Lately I have been coming to the realization that those called to some ministry function in the Body of Yeshua have a higher “price” to pay. As we step into our gift and calling, we are stripped. Everything that is meaningless, useless, selfish, etc is stripped bared….and the stripping hurts.

Pruning is painful…but necessary.

People with a prophetic gifting are often put through the pruning process more times than others. God wants to remove every hindrance in us, and our lives, that prevents Him from doing what He wants to do.

I was reading the following from “What’s New in the Prophetic. com” this morning.

There are two words that describe prophetic preparation very well: STRIPPING and BREAKING. It is a time where the Lord has to strip you of anything that prevents you from being a fit and trustworthy vessel. During prophetic preparation, He will break anything that will prevent you from being a fit vessel for Him to use.

So what are the things that the Lord will be breaking and stripping you of?

• He will deal with the taint of the flesh that stand in your way and prevents you from being a pure vessel.
• Have you got fleshly strengths and independence? You can kiss them goodbye; He will take them away. You need to come to the place where you depend 100% on His strength and ability
• Have you got natural strengths such as intellect, natural personality skills? Are you a strong-willed person? Do you rely on your physical strength or your good look? If yes then sorry, there is bad news for you because they will be broken into pieces. I hate bad news, but that is the truth. The Lord can’t use you if you are a stubborn strong-will person who only does what they want.
• You will be stripped of your reliance on family heritage, popularity etc; anything that you rely on.
• I can hear someone say, “I am so glad I am weak and don’t have natural strengths and abilities.” Not so fast! You are not off the hook yet. The Lord will deal with any insecurity, weaknesses and hesitations in you.
• Is fear of man your problem? He will deal with that too.
• Do you seek acceptance and recognition from people? You will have to hand it over to the Lord because only the Lord can meet that need in you.
• Do you have a complex of superiority or inferiority? Have you developed a persecution complex? Have you got a poverty mentality? The Lord will break and strip you of all of them.

There will be no stone unturned in prophetic preparation. You can add your own list; just think of anything that may prevent you from being the vessel of honour that the Lord wants you to be.

Are you beginning to see why prophetic preparation is difficult and longer?

This is me.

As I read through those questions, I began to see the pattern that my life is taking right now…and some of the things I am going through hurt. But I am not running away. I am staying here…planted in the training ground God placed me here. It would be easy to pack up and run away.

Things might seem good for a while, but life would eventually fall apart. I would be out of God’s will for my life. I would be running from the gift He gave me.

So here I am…standing…and being pruned.

One of the biggest problems in my walk with God is learning to trust Him. I have been through many things in my lifetime…things that have destroyed my ability to trust. Some times I feel like a puppy who has been so viciously abused that it snaps and snarls at everything and everyone – good or bad. Trust is a foreign concept to me, and it has drawn a wedge between me and God.

The dictionary defines trust as:

• reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.
• confident expectation of something; hope.
• confidence in the certainty of future payment for property or goods received; credit: to sell merchandise on trust.
• a person on whom or thing on which one relies: God is my trust.
• the condition of one to whom something has been entrusted.
• the obligation or responsibility imposed on a person in whom confidence or authority is placed: a position of trust.
• charge, custody, or care: to leave valuables in someone’s trust.
• something committed or entrusted to one’s care for use or safekeeping, as an office, duty, or the like; responsibility; charge.

If trust is like a foreign concept, then how do you know what it is to develop it???

The one thing that I am noticing from Scripture is that the word “trust” implies that you are running to something, or someone, for help, refuge.  Example:

Psalm 7:1 (KJV)
¹ O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

The word trust is the Hebrew word “hasa” which has the implication of running to something/someone for help. To trust God means that you believe enough about Him to run to Him for help, protection, guidance….hope.

In my own life, once I heard to Word something happened inside of me that I cannot explain. It has been over 8 years since I said “yes” to Yeshua, and I still cannot explain exactly what happened. I became convinced deep down in my spirit that Yeshua was real, what the Bible said was real….that the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob is real. It is something that went beyond knowing and logic. I knew.

Along with that knowing came the seed of trust.

There are times when I want to keep throwing dirt over the seed so it won’t grow and mature. During those times, I put my trust in me, and I end up making a mess of things. I am coming to realize that not trusting God is a symbol of pride.

God wants everything. He is a jealous God and He does not want anything or anyone to stand in his place.

