Maybe Yes or No or Perhaps …

As a biblical counselor, I am asked often asked one question more than any other and that is, “Do our prayers really make a difference with God?”  “Can our prayers prevent bad things from happening?”  My first response to this would be to give them an answer in a nutshell and say yes, no, maybe or better yet sometimes.  I do know that for the most part this answer is not the answer that they want to hear or expect.  The truth is that there are just some questions that cannot be answered with a simple cut and dry answer.  The answer that needs to be given is that God is Sovereign and because He is, that sometimes we confront God regarding a situation that has, in the heart and mind of God been decided and determined.  Others I do believe are situations that are still resting in the balance and are depending upon the outcome in the lives of others and are still open for change.  What we must take into consideration in all situations is that there are going to be certain things that are far above that which we can understand. So in regards to the questions that are asked we can find some examples in the scripture.

Example No. 1

“Do our prayers really make a difference with God?”  “Can our prayers prevent bad things from happening?”  In this first illustration one would say No, but it is clearly because the plan of God in this particular situation been laid, David sinned and the consequence of his sin had already been predetermined and prophesied by God that the loss of the child’s life was the consequence of David’s sin with Uriah’s wife Bathsheba.  The loss of this child’s life was something that he would have to face for the rest of his life. 2 Samuel 12:13-15, “So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. (14) However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.’”

When the child became sick we find that David immediately began to plead before God with fasting and prayer for his dying son to live but to no avail (2 Samuel 12:13-31).  We know that God heard his prayers but the answer that David labored for was not the one that he wanted (but had to accept).  I often wonder if David knew that these prayers were not going to be answered favorably.  I do believe that because of his relationship with God that his prayers at this time would result in a strengthening his relationship `with God.  This is most always the case when a believer labors in prayer, their answer may not be that which they seek but their relationship with the Father increases. 

David demonstrates this in that once he receives an answer to his prayer we find that he not only accepted the answer but that he was able to move on with hope.

-          Vs 13-15 He hears the news form the man of God

-          Vs 15-18 His child gets sick and he pleads for the child with prayers and fasting

-          Vs 19 He hears and accepts the news regarding the child’s death

-          Vs 20 He ends his fast, washes and anoints himself

-          Vs 21-23 He shares his hope and that which he had learned from God with others

-          Vs 24 He comforts and consoles his wife

So for David the answer was no, his prayers did not prevent something bad from happening.  What we all did find out here is that sometimes our prayers do not keep bad things from happening but they do help us to deal with the bad things so that they do not get any worse, so that they do not become too overbearing.  They help us to deal with the questions that follow helping us to praise God through all that we have gone through. They provide us with the hope that only God can provide, and finally the hope and strength that we get from God help us to comfort those around us who, like we, are struggling with finding answers from God.

Example No. 2

“Do our prayers really make a difference with God?”  “Can our prayers prevent bad things from happening?”  In this second illustration one would say Yes. It is in this passage we find that King Hezekiah, who was one of the most prominent kings of Judah found in Scripture and is one of the kings mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:9-10) is sick and he had been told that he would not recover from this illness.  So we find that the king turned his face away from men and prayed to God to be healed.  He like David hears bad news from the man of God and like David he too turns his face from men and plants himself firmly before the Lord.  Hezekiah was more fortunate than most because he received an answer from God and one quickly as God sent Isaiah back to him to let him know his prayer had been answered.

King Hezekiah’s Life is Spared – 2 Kings 20:1-11 (also see Isaiah 38 & 39)

-          Vs 1 He hears the news of his impending death

-          Vs 2 & 3 He turns his face to the wall an prays & weeps for healing

-          Vs 5 & 7 He learns from the Prophet that God had heard and is answering his prayers granting him 15 more years of life and will deliver his kingdom out of the battle they were in

-          Vs 8 - 11 His proof was the sun dial moving backwards 10 degrees

For King Hezekiah, the answer was yes, his prayers were answered and he received a sign from God that his healing came directly from God.  What we find out with Hezekiah is that he, like David went to the Temple after he received the answer.  We find that not only was King Hezekiah’s life spared but others around him were as well.  Though King Hezekiah received a direct confirmation from God that God had healed him we cannot expect that today but we can, if we look close enough, see His direct hand of involvement in our answer.

Example No. 3

“Do our prayers really make a difference with God?”  “Can our prayers prevent bad things from happening?”  In the following illustrations from 2 Samuel 24:11-25 (and 1 Chronicles 21:8-18), you can probably give an answer of Yes, No, Maybe?  For King David, the answer was yes, no, maybe.

First of all I believe that we can say Yes because the plague had stopped notice 2 Samuel 14:17, “And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people…”  We can think yes because David did repent and confront both God and the man of God with his plea and repented of the sin that had caused this action to take place.

