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Be encouraged! The Bible is filled with examples of God saving families.
 

The New Testament gives no less than nine examples of the Apostle Paul's family members experiencing the New Birth in Christ. 

Rejoice and be at peace. Your faith will work for your family. It is God's will to save your family.  

God has promised, through the operation of your faith, that not one of your immediate family members will go off into Eternity without first confessing the Lordship of Jesus Christ!

"The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

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Live Table of Contents 

Chapter 1: God Is Determined to Save Families

Chapter 1: Deathbed Confessions & Water Baptism

Chapter 1: A Joyful Revelation

Chapter 1: All Things Are Possible, Only Believe

Chapter 2: Old Covenant Examples of Family Deliverance

Chapter 2: Noah & His Family Were Spared

Chapter 2: Abraham & His Seed Were Set Apart

Chapter 2: God Has Given the Believer Authority

Chapter 2: Eliphaz Offered Some Very Sound Counsel to Job

Chapter 2: God Covenanted with the Israelites & Their Offspring

Chapter 2: Rahab & Her Family Were Spared

Chapter 2: God Promised Jesus to Save the Nations

Chapter 3: New Covenant Examples of Family Salvation

Chapter 3: Pray for Gospel Laborers to Go to Your Family

Chapter 3: Peace Be to This House

Chapter 3: "And Himself Believed, and His Whole House"

Chapter 3: A Prophecy & a Promise

Chapter 3: "Whereby Thou & All Thy House Shall Be Saved"

Chapter 3: Lydia & Her Household

Chapter 3: "Believing in God with All His House"

Chapter 3: Crispus & All His House

Chapter 3: The Apostle Paul's Praying Christian Cousins

Chapter 3: Aristobulus' Household

Chapter 3: Another Born-Again Member of Paul's Family

Chapter 3: Rufus & His Mother

Chapter 3: Nereus' Unnamed Sister

Chapter 3: Three More of Paul's Born-Again Relatives

Chapter 3: "The House of Stephanas"

Chapter 3: "The House of Onesiphorus"

Chapter 4: God Is Willing and God Is Able

Chapter 4: Binding Satan's Influence from Your Loved Ones

Chapter 4: Laborers to Your Family Harvest

Chapter 4: The Prayer of Faith

Addendum: The Seven Baptisms of the Bible

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Chapter One: God Is Determined to Save Families

Be encouraged.  It is God's will to save your family.  You can use your faith and God will see to it that not one member of your immediate family will go off into Eternity without first accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin once said he discovered that his faith would work quite effectively for his family members, out as far as a first cousin.  Beyond that, he said someone else was going to have to believe for them.  

You can use your faith and God will save your grandparents, parents, siblings, children, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.    

God is so determined to honor your faith and to save your household, that He is actually tolerating His enemies and delaying His judgment on all the rebels of this Earth until everyone who can be saved will be saved. (Hebrews 12:2-28; 2 Peter 3:9; Revelation 20:7-15)

Someone once said, "There is nothing you can do about your family's salvation.  God has already predestined, or predetermined, who will be saved and who will not be saved.  There is nothing that can be done about the ones whom God has predestined to not be saved.  It even says so in the Bible."

The verse of Scripture in the Bible misused by those who believe this error of "predestination" is right here in Romans chapter eight.  

"For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified." (Romans 8:29-30)

This verse is not saying that God has pre-determined ahead of time who He was going to save and who He was not going to save.  This verse is saying that God "foreknew" or knew ahead of time who was going to accept His salvation plan and who was going to reject His salvation plan.  

The ones whom He foreknew would accept His salvation, He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.  Those whom He knew would reject His salvation, He did not predestine to be conformed to the image of His Son.  

So simply put, God foreknew who would accept Him, and He predestined that they would be assigned to Heaven as a monument to His love.  

He also foreknew who would reject Him, and He predestined that they would be assigned to Hell as a monument of His severity upon the rebellious.  This is why the Bible says, "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness:" (Romans 11:22)  

This is what Paul is teaching regarding foreknowledge and predestination.

So, if you have heard the "predestination" error and have been concerned that your loved ones have been predestined to Hell and there is nothing you can do about it, be encouraged.  It simply is not true.  

God knew you were going to pray for your loved ones' salvation, and He planned well ahead of time to answer you.  As a matter of fact, the Bible even says that God knows what we are going to pray even before we pray it, and He moves immediately to answer our prayers. 

"And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:24)

Understand that God is even more concerned with your family's salvation than you are.  He has made a way where through your faith in action and without violating their God-given free will, He will influence them for good in a greater way than Satan can influence them for evil.  

He will send laborers to them, even Angelic laborers if He determines that is necessary, to continually impress upon their hearts their need to call upon His Son, Jesus, for their salvation.  

If you will not give up and withdraw your faith, God will not give up and your loved ones will not go off into Eternity before accepting Christ as their Savior.  If you will make up your mind like Joshua made up his mind, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord," God will jump over a million others who will not use their faith for their families just to get to your family. (Joshua 24:15)  

In some cases it could possibly take right up until moments before their passing, but getting saved late in life is a far cry better than not getting saved at all.  

Either way, God will get the job done.

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Deathbed Confessions & Water Baptism  

Some have said, "God does not accept deathbed confessions.  If you don't live for Him here, you won't arrive safely there."  

Well, that is just not true according to the Bible.  Of course, living one's life for Christ on the Earth is far better than a deathbed confession, but deathbed confessions are acceptable to the Father of Mercies and the God of all Comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3) 

Did not Jesus Himself say to the man on the cross beside Him, a man who lived his entire life as a criminal right up to within minutes of his death before confessing Christ's Lordship, "Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise"? (Luke 23:43)  

If that is not considered a deathbed confession, what is?

In the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, Jesus also made it clear that no matter how late one comes along before accepting the invitation to work in the vineyard, he will receive the same equal reward as those who came much earlier - salvation. (Matthew 20:1-16)

Thankfully one need not be water baptized to be saved because if that were the case, one who makes a deathbed confession has no time to be water baptized.  

A further word about water baptism would be appropriate here.  If it were necessary to be water baptized in order to go to Heaven, the thief on the cross never made it to Heaven because he was not water baptized. Yet, Jesus said he did make it to Paradise.  

Water baptism is simply an outward expression of something that has already occurred on the inside - the New Birth.  Jesus' Blood saves, not water.  If water saved, everyone who drowned in Noah's flood will be in Heaven and we know that is not true.

Many wrongly believe that although their loved one was Born Again, they did not go to Heaven because they were not water baptized.  This is not what the Bible teaches.  The Bible teaches that remission of sins occurs only by application of Jesus' Blood, not by submersion in water. (Hebrews 9:22)  

For further clarification on the mystery of water baptism, see Addendum, "The Seven Baptisms of the Bible" at the end of Chapter Four.

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A Joyful Revelation

A woman once told us the following.  She had believed for many years for her father's salvation.  No matter how she prayed, believed or confessed the Word of God over him, he would not believe.  No matter who witnessed to him or how effectively, he simply would not believe.  

For years he would not budge off of his quiet refusal to accept Christ as his Savior until finally one day he died.  Her heart grieved that she had believed for her father's salvation and that it did not come to pass.  She struggled, believing God had let her down, allowing her father to go off into Eternity having rejected Christ as his Savior.  

One day, sometime after her father's passing, she was at home watching a video of a Church play she and her children had performed in.  She had actually written the play.  At the end of the play an altar call was given.  During the altar call the performers had their heads bowed and were not able to see across the congregation.  

