must repent, confess and forsake their sins before God. Tears and compassion, mixed with our exhortations will give them courage and determination to yield all to God. We cannot force them to be Christians against their will; neither can we force God to save them against His own word. They must meet His conditions and He will meet their need. It does not take a seeking soul long to find a seeking Savior.

We must put their salvation before food, clothes, education, sleep or any other fleeting earthly interest. If we are more interested in the newspaper than the Bible, and in the latest TV program, than we are in hearing from heaven, our children will not be well impressed by our lack of priority. If they are not saved, let it be their fault, not our lack of responsibility. Finally, for our children, it is not enough to get them saved; we must do all in our power to keep them saved. The greatest sin of parents and churches is to get souls saved and then leave them to their own resources, without further mentoring and discipleship. If mothers gave their new-born babes no more care and attention than most parents and churches do young converts, this generation would be the last one on earth.

An unplanned and Spasmodic religion will not do for us or our loved ones. We must watch over, council and pray for and with our converted loved ones. Be careful about criticizing them for their faults and blunders, but encourage, comfort and instruct them in the way of God more perfectly. It’s still as true as it ever was, that a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down.

This fleeting life will soon be over. They soon grow up and drift out into the world without us. Let us lead them on the right path and keep them right and we shall have less to regret. The prayers of Godly parents are not enough; only God can save you, and he cannot save you without your yielded consent. "What shall it profit a man or woman if he or she shall gain the whole world and lose his or her own soul?" If we can save our homes, we can save our nation and the world. If our homes are lost, all is lost. Let us arrange now with God and heaven to have a happy family circle here, and a happier family reunion in heaven.

Just a final word to that struggling Christian companion who has to live with an unsaved husband or wife. We know how lonely and tired you often become, fighting your battles all alone or often against the evil influence of that unsaved loved one, but you must not give up till the last effort is made and the last day has been lived.

Do not pressure and badger your unsaved loved one until you drive them away ; neither give them up in indifference or despair. Select your opportunities and do all in your power to win them, and to get them under the influence of other Christians who want to help you. Be very careful not to say anything about your trials or fellow Christians which might discourage them or give them grounds for bitterness or criticism of other Christians. If you do not always hold up so well under their opposition or abuse, when you realize your failure, fix your part and go on with God.

There is nothing to go back to, and they will never be saved if you surrender, give in and go along with them. They are watching your life and they are being influenced when they would not let you know it for anything. It is their misery that makes them so hateful.

One godless husband had tried his wife for years and was almost ready to yield to God. But he said to himself, "I am going to try my wife to the limit once more: if she holds up under the trial I shall yield to God myself." With the bitterest words he abused and misused her. The same devil who inspired him to so use her said to her, "You have stood it long enough: there is no hope for him and you cannot live longer under it just give up and give him what is coming to him and have it all over with." She yielded and gave him a terrible scathing for his wickedness and abuse through all the long years. Where upon he broke down and cried and replied, "Wife I had been watching you for all this time and had planned to yield to God if you had stood under this trial."

God bless our Christian companions who endure such abuse and contradiction from unsaved loved ones. You cannot afford to give up and think that it is over. Your own soul and that of your children are at stake. "You have not yet resisted unto blood." Has God not promised,"Be faithful and I will give you a crown of life that fades not away," as do all earthly things.

The toils of the road will seem nothing when he or she surrenders and is soundly converted. The family altar will be blessed when he or she joins in. But if they do not yield, you can be confident that at the end your struggles begins a never ending world of joy and victory, and sorrow and sighing flee away. Win your children if possible. Often hard fathers are won by the tears of little children when they resist all others.

Then we have the problem of living with unsaved brothers and sisters. It is a common thing for those of the same household to be divided here and hereafter. Salvation is a personal matter. One brother or sister may become a devout and humble Christian, while another rebels and lives a life of sin and shame. I knew two boys who grew up in the same Christian home with a godly minister for their father. One yielded to God and is now preaching the gospel; the other made plenty of money, lived the life of a drunkard; died without Christ and was sent home in a coffin.

It is up to each young person, as to which road you take, the kind of life you live and the kind of death you die; as well as the influence you leave behind for coming generations, while you reflect upon your life, in heaven or in hell. When our loved ones are gone from us, our greatest joy will be that we have been faithful and won them to Christ. Our greatest sorrow will be that we have neglected their souls and that they may have died unprepared. What we or they have gained of earthly wealth will fade as worthless and as nothing, when we or they pass beyond and leave behind a train of sorrow and a trail of woe.

Once you realize it’s the devil (not your loved one) who’s the real problem, your first prayer step becomes clear. You must get the devil out of your loved one’s way. As Jesus said, “How can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man?” (Matthew 12:29). You can’t! So bind him. Jesus said in Matthew 9:38, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.”.

Say, “You spirit operating in the life of my loved one, blinding (put in their name) to the gospel to keep them (put in their name) out of the kingdom of God, I bind you now. I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. I carry His authority and righteousness, and in His Name I command you to cease in your maneuvers. I spoil your house according to the Word of God and I enter into it to deliver my loved one from your hands.”