Second, I believe that the answer to our question can be No, because it was not stopped before people lost their lives and God somewhat mentions that there was an appointed time to end the plague, 2 Samuel 14:15, “So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.”  I can also see No as an answer because God himself was finished with the plague 2 Samuel 24:16, “…the Lord repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand…”

Third I believe that we can also say that the answer could be Maybe. I mention this as a possible answer to our question, “Were David’s prayers answered?”  I say maybe because David did repent and confront both God and the man of God with his plea.  “And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house” (2 Samuel 24:17)  We can say maybe because David did recognized that he was to blame for the judgment.  We can say maybe because David did pray and repent that could be what caused the Lord to repent and stay the angel’s hand.  We must remember that in this passage that we find the plan of God had been laid, David’s sin and the consequence of his sin rested in the loss of life of seventy thousand souls in Israel and we see that God Himself stopped the Angle from proceeding.  So we can say maybe.

A plague was initiated and stayed because of the Sin of David – 2 Samuel 24:11-25 (and 1 Chronicles 21:8-18)

-          Vs 11-13 He is confronted by the Man of God as to his sin before God and the consequences thereof

-          Vs 14  David rationalizes the consequences and wisely chooses to place his judgment in the hands of the LORD and not men

-          Vs 15 & 16a The judgment of the LORD is inflicted upon the people of Israel as the hand of the angel of God

-          Vs 16b The LORD repents of the outcome of the plague that He has inflicted upon Israel and calls for the angel to stop

-          Vs 17 David calls out to the LORD and repents of his sin, asking God to stop the angel from inflicting further pain on others because of his sin

-          Vs 18 The LORD send the man of God back to David with instructions on what God has for him to do

-          Vs 19-25  We see David’s obedience and worship of the LORD at a personal cost to him

Wrapping it up

From what I see in all of this is that all really boils down to one thing and that is in the Sovereignty of God.  We must believe that He is sovereign and we must believe and trust in Him for all things that matter in both faith and practice.  Yes there are times when our prayers reach the ear of God and changes are made.  Sometimes they reach His ear and the He has already put the plan into motion and the change that we request is not one that is granted.  And finally because of the Sovereignty of God He has already granted the change that we request before or as we request it.  He already knows the thoughts and intents of our heart (Hebrews 4:12).

Final Note 

I do believe that Abraham said it best a long time ago, “Shall not the judge of all the earth deal justly?” (Genesis 18:25 ASB).  A hard truth for all to grasp is that God is just and always has dealt justly with man.  It is man who screams out for justice from God and they do so seeking a self-justice.  When you cry out to God for justice what they will receive instead is purely moral–justice.  Justice is a term used for “what is right” but man also wants to set the standard for “what is right,” but God cannot let that be.  Justice is one of God’s attributes and it flows out of His holiness.  In the bible we find that justice and righteousness are often found to be synonyms of each other.  We find that righteousness is the quality or character of being right or just and it is noted as an attribute of God, this one attribute incorporates both His justice and holiness.  It is a hard truth for all to grasp but due to his Holy nature, God is just and always has to be just. 

We must praise Him because there is an added favor to the justice He sends out.  This favor is that along with His justice we also receive His Mercy and Grace.  Though our finite minds constantly grapple with this and most can never grasp the truth of it.  It is far better for us to live under the umbrella of God’s Mercy and Grace then to live solely under His umbrella of justice.

Life Sentence

No one has ever been born, or will there ever be one, that will not been given a “life sentence.”  It is life in this world that I am speaking of.  We are all given an unknown number of years to learn, to love and to experience; that is our life sentence.  Some people will finish with joy others with sorrow.  Some finish in peaceful honestly and some in a sad state of regret.  Some will have their sentence reduced others will serve the entire sentence.  It matters not who you are or where you fit into the scheme of things, one thing holds true for all people and that is, we are all in it for life.  We all are handed a life sentence at birth.

With this in mind I would like to bring the focus in a little tighter and zoom in on that which currently surrounds us.  There is nothing any more precious than when we cannot only realize the truth of Scripture but we can experience them as well.  This is such a wonderful example of the providence of God.  We know that the Bible is a living a breathing book.  It is simply amazing when God steps in to personally get us to realize that He is working in our lives.  There is no better place to realize this than when in a small group and part of a small group ministry.  I am currently in a small group at our church of which they have been labeled as “Life Groups” and rightfully so.  The members of our “Life Group” are doing just that exactly, we are doing life together.  As believers we are members of the Body of Christ, we are all members of the same church and we have even more personalized this by being members of a small group.  Like all believers, we have all come from various backgrounds and have experienced a plethora of life experiences.  Yet we have all come to the conclusion that life in itself is not really life if it is outside of Christ.  Our life sentence truly begins the moment that we accept Christ as our Savior, born again to new life, to life everlasting.

To truly grasp this life sentence we must understand that God has created us to be communal beings.  We begin life in a community called family.  His first commandment to that family was in regards to family community, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (28) Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it….” (Genesis 1:28)  From that small family unit we branch out into other communities to help others experience life.  Many of us will soon form a new “family community” of our own and start the process anew.  When you place three or four couples together who have done life on their own to do life together you will have a vast wealth of experiences including victories, failures and expectations.