However, the video revealed something she had not seen because her head was bowed.  As she watched the video, she noticed her father had lifted his hand and prayed the sinner's prayer with the Minister.  He never said anything to her about it.  She found out only after her father's death while watching the video.  

This woman wrongly assumed God had let her down and did not answer her prayer.  She was happily mistaken.  God was faithful to do exactly what she had asked of Him. 

Without violating her father's free will, He gently impressed upon him through everyone and everything that witnessed to him that he must not leave this Earth without accepting Christ.

You may or may not have opportunity to have your loved ones' salvation confirmed to you by video as this woman did, but that does not mean that they did not say, "Jesus, You're my choice," before leaving this Earth.  

Possibly you had been believing for a loved one's salvation and they left this Earth before you could receive confirmation of their salvation.  Be encouraged.  God heard your prayer and He answered your prayer.  Somehow, somewhere your loved one called upon the Name of Jesus.  If you have no evidence to prove otherwise, you would be better off believing this way.  

God is faithful.  You gave Him access to your loved one and He took full advantage of it. The Bible says if we ask God for something that is promised in His Word, He hears us.  If we know He hears us when we pray, we can know we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (1 John 5:14-15)  

Certainly a loved one's salvation is something that is promised in Scripture as we have seen.  Therefore, you can have confidence that if you prayed for your loved one's salvation and they have left this Earth, God saw to it that they were saved before leaving.

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All Things Are Possible Only Believe

I say the following constructively to help the reader.  In this life I have never had a greater enemy than my own flesh and blood mother, the woman who gave birth to me.  For some reason, as far back as I can remember, my mother could not find it in her heart to love me.  She was quite cruel to me and at times violent with me.  

It seemed to me at times that her first priority in life was to turn my father against me with every given opportunity.  I lived a life of my mother constantly lying to my father about me, deceiving him into becoming violent with me himself and harshly punishing me for things I did not do.  Even when I became an adult she found ways to be sure he lived his life angry with me.  It was absolutely demonic.  

For some unknown reason my mother was determined that I would not have a relationship with my father and she was quite successful indeed.  I loved them dearly but both my mother and my father were my greatest burdens in life. 

Even when I became a Christian and was delivered from drug and alcohol addiction they were not happy for me. My father told me he would rather I were dead than I become involved with Jesus. Because of my conversion to Christ they refused to speak with me for a period of seven years.  

One day I came across Acts 16:31  where the Bible says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.  You and your household."  Something leapt in my spirit that day and faith came into my heart for my parents to be saved.  

To make a long story short, after seven years of reminding God of that verse, I was able to lead my father to the Lord. My mother came sometime after. 

Sadly, they never grew in the things of God and they continued living lives of deceitfulness and hatred.  But they did both individually confess Christ as their Savior before dying unnecessarily tragic deaths.   

There were times in the natural where it seemed like it could never happen, but I would not allow the devil to steal the faith out of my heart that came to me the day I read Acts 16:31 for the first time.  Because I would not quit and withdraw my faith, Holy God made it possible for me personally to lead both of my parents to the Lord.

You may or may not be the one to lead your loved ones to the Lord.  Either way, they will be saved if you believe.  God promised you that in Acts 16:31.  The Lord may tell you to not even witness to them with your words.  He may have someone else preach to them while you live a life of love and faithfulness to Christ before them. 

You will want to consider doing what I did with my parents.  I did not attempt to pummel them with the Word of God by overwhelming them with Gospel tracts and books via mail, etc.  I imply trusted God to send laborers to them to whom they would listen, laborers who would preach the Gospel to them in a way they could understand.  

I did a little thing and used my faith by praying for them and thanking God that they would not go off into Eternity without accepting Christ.  I continued to say with the words of my mouth that my family would be saved in Jesus' Name.  God in turn did a big thing, using other Gospel laborers, as well as one recording of my preaching, to minister to them, softening their hearts to the Gospel and ultimately allowing me to lead them to Him.  

For the longest time it appeared that they were Hell-bound on a greased pole.  But because I would not let go of Acts 16:31, God would not let go of my parents. 

One day after seven years of silence, my father called me on the telephone.  He was in tears.  I asked what his problem was and he said to me, "I need the Lord."  Then and there I led him to Jesus Christ.  My mother came sometime after.  As I said, they never grew out of the babyhood stages of Christianity and they remained their hateful selves before needlessly dying tragic deaths, but they died Born Again nonetheless. 

They are in Heaven today anticipating the relationship Satan was determined we would not have on Planet Earth.  

Faith in God's Word worked for me.  Faith in God's Word will work for you.

God is a family God, so much so, that He requires even Ministers of the Gospel to put their families first in all things. (1 Timothy 3:1-12)  This is not to say that He allows Ministers to neglect their Ministries in favor of their families.  This is to say that Ministers must never neglect their families in favor of their Ministries.  This has happened time and time again to even some of the most well-known Ministers and Ministries. 

God is so family-oriented that He has chosen to be our Father, not just our God.  And He even requires that we call Him "Father." (Matthew 6:9)  As a matter of fact, this is what life is all about.  God is surrounding Himself with a family of Believers who choose to come to Him as a conscious act of their God-given free wills.  When the Father is satisfied that His forever family has grown to satisfy His immense love, He will send Christ to catch us away. (2 Thessalonians 4:14-17)  

But until that day, it is up to us to put our faith on our family's salvation, believing and trusting that He will save them as promised.

We are now going to go back, moving from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, beginning with the Book of Genesis, to see what a family-oriented God our Father really is.  It is not possible for us to look at every example, but we will look at enough to cause the reader to see it really is God's will to save our family members.  

God so desires to save your family and the Word of God reveals that He will do just that for anyone who will put their faith on it, believing He will do as promised.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

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Chapter Two: Old Covenant Examples of Family Deliverance 

Noah & His Family Were Spared

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5)

"And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation." (Genesis 7:1)

Holy God looked out across the Earth and discovered the true condition of His human creation.  His Divine inspection resulted in Divine dissatisfaction.  Man's wickedness was exceedingly abundant.  Man's entire concept of life was nothing but evil.  Every man's desire was evil with the exception of one righteous man named Noah.

God decided to destroy the Earth and its inhabitants and to start over with Noah.  But not just with Noah - with Noah and his entire family.  God did not leave Noah's family out of His plan of redemption and God will not leave your family out of His plan of redemption. 

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Abraham & His Seed Were Set Apart 

"Neither shall thy name anymore be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham ... and I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee." (Genesis 17:5-7)

When God covenanted with Abraham, He did not just covenant with Abraham alone.  He covenanted with his seed, or with his offspring.  That is Abraham's family.  God covenanted with Abraham and his family, and God has covenanted with you concerning your family.  He is a family-oriented God.  

God is determined that not one of your family members will go off into Eternity without accepting Christ as their Savior according to Acts 16:31.  Only you must respectfully hold Him to it with your faith.

Remember, your faith, not your fear, is a huge part of this equation.  Without faith in what God has promised to do with your family, it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6)  

It was His idea, not your idea, that you use your faith and accept nothing short of their eternal salvation.  It is not rude and it is not arrogant of you to accept nothing short of their eternal salvation.  

It is obedience to God's command to get into faith over your family's salvation and to stay in faith until the job is accomplished.

Faith is simply expecting God, fully expecting God, to save your loved ones.

