Silas
Beloved of All
Your burden for this young man is deeply felt and I am joining you in prayer for him. To hear that he is so young and so close to eternity, still outside of Christ and suffering the terrible consequences of alcoholism in his body, is heartbreaking. It is right and loving that you are asking above all for his salvation.
Scripture makes it clear that there is a confession that saves and a confession that does not. The Bible says if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved, for with the heart we believe unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. There will be a day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, but that confession will not be unto salvation. It will be the acknowledgment of what was rejected, to the condemnation of the one who rejected Him. To confess Him now, to submit to Him now as Lord, is salvation and eternal life. That is why this moment matters so much.
The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people, and the Word says now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Every person who is lost is lost because they went past the time God appointed for them, when God spoke to their heart a final time and they did not respond. While there is breath, there is opportunity, and while God is drawing, we must respond. Please pray and if you are able, or if family at his bedside is able, speak to him simply and clearly about Jesus, that He is the Lord, our salvation, that He died for our sins and rose again, and that whoever calls upon Him in faith will be forgiven and made righteous. That righteousness is not earned by works or by cleaning up a life first. God accounted people righteous when they first believed, before they had done any works at all. His past, his failures, even the bondage that has ravaged his liver, does not disqualify him. God uses and saves imperfect people and blots out sin through Christ, not because we have been good enough, but because Jesus is enough.
I am also praying for mercy for his body. I believe God heals, and I have seen that healing comes in many ways. Sometimes it is immediate, sometimes it is gradual, sometimes it comes through the natural processes God Himself built into our bodies, which are no less divine because they are natural. At other times God in His wisdom does not bring physical healing in this life, as He did not remove the thorn from Paul though Paul prayed earnestly. Much about healing I do not understand, and I cannot say why some are healed and others are not. What I do know is that God is sovereign and compassionate, and that the greatest miracle in any life is not the healing of the body but the salvation of the soul, the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. That is what matters most for this man in these critical hours.
So let us pray together that the Lord in His mercy would spare his life a little longer if it be His will, to give him time and clarity to hear and respond to the gospel, that the Holy Spirit would draw him powerfully to Christ, that he would have the ability to understand and to confess Jesus as Lord and believe in his heart, and that God would bring healing to his body according to His perfect will. And let us pray that those around him would speak the truth in love without bringing unnecessary offense, so that the message of salvation is heard clearly.
Father, we lift this young man to You. You see him in that hospital bed, You know his body and his soul. Lord, have mercy. If it is Your will, sustain his life and give him more time. Above all, open his heart to Your grace. Help him to see Jesus as Savior and Lord, to turn from sin and trust in Him alone for salvation. Forgive him, cleanse him, make him new through the blood of Christ. Bring Your healing where You are pleased to heal, and bring the greater healing of a new birth. Comfort his family and friends, and give them boldness and gentleness to speak of Jesus while there is time. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who is our salvation. Amen.
Please keep us updated so we can continue to pray.
Scripture makes it clear that there is a confession that saves and a confession that does not. The Bible says if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved, for with the heart we believe unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. There will be a day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, but that confession will not be unto salvation. It will be the acknowledgment of what was rejected, to the condemnation of the one who rejected Him. To confess Him now, to submit to Him now as Lord, is salvation and eternal life. That is why this moment matters so much.
The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people, and the Word says now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Every person who is lost is lost because they went past the time God appointed for them, when God spoke to their heart a final time and they did not respond. While there is breath, there is opportunity, and while God is drawing, we must respond. Please pray and if you are able, or if family at his bedside is able, speak to him simply and clearly about Jesus, that He is the Lord, our salvation, that He died for our sins and rose again, and that whoever calls upon Him in faith will be forgiven and made righteous. That righteousness is not earned by works or by cleaning up a life first. God accounted people righteous when they first believed, before they had done any works at all. His past, his failures, even the bondage that has ravaged his liver, does not disqualify him. God uses and saves imperfect people and blots out sin through Christ, not because we have been good enough, but because Jesus is enough.
I am also praying for mercy for his body. I believe God heals, and I have seen that healing comes in many ways. Sometimes it is immediate, sometimes it is gradual, sometimes it comes through the natural processes God Himself built into our bodies, which are no less divine because they are natural. At other times God in His wisdom does not bring physical healing in this life, as He did not remove the thorn from Paul though Paul prayed earnestly. Much about healing I do not understand, and I cannot say why some are healed and others are not. What I do know is that God is sovereign and compassionate, and that the greatest miracle in any life is not the healing of the body but the salvation of the soul, the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. That is what matters most for this man in these critical hours.
So let us pray together that the Lord in His mercy would spare his life a little longer if it be His will, to give him time and clarity to hear and respond to the gospel, that the Holy Spirit would draw him powerfully to Christ, that he would have the ability to understand and to confess Jesus as Lord and believe in his heart, and that God would bring healing to his body according to His perfect will. And let us pray that those around him would speak the truth in love without bringing unnecessary offense, so that the message of salvation is heard clearly.
Father, we lift this young man to You. You see him in that hospital bed, You know his body and his soul. Lord, have mercy. If it is Your will, sustain his life and give him more time. Above all, open his heart to Your grace. Help him to see Jesus as Savior and Lord, to turn from sin and trust in Him alone for salvation. Forgive him, cleanse him, make him new through the blood of Christ. Bring Your healing where You are pleased to heal, and bring the greater healing of a new birth. Comfort his family and friends, and give them boldness and gentleness to speak of Jesus while there is time. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who is our salvation. Amen.
Please keep us updated so we can continue to pray.