God in His infinite wisdom knew that we need community.  We start from birth until death striving for it.  Community begins with family at home; it is strengthened through school systems and the educational communities, fortified through the workforce community, and solidified in churches and in worship communities.  I might also sadly mention that many end up in nursing home communities prior to going home to be with the Lord.

We all long to share thoughts visions dreams expectations with one another.  Proof that we are communal is seen in that the majority of our time around others is spent in conversation.  God placed that need in man from the beginning, and it is evident when man first called out to God and God responded to man.  Conversation / communication are vital to community, and if community works as God would have it too part of that conversation / communication will be in the form of group prayer as they seek to talk to God, to have community with Him.  How often can members of various small groups be found, gathered together on their knees seeking His face, His help, His strength, His wisdom and His peace.  We do so for ourselves, for friends, family and the church as a whole.  God honors this as many can testify to the abundance of answered prayer that has come from these groups gathering, unifying and calling on His name.  “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity together.” (Psalm 133:1)

Nothing shows us the truth of the word of God more then when we not only encourage others to live this kind of life but that it is our practice.  Sadly there are many who fail to do so.  We are not meant to live a life outside of God but a life surrounded and being surrounded by Him.  We learn to walk after we crawl; we learn to speak after we squall.  All of us have been taught by our parents, and our Heavenly Father does the same for us spiritually.  His desire for us is not to fail but to soar.

Facing the reflection in the Mirror

It is morning and as I get ready to face the day I must stand in front of the mirror one last time before leaving the house.  I ask myself, am I ready to face the day?  As I stand there evaluating my reflection I often think what do others see when they see me?  Do they see me and every aspect of my character or do they see Jesus in me?  I must admit that one of the greatest fears that I face every day is that my boys will pick up my angers, my attitude, my bitterness and my prejudices and overlook the values and character traits that I have been trying to teach them.  These are the things that I struggle to keep under control daily; they are part of my daily battle.  These traits if you will have been a part of my past and some of them exist as my struggle in life, a daily battle if you will to keep them in check and under control.  As I do so I also fear that in my struggle to suppress the negative traits they will only see a suppressed version of the positive.  The one trait that I want them to pick up from me is my love for Christ and my desire to serve Him.  I don't want them to grow up angry, I don't want them to grow bitter what I do want is for them to grow up in Christ.  I have tried to teach them and give them the truths that will strengthen them in Christ and will provide them with the assurance that resides in a solid and sound relationship with Christ.  A relationship with Jesus is precious, it is too precious to pass on, He is too precious to not make sure but those that God places in our lives are not aware of that relationship.  Many people today are quick to say that they know of Christ, some of them will step up to say that they personally know Him but sadly very few can truly say that they are in love with Him.

In this life we have no guarantee of riches, no guarantee of a reward, no guarantee of prosperity but there is one promise, one guarantee we can have and that is we can have a relationship with Jesus.  This is one promise that He offers all but few fail to accept.  Jesus Himself said in Matthew 7:14, “…narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  The knowledge of this truth saddens me because in the world in which we live there are so many things that are vying for our attention all struggling to present themselves as the only one that is needed.  In the midst of all of these attractions is the enemy who is aggressively battling for my boy’s attention.  The enemy is seeking to grasp a hold on their hearts and mind to keep theme from knowing Jesus.  This is hard enough for each parent to battle, I do not want to add my faults to that list, and I do not want them to go astray because of my idiosyncrasies.  I often struggle with verses such as Numbers 14:18 which says, “The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.” Other passages such as Exodus 20:5 and Deuteronomy 5:9 warn us of this very same thing.  Sometimes I wonder if the sins that are visited on our children are the character traits that they glean from our past.  As parents we are all well aware of the fact that our children pick up our habits and mannerisms without out directly teaching them.  They do so just by being around us just by our being with them. 

Another passage of scripture that comes to my mind is Ephesians 6:4, “fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”  I know that this verse is one that few fathers are familiar and fewer yet attempt to live up to.  Yet the commitment the verse calls us all to keep from provoking our children to anger and we do so by teaching them how to know and love the Lord.  If we do not do so instead of teaching them Jesus I am teaching them how to be me.  With that thought I am reminded of the warning “Beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.” (I Corinthians 8:9)  Both of these passages make me cringe when I read them because they are stout warnings to all of us who are responsible for others in our care.