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God Has Given the Believer Authority

Why is your faith so important in this matter?  Because man, not God, is in authority in this Earth.  God initially set it up that way with Adam and Eve.  Adam and Eve fell to Satan and lost their authority to him.  Jesus came and restored man's authority in this Earth before returning to Heaven. 

This is why Jesus said to Peter on behalf of all of His disciples, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

This is also why Jesus said to His disciples, "All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth.  Go ye therefore ..." (Matthew 28:18-19)

Here Jesus makes it clear with His command "go ye therefore" that the power Satan stole from Adam and Eve, Jesus had personally reclaimed and was now delegating His authority on Earth to all who believe on Him.  He was placing Believers back in a position of authority in the Earth when He said, "Go ye therefore" and take possession of the Earth once again through the preaching of the Gospel.

Because of God's decision to place man back in authority over the Earth, He will now do nothing to override man's authority because He is an honorable God.  

Now, in order for God to "legally" do something in the Earth, someone must give Him access, or permission, if you will.  This is why Jesus said that even though your Father knows exactly what you have need of in this Earth, you must still ask Him for it before He is able to give it to you. (Matthew 6:32; 7:7-8)

This is also why the great 18th Century British Evangelist John Wesley said, "It seems as if God can do nothing in this Earth unless someone asks Him."  

One must now use their faith, asking God for their family's salvation, giving Him access to them and then fully expecting Him to save them.  

How God does that is no one's business but His own.  All one needs to know is God will do it legally, He will do it honorably and He will do it without violating their free will in any way.  

This is an area where one must just let God be God and trust in His infinite wisdom. 

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)

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Eliphaz Offered Some Very Sound Counsel to Job

Job was the son of Issachar. Issachar was the son of Jacob, grandson of Isaac and great-grandson of Abraham. This would mean that Job lived at the same time as Moses. It is believed by some scholars that Moses and Job together wrote the Book of Job. It is also believed that Job died fifteen years before the exodus from Egypt. Job was seventy years old when his trial of suffering began. His suffering lasted nine months and he lived another one hundred forty years in God's blessing beyond that. (Job 42:16)

Eliphaz was a trusted friend of Job's. Although he wrongly assumed Job's suffering was a direct result of some secret sin committed by Job, Eliphaz offered some very sound counsel regardless. Eliphaz assured Job if he would repent for his assumed secret sin, God would be able to use Job's prayers to deliver even those who were guilty of sin. Here is what Eliphaz told Job. 

"Even him that is not innocent shall He deliver; yea, he shall be delivered by the pureness of thy hands." (Job 22:30 Darby Translation)

The sense of what Eliphaz is saying is the human person who gives their life to God (in the New Testament case through Jesus) becomes God's child. Because of the connection to God as a child, the saved individual is now able to intercede for lost individuals, including family members, to be saved from the deserved punishment for their sin. 

The prayers of the child of God will be heard and answered because of the "pureness" of the child of God. Of course, this pureness which the New Testament calls "righteousness" is a free gift given to all who take Christ as their Lord and Savior. (2 Corinthians 5:17,21)

The prayers of the righteous child of God will be heard and answered on behalf of family members. (1 John 5:14-16) The Holy Spirit and the angels of God will cause circumstances to come about which will lead to the salvation of lost family members - all without violating their free will! (Hebrews 1:14; Psalm 103:20,21)

The sentiment expressed by Eliphaz to Job lines up perfectly with Genesis 18:26 as well.

"If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city I will spare all the place for their sake."

As we study the Word of God it becomes clear that God is not looking for ways to exclude our families from His Plan of Salvation. God is looking for ways to include our families in Eternal Life! This sentiment is repeated throughout the Holy Scriptures. 

The righteous in Christ, the innocent in Christ, the pure in Christ are permitted, even instructed, to pray for others, family members included, as a means of bringing God's salvation and its benefits down upon them. Through the prayers of God's children multitudes, including family members, will be saved from calamity here and brought to Eternal Life there! 

James the Apostle and half-brother of Jesus knew the power of praying for loved ones.  Most of his brothers and sisters, including himself, initially did not believe Jesus was the Christ. But through prevailing prayer he and his siblings became convinced that Jesus was not only their natural brother but their Savior as well. James expressed this in his Epistle.

"The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)

The believer in Jesus Christ should praise God without doubt and without ceasing for the salvation of guilty, perishing people, most especially children and family members, for God promises to save them. 

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God Covenanted with the Israelites & Their Offspring 

"I call Heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." (Deuteronomy 30:19)

God told Israel if they would choose life by choosing obedience to Him, He would bless them in every realm of their existence. God did not force them into surrender or obedience to Him.  He gave them free will and allowed them to choose.  

God will not force your loved ones into surrender, for they, too, have free will.  But through your prayers and the operation of your faith, God will impress your family members for good more strongly than Satan can influence them for evil, and they will ultimately come around and choose life in Jesus Christ. He promises you this.   

But you must expect Him to keep His Word to you.  You must be strong and of good courage like Joshua and say, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 1:8; 24:15)

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Rahab & Her Family Were Spared 

"And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent." (Joshua 6:17)

Joshua pronounced a curse upon Jericho and its inhabitants for it was inhabited not only with sin but with militant warriors from surrounding areas helping to defend it against Israel.  Rahab, however, was exempt from Joshua's divine curse because she hid Israel's two spies and would not tell her King where they were.  Not only was Rahab spared, but she was promised that her father, mother, brethren, sisters, nieces and nephews would all be spared because of her intervention on Israel's behalf. 

This is just another example of God's great willingness to become involved with and to help and deliver families, not just individuals.  God wants to honor your faithfulness to Him by sparing your family eternal separation from Him.  

As a matter of fact, if you will do something, anything to help Israel in her plight today, as Rahab did in her day, God will move on your behalf and on behalf of your family even as He did on behalf of Rahab and her family. (Psalm 122:6-9)

I will go so far as to say, if you want to get God's attention take a stand for Israel to exist in this Earth as a sovereign free Democracy.  Take a stand for Jerusalem to exist as Israel's Capital.  His attention will turn toward you favorably in a New York minute.

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God Promised Jesus to Save the Nations  

"Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion.  I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son this day have I begotten Thee.  Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.” (Psalm 2:6-8)  

In this Psalm of David, we see that God has set King Jesus to reign on David's throne forever (verse 6).  

Jesus, in turn, says, "I will declare the decree" meaning "I will declare the Gospel to the people of the world" (verse 7).  

God, in turn, promises Jesus, "Ask Me and I'll give You the heathen (Gentiles / non-Jews) as Your inheritance" (verse 8).

It is clear in these verses that God is promising Jesus to save the souls of multitudes in exchange for His faithfulness in coming to the Earth to preach the Gospel.  

God has also promised you, as we will continue to see, that if you will be faithful to serve Him in the Earth, to support the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,  to live an uncompromising existence before Him and to unleash expectation for your family's salvation, that He will indeed ultimately save your family members. 

These are just a few examples from the Old Covenant of God's willingness not only to save families but to save multitudes of people and their families.  

As we move into the New Covenant keep in mind that the Bible says, "But now hath He (Jesus) obtained a more excellent Ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." (Hebrews 8:6)

If God was willing to work on behalf of entire families under the Old Covenant, how much more willing is He today to work on behalf of entire families under the New Covenant, a Covenant which the Bible refers to as "a better covenant"?

If God were to neglect your family's salvation it would not be a better Covenant!

