"BACKSLIDE"

Proverbs 14:14 KJV

The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

Jesus is the only way that we can meet God in a true place of peace. We can't find the real God in any other way, except but through Jesus Christ. It may look and sound like faith in God, have what the bible considers to be a form of godliness, but if it's missing the fullness of scripture, then it isn't God that you're serving.

Does your God allow you to sin in the same ways repeatedly without doing anything to at the very least try for a different outcome?

Does your God allow you to completely disregard scripture with unholy behavior and hard-headed or obstinate rebellion against a crucified life?

If so, then you like many people who currently call themselves Christian are in great danger of not learning until it's too late. You see in the time we are living in there is a cool version of Christianity and a soft version of Christianity that seem right to a person. Especially those born in this generation.

This Christianity, with all of it's deceiving ultimately has one distinguishing marker; there's no power of God in it, and therefore no real love.

In Matthew 7, when in the time of appearing before God, the slothful in righteousness will begin to stand before Jesus justifying themselves; the Lord will rebuttal their faith and they will at that time learn what it means to truly receive correction from the Holy Spirit. And they will also feel the true burden and the need to repent, but unfortunately by then it will be entirely too late.

Matthew 7:23 KJV

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Their hearts at that time will feel the same thing true believers hearts felt all this time. When we looked into the word or God and saw our depravity without Him. When we chose to deny ourselves the pleasures of our flesh and as they save now "intrusive thoughts" so that we could give place to holiness in our lives.

At that time they will learn the conviction we felt when we chose to carry the cross and stop listening secular music so we wouldn't inject poison into the susceptibility of our hearts. It's not that the true believer feels holier than thou, the true believer is aware of the quietness of the old dead life of sin and we don't want to do anything that could wake it up.

When Jesus says I never knew you to the lukewarm backslider, it will be the most devastating realization of their time. He saying, though you called me Lord, though you went to church and said the name of Jesus many times, you never dethroned your own self and stopped placing your own words above mine.

Though you pretended and professed to be wise and we're happy to do so, you never confronted the rebellion I showed you with sorrow and confession. Sure you "asked for forgiveness" but you didn't do anything to walk in the change that truly does come from praying a sincere prayer of repentance.

You didn't hold back when temptation came to your flesh, you indulged and sinned each time and rejected the chances to get to know the Holy Spirit beyond just conviction.

The Lord desires a true relationship with us. We should be worshipping in the beauty of His holiness and not only in the joy of just being forgiven.

You're supposed to let that grace of forgiveness lead you into making a drastic change for a new way of life. Not to allow place to be given for that same temptation to arise again. Don't you know that a sin-life will cut off your blessings? The devil can trick you into making the wrong choices now, because you've trodden under foot the blood of Jesus.

Jesus said, Matthew 7:23 NLT "But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.'"

Get away from me. The thing you should have said to the sin you asked forgiveness for is the thing that God will in turn say to you, 'get away from me.'

If you don't understand the Lord's feelings about sin, this is how you can get it. Sin makes you a stranger to God. And intruder, a thief whose come into the house of God, a wolf with bad intentions. This new Christianity, the cool, shiny and soft Christianity doesn't teach that. But the word of God teaches that, so I have no argument for you who still don't believe it. Be careful not to develop itchy ears. Eventually you won't be able to listen to the truth. It'll feel like something is throwing acid on your ears and you'll run away. You'll hate the truth. So I'm warning you now, as the bible does many times.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. [4] They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

The KJV says that God will cause them to chase myths. The new Christianity doesn't teach that either but it's also in the bible. No version of Christianity that is cool, popular or soft will get you into heaven. You'll be like a poor person trying to get into an expensive nightclub, your name will not be on the list. You won't have proper clothes.

The backslider is filled with their own ways. They do it how they feel they should do. They obey lust, they don't fear to transgress the commandment of God. They aren't ready to be radical. They don't seek a repentance that is drastic. They don't see the need. They might say they fear going to hell, but their actions make them liars. They aren't saved. But the Lord is married to the backslider isn't He?

Jeremiah 3:14-15 KJV

Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord ; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: [15] And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

The Lord isn't affirming a commitment to the disobedient wife, but rather pleading the significance of the covenant He has made, and that even though you have gone astray the Lord will yet forgive you and then help keep you on the right path.

Look at the text "I will take you one of a city, and two of a family" this sounds just like the division that comes sometimes when you obey the Lord, the people who weren't rebuking you for your backsliding and sinful ways before will not be in opposition to you once you drastically return to God. He's willing to take just you if not you're whole family, He's willing to save just your city if not your whole state. He saved only 8 people out of the whole world in the past. He's willing to be merciful, but only on His terms. Not yours backslider.

You have to learn how to be free of your own ways. You need a pastor to help you, this is clear. It's a blessing for you in fact so don't ignore that either.

Jesus will not share His GOD status with anyone. We are either fully His, or else we are strangers. We cannot ever do things our way. It must be His, we must be true, and we must drastically surrender.

John 14:6 KJV

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.