In the Ephesians 6:4 passage we find a direct message to fathers that we should be cautious in raising our children, we must take care not to provoke them to wrath.  It can be that our idiosyncrasies that will alienate their minds from us and from Jesus.  If we are not careful in the raising of our children we will soon find that our lifestyle can and will lead them down the same paths that we have taken and to follow the same sinful practices.  All too often they will follow our actions more than they will follow the instructions that we give them.  The old adage goes, “actions speak louder than our words.”  With this in mind we must never forget that sin, such as anger, provides a path for Satan to lead them down and to keep them in an angry lifestyle.  This life style is at odds against God and it is difficult for the best of men to be angry and not sin.  We also see this passage again in the Word of God, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:21)  I do worry about our boys; I do try to engulf myself heavily in prayer and the Word for them and because of them.  The responsibility for the boys, as long as they live at home, rests with me in the eyes of God.  As head of the household I am responsible and being human, I must sadly admit, I fail.  It is not easy as a matter of fact it can be quite hard at times, and it is often a very humbling experience.  My desire is to educate them in the things of Christ, the things of the world and how they relate and interact with each other.  My aspirations for them is that they will remember that our longing, our desire was to be an instructor and not an enabler.  I want them learn with me in spite of my failures not teach them to be angry because of them.

What troubles me more is that it appears that many of the parents of each new generation become more of an enabler to their children than the one before.  We do want them to have more than we had at their age, to have things better than we did, we want them to be safe but at what cost do we give them these things?  I believe that too often that which we are giving them is at the sacrifice of their experiential learning.  Each new generation is at risk because we provide more and more for our children and in turn they expect more and more.  Their expectations are met from the hands of the parents and not from their own personal gain.  So they are brought up with an expectation and an entitlement attitude.  Hand out and mouth open and are quick to get angry when they are not given that what they ask for.  As adults we have what we have because we earned it, they have what they have because we gave it to them.  It does not have value to them because it was not personally achieved, it was simply received. 

One final question that comes to mind is, “Where do we draw the line?” Some will say that when they act out we need to practice what is called tough love and there are time that this is true.  Sadly many who do practice tough love it is often too late.  They have raised the child to receive, to hold out their hand and to expect.  Then when the times get hard, when discipline is needed they get angry, they don’t understand why it is needed nor why we withhold things from them or fail to be there for them and they become even angrier.  They are new to this because they have only been taught to receive that which lies within their expectations.  Neither the child nor the parents really know how to respond because they have not been taught to expect nor react to the negative. The truth is, they are not a product of an Ephesians 6:4 home.  We must step up and face the fact that some of the responsibility for their position in life stems from the home we raised them in.  There are times that love hurts because it has to.  There also comes a time when it is better (if possible) to by-pass the pain and correct the error before the hurt has been inflicted.  As parents we are always called to instruct and in many cases this can be done  before it has gone so far it cannot be undone.  

The paths that our boys will take once they are grown up and on their own are going to be ones that splinter off of the paths that I lead them down now.  We must do our best to help their future to not be restricted because of their, our, past.  We do so by helping them to not allow their past regrets to hinder their future joys and we do so by helping them to make right choices early in life.  For it is all too often future joys are overshadowed and hindered by past regrets.  If we do our best to raise them in a non-wrathful lifestyle there is a greater chance that they will not face a life of regret but one of hopeful opportunity. 

With that out of the way I am ready to start another day.  As I face this new day I am off but I know that at the end of the day I will have to face the reflection in the mirror and must ask myself how did I do today?  Did I do all that I could to help or did I place more stumbling blocks to hinder?  Will I be ready to do it all over again in the morning?

Confessions of a Restored Backslider – Epilog

The truth that we must all be aware of is that all believers are prone to backslide at some point and time in their walk with Christ.  There is only one cure for our tendency to backslide and that is solely found in the presence of Jesus.  He is the one who provides us a way or means of escape.  All who seek Him will also find the grace needed resting securely in the hands of Jesus.  His grace is unlimited, His forgiveness is ongoing and his mercy, as always, is most graciously and everlasting. 

The one thing that all believers must also realize is that although His grace is always extended and His mercy always available, His patience can be tested.  We will find restoration, that is a promise in Scripture, but there will be times when consequence attached to the restoration received may be unbearable, more than imagined or expected.  Our God is merciful as He is gracious, He is also just and His justice must be served.  He cannot always give without the necessity of consequences.  This is why we must not forget to take into consideration the book of Hebrews chapters 10 and especially chapter 12 when we look at the Gods plan in restoring the backslider.  These passages of Scripture teach us that with God there is a point of no return to the once precious state of relationship as we once had.  We can come to a place in our walk with God that we may seek repentance with tears but the restoration that we seek may be unattainable.  Note: “For you know that afterward, when he (Esau) wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.” (Hebrews 12:17).  Forgiveness may be granted, the relationship mended but the closeness in the relationship will not be as sweet as it once was.  We must stand thankful before God even in the presence of the consequences that we must endure because of His Justice.  

Restoration from backsliding comes at a price and that price will be a bitter pill to swallow.  The writer of Hebrews was well aware of this yet at the same time he paints a solemn picture of the retribution received by the believer which is deemed justified by a Holy God to those who are in His care.  This truth is noted in Hebrews 12:24-29, “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (25) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: (26) Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. (27) And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. (28) Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (29) For our God is a consuming fire.”  Notice that verse states that His grace is still extended but he exposes this truth to us in the light of the Justice of God must be satisfied.  The writer states that He is a consuming fire; He will enact chastisement where chastisement is due.  He will be honored and He will be glorified in our joyful walk or in the midst of suffering. 