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Chapter Three: New Covenant Examples of Family Salvation

Pray for Gospel Laborers to Go to Your Family

"But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:36-38)

Jesus came both to tell of and to demonstrate God's compassion for humanity in their misery and suffering.  When God looks at your family He is not angry with them.  He is moved with compassion for them.  There is nothing He wants more than to see them come into the Kingdom.  You must understand this.

Here Jesus also reveals that if Christians will pray for laborers (preachers / witnesses / soulwinners) to go into the harvest field of lost souls, He will send them.  Remember, God is limited to our giving Him access.  If He could just send laborers without man's giving Him access, He would do so.  Jesus would not have told us to pray that laborers would be sent to the harvest field if He was unwilling and it was not necessary.  

Christians may pray for laborers not only to the harvest field of the Earth but specifically to their own families.  Jesus said, "Whatever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it to you." (John 16:23)  

Pray and ask the Lord to send laborers to minister the message of salvation in Christ to your family members.  He will do exactly that.  

Pray one time for this and then begin to praise Him daily for doing so.  That is what faith will do.  It will pray one time, believing God heard and believing that God will do as He said.  From that point on, to ever ask again would be unbelief.  Once the prayer for laborers is prayed, it is time to simply pray the prayer of thanksgiving as follows.

"Thank You, Father, for sending Gospel laborers to my family members in Jesus' Name.  I can worry or I can trust You to do it.  I choose to trust You are doing it."

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Peace Be to This House

"And into whatever house ye enter, first say, peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again." (Luke 10:5-6)  

Here Jesus had just appointed thirty-five teams of two to go out ahead of Him, announcing that He was coming behind them.  He also commissioned them to preach the Gospel as they went.  He instructed them to stay in the homes of those who invited them in.  

Upon entering those homes they were to say, "Peace be to this house."  They were not to decree a blessing solely over the individual who had invited them in, but rather they were to decree a blessing upon that individual's entire house, or their family.  Here again, we have further evidence of Christ's compassion for families.  It was not His desire to simply bless the one who had invited His disciples in, but to bless their families as well.  

When God saved you, His desire was not to stop with you.  God saved you to gain access to your family.  

Now He looks to you to grant Him that access with your faith. 

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"And Himself Believed, and His Whole House"

“The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.  Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.” (John 4:49-53)

A nobleman with a deathly ill child approached Jesus for healing. Jesus did not even pray.  He merely prophesied and made a promise.  He told the man to go his way and that his child would be healed by the time he arrived home.  

This was such an astounding miracle of God that the end result was the nobleman's "whole house" became Believers.  This is what signs, wonders and miracles are all about.  God uses them first to glorify Himself, second to confirm the Lordship of Jesus Christ and third to demonstrate His compassion on lost, suffering humanity. 

Someone once said, "Miracles are the dinner bell to salvation."  Never discount God performing the miraculous to turn your family's attention to the Gospel.  He has done so untold millions of times over the course of human history and throughout the Bible. 

Someone once said to me, "Miracles are all over."  I responded, "You're right.  Miracles are all over.  They are all over the Earth but you don't see them because you don't believe in them and God is honoring your unbelief and your free will." 

This nobleman's family was not saved simply because he believed.  God saves no one on the faith of others.  This nobleman's family was saved because God moved in such a way that they could not help but to believe for themselves.  God will move in such a way that your family will not be able to help but to believe for themselves.  

Even as Jesus prophesied and made a promise to this nobleman concerning his son, He has prophesied and made a promise to you concerning your family.  We will read that prophecy and promise below.

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A Prophecy & a Promise

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:38-39)

Here we find Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost.  Visitors to Jerusalem from sixteen different nations came running from every direction when an explosion from Heaven came as a rushing mighty wind filling the Upper Room where the 120 were gathered, including Jesus' Mother, Mary. 

Peter stood up and preached in his native Hebrew tongue to those who came running, yet supernaturally he was understood by the non-Hebrew speaking visitors from those sixteen different nations.  If that is not supernatural, what is supernatural?  God is a God of the supernatural.

Peter decreed to those men and women of multiple nations that the promise of the New Birth and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit was not only for them, but for their children and their children's children, however far off those generations may be.  

That was a prophecy and a promise being made not only to them, but to you as well, dear reader.  God is most interested in saving your family if you will only allow Him to do so.

Notice, Peter also said that the promise was for "as many as the Lord our God shall call."  

This takes us right back to our opening comments on "predestination."  We saw there that God "foreknew" who would accept His plan of salvation.  Those whom He foreknew would accept His salvation, He "predestined" to be conformed to the image of His Son.  Those whom He predestined, He called.  

God foreknew from Eternity past you were going to use your faith for your family's salvation.  

God foreknew you were going to give Him access to soften their hearts to the message of Christ, asking Him to send laborers to them.  

God foreknew as a result they would open their hearts to the message of Christ, so He predestined them and called them.  

Peter said the promise was for "as many as the Lord our God shall call."  

That would include your family members because you are using your faith concerning them.

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"Whereby Thou & All Thy House Shall Be Saved" 

“And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. … While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” (Acts 10:24, 44-47)

A Roman Centurion, Cornelius of Caesarea, was a devout man.  He was a man who had no doubt brought up his family, his soldiers and his servants to fear God.  He had a vision of an angel who came to tell him where he could find Peter, who would come and preach the Gospel to his household.  Cornelius, in turn, sent three men to locate Peter who returned to Cornelius' house with them.

When Peter arrived he found Cornelius gathered together with all of his kinsmen (family) and many close friends.  Peter preached the Gospel to them and Cornelius' entire household was saved, filled with the Holy Spirit and water baptized.  

We know this to be true because Peter later testified in Jerusalem to the truth of this fact.  Peter also said in Jerusalem that an angel had prophesied to Cornelius that this would occur when Peter preached.

“And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.” (Acts 11:13-15)  

It happened for Cornelius and his entire household even as the angel prophesied and as Peter later testified in Jerusalem - his entire household was saved.  

Dear reader, you do not need an angel to come to you and tell you that your household will be saved.  You have a promise which is greater than the word of any angel and it is found in Acts 16:31, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

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Lydia & Her Household  

“And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things that were spoken of Paul.  And when she (Lydia) was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.” (Acts 16:14-15)  

This woman apparently got her name from Lydia, a province in Asia Minor, where she lived.  The Lydian women were famous for the manufacture of beautiful purple dyes made from shellfish.  She, along with her household, were worshippers of God who heard Paul preach the message of Jesus Christ.  The Lord opened their hearts and Lydia's entire household received salvation in Christ.

God will see to it that your family members, like Lydia and her family members, have ample opportunity to hear the Gospel preached or witnessed to them.  He will use that to open their hearts to the message of Christ even as He did Lydia and her household.

God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11)  What He did for Lydia and her household, He will do for you and your household, if only you will believe.  

This is written in the Bible to encourage you to believe.  

If God did not want His children to have hope for their families to be saved, He would not have included so much hopeful information in the Bible. (2 Timothy 3:16) 

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"Believing in God with All His House"  

“Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.” (Acts 16:29-34)

Here we find Paul and Silas imprisoned in Philippi for preaching the Gospel.  At midnight they were praying and singing praises to God when suddenly a great earthquake struck, opening all the prison doors.  The keeper of the prison panicked because he was under a death penalty if any of his prisoners escaped.  He was just getting ready to take his own life when Paul shouted, "Do thyself no harm! We are all here!"  