These past few weeks have been a battle. A war between me and God. A war between trusting and pride. Situations have occured in my life that have destroyed self-relaiance and pushed me into the arming of a loving God who craves my trust.

A God who wants me to learn to lean on Him.

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I am not sure why but I felt the need to go back to the Beginning of Things, so I started reading the Book of Genesis. As I was reading the story of Noah and the flood, I got to pondering about some things.

God is terrifying….but where is He?

I mean, God is this all-powerful being who at anytime could wipe out the earth with a blink of His eye….but He chooses to remain silent. In some ways it makes you wonder if God is dead.

The God of the Bible interacted with His people. There was no doubt that there was a God, and He was in control of things. Nowadays, the so-called “miracles, signs and wonders” only leave people disillusioned when the “miracles, signs and wonders” fade.

We crave the interaction that the people of the Bible had with God but He stands at a distance….and we’re left hurting by a powerless Christianity.

Why?

Things began to change with the coming of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach. He made it perfectly clear that things were changing and evolving. He promised a relationship with God that goes beyond anything that was experienced up until then. Yeshua promised intimacy with Go through  Ruach HaKodesh (Hebrew: רוח הקודש, meaning Divine Spirit or Divine Inspiration, literally “Holy Spirit”, also transliterated Ruah Ha-qodesh).

John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Yeshua Ha’Mashiach came as the perfect sacrifice….a perfect bridge to the Father. A fulfillment of things promised in Scripture…..things promised that were not completely understood until Yeshua Ha’Mashiach said the words, ” it is finished”.

With those words God became accessibility to everyone who came to Him through belief in Yeshua Ha’Mashiach.

So why does it feel like God is dead?

I can answer that with one word – us.

We are the reason God seems dead to us. We go about rushing here and there…barely ever stopping to mutter a quick prayer to God. We never spend time with Him….we go about doing things ourselves and wanting to make choices that we want to make. We put God on a shelf that we only dust off when the going gets rough.

We seperate ourselves from God because we want to be in control.

No, God is not dead….He is waiting for us to stop and listen.

When I first felt led by the Lord to start this blog, the Lord said to me, ” Be real…let people see what a real Christian goes through in life. The ups and downs. The heartache and the joys. Be real. No masks.”

Today, is a “being real” day….and it is a day of crying and pain. T

I hurt today, and I don’t understand why all this is happening. I feel like I am groping around in the darkness, and it feels cold and lonely.

O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

I hate feeling this way. I know you have a plan and a purpose for all this but how much longer will I have to walk this path.

It has been a year.

Life is falling apart.

There is no food. There is no money. I need a new apartment………and I hurt inside.

I need help. Please help me, God.

Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

I know there are people who will read this and gloat in joy knowing that this is happening to me, and will say, “this is the Lord punishing her.”

But this one thing I know more than anything.

God is sovereign. He allows things to happen that don’t make sense at the time they are are happening….but make sense further down the road. Not everything happens because God is “punishing” you…God has a plan and He is walking with me through this…and He is walking with you too.

But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me.

Psalm 13 (NLT)

As I sat here updating the website, and re-scheduling the broadcasts, I began to realize that God is doing something in this small town…..and not many have ears to hear it, eyes to see it or an open heart to receive it.

A couple of years ago, I was with a ministry that took a downhill turn into becoming a cult. During the first half of my involvement with the group, I was very blessed. I learned alot, and I know that God had some major plans for this group in Hinton….until discernment went out the window and the love of money grew stronger and stronger.

It was during my time with them (before the downhill swing) that I began having visions of a ministry that was unlike anything done in Hinton before. A progressive ministry with a “coffee house type setting”, tables and chairs and prayer corner.

Naturally, I “assumed” this vision pertained to the ministry I was with because they were progressive and eager to do the undone.

Again…assuming is BIG trouble!

Fast forward 2 years (thereabout) and I am “settling in” very nicely with another ministry. Up until recently, this ministry was the same boring, sit on the pew dying, no life ministry that is prevalent in Hinton.

Then came the idea for the “coffee house” ministry.

This past August 4th was our first “coffee house”, and the place was packed. The music was awesome and several people came to know Jesus.

The whole atmosphere of the ministry changed, and as a result, the “coffee house” setting was kept….meaning we have tables with chairs and comfy couches.  The vision I had 2 years ago is coming to pass.