And we must not forget that the Word of God is most often clear on topics of importance.  The Word of God has to be clear on this topic because this is a subject that all of the body of Christ deals with.  It does not matter if you are a new believer or a long standing believer; we all struggle with and have the potential to backslide.  Backsliding cannot remain a secret sin as it will eventually cross all relationship boundaries, from self, family, social, religious and most importantly spiritual boundaries.  Our relationship with God is drastically affected because of our backsliding and that is why God is passionate against His children creating this sin.  It is no clearer stated than in it is in the book of Hebrews where we read, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: (29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. (31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:26-31)  God did not tolerate the backslidings of the Children of Israel and He does not do so with His children today.  As we read in this passage we see that He has a no tolerance policy.  We know from Lamentations that the Mercies and Grace of God toward us are renewed daily, “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”(Lamentations 3:22-23)  But this renewing does not provide us with a license or free run to sin.  Remember Hebrews 10:31 above?  It is truly a fearful thing to think that we as Gods children can call out His wrath upon ourselves but that is exactly what one does who continues to live in a backslidden state.  

An unrepentant “believer” should never rest in a state of backsliding but should live in a state of unrest.  We could almost say that the backslidden believer should walk as it were on in a state of fear as if taking every step on egg shells. There should be no rest...no warrant given especially to the believer when it comes to backsliding.  This sinful state is a direct slap in the face of the Savior who came and died for them.  Notice verses 29 and 30 from Hebrews 10 above where the writer states, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.” (Heb 10:29-30)  Notice the words “sorer punishment” and “who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God” or “counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing” or worse yet “hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”  God says that He will enact His own vengeance, He will make His own recompense and as stated, He shall judge His People.  What does that look like? I do not know nor do I want to personally find out but I can speculate and that is enough to scare me.  

I do believe that we should be leery in offering any backslider comfort as well because they must see the need to repent or they will face the fury of the Lord.  I would not want to get in between the Lord and the backslider that He is dealing with.  Scripture is clear in stating that the backslider can expect to face a “…certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:27). 

We must not be guilty of presuming upon the mercies of God while backsliding. His judgment is as sure as it is Just.  His mercy will up hold because of His Grace but for how long will He withhold His own hand against His own?  Only God Himself really knows.  I will end this blog series with this one thought, Hebrews 10:37-39 says, “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (38) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (39) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”  He will come, that is His promise, the just must live by faith and that faith rests in the promise of His coming.  He says that He has no pleasure in those who backslide and we know from the history of Israel that He is not afraid or ashamed to punish those that He has no pleasure in.  The only news that is promising in this is that he still keeps his promise to see even the backslider in heaven, But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.  Jesus himself said that those that the Father had given Him he had lost none, John 17:12.

I am reminded of a statement my mother used to say to me when I was a little boy, “Just wait till your Father gets home.”  Now I see in this passage the words springing forth, “Just wait till you get home to the Father.”

Confessions of a Restored Backslider – Part 3

Stating the obvious and claiming the same that we all have or will hold the title of “Restored Backslider.” 

It really doesn't matter what sin has control of you or which sin you are battling, what does matter is that SIN is in control and you are out of control.  You will never control sin, you will not conquer it, sin will control you, the only hope that any of will ever have over sin is in Jesus. 

Those who have gone to Alcoholics Anonymous are familiar with the statement, “One drink is too many and a thousand is not enough,”recovering Drug addicts who have attended NA meetings have a similar statement.  Sadly, the truth for believers is a short variation of the same concept, “One sin is too many, period!” (James2:10, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in onepoint, he is guilty of all.”)

The fact is that everyone is born a sinner and the only difference between some and others is that some have accepted Christ as Savior and others not.  If it was not for Jesus, we would all be hopelessly and helplessly enslaved in sin yet today.  The good news is that the Scriptures teach us that once we have received Christ as Savior all of our condemning sins are gone.  I have listed a few passages of Scripture as a sampling of what the Word of God tells us about the sin that once had enslaved us:

Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Micah 7:18-19, “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?  He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. (19) He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities.  You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea”

 

In these passages of Scripture and others we find that one of the blessings in our relationship with Christ is that He has separated us from our past sins and their penalty.  Although He has freed us from the penalty of sin He did not separate us from the enticement of sin nor did he free us from the entrapment of sin.  That battle is a part of our walk and is our responsibility while we are here on earth.  We do find that God has made a way for us to escape from the sins that are used to ensnare us, sins that will ultimately separate us from the relationship that we have with Him (not the salvation that we have in him). 