The Philippian jail keeper sprang into the prison trembling, falling down before Paul and Silas, asking what he could do that might save his life.  He realized that Paul and Silas were responsible for the miracle of the chain-busting earthquake.  Paul took complete advantage of the opportunity to preach the Gospel to this frightened man, telling him, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy family."  

Paul would not have told this man that God desired to save his entire household if it were not true.  Of course, as I said earlier, God saves no one on the faith of others.  Everyone in the house must do their own believing, meeting the same terms everyone else must meet in order to be saved. Everyone must say, "Jesus, You're my choice" or something similar in order to be saved. (John 3:3-5; Romans 10:13)  

But God will cause that to happen within your family, reader, even as He caused it to happen in the lives of the Philippian jailer's family, if only you will continue to believe.

As I explained back in Chapter One, this verse of Scripture - Acts 16:31, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house" is the very verse I stood on for over seven years which resulted in both of my parents being in Heaven today.  It worked for me.  It will work for you if you will stand on it like I stood on it, refusing to take "No" for an answer. I have stood on this for other family members and they have been saved.  I continue to stand on it for additional family members who will be saved.  

I would endeavor to say that Acts 16:31 is without doubt one of the most used verses of Scripture by soulwinners around the world.  No doubt, multiple millions have been saved over the centuries as a result of their family members standing on this verse for them.

The Holy Spirit did not let them down, because they believed.  The Holy Spirit will not let you down, because you believe as well. 

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Crispus & All His House

“And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.” (Acts 18:8)

It came time for the Apostle Paul to leave behind his tent-making friends, Aquila and Priscilla, Believers he had met in Corinth.  He went and lodged with a man named Justus whose home was next door to the Synagogue.  The chief ruler of that Synagogue was a man named Crispus who himself had become a Believer in Jesus Christ.  As a result, all of Crispus' family also became Believers in Jesus Christ.

This must have been deeply frustrating to the Jews to have their chief synagogue ruler and his entire family convert to Christ.  The chief ruler was the overseer of all assembly meetings, the chief interpreter of the law, decided for the Jewish people what was lawful and unlawful, determined the punishment and even execution of rebels, conducted all marriages and issued divorce decrees.  For a chief synagogue ruler to be converted to Christ, along with his entire household, was a major event impacting the entire community over which he presided.

God knows how to get the job done in your family, too.  As with Crispus, He saw to it that you were converted in order that He might use you to bring about the conversion of your household, if only through your prayers.  The Holy Spirit is the greatest of all Soulwinners and He knows just what it will take to turn your household to Christ.  He will do it, if you will continue to grant Him access through your faith. 

It is interesting to note that upon his conversion Crispus was forced to leave the Synagogue as their chief leader.  He was succeeded as chief synagogue ruler by a man named Sosthenes. (Acts 18:17)  Sosthenes himself later became a convert to Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:1) 

The Holy Spirit sure knows how to keep the ball rolling, doesn't He?  No doubt, both of these men became great Pastors of powerful local Churches.

Keep your faith out there.  Continue to decree and thank God daily, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord Jesus Christ."

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The Apostle Paul's Praying Christian Cousins

“Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.” (Romans 16:7)

Andronicus, a male, and Junia, most likely a female, were Paul's "kinsmen."  The Greek word for kinsmen here is a reference to a direct blood relative.  Andronicus and Junia could possibly have been Paul's siblings but were most likely his first cousins.  

Most people do not think about Paul's family being saved.  They make the mistake of seeing him as a spiritual Lone Ranger.  But he had family like everyone else has family.  And we can be sure Paul knew how to use his faith to bring his family into the Kingdom of God. 

As a matter of fact, we see here in Romans 16:7 that Andronicus and Junia were in Christ before Paul.  This means they were converted before Paul was converted.  It would not be a stretch of the imagination at all to believe that these two of Paul's kinsmen were instrumental in praying him into the Kingdom of God.  

Andronicus and Junia's faith worked for their family members in a huge way, resulting in the conversion of the Hitler of their times, Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul the Apostle.  No one is too difficult for the Lord.  

Your faith will work for the conversion of your family members as well, no matter how resistant and stubborn they may appear to you.  Keep believing like Andronicus and Junia kept believing, and God will move in astounding ways you have not imagined. (Ephesians 3:20)

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Aristobulus' Household

“Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.” (Romans 16:10)

Not much is known about Aristobulus except for the fact that Paul had great respect for him and his household and paid tribute to them in his Epistle to the Romans.  Of course, because of Paul's salutation to them, we can know of a surety that they were a family serving Christ together.  

God saved Aristobulus' household and God will save your household.  He is a family-oriented God.

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Another Born-Again Member of Paul's Family 

“Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.” (Romans 16:11)

Herodion was another direct blood relative of the Apostle Paul.  He said so.  Nothing much is known about Herodion other than he was a Christian, he was a direct blood relative of Paul and Paul had respect for him.

Here we have further evidence of more of Paul's family being Born Again.  We can be sure of this one thing, either Paul prayed and trusted God for Herodion's conversion, or Herodion prayed and trusted God for Paul's conversion.   

Either way, here we have further evidence of God honoring one family member's faith being released on behalf of another family member.

Notice also in this same verse, Paul makes reference to "the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord."  Another individual greatly respected by the Apostle Paul whose entire household was serving Jesus, the Master.

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Rufus & His Mother

“Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.” (Romans 16:13)

Rufus was another Born-Again Christian who was close to Paul.  Rufus' mother was also a convert to Jesus Christ and was so close to Paul, acting as a mother to him, that Paul even referred to her as his "mother."  

Many believe that Rufus is the son of Simon the Cyrenian.  The same Simon who was forced by the Romans to carry Jesus' cross when Jesus could not carry it any further. (Mark 15:21)  No doubt, Simon became a convert to Christ right along with his wife and son.  Obviously, another family serving the Lord together.

Here is an interesting thought.  Simon the Cyrenian was from Cyrene which was the capital of Libya in North Africa.  North African Libyans are very dark-skinned people.  This means that Simon was a "black" man.  This means it is highly likely that Paul referred to a "black" woman as his "mother."  

This is something racist "Christians" who believe that "blacks" are not as good as "whites," or vice-versa, need to ponder.  They would never find an ally in the Apostle Paul, nor will they find one in the writer of this book.

Man builds walls of prejudice on foundations of fear.  Almighty God turns around and uses men like the Apostle Paul to come along and knock them right down.

Christians and Christian Ministers who do not believe that God's dark-skinned children should fellowship, worship together or even marry and have children with God's light-skinned children (or vice-versa), should be utterly ashamed of themselves.  Adam is our father. (Romans 5:17)  Eve is our mother. (Genesis 3:20) We are all made of one blood and one flesh. (Acts 17:26; 1 Corinthians 15:39) 

Though there may be many cultures, there is only one race of man.  Christians must never refer to "the races."  The Bible reveals there is one race - God's great human race.

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Nereus' Unnamed Sister

“Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.” (Romans 16:15)

Here mention is made of a man named Nereus and his Born-Again sister to whom Paul sent special acknowledgment.  More Biblical evidence of God working in families.  

An interesting side note here.  At least seven women are named here in the 16th chapter of Romans.  All of them were Christians who worked in the Ministry of Helps, were Deaconesses, Teachers or Prophetesses who "labor in the Lord." (Romans 16:12) This means that they labored in the Ministry of the Word.  