There are still battles to face, and many challenges to change, but this turn of events brings alot of hope for a dying community.

Over the past few weeks, I have been dealing with someone who likes to gloat. For those who don’t know what gloating is, let’s go to Mr. Webster’s dictionary for a short definition.

Gloating:

“to look at or think about  someone with great or excessive, often smug or malicious, satisfaction.”

It means that you get pleasure from seeing someone in what you believe to be a bad situation, and it comes from having a haughty, or prideful,  spirit.

We all have our moments of pride but if you continue to entertain the haughtiness it becomes a stronghold in our lives. At this point, you may be asking, “what is a haughty spirit?”

A haughty spirit is:

A haughty spirit does not understand the workings of God, nor God’s people. A haughty spirit is linked to rebellion and running from God. Another name for a haughty spirit is “leviathan”, or “python”, and it seeks out the workings of God, and God’s people, to try to bring condemnation and judgment upon them. It is a form of unbelief.

Strong’s Greek Concordance #1361 :

to soar – be lofty – exalt, be haughty, be higher, lift up, mount up, be proud, raise up to great height, upward

An example of this is found in Isaiah 14: 13-14

You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.

I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”

A gloating, haughty, prideful spirit opposes God and everything He wants to accomplish. Over this past few weeks, this demonic spirit has been attacking me through another person. This person watches my YouTube videos, reads my blog, etc…and then sends me email that is condemning, judgmental, and….full of gloating.

I even debated about writing this blog post, but the Lord began putting into my path others who were being attacked by this spirit working through another person.

So I have been asking God what to do about this…and here is what He has shown me.

1. Love – Love covers a multitude of sin. (1 Peter 4:8)

People with this spirit don’t know what real love is, and it can be a challenge to walk in love with a person being controlled by a demonic spirit of haughtiness…but it is a necessary ingredient to overcoming this spirit.

2. Stay Focused on God

Don’t take your eyes off God and what He wants you to do. A person with a haughty spirit does not like to see people walking with God, and doing what He has called them to do. This spirit will do anything it can to bring condemnation to the person it is attacking, with the intent of destroying God’s work. So it is extremely important you we keep our focus on God through His word, prayer, fasting, and worship.

3. Refuse To Give This Spirit A Place

When you are near, or in contact, with a person controlled by a haughty spirit…refuse to give that spirit room to operate! It will do everything possible to get a reaction from you, but refuse it!  Ephesians 4:27 says “neither give place to the devil”. Don’t give in to accusations. Stand your ground, and remember that the person may not even be aware of what they are doing. So it is important to walk in love while standing your ground against this spirit.

Due to recent conversations, and things happening in my life…I went on a search to answer an question. The question was, “If I am backslidden, or in the process of backsliding, do others around you know, or even realize it?”

My search lead me to a very interesting article written by Diane Dew.

I have reprinted the article here, and would encourage you to visit her website at: DianeDew.com for the Bible study that goes along with this article…and discover the many other awesome, insightful and very helpful articles God has given her to write.

“Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings …”
Jeremiah 3:22

‘The Backslider in Heart’

DIANE DEW

Copyright © 1991 by Diane S. Dew in Essentials of Revival

In the book of the prophet Hosea is described the undying love of God toward a people whose hearts have wandered far from His ways. Here are expressed the deep, inner longings and desire of his heart to woo them and win them back by His love. “I will heal their backsliding,” He promises; “I will love them freely…” (Hos 14:4)

The word “backslide” literally means “turn back” or “turn away” (from God, 1 Ki 11:9; from our first love, Rev 2:4; or from the gospel, Gal 1:6, 7; 3:1-5; to Satan, 1 Tim 5:15; to evil, Psa 125:5; or to the world, 2 Tim 4:10). Scripture metaphorically describes the backslidden state as: serving two masters, forsaking the Lord, going our own way, leaving our first love, forgetting God, falling away, turning aside (“like a deceitful bow,” Jer 14:7), growing cold, departing from the faith, putting a hand to the plow and looking back (Lk 9:62), “salt that has lost its savour” (Mat 5:13), “a dog returning to his vomit” (Prov 26:11), a dead branch (Jn 15:6; Heb 6:8).

With the abundance of Bibles in America, a church in every neighborhood; and bookstores, tape ministries, and nationwide religious television and radio, why do they backslide? How do they fall?