For every choice, sinful or not, there is always a decision to make and therein lies the avenue to sin.  Sinful choices are generally selfishly made; many of them are usually preplanned and they are those that will lead you down a path that is away from God, away from the escape that God has already provided.  The battle against sin must be taken seriously to avoid the snares the enemy has placed in our way to entrap us.  God has already promised to do His part to prepare us a way out to “deliver us from evil.”  The way that He provides for us also causes us to run to Him.  It causes us to flee the call and entrapment of sin.  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)  There is one thing to note here with this passage and that is that it is NOT that God does not give us any more than we can handle, but that He helps us to handle that which we have been given.  We do not have to face any situation alone and the way can be easier to face if we go through it with God’s help.  We see that God makes a way to escape or bear it; the responsibility is ours in that we have to want that escape route and we have to choose to use it.  We need to use it long before we are entrapped by sin. 

In the Word of God we find a precious illustration of God the Father in that He is always willing and waiting for us to return to Him, just like the father of the prodigal son.  He wants to lovingly welcome back the backslider who returns to the faith; He passionately welcomes each "faithless child" back home with a loving embrace as they return to Him.  He is not shaken, He is not taken aback, and we find that he loves us as only He can.  Mercy is once again extended towards us because God is who He is and He is always there, always ready to restore.  We find that the Scriptures say,"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory." (Philippians 4:19). 

What the majority of believers must come to realize after salvation is that our greatest need in Christ according to Philippians 4:19 is restoration.  This is because we are prone to back slide.  We all mess up, we will all backslide and the only path to restoration is in JESUS.  The Old Testament illustrations that we find in scripture is that we believers are not that much different than Israel.  This is found in their relationship with Him, we have already noted this passage, “Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding?  They hold fast to deceit, They refuse to return.” (Jeremiah 8:5 NKJV)  The Prophet of God throws out the question from God, “Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem (All Believers), in a perpetual backsliding?  Note the substitution?  If we are honest with ourselves and with God we can clearly see it and ask:

“How many times have I failed Him?”     -    “Unknown?” 

“How many times can it happen again?”  -     “I don't know?” 

Even with these questions in mind, this one thing I do know is that He has and He always will offer and provide us a way of restoration.  We find in the Word of God truths that God promises not only to forgive us but also to help us and to return us back to the state of proper son-ship that He desires for us.  We find healing for the Backslider in Isaiah 57:14-15, “And one shall say, ‘Heap it up! Heap it up!  Prepare the way, take the stumbling block out of the way of My people.’ (15) For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’” 

The truth here is that we are all prone to backslide, there is only one cure for our tendency to backslide and that is Jesus.  He is the one who provides us a way of escape and that way of escape is always in Jesus.  His grace is unlimited, His forgiveness is ongoing and His mercy, as always is most graciously, everlasting.  This, my friend, is my confession to you, as one who is not just a saved and forgiven but also of on who is constantly tempted to backslide, it is a “Confession of a Restored Backslider.”

Confessions of a Restored Backslider – Part 2

We mentioned in part one of this blog that Backsliding is a problem that all believers have faced at one time or another.  There is not one believer (at least not an honest one) I know of who cannot honestly stake claim to the title of “Restored Backslider.” 

I am reminded of an example from Scripture that can be found in the 16th chapter of the book of Judges, “Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her.  (2) When the Gazites were told, “Samson has come here!” they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city.  They were quiet all night, saying, “In the morning, when it is daylight, we will kill him.”  (3) And Samson lay low till midnight; then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.  (4) Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.  (5) And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, ‘Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.’” (Judges 16:1-5)  This passage is soon followed by one of the saddest verses in the bible, Judges 16:20, “And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.”

Here was one of the great Judges of Israel, one of their leaders not knowing that sin had taken him far from God.  In the above passage we read “But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.” This would imply that he was familiar with the Holy Spirit, that he was aware of the presence of God upon him and in his life and yet he woke up this one morning unaware that he was now far from God.  How could this have happened? 

No one wakes up on any given morning and says “I think I will start down a path of sin today”.  It is evident in this passage that he had already made the steps to do so.  Delilah had tried to find out the source of his strength and he played her game.  That is how the enemy works; subtly getting us to listen to his music and we are soon dancing his dance.  Soon we are caught up in the minstrel’s tune not knowing that we are slowly moving away from the Savior.  Slowly led away like a lamb to the slaughter, moving farther and farther away from God, farther and farther away from the One who truly cares for us.  It is quite evident that many believers follow this same path as Samson.  They follow a path that will lead them away from the light of Christ into the darkness of sin.  They march blindly into sin’s bondage leaving the freedom that we have in Christ behind.

I have spent untold hours talking to and counseling believers who have found themselves lost out on the sea of despondency, their lives facing shipwreck on Sin’s reefs of despair.  Just when they think that they had victory over Sin they find that it once again has victory over them.  As believers we often find ourselves overpowered by the enemy and as if without a fight trapped back in bondage.  This is so because we had given in one step at a time.  Sin’s victories are sometimes subtle, sometimes blinding, yet always overbearing and we find that it doesn't take long before we are caught up in sin and back in over our heads. 