There were many Prophetesses in the Early Church.  In the Old Testament there is reference to at least six Prophetesses and reference is made to two more in the Gospels.  

It is wrong to teach that "women should not speak in Church."  That is not what Paul taught nor did he condone that type of thinking.  If it is wrong for a woman to stand up and speak before a congregation, why did God anoint all four of Philip's daughters to continually stand up in public congregations and prophesy openly, having it recorded in the Bible as an example for all? (Acts 21:9; 2 Timothy 3:16)  

The answer is apparent.  God does indeed anoint women to preach, teach and prophesy even as He does men, regardless of what men like Pastor John MacArthur wrongly teach or how severely they ridicule.  

As a matter of fact, God is going to be doing a whole lot more calling and anointing women Ministers in the Last Days. (Joel 2:28-29)

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Three More of Paul's Born-Again Relatives

“Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.” (Romans 16:21)

Here again we have further evidence of more of Paul's "kinsmen" or direct blood relatives being Born Again. 

Paul had two blood relatives named Lucius or "Luke."  One was a Prophet and Teacher who was with Paul at Antioch. (Acts 13:1)  The other Luke is "Dr. Luke," the writer of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. (Luke 1:1-3; Acts 1:1)  

Dr. Luke was not only Paul's "kinsman" but he was also Paul's most trusted confidante and chronicler.  Luke was a medical physician. The Apostle Paul referred to him as one. (Colossians 4:14)  Paul would know because Dr. Luke was either Paul's first cousin or his flesh and blood brother.   

Personally, because they both demonstrated the same intellectual prowess, I believe Luke the physician and the Apostle Paul were brothers sharing the same parentage. 

Jason and Sosipater are also listed here as Paul's direct blood relatives.  Not much is known about these two faithful men other than they worked very closely with Paul somehow and they were his direct blood relatives.  

Jason may be the same Jason mentioned in Acts 17:5, 7.  Sosipater may be the same man mentioned in Acts 20:4.  

Paul's blood sister and his nephew, who saved Paul's life when the Jews had plotted to kill him, are also mentioned in Acts 23:16.  

So let's review the list of Paul's Born Again relatives mentioned in the New Testament; Paul's sister, his nephew, his cousins (and possibly a brother or two) named Andronicus, Junia, Herodion, Lucius, Jason, Sosipater and Dr. Luke. 

That is a total of nine of Paul's immediate family members whom God saved. And these are just the ones Paul and Luke mentioned in their writings.  We can be sure there were more.  Some of them prayed Paul into the Kingdom and, no doubt, Paul prayed some of them into the Kingdom.  

Reader, these things are written in the Bible for your exhortation, edification and comfort.  They are hidden to those who do not care to see them, but they are revealed to you because you believe.  You can pray your family members into the Kingdom, even as many New Testament saints prayed their families into the Kingdom.

Make up your mind that you will stand in faith as they stood in faith, fully expecting God to do as He promised in Acts 16:31.

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"The House of Stephanas"   

 “I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)” (1 Corinthians 16:15)

This is a reference to the same "household of Stephanas" Paul mentioned as having baptized in water. (1 Corinthians 1:16) Quite obviously, during Paul's missionary journey through Achaia in Greece, Stephanas and his family were the first ones there converted to Christianity by the Apostle Paul.  This is why he refers to Stephanas' household as "firstfruits."

It was an easy thing for the Holy Spirit to convert Stephanas' entire household.  It is an easy thing for Him to convert your family as well, as long as you will continue to give Him access with your faith, not your fears.  

Stephanas and his family were addicted to the Ministry of the saints. To be addicted to Ministry is to be determined to minister to the Body of Christ.  Anything a Believer does on behalf of the Body of Christ is done unto the Lord and the Lord will repay. (Matthew 25:34-46)  

Anyone who becomes addicted to serving the Body of Christ finds tremendous favor with Almighty God. (Psalm 5:11-12)  When we put Christ's Body first, God will put our needs first.  Possibly the most effective thing one can do towards seeing their family members come into the Kingdom, besides prayer, is to become addicted to service to Christ's Body. 

This is why Jesus said if we seek first the Kingdom of God, everything we have need of, including family salvation, will chase us down. (Matthew 6:33)  

However, Jesus did also strongly emphasize the importance of refusing to worry concerning whatever we have need of - including family salvation. (Matthew 6:34; Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7)

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"The House of Onesiphorus"  

“This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:” (2 Timothy 1:15-16)

When Paul was imprisoned in Rome the Christians there abandoned him because they were ashamed of his imprisonment.  That is what baby Christians do when the devil persecutes their leadership for standing tall and strong.  In their lack of knowledge of Scripture, they wrongly believe that God is punishing their leaders for secret wrong-doing when, in fact, Satan is persecuting them for living uprightly and seeking God's will.  

This is what happened to Paul in Rome.  The Church there forsook him in their ignorance.  

Paul's entire life was one of suffering and labor for Jesus Christ.  Paul rightfully named the names of those who hurt and deserted him in his humiliation.  Possibly all Christians who abandon God-ordained leadership during times of great suffering and persecution should have their names named publicly as well.  

However, Paul found one Asian Christian in Rome who would not forsake him.  His name was Onesiphorus.

Paul pronounced a special blessing on the entire household of Onesiphorus for sticking with him in his humiliation and rejection.  There are special blessings for all who stand with a Minister who is being persecuted for preaching the strong Word. (Matthew 10:41) 

Stick with your Pastor when he endures hardship for preaching God's Word to an evil generation.  There will be a special blessing that will come upon both you and your family for doing so. (Genesis 12:3) 

Faithfulness to your God-ordained leadership is a powerful way to open the door for the Holy Spirit to personally minister to and save your family.

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Chapter Four: God Is Willing and God Is Able

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

As stated all the way back in Chapter One, God is so determined to honor your faith and to save your household, that He is actually tolerating His enemies and delaying His judgment on all the rebels of this Earth until everyone who can be saved will be saved. (Hebrews 12:2-28; 2 Peter 3:9; Revelation 20:7-15)

God is not willing to see any of your family members perish.  It is God's perfect will that all of your family members should come to repentance, confessing Christ as the Lord of their lives.  I have given you no less than thirty Biblical examples testifying to this fact. I have also shared with you some powerful testimonies to prove to you that God will cause His Word to come to pass if you will stand firm on His promise to save your family.

Man has free will and he can choose not only his eternal destiny but he can choose what he will do with his life here on this Earth.  There are well over 4,000 times in Scripture where it is made clear that individuals are free to choose both their own earthly and eternal destinies.  God is a moral free Agent and He has created all men and women in His image and in His likeness. (Genesis 1:26)  Therefore, man is also a free moral agent.  

There are two powers in the universe.  Man is a neutral power who connects to one or the other.  He has the absolute God-given right to choose which of the two he will serve.

However, we can make faith declarations over our families concerning their salvation as Joshua did over his household and God will honor it.  Without violating their free will, God will cause Gospel laborers to cross their pathways time after time after time.  You may never see it happen and you may not hear of it happening, but through your prayers it is happening.  We are to walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)  God will send specific laborers who will preach the Gospel to them in ways in which they will understand it and receive it.  He will even speak to them by His Spirit. (John 10:1-5)

It is important to understand that we must resist the desire to try and be the Holy Spirit to our unsaved family members.  Constant preaching and thumping them with Scriptures will only serve to turn them away from Christ.  Hold your peace and do not speak unless and until the Lord specifically tells you to do so. The Bible says to be quick to hear and slow to speak. (James 1:19)  Know He is answering your prayers.  They are hearing the Gospel in ways you know nothing of and the supernatural Gospel is opening their hearts even as it opened Lydia's heart.  