The backslider does not suddenly wake up one morning and go out and commit adultery. Over a period of time, he may have become lax in his thought life, or entertained fleshly desires. King David watched Bathsheba undress, and soon it was but a little step for him to give expression to the imagination of his heart.

Characteristics of the Backslidden Condition
Spiritual decay is a gradual process. If it came as a splash of cold water in the face on a sweltering day, we’d recognize it for what it is. But Satan is sly, and his tactics are subtle. Even as the onslaught of many diseases can be insidious, the wasting away that occurs in the heart of the backslider may be nearly imperceptible. It may begin with a general feeling of spiritual indifference (Amos 6:1). As we fail to focus upon spiritual things, the flesh seeks fulfillment.

Initially, the prayer life may be crowded out with other interests – even innocent pastimes: sports, hobbies, television. As we fill our hearts and lives with junk food, our hunger for the Word diminishes. Church attendance usually slackens off (though some continue in a state of hypocrisy), and relationships undergo extreme stress, as the conviction of the Holy Spirit becomes increasingly uncomfortable. As we ignore God’s appeals to return (2 Ki 17:15), our zeal and concern for souls subsides, due to a sense of guilt and hypocrisy. In time, the fear of God departs and a complete re-ordering of priorities in our life occurs. An overall feeling of lostness and lack of purpose causes great discontentment of heart.

Then one day, we realize that our abhorrence of sin is gone. It becomes easy to justify actions we never otherwise would have considered acceptable. And since our sensitivity to spiritual things is not what it used to be, we may sense very little guilt. The calloused heart becomes stone; our conscience, “seared” (1 Tim 4:2). Now, the farther we stray, the more distant the voice of God becomes, and the more difficult it seems to find our way back.

Even while struggling in a fallen state, the backslider may verbally identify himself with the Lord (Hos 8:2; Lk 6:46). The inconsistencies in his life, “like the morning dew” which comes and goes, may disturb him (Hos 6:4); but more often he will be blind to his own spiritual state (Hos 7:9; Rev 3:17, 18). An over-confidence in one’s former standing with God (as opposed to confidence in God) can falsely convince an individual that God will overlook his present conduct (Hos 7:2).

Some have a propensity to falter; “they keep on backsliding.” They are “bent to backsliding” (Hos 11:7). Their condition appears “perpetual” (Jer 8:5; 14:7). “Their hearts are always going astray …” (Heb 3:10) Even as individuals vary in their degrees of spirituality or commitment (Col 1:23), some are more prone to falling away, by reason of choice (personal weakness). Like a garden that must be carefully tilled and weeded (Hos 10:12; Mat 13), our spiritual lives require diligent attention (2 Tim 2:15, 21; 2 Pe 1:5-7). Neglect and laziness, as well as trampling the vines, can wreak havoc.

Backsliding is, as the word implies, a sliding back – not a jump off a cliff, but a coasting downhill. We cannot ascend the mount of God in neutral. Spiritual growth requires a conscious effort, or it will be only “natural” that we succumb to the ways of the flesh.
The condition, however, while not sudden in onset, may escalate rapidly. All it takes is “a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest…” (Prov 8:10; 24:33). “A little leaven ferments the whole lump” (Gal 5:9). “… the little foxes… spoil the vines.” (Song of Sol 2:15) Satan tempted Jesus when He was physically weak (fasting), and he attacks us at our weakest times, in our weakest areas. An A-student might not be tempted to cheat, but to become proud of his achievements. The Christian might never be tempted to murder, but faces countless opportunities to hate or speak evil of his brother.

The backslidden condition may be manifested externally (in cursing, drinking, lying, etc.); but it occurs in the heart (Prov 14:14) Often concealed in secret (2 Ki 17:9), the backslider’s condition may remain hidden behind a facade of religiosity. We can have all the right doctrines, and bear every appearance of honor among men – yet still be filled with lust, jealousy, bitterness, etc. The wayward heart, however, does not long tarry near the altar of God, but squirms under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and writhes in discontent.

Although backsliding begins in the heart and mind (Prov 14:14; 2 Corin 11:3; Col 2:8), however, the condition eventually becomes evident externally. Jesus said that a person’s inward spiritual condition becomes obvious by the fruit he bears. Paul said it is possible to profess the truth verbally (“with their mouth”) but deny the Lord in our actions (Tit1:16). If our lives fail to measure up to our profession of faith (1 Tim 5:8), our actions will declare our words obsolete (1 Corin 13). Even the term “believer,” as used in the New Testament, is not a noun but a participle:  “one who is believing.” Christianity is not a one-time trip to the altar, but a day-by-day walk of life and faith in Jesus Christ.