How do we get so far off course so fast?  One small step at a time, that’s how.  It often begins with one extra lingering look at a woman or a man that you shouldn’t have taken for those who struggled with porn.  One sip, an “innocent” drink that you shouldn’t have accepted for those who struggled with alcohol.  And so the list goes on for whatever addiction that you may have been or are currently struggling with.  “It always begins with one seemingly simple… (list your vice here).”  It does not take long in any confrontational situation for God to begin to convict the counselor of his own backsliding issues.  You can hypocritically take a “Pharisaical stand” by saying, “…‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector,” (Luke 18:11) or you can take note and deal with the issues in your life. 

I can let you know this that God will deal with both parties regarding the issue of backsliding whether you are the counselee or the counselor.  The warning that we get about our backsliding will not go unnoticed once God has warns us.  We find that God has warned us of this through the Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:1-5, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.  (2) Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  (3) For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  (4) But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  (5) For each one shall bear his own load.” 

This warning is given to all believers.  It is a special call especially to those who serve as ministers, leaders or counselors because ministry has caused some to fall into the trap of examining themselves in the light of others and not Christ.  They will find that the Grace of God will expose their sin if it goes unaddressed and that the Grace of God will not allow anyone to continue in sin.  It will be this same Grace that God that will aggressively extend in love toward His children to make them uncomfortable so that they too, by His Grace will seek the forgiveness of God for their sin as well.

Confessions of a Restored Backslider – Part 1

Backsliding is a problem that all believers have faced at one time or another.  There is not one believer (at least not an honest one) I know of who cannot honestly stake claim to the title of “Restored Backslider.” All believers, no matter who you are, should be honest enough to confess that they have found themselves backslidden at one point or another in their Christian walk.  This problem called backsliding, is commonly defined as the returning to our past sinful behaviors or practices in lieu of fully trusting and following Christ is something that haunts every believer.  Once we have committed our lives to Christ we belong in full to Him.  Any variation that leads us away from Christ is Sin.  He saved us in our sin to deliver us from our sin, and backsliding is taking steps to return back to that sin.  It says in a sense that Jesus isn’t enough to satisfy your needs, it is a longing for something more in spite of Him, saying that Jesus is not enough. 

The truth is, we've all failed, we've all back slid, and we have all woken up in a place we did not want to return to, a place we thought that we would never return to.  We awake to an old familiar face in the mirror, one that is facing the day saddened by a return to a sinful state that we thought was finally past.  We stare in the mirror at a face that is now saddened by the loss of joy because of the burden that sin has now applied.  We find ourselves once again standing before God guilty and shameful because we have disgraced our God and Father. 

Questions begin to flood our heart and mind such as, “How did I get here so far and so fast?  How could this have happened?  How could I have gotten so far off track while worshipping and serving Him?  Emotions flood through your heart and mind as you stare at the face in the mirror but which do you address first?  Emotions such as remorse, anger, sadness, bitterness and disgust just to name a few, all of which scream out to be addressed, each wanting attention, none wanting to be released from the list.  It has always been a problem with the people and children of God.  “Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding?  They hold fast to deceit, They refuse to return.” (Jeremiah 8:5 NKJV)

Why is it that so many believers, continue to toy with other gods when we have direct access to the one true God?  Why do we allow the idols of this world to fulfill that which only God Himself can fill?  We dabble with that which we shouldn’t, we listen to the music that the enemy plays and all too soon we are ensnared, we are uncontrollably dancing to the enemies tune, much like a marionettes puppet who dance is controlled by another. 

Another way to picture this is much like sailors found in the tales out of Greek mythology who would succumb to the call of the sirens and end up crashing their ships on the reef to their deaths.  In our lives today, we find that SIN’s call to us is much like that of the alluring call of the sirens in the mythological stories of the ancient Greeks and it is just as dangerous and potentially deadly.  In Greek mythology, sirens were beguiling sea nymphs that troubled sailors.  They would allure male sailors with their seductive voices and their enticing singing.  In many of the mythological texts it is found that that even if you knew better, the song of the sirens were still hard to resist.  In the Odyssey Book XII we find that Odysseus is warned about the dangers he was to face at sea and one of them being Sirens.  Odysseus did not have an Orpheus (Singer of charms) to drown out the lovely voices, so he orders his men to stuff their ears with wax and tie him to a mast.  In doing so the men could sail by in silence while he could hear their song.  The restraints that he had applied kept him from causing any danger to himself, his men or the ship.  It was said that the song of the sirens was so appealing that is hard to resist but that, if heeded,  he would do all that he could to follow their call even to the detriment of his ship and the other men’s lives as well.  So is the same to the call of SIN. 