Your family members, no matter how hard-core and unbelieving, like my family members and even like Saul of Tarsus, will not go off into Eternity before accepting Christ as their Savior.  

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Binding Satan's Influence from Your Loved Ones

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  In whom the god [small "g"] of this world hath 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.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

The Apostle Paul referred to Satan as the "god of this world" (small "g").  Jesus called him the "prince of this world." (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) Paul said if our loved ones are not seeing the light of the Gospel, it is because the god of this world is blinding their minds to it.  Therefore, something must be done about Satan blinding the minds of our loved ones to the Gospel.

As we saw in Chapter Two, we are the ones in authority in the Earth. Therefore, as Believers we must not ask God to do something about the devil.  God has done everything He is going to do about the devil, and He has given us authority over him.  Therefore, we must use our authority and tell the devil, "In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command you to take the Gospel blinders off of the eyes of my loved one."  We must do this in faith and we must do it fully expecting the devil to obey when we speak.  

Satan is not afraid of us, but certainly he is afraid of the Greater One Who lives within us. (1 John 4:4) 

When the faith command is given to loose our loved ones, he knows he must obey us or retribution will come from God.  He would rather obey the Believer than face further retribution from Almighty God. (Matthew 8:5-10)

“Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he’ll flee from you.” (James 4:7)

Here James, the half-brother of Jesus, assures us if we will submit ourselves to the will of God for our lives, walking in love and asking forgiveness when we are wrong, Satan will have no choice but to flee when we resist him.  You may well be surprised to discover what begins to happen in your loved ones' lives once you have finally told those blinding spirits to back off in Jesus' Strong Name.  

If perchance, once you have prayed, things appear to get worse before they get better, do not be moved.  That is Biblical as well.  It happened in Jesus' Ministry. (Mark 9:11-29)  It just may happen with you, but rest assured, it is only because Satan is stirred up and he knows, like it or not, he must go from your loved ones.  Kick and scream and complain as he may, he knows he has to go when you tell him to go. (Mark 5:1-13)  

Do not tell him to go from your loved ones lives over and over and over.  When you do that, he knows you do not believe his grip was broken when you first gave the command. Tell him one time only and then remind him as often as you feel it is necessary, "Satan, I told you once and I am not going to tell you again.  I call my loved ones free of your dominance, in Jesus' Strong Name."

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Laborers to Your Family Harvest

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15)

Jesus stated that we could pray for Gospel laborers to go to our loved ones. (Matthew 9:37-38)  Paul said the very same thing here in this Letter to the Romans.  He said it is not possible for one to believe what they have not heard.  He also said it is impossible to hear unless someone comes to preach.  And then he said someone will not go to preach to the lost unless someone sends them.  

Are you ready to pray?  

Are you ready to command the devil to take the blinders off the spiritual eyes of your loved ones?  

Are you ready to ask God to send preaching laborers to your family members in order that they may hear and receive? 

Are you ready to conquer this giant in your life, bringing it to its knees? 

Pray this prayer aloud. 

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The Prayer of Faith

"Satan, in the Name of Jesus, I command you to loose my family (call their names if you like).  Take the Gospel blinders off of their eyes and stop hindering their ability to believe in Jesus Christ.  Stop lying to them about Jesus.  Stop harassing them in every realm of their existence.  I tell you this one time and one time only.  Loose them and let them go.

"Father, I ask You to send Gospel laborers to my loved ones, whether it be through live contact, television, radio, the printed word, the Internet or any other way You see fit.  Jesus said if I asked for laborers that You would send them, so I ask You to do that now in His Strong Name.

"I claim my family members salvation according to Acts 16:31.  I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, I am saved, I have authority and I decree that my family will come to the same salvation experience.

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, in Jesus' Strong Name."

It is just that simple.  

Now stand strong in the faith that came into your heart supernaturally as you read this book based upon the powerful Word of God.  

If your faith begins to waiver, come back and refresh your faith by reading "Chapter Three: New Covenant Examples of Family Salvation" again.  The Word of God will keep you stirred up and well able to believe. (Romans 10:17)

For many years I have prayed the Apostle Paul's "Ephesians and Colossians Prayers" over my family. These are powerful prayers prayed by the Apostle Paul over all the Churches and are very effective. 

As your family members begin to come into the Kingdom of God, please contact us and share your testimonies. Possibly we will include them in this book to encourage others in their faith stand.  

If you would like us to agree with you in prayer concerning the salvation of your loved ones, please contact us through the JHM Contact page on this website.  

Be blessed as you continue to boldly decree by faith, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"

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Addendum: The Seven Baptisms of the Bible

There is some confusion as to whether or not water baptism saves one's soul.  

In some places in Scripture it appears that water baptism is necessary for one to be saved.  In other places it is clear that water baptism is not necessary to the saving of one's soul. For example, Jesus said to the thief on the cross who received His Lordship, "Verily I say unto thee, today thou shalt be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)  That man was not water baptized, yet Jesus said he would be in Heaven with Him. 

This confusion is easily cleared up when one realizes that there are actually seven baptisms mentioned in the Bible, not just one.  When one wrongly believes there is only one baptism referred to in the Bible, it can tend towards tremendous confusion.

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." (Hebrews 6:1-2)

Here the Apostle Paul stresses the importance of going on to maturity and not remaining in the babyhood stages of Christianity.  He said we do this by becoming established in what many refer to as the "Foundational Doctrines of Christ"  listed in the above Scripture. 

Notice one of the Foundational Doctrines of Christ to which Paul referred is "the doctrine of baptisms" (plural).  

What are the plural "baptisms" to which Paul refers here?  Once one understands what they are, the door will close to the confusion of "Does water baptism save or does it not save?"  

First we must consider the definition of the Greek word "baptism."  The Greek word is "baptizo."  It means "to overwhelm, to bury, to dip or immerse regardless of the element used."  

The element of water is not always necessary for a baptism.  For example, a letter can be immersed or baptized into an envelope.  An individual can be overwhelmed by, immersed or baptized in suffering or even joy.  So we must not limit ourselves as to our understanding of the word "baptism."  

As we will see from the Word of God, baptism does not always and only refer to water baptism.  

It is vitally important that the student of God's Word always understand the context in which "baptism" is being used when they come across the word in their study.  It is vital that the reader understand which of the seven baptisms is being referred to as they are reading the Scriptures.

I will list the seven baptisms of Scripture below with ample Scriptural evidence so that you may look up the verses at your convenience. 

Number One

John the Baptist baptized in water unto repentance. 

"In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. ...Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins." (Matthew 3:1-6) 

When an individual submitted to John's baptism, they were repenting for a lifestyle of sin. (Matthew 3:1-6; Mark 1:1-5; Luke 3:2-4; 7:29-30; John 1:31-33; 3:23-26; 10:40; Acts 1:5; 11:16; 19:3)

Jesus submitted to John's baptism, but not to repent for a lifestyle of sin, of course.  He was sinless.  He said He did it to set an example to all other human beings of the importance of obeying God and fulfilling His plan and purpose for their lives. (Matthew 3:13-17)

Number Two

Jesus oversaw His disciples as they baptized those who came to Him for salvation.

