HOW CLOSE TO BEING SAVED ARE MY LOVED ONES?
SCRIPTURE: Romans 10:8-11
[8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
[9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
[10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
[11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
INTRODUCTION
Every true Christian has concern for the salvation of loved ones. For some, it is hard even to imagine them being saved. So we raise the question: how close are your loved ones to salvation?
FIRST; IT DEPENDS ON THEIR SPIRITUAL INPUT
We may expect the public school to teach our children right from wrong, but they offer a thirty-hour week of evolution, situation ethics, narcotics, smoking, sex education, godlessness, no prayer, and no Bible. The schools will not do it.
We may expect friends or society to instill in our loved ones a desire for God but they offer violence, free sex, immorality, murder, rape, adultery, divorce, cursing, abortions, and drug addiction. What hope is there with this world?
We may even think the church will train our loved ones In the ways of God, but the church cannot undo in four or five hours all those evils set forth by thirty hours of TV watching. Besides, no one can reasonably expect the church to fully train a child in the ways of God with only four or five hours per week.
Spiritual training must come from within the home. Parents must train up their children. Talk about Him who died for you.
No one has any more Influence In your life than the person you marry. Most husbands will determine if their wife goes to heaven or hell. Most wives will take their husbands to heaven or to hell with them. You hold life and death in your hands.
Most people have more than one person who has great Influence on their lives. Just the right word at the right time may make the difference. A life that has a different set of values, that Is lived by a different set of rules, will catch the attention of unsaved family members and just could be that positive force which brings them to God.
SECOND, IT DEPENDS ON YOUR INTHRCESSORY PRAYER LIFE
Prayer changes things. Intercessory prayer is this: a believer who through grievous concern and love touches the heart of God until He sends the Holy Spirit to deal gently or forcefully with that lost loved one finally bringing him/her to Christ.
Prayers prayed by teary-eyed, love-filled, passion-consumed, desperate, willing-to-die saints will touch God’s heart and move the Holy Spirit.
THIRD, IT DEPENDS ON THE ATMOSPHERE IN GOD’S HOUSE WHEN YOUR LOVED ONES ATTEND.
Far too many attend God’s house out of habit or sense of duty. long before we arrive at the door of God’s house, we should begin praying for an outpouring of the Holy Ghost to meet every need represented at each service. We should ask God, ’What kind of spiritual contribution can I make to the service?" And we should ask what He expects us to receive from Him.
CONCLUSION
Your loved ones are not far, just off shore. As the end draws near, let us do everything possible to win them to Christ.