 

Mythology offered one other escape from their call which was an Orpheus.  An Orpheus was one   whose singing was known to charm all living things.  We find in the adventure of Jason and the Argonauts, that Jason and his men faced the danger of sailing the seas where Sirens were known to be.  Jason and his men survived that passage, sailing safely by but only through the help of the singing of Orpheus.  Though we know that the stories of Jason and the Argonauts along with creatures such as sirens are a myth, we are quite aware of the enemy and the snares that he sets out before us.  As we sail through life and the siren’s calls of the enemy cries out to us there is one that we find today whose voice can over charm the soul and help us against the call to Sin and his name is Jesus.  If we listen to Him we can overcome many of the shipwrecks that sin leads us to; sadly and more often than most will admit we succumb to the call of sin.

All too often we find ourselves playing the part of Odysseus, we are back struggling with in the bondage of sin listening and longing to embrace its alluring seduction.  Life now finds us standing in front of the mirror, shipwrecked on the reef of sin and castaway into the sea being dragged down into the depths as only sin can take us.  Drawn away if you will by our own lusts (James 1:14, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.”) Once enticed we find ourselves quickly separated from the God that we love and who completely loves us.  Standing alone, crying out for sins embrace, and at the same time hoping that those around us cannot hear the call to seduction.  As I mentioned before, backsliding has always been a problem with the people and children of God.  I do not believe that anyone is immune to this struggle with backsliding.

Support for the family in crisis

I had the privilege to sit at the bedside of a dying saint the other day; this dear precious soul had not been able to talk for several days because of her medical condition.  It was quite evident that she could understand what I was saying and more so I knew from her expressions that she was most appreciative of the visit.  I sat there talking to her and her daughter for over a half an hour and during our visit she would nod from time to time as if in agreement and would offer other hand motions to get my attention and try to communicate with us.  Though her spirits appeared to be high there were all the signs of fatigue in her smile, signs that are often seen in those who have experienced more than their share of pain.  Her hands were old and worn but what touched me the most was the weakness of her grip as she held my hand.  She still had a gleam in her eyes but you could also tell that she knew more than she was letting on.  I do believe that she was holding back to stand strong in the presence of her daughter.  This was the first time that I had met this dear saint and I wanted her to know that she was more than just a simple hospital call to me.  It was not long before she began to tire so ended the visit with a moment of prayer.  After leaving her room I was able to spend a few minutes with the family and offered them all the support that anyone can in times like this. 

It was a few short hours later that I was called back to that same saint’s bedside but it was not a joyous reunion, at least not here in the hospital.  She had gone on home to be with the Lord, she had run her race, and she had finished her course and was now at peace and at home with Jesus.  The first thought that came to my mind after entering the room was from the Psalms where David wrote, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15)  I could clearly see the peace and the love of the Lord in this situation.  This saint was now at home with Him.  As I stood there with the family I began to wonder through the scriptures that I have studied over the years.  I remember that the Apostle Paul said, “…absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Cor 5:8)  With that I began to put some thought in line with other passages of Scripture.  If the death of a saint is precious to the Lord (Psalm 116:15) and as the Apostle Paul believed that when absent from the body we’re present with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8) and King Solomon said, “… the spirit will return to God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7)  Then perhaps it just might be that Christ Himself is present at their passing and He receives and escorts the passing saint into Glory. 

I sat there with the family for a little while chatting and offering them my sympathy and support in prayer the best I could especially under the present circumstances.  I would share a verse of Scripture and or say a prayer with different members of the family in an effort to help ease the pain and shock of death.  It is truly a blessing to see how the Word of God comforts in times like this.  It is no wonder that one of the most precious passages of Scripture that comforts in times like these also comes from the Psalms.  “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)  The comfort of the Lord is present when His saints go home to Him.  There is no need to fear for He is there to help us replace the pain of the experience with hope and assurance because of our faith and trust is in Christ, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)
As I moved around the room talking to the different family members that were there I couldn’t help but notice the difference in the how each family member reacted.  One of them sat there holding the dear saint’s hand and carefully and lovingly continued stroking her arm.  At the same time she was taking in the vision of their family member noticing every blemish, every bruise and every flaw.  Occasionally they would ask me a question about what they observed or just to share a memory that had come to mind.  She would gaze upon the face of her loved one and smile or sigh then she would once again tell me another story or share another memory of this saint.  Another family member sat close to the bedside and held onto herself tightly almost wrapping herself up into a ball.  Every once in a while she would reach out and gently rub the shoulder of this dear saint, let out a deep sigh and then wrap herself back up into a ball  and begin weeping again.  They would join in the conversation from time to time but they were more reserved than the other siblings.  It is our trust in Christ that helps us through times like these because He alone offers HOPE that is needed.  He alone offers us something to hold on to that can and will carry us through the pain.  It is Christ alone that provides the peace that is need to calm the hurting soul.

You could see the signs of fatigue in most of the family members.  The adrenalin that they had been running on over the past several days was finally running out and exhaustion was settling in.  It is amazing how God gives us just what we need when we need it.  It is so evident that God in His gracious and loving care carries us through the rough times as only He can.  Once again I turn to the Psalms to find that which can close out this thought.  Psalm 48:14 says, “For this God is our God forever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.”