Now, you may not be able to cast that devil entirely out of the situation, because your loved one may invite him back in faster than you can cast him out. But you can bind that spirit and keep it bound. It may keep you busy for a while, but you can do it. You’ll find your next prayer step in Matthew 9:37-38. There, Jesus was looking out at the multitudes who needed ministry and He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.”

It’s the Word of God that brings faith for salvation: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). So you need to see to it that the Word gets into your loved one’s heart. “How?” you say, “My loved one won’t listen to me!” Probably not, but God knows who your loved one will listen to, and He’ll send that person halfway around the world to talk to your loved one if necessary. So pray to the Lord of the harvest:

Father, I’m asking You to send laborers across (put in their name’s) path, laborers who are equipped with the Word of God about salvation, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, healing and deliverance. Send laborers who can communicate effectively with (put in their name) so Your Word can reach his/her heart.” Once you’ve prayed for your loved one like that, from then on, put your faith in action by treating your loved one like he’s/she’s saved.

Don’t treat your loved one like he’s/she’s not good enough. On the contrary, every time you see your loved one, say, “Praise God! Isn’t it good to know Jesus?” Then just stand back and watch how things change. You’ll be amazed. It’s happened many times. And it can happen that way for you and your loved one. So don’t give up. Get smart! Start praying according to the Word and praying by faith… and you will see the salvation of the Lord! Here is a sample prayer for your unsaved loved ones.

As you speak God’s Word, remember that it will not return to Him void. It will prosper in the thing where it is sent (Isaiah 55:11) “Father, I come before You in prayer and in faith, believing. Your Word says You desire all men to be saved and come into the knowledge of the truth, so I bring (put in their name) before You this day. “I break the power of Satan from his assignments and activities in (put in their name’s) life in the Name of Jesus.

Now, while Satan is bound, I ask that You send forth the perfect laborers to share the good news of the gospel in such a way that (put in their name) will listen and understand it. As the truth is ministered, I believe (put in their name) will open his/her eyes to the gospel, come out of the snare of the devil and make Jesus Lord. “Father, I ask that You fill (put in their name) with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. As I intercede in his/her behalf, I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is activated, and from this moment on, I shall praise and thank You for (put in their name’s) salvation. I am confident that You are alert and active, watching over Your Word to perform it. It will not return to You void. It will accomplish that which You please and prosper in the thing whereto it was sent.

We always must bear in mind the vital work of the Holy Spirit in drawing people to Christ. Sometimes the members of your family are the most difficult people for you to deal with. According to the Word of God, “Bodily exercise profiteth little: but GODLINESS IS PROFITABLE unto all things ” (1 Tim. 4:8). “Profitable” means that it pays off. Paul continued in verse 15: “Meditate upon these things . . . that thy PROFITING may appear to all.” “Actions speak louder than words.”

That means that what you do speaks so loudly, people very often can’t hear what you say. This is especially true when what you’re doing doesn’t line up with what you’re saying. In other words, people who do a lot of talking may not have enough “living” to back up their witness. Let your life witness to your unsaved loved ones, that’s the greatest witness, actually. Your life can influence your spouse, children, and other kinfolks. Believing for a laborer to cross your unsaved loved one’s path isn’t the only way to get him or her saved. You need to listen to your spirit for instructions on how to reach that person. Something will work for you.

Often when we pray for unsaved loved ones, we cry or just pray in the Spirit. We’re more or less trying to do it ourselves in the flesh. We’re trying to make God do something; we’re trying to force something to come to pass. Actually, what we need to do is study the Word and depend upon and trust in the Spirit of God to cause our loved ones to experience salvation.

I heard of one man, who went to the altar in proxy for his son, and found out that the Spirit of God moved upon his son at that same time, to surrender to Christ even though he was thousands of miles away. We need to put the Word first. No prayer life is going to be successful if it’s not based on the Word of God. Realize that getting the answer may depend upon you.

The manifestation can come faster if the Word of God is strongly rooted in you. The Bible says, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). In other words, your faith is stronger if you have a lot of the Word in you. That’s the reason it’s best to not even pray about some things for several days until you have examined the Word carefully on the subject. (of course, emergencies are different.) If the situation has been there for years and hasn’t changed, it’s still going to be there in a few days, and you’ve got time to study what the Word has to say about it.

Keep examining it. Keep meditating upon it. Sometimes you may go for days meditating on a certain direction or method. After three or four days, you’ll find that faith is so strong that you won’t doubt John 15:7, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” You see, it’s after the Word of God gets into you that you’re able to pray effectively. Because the Spirit of God—not us—knows who can be touched, He may lead you to intercede for people you barely know instead of for your unsaved loved ones or friends. In praying this way, after a certain period of time, you will find that the burden of prayer will be lifted, and a spirit of lightness will prevail. Sometimes people begin to laugh. Many times you may just laugh or sing in the Spirit. Why? When the burden lifts, that means the answer is assured, even though it hasn’t been manifested yet. “Therefore, my confession of faith is: ‘God has begun a good work in (put in their name ’s) life and He will perform it and bring it to full completion until the day of Jesus Christ, in Jesus’ Name.”

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