Proverbs 11:30 reads, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." This study our Lord has led me through culminated in a message last night on "Salvation." You can listen to the message in its entirety here: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=111101150148After sharing the Truth of the Gospel afresh, explaining the Token of our salvation, refuting man's confidence in a prayer, the Lord began a mighty work!
When the invitation began, few began to move. The Lord was greatly burdening my heart, and I turned to the chair behind me and knelt and prayed to our Lord.
Please Father, speak to one. Let that one struggling tonight find assurance and know that they are saved. Please Father, for if that one were to surrender, I believe others may follow...
After the 'amen' I turned still on my knees to see a young man with tears running down his cheeks. He looked up at me and said, "Dad, I want to get saved." Joy flooded my soul! My son, Alex, was broken hearted and desiring salvation. I took him through Scriptures I had shared in the message and ask him, "Son, how does the Bible say that one is saved?" He replied, "By believing in Christ and his sacrfice on the cross for us." After going through some Scriptures and the Gospel story once more I said, "Son, do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and His work upon the cross for you?" "Yes sir, I believe." "According to Scriptures, what is promised to those that believe?" I ask. "Eternal life. Dad, I believe, and I'm saved now!" Amen!
We spoke of repentance, we shared other verses, and last night my son was saved by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as His personal Saviour. I then prayed with him a prayer of thanksgiving and we thanked our Lord for Alex's salvation.
I prayed for one, and God answered that prayer in a greater way than I ever imagined.
But if you remember my prayer..."If that one were to surrender, I believe others may follow." After sharing Alex's decision with the church, soon a young college age lady who has grown up in our church walked the aisle and came to me and said, "I have been struggling for years with my salvation, but now I believe!" She too was saved last night. Soon her sister, a junior in high school came forward weeping. She told the church, "I too have been struggling with assurance and have been looking to a prayer as my salvation, tonight I choose to believe. I now have peace!"
Well, as one could imagine, things were getting quite exciting in that service, but God sure wasn't done yet. Just a few minutes later, those two young ladies father, our church clerk, member for nearly 30 years of our church came down the aisle weeping. "pastor, I have been struggling for years, compromising with God, looking to my prayer with no peace, but tonight I believe in Christ and God saved my soul."
Amen!!!!
Then a 18 year old young lady, then a 8 year old girl, then a wife and mother....all found assurance last night after years of struggling. Not in a prayer, but in the work of Christ upon a cross.
Soon on the platform stood my brother in law, Jr. Church director these past 4 years. He grabbed my neck and said, "Thank you for preaching the truth, I have been struggling for years, but tonight choose to believe and I now know I am saved."
A service started at 6:30 that night, we sang about 20 minutes of hymns that dealt with salvation; then after a 91 minute sermon, hour long invitation, and a few verses of "To God Be the Glory," we dismissed...only after seeing 9 saved, hearts broken, burdens shared, and a fresh excitement for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
These words do not give justice as to what God did for us last night...and please let me underline and highlight "What God did for us"
We gave Him all the glory! We raised our hands in honor of Him last night. He did the work nearly 2,000 years ago,and praise God He is still working on hearts!
And I really don't believe He is done yet!
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. I John 5:13