Backsliders in Scripture
One need not look long in Scripture to find examples of the backslidden. Israel’s repeated backslidings are well documented, as are those of many Old Testament individuals: Lot, Gen 19:1-22; Saul, 1 Sam 15:11, 26-28; Amon, 2 Ki 21:22, 23; Rehoboam, 2 Chron 12:1, 2; Asa, 2 Chron 16:7-9; Joash, 2 Chron 24:24; Amaziah, 2 Chron 25:27; etc.

Scripture tells us that “when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God… And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice.” (1 Ki 11:4, 9; cp. vv. 4-40; Neh 13:26)

From the life of David we learn how yielding to one sin, lust, can quickly lead to others: drunkenness, adultery, even murder (2 Sam 11:1-5, 13; 12:1-13). Severe consequences of our actions can remain, even though an offense has been forgiven. David suffered tremendous grief at the death of the son born of an ungodly union. His great anguish of heart, as one who experienced the Presence of God but abandoned His ways, is expressed in Psalms 51:1-19 and 61:10-12.

While the spiritual condition of an individual within a church may reflect upon the leadership, this is not always the case. Even some disciples of Jesus (perfect teacher that he was) “went back and walked no more with Him” (Mat 26:56; John 6:66) Some fell away but returned – including Thomas, who had his moment of unbelief (John 20:27-29); and Peter, who denied the Lord in the face of persecution (Mat 26:70-74; Mk 14:72). “Satan hath desired to sift you as wheat,” Jesus told Peter; “but I have prayed for you, that you do not fail.” (Lk 22:31, 32)

Paul, too, expressed concern over believers in the early church, that they remain in the faith (1 Corin 5:1-13). At times, entire churches are mentioned as having backslidden: The Corinthian church (2 Corin 12:20, 21); the Galatian church (Gal 1:6; 3:1; 4:9-11; 5:6, 70); the churches of Asia (1 Tim 5:15; 2 Tim 1:15; Revel 2:4, 14, 15, 20; 3:2, 3, 15-18). The New Testament mentions many backsliders by name: Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Tim 1:19, 20); Phygellus and Hermogenes (2 Tim 1:15); Demas (2 Tim 4:10). Yet, even of those who followed, some, “having loved this present world,” “turned aside” and fell away (1 Tim 1:18-20; 5:15; 2 Tim 1:15; 2:17, 18; 4:10-16).

The Conditional Aspects of Christianity
“If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel…” Colossians 1:23

Life is filled with choices. Daily, we make decisions that may draw us nearer to God, or cause us to fall away. We also have an enemy, whose purpose it is to render us ineffective for the kingdom. His desire is to discredit and disprove both the work and the word of God, by weighing down (Lk 22:31) and wearing down (Dan 12:7) the saints. Satan seeks to strip us of our spiritual strength, by tempting us to exert our efforts elsewhere. If he cannot convince us to commit an obviously outrageous offense, he will crowd our lives with other interests: “the cares of this world.” It is not necessary to turn a cup upside down, to displace its contents. It can just as easily be emptied by the introduction of other matter. As we fill the cup with sand, the water will spill out. As it is in the natural, so it is in the spirit.

Scripture speaks as much of backsliding as it does of getting saved – and not surprisingly. Once an individual begins on the Way, his problems do not cease. Quite the contrary. As an unbeliever, he was just where Satan wanted him. He posed no threat to his kingdom. To deceive and mislead the elect, however, Satan will work overtime.

Obedience to Christ is not optional. It never has been an elective in the course of the Christian walk (Mat 19:17; Jn 8:31). While our salvation is completely unmerited, many promises of God are conditional upon our obedience to His Word:  “If you…” (Deut 7:12; 11:13, 22, 27; 28:1, 2, 9, 13; 30:10; 1 Sam 1:19, 20; 12:14, 15; 2 Chron 7:17, 19; 1 Ki 9:4; Jer 22:4, 5; 1 Corin 10:12; 11:28, 31; 2 Corin 13:5; Col 1:23).

