Salvation Story

A sister who is a nurse by profession came into the church-life two years ago. Since then, she has been enjoying the church-life. She gave her testimony of salvation from man-made idols at least twice in a gospel meeting of the church. She has been very burdened for her family, especailly, her elder brother. Out of her burden, she has been praying for him, and gradually led her to the Lord; to call upon His name and believe into the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, she brought her brother to the church's prayer meeting with the burden that he could be baptized ashe has already called upon the Lord and believed in Jesus Christ. He joined the prayer meeting. After the prayer meeting, we ask him if he should be baptised his sister said. But he was not willing and determined that it was not the time. 

Though we had a plan of going out for home-meeting, we decided to spend a time of home-meeting with this brother instead. The sister and her brother with three brothers, started the meeting with a Hindi hymn, "Give Up the World, Christ to Obtain" #1025 http://www.witness-lee-hymns.org/hymns/H1025.html.

Then we read together in Hindi, The Mystery of Human Life. After this, I asked all the ones in the meeting to explain the truth and also share their enjoyment. Therefore, it became a mutual gospel preaching and meeting. Then, I preached the gospel again in a more simple way and led him to call upon the Lord to make sure that he really understood the truth concerning, God, God's plan, man, man's fall, Christ redemption, and how to believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ. I was also burdened to minister to him on baptism which he initially reacted in a negative way saying that he was not ready for baptism and that it could be done another time. 

Deep within I felt, he needed to be baptized. So with many exercises of my spirit I initiated a study on baptism using Bible verses, just two, with an example of baptism in Acts 2.

Mark 16:16  He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned.

Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you have crucified. And when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, What should we do, brothers? And Peter said to them, Repent and each one of you be baptized upon the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise and to your children, and to all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God calls to Himself. And with many other words he solemnly testified and exhorted them, saying, Be saved from this crooked generation. Those then who received his word were baptized, and there were added on that day about three thousand souls.

I requested that these verses be read by the brother who needed to be baptised.  I know the power and authority of the word of God. The word of God speaks by itself and speaks for itself. The word of God is God Himself explained. Afterwhich I expounded the word of God with practical illustrations of the need for baptism. 

I especially emphasized the need and importance of baptism to enjoy the full salvation of God, to have a confirmation of the inward belief, to obey the word of God, and to be transferred from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God. 

Having expounded the words, I still gave him a completely free choice. He must take his own decision to be baptized based on what the Lord has been doing in Him and speaking to him. Though I prayed that he be led through baptism, I never force people. I told him clearly that it must be out of his own decision. The choice was completely his and his alone. We were there only to help if he needed.

The Holy Spirit moved in him and without further waiting he himself proclaimed that he be baptized. Then we all prayed for him. He got ready for baptism and he took water baptism. Praise the Lord! This was the work of the Holy Spirit.

Then, we had the first meeting after his baptism with a song in Hindi, "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine #308" https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/308 Then pursued the message on "Assurance, Security, and Joy of Salvation."

We all shared from our enjoyment of the word of God, the need for growth in life through a daily exercise of confessing our sins and applying the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, reading the word of God in a way of eating the Lord through the word, praying daily, and being fellowship with fellow believers.

   

It was a wonderful and glorious home-meeting indeed! The ministry of the word and the work of the Holy Spirit accomplished what it intended to accomplish. Praise the Lord for the salvation of our beloved brother!