June 19 2019 – Click here to listen
Last night I had dinner with and gave my testimony to several of the top pastors in the country whose congregations are enormous. During my talk I related to them that paradoxically even though I was raised in a tough environment my parents began following Christ in earnest after I left home. I however, was not a Christian yet and in fact was already an alcoholic, drug addict, and criminal on the run from the military police. I had not contacted my parents or anyone in many months. One night I was stoned out of my mind after taking LSD and I felt a strong urge to call my mother. At the very time I called she was on her knees praying for me to call.
She and my father convinced me to turn myself in, serve my time, and start over. The next morning, I did just that, I turned myself in and eventually found my way out of my cesspool and went on to become a follower of Jesus and my life was changed forever.
Last night as we closed and prepared to go home one pastor made the remark that every person without Christ needed someone praying for them just like my mother had done for me. We were asked to pray for one individual that we knew that was utterly lost, and it seemed impossible that they would ever become a believer. As we prayed three of my close friends came to mind. These fellows have heard the plan of salvation explained to them by me more than once, but they stubbornly refuse to accept Christ and joke about being too far gone. I tell them that if I could be forgiven of my many sins, ANYONE can! They just smile and move on…
I’m persuaded that telling people about Jesus and offering our testimony is not always enough, but we must pray for them as well. At any rate it saddens me immeasurably to know my good friends and many more like them are heading for hell. I have vowed to continue telling anyone who will listen about Christ and in fact intensify my efforts and I will combine that with prayer for them.
Time is running out and I am incredibly sad when I think of friends and family that will spend eternity separated from Jesus and all that is good.
Romans 1:5
Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.