* Long life & health: Ex 15:26; 1 Ki 3:14
* God’s Presence: 1 Ki 11:38
* Success: 1 Chron 22:13
* Victory over the enemy: 1 Sam 7:3
* Inner strength & satisfaction: Ex 18:23
* God’s treasure: Ex 19:5

Thus, when we wander outside the boundaries of His will, we tread on territory that is dangerous – not only spiritually, but emotionally, psychologically, even physically. In the sense that there is also a loss of balance and stability, backsliding is also a “falling away.” But it is always the result of personal choice: 2 Chron 24:20; 15:2-4; Isa 30:9, 15; 2 Tim 2:12. “The Lord is with you while you be with Him…”

The Causes of Backsliding
“Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the Lord? Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you…”  Jeremiah 2:17, 19

The causes of backsliding are many and varied. Some are hidden; others are obvious. But the usual tendency is to emphasize the externals: pornography, illicit sexual relationships, drunkennness, etc. The lack of positive, spiritual input (prayer and Bible study), however, has just as detrimental an effect upon the soul as the introduction of evil influences.

Starvation can be as deadly as the ingestion of any lethal substance. Jesus condemned the Pharisees not for what they did, but for what they failed to do: “…you neglect the weightier matters of the law,” such as mercy, He said. He also told his disciples that they would be judged not just according to their relationship with him, but also by their neglect of “the least of these” (Mat 25:35-45).

Not everything “lawful” is “expedient” or beneficial, Paul writes. Reading romance novels, for example, might not in itself cause one to go out and sin. (It could). But neglecting the Word of God certainly will. The “lust of the flesh,” the “deceitfulness of riches,” “the love of the world” – all these can entrap us and cause our downfall. But the pride of life, and hatred toward a brother, eat away from within and are just as destructive.

Consequences of Backsliding
“Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord…” Jeremiah 2:17, 19

Backsliding often carries its own punishment (Prov 14:14; Jer 2:17, 19; Rom 13:4). And its effects often extend far beyond the experience of the offender alone. Causing a brother to stumble is a serious offense. We will be held accountable not only for our own relationship with God, but for our conduct before men as well. Our life is “an open book,” Paul writes, “known and read of all men.” People who do not hear what we say cannot help but observe the way we live. “Your actions speak so loudly,” the saying goes, “that I can’t hear a word you’re saying.” Therefore, we are to “love not in word, but in deed…” (1 Jn 3:18). Anyone who has experienced the Presence of God will never find lasting satisfaction outside of His will. This accounts for the inner frustration and bitterness of soul accompanying the abandonment of one’s soul to the unruly state of life without God.

Recovery: A Process
“I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely…” Hosea 14:4-7

The road back to God is never long. As the father of the prodigal “ran to meet him,” God always meets us at least half-way. Deciding to return, however, has often proven most difficult. While falling asleep is a gradual process, waking must be sudden – usually by an alarm, or a shaking. Recovering from a spiritually backslidden condition is no different. Depending on the degree of our fallen state, God often must use extreme measures to bring us back. He strives with the backslidden (2 Ki 17:15), and lovingly will use anything * sickness, misery, grief to get us to return. (Psa 107)

Scripture likens the backslidden condition to a disease (Isa 1:5, 6), for which God has a cure (Jer 3:22; Hos 14:4-7). As with most natural diseases, certain symptoms are typical of the condition: a spiritual lethargy, a calloused attitude toward sin, worldliness, a spiritual love grown cold, lack of prayer or decreased hunger for the Word, and a general feeling of apathy toward lost souls. A dominant characteristic of the backslidden condition is stubbornness (2 Ki 17:14, 40). Falling away is essentially a heart condition. Though its manifestations may be primarily external, the root of the problem lies much deeper. And, even as many health problems can be caused by neglect as well as abuse, the Christian who neglects the Bread of Life can hardly expect to grow in the nature and admonition of the Lord.” Scripture cites several safeguards or preventative measures against backsliding.

Responsibility Toward the Backslidden
“But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears…”  Jeremiah 13:17

Although the spiritual welfare of God’s flock is primarily the responsibility of the shepherd, or pastor, every believer ought to have a burden for the backslidden. We are our “brother’s keeper” (Gen 4:9) and should “bear one another’s burdens” (Gal 6:2). Besides exhorting one another daily (Heb 10:25), we ought to pray regularly for our brother (Psa 80:3; 85:4; Lam 5:21). “Behold, Satan hath desired to have you … but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,” Jesus told Peter (Lk 22:31-32).