"After these things came Jesus and His disciples into the land of Judea; and there He tarried with them, and baptized." (John 3:22)  

This, too, was a baptism where individuals were repenting for a lifestyle of sin. (John 3:22; 4:1) 

The Old Covenant and the New Covenant overlapped during the time of both John the Baptist's and Jesus' Ministries and Jesus oversaw His disciples baptizing individuals for the same reasons John baptized.  However, later under the New Covenant, as we will see, the practice of water baptism had a change of purpose.  

Jesus made it clear to Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, I saw unto thee, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)  He did not say, "Except a man be water baptized he cannot see the kingdom of God."  

Jesus literally meant there must be a transformation from God by acceptance of Christ in order to both gain access to and understand the Kingdom of Heaven and all its realities. This transformation occurs only at the New Birth and not at water baptism.  

Water baptism is now a symbol of what occurs at the New Birth, as we will see.

Number Three

Christ's baptism of suffering for the sin of humanity. 

Jesus said to His disciples, "But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am straitened till it be accomplished." (Luke 12:50)

Here Jesus refers to fulfilling the many prophecies of His needing to be immersed in suffering in order to save fallen humanity. 

The very first prophecy of the Bible refers to Christ's coming immersion in suffering and His struggles with Satan on behalf of humanity. (Genesis 3:15)  

Whole chapters of the Bible are devoted to Christ being immersed in suffering for humanity. (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Exodus 12, etc.)  

Multiple individual passages speak of Christ being immersed in suffering. (Isaiah 50:4-7; 52:14; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 13:6-7)  

Every sacrifice and offering, beginning with Abel, through Moses and all the Prophets, ending with His own death on the cross, spoke of His being immersed in suffering in order to redeem fallen humanity and to be restored to His former Glory. (Luke 24:25-37; Acts 3:18; 1 Peter 3:18)

Number Four

Israel's baptism in the cloud, the fire and the Red Sea.  

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;" (1 Corinthians 10:1-2)

These baptisms refer to when the Israelites were completely overwhelmed by and immersed in the Divine Presence of the Most High God as they traveled through the wilderness under the cloud by day, the fire by night and through the parted Red Sea. (Exodus chapters 13-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6)

Number Five

Baptism into Jesus Christ and into His Body.

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13)

This is the only one of the seven baptisms that saves a human being from the penalty and punishment of their sins.  

At the time of the New Birth, or when one is Born Again, they are baptized or immersed into the Body of Christ.  This is not a reference to water baptism.  

Remember, the Greek word for baptism means "to overwhelm, to bury, to dip or immerse regardless of the element used."  

The "element" the Christian is immersed into at the time of the New Birth is Christ's Body, not water. (Romans 6:3-7; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27)  Earlier we used the illustration of a letter being immersed or baptized into an envelope.  In the same way a Believer is immersed or baptized into the Body of Christ the moment they are Born Again. 

One is baptized into the Body of Christ, not through immersion in water, but by accepting the sacrificial death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for one's sins.  

When one confesses with the mouth and believes with the heart that God rose Jesus from the dead, they are saved from the penalty and punishment of their sins and baptized into Christ's Body. (Romans 10:9-13)  

So it is clear, baptism into the Body, not baptism in water, is the only one of seven baptisms that saves.

Number Six

The Christian's water baptism.  

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;" (Matthew 28:19)

For the Christian, water baptism is an outward expression of something that has occurred inwardly - specifically the New Birth.  

The Christian is identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ when submitting to water baptism by immersion.  The Christian goes down into a watery grave, identifying with Christ's death and burial for them.  The Christian comes up out of a watery grave, identifying with Christ's raising for them unto newness of life.  

Sprinkle baptizing babies is not Scriptural for two reasons.  First, baptism means to immerse, not to sprinkle.  Christ was not sprinkled in death and suffering for us.  He was wholly immersed in death and suffering for us.  Second, babies do not yet possess the mental capacity to understand what water baptism symbolizes.  Therefore, according to the Bible, it is impractical to baptize them.  

Water baptism does not save, it is simply a figure of that which does save - acceptance of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

"...when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 3:20-21)  

Many are confused by this verse.  It appears to be saying, "Water baptism doth also now save us."  However, upon closer examination, it is clear that water baptism does not save.  

It was not the water that saved Noah's family.  It was the ark that saved them from drowning in the water.  So, too, water baptism does not save the soul, but faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ - that which water baptism symbolizes - saves the soul. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Colossians 1:20)  

A mere figure, or symbol, has no power to save.  Only that which it symbolizes has power to save.  

Because he realized that some might trust in water baptism to save them, Peter makes it very clear that baptism does not save one from the filth or the moral depravity of the flesh.  He makes it very clear that only a good conscience towards God, because one has been made clean by faith in the resurrection of Jesus, results in salvation.  

Peter uses Noah and his family as an illustration to make the following point.

Even as the waters of the flood could not have saved Noah and his family had they not made use of an ark, so, too, the water of baptism cannot save the soul of anyone who does not make use of faith in the Blood of Jesus.  

Faith in the Blood of Jesus is to the Christian what the ark was to Noah.

The Apostle Paul was fully saved, filled with the Holy Spirit and only later water baptized as a symbol, or a figure, of his New Birth experience. (Acts 9:11, 17-18)  

Paul makes it perfectly clear in his Epistles that the sinner is justified by faith in the Blood of Jesus and faith in the Blood of Jesus alone, not by water baptism. (Romans 3:24-25; 5:1; Ephesians 1:7)

There are many examples of Christians being water baptized in the Scripture, none of them indicating that salvation occurs at that time.  Water baptism occurs only after salvation in Christ. (Matthew 18:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-41; 8:12-16, 36-38; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:15, 33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16; 1 Corinthians 1:13-17; 1 Peter 3:21)

Number Seven

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

John the Baptist said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after  me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" (Matthew 3:11)

This is a baptizing with empowerment for service.  This is why Jesus told His disciples, "You shall receive power when the Holy Ghost has come upon you." (Acts 1:8)  

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is an experience that can only come after the New Birth, because the Holy Spirit will not go where the Blood of Jesus has not cleansed. (Matthew 3:11, 14; 20:22-23; Mark 1:8; 10:38-39; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; 7:37-39; Acts 1:5; 8:14-17; 10:44-48; 11:16; 19:2-3)

Only after Cornelius' household received the word of salvation, were Born Again and baptized with the Holy Spirit, did Peter say the following, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" (Acts 10:47)

This is a clear indication that water baptism does not save.  

Cornelius' household was already saved and Spirit-filled when Peter stood up and said, "It's time for a water baptism service so they can identify outwardly with that which has already occurred inwardly."

Three of the Seven Baptisms Are for Believers

One.  Baptism into the Body of Christ at the New Birth.  Paul called it "one baptism" because it is the only baptism that saves and immerses one into the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:5)  

All who experience salvation in Christ experience this baptism.      

The Holy Spirit baptizes individuals into Christ's Body. (1 Corinthians 12:13)

Two.  The Baptism with the Holy Spirit, an endowment with power for service. (Acts 1:8)  

This can only occur after one is Born Again.  However, it can take place before, during or after water baptism. (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-11; 8:12-21; 10:44-48; 19:1-7)

Christ baptizes the individual with the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:11; John 1:31-33)

Three.  Water Baptism which can only come after one is saved, as we have clearly seen.  

The Gospel Minister baptizes the Christian into water. (Matthew 28:19)

How to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)

How to Receive The Holy Spirit & Power

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