However, prayer cannot replace the loving confrontation. “The truth shall set you free,” Jesus said. “If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness…” (Gal 6:1) “If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister” (1 Tim 4:6) – even if the words are rejected (Ezek 3:19, 21; Hos 8:1). A reward awaits those who retrieve a fallen soul: “…he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (Jas 5:20).

In attempting to bring back a fallen brother, however, we must make sure we ourselves are strong enough in the faith to stand secure: “…lest you also be tempted” (Gal 6:1). Those who have forsaken the Lord tend to bring others down (Prov 28:10; Mat 18:6; 1 Corin 15:33). Therefore, we are specifically exhorted to avoid those who have completely hardened their hearts through sin (Prov 28:14; Isaiah 26:3, 4; 1 Corin 5:9-11; Col 1:21-23; Jude 22 23) – although our attitude toward them should remain one of mercy: “Count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thes 3:6, 15).

The Call to Return; the Promise of Forgiveness
“Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings…”  Jeremiah 3:22

God promises to receive those who return with repentant hearts (Deut 4:29; 1 Chron 28:9; 2 Chron 7:14; 15:2; Jer 31:20; 36:3). His patience toward those who “keep on backsliding,” however, is limited (Jer 15:6; Prov 24:16; Hos 11:7). Their backsliding is “perpetual… they refuse to return” (Jer 8:5-7). Some are reprobate: beyond any place of repentance (Isa 1:5-6; Jer 6:30; 15:1; Ezek 22:18; Heb 10:26-29, 38, 39; 1 Corin 5:10-13; Heb 6:6; Revel 2:4, 5, 21-23; 3:2, 3). But if they are rejected of God, it is because they have rejected Him. His desire is always for their return (2 Chron 30:6; Isa 31:6; Jer 3:4-22; Hos 6:1; 14:4-7).

Must believers repent? The primary difference between the righteous and the wicked is that “the just man,” though he may “fall seven times,” gets up again (Prov 24:16). He doesn’t remain in his sin. Moses fell. David fell. Peter fell. The churches in Revelation fell and were exhorted to repent (Revel 2:5, 16; 3:3, 19). Scripture – written to believers – repeatedly warns against falling away (Psalms 85:8; 1 Corin 10:12): “Watch…” “Be sober.” “Take heed…” “Beware…” “Hold fast..”

What does God require of the backslider who desires to return? “…only acknowledge thine iniquity” (Jer 3:13, 14; 12:13), and change your ways (Job 22:23; Psa 51:3-4; Isa 1:16-20).

Complete restoration is possible. God is merciful and ever ready to forgive (Neh 9:17; Isa 54:6; Jer 3:12-14; Ezek 34:23; Mic 7:18; 1 John 1:9). He may withdraw His Presence, to stir our hearts to return; but he never abandons His own. He still calls the backslidden his “children” (Jer 3:14), his people” (Psa 106:40; Ezek 37:23b). The initiative, however, is ours: “Return unto Me, and I will return unto you” (Mal 3:7; Jer 3:12-14). “Break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord…” (Hos 10:12, cp. 2 Chron 30:9 and Jer 4:1).

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory…” (Jude 1:24-25)

In a world that contains more people than at any other time time in history, more people are dealing with loneliness and isolation than ever before. This is something I deal with on a daily basis.

In my last post, I confessed my anger…and I think part of what added to the anger was the fact that I had no one to turn to for help, guidance, or just a shoulder to lean on.

“Christians aren’t suppose to be angry, and if they are, there is some really wrong with them!”

We’re just suppose to be the happy, mindless automatons…not feeling anything but happy, and if you do express something else…you are labeled backslidden, demon-possessed, not having faith or **gasp** maybe you aren’t even a Christian after all!

So, literally, millions of Christian suffer in silence.

The quiet loneliness.

We understand that God is with us, but it is human contact that we crave. It is human contact that we need to express ourselves, and see the love of Christ flowing back to us through the other person. We crave community…but I fear that true community is becoming very much extinct…at least here in America.

I know Jesus is walking with me, and He will not leave nor forsake me…but it is hard to not to experience human interaction. It is hard to watch people judge you because you are not living up the their standards.

And anger is not on their list of standards.

You’re not “happy-happy” so you don’t qualify for human interaction.

You can’t even think of expressing anger…..

So you become a mindless automaton sitting in the quiet loneliness.