Backsliding

I have taken a strong stand on this subject since 1980 when I first began to study the subject. I take a strong stand against the teaching that God’s sovereign will completely overrides man’s free will to accept and serve Him. In view of this, I believe it is possible for a person once saved to turn from God and be lost again. Also known as Backsliding. However, I do not go to the other extreme of teaching that mankind’s choice of receiving or rejecting Christ makes a person totally responsible for his own salvation apart from Christ’s atonement.

My position follows the Assemblies of God bylaws--Article VIII of the Assemblies of God Bylaws opposes unconditional security with the following statement:

In view of the biblical teaching that the security of the believer depends on a living relationship with Christ (John 15:6); in view of the Bible's call to a life of holiness (1 Peter 1:16; Hebrews 12:14); in view of the clear teaching that a man may have his part taken out of the Book of Life (Revelation 22:19); and in view of the fact that one who believes for a while can fall away (Luke 8:13); The General Council of the Assemblies of God disapproves of the unconditional security position which holds that it is impossible for a person once saved to be lost.

Now it seems complex I know, but it is so important to know that the Christian religious world divides basically into two schools of thought concerning the spiritual destiny of people. One is Calvinism, named after John Calvin (early 16th century); the other is Arminianism, traced back to James Arminius (late 16th century). The theological debate is thus centuries old.

Calvinism teaches (1) the total depravity of man, (2) God's unconditional election (or predestination) of those who will be saved, (3) that Christ died only for the elect, not for every person, (4) that God's saving grace toward the elect cannot be resisted, and (5) that once a person is saved, he can never lose his salvation.

Arminianism teaches something different on each of these points: (1) Though born a sinner, mankind is given a spark of divine grace that enables him to respond positively to God. (2) God does not arbitrarily consign some people to eternal damnation; their willful rejection of God’s salvation makes them responsible. (3) Christ died for every person, even though some refuse to accept the provision for their salvation (4) No person is forced against his or her will to become a Christian. (5) One’s salvation can be lost through willful disobedience. Rather than the unconditional predestination of Calvinism, Arminianism teaches conditional predestination. We are predestined to eternal life if we accept God’s provision of salvation.

Now the Assemblies of God leans toward Arminianism, though it accepts scriptural truth found in both positions. We agree with the Calvinist emphasis on God's sovereignty or supreme power and authority. But they also firmly believe the Arminian emphasis on mankind's free will and responsibility for his actions and choices. I believe the Bible teaches both truths.

"Eternal security," according to Calvinists, means "once saved, always saved." The key passage for this position is John 10:28,29— "No one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." There is great assurance in this passage and in Romans 8:35,39—"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? . . . Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." I also stand on these wonderful truths knowing we need not fear that something external will overpower us and take away our salvation. Only our willful choices can do that.

But because we are creatures with free wills, we must be vigilantly on guard because the enemy of our soul, the devil, "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith" (1 Peter 5:8,9). In my own life I have come to believe carelessness can lead to apathy, apathy to neglect, and neglect to a conscious decision to sin. This spiritual decline is known to me as backsliding. I believe one who backslides is in danger of losing his salvation if the individual persists in rejecting the Spirit's call to repentance and restoration.

Luke 8:13 makes clear the fact that believers can lose their salvation. It says some "believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away." Revelation 22:19 says "If anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life, and in the holy city."

Certainly there are true Christians who believe and teach Calvinism; there are also true Christians who believe and teach that men and women have free will. Unfortunately, both sides have spent more time arguing doctrinal terminology and interpretations of theology than reaching out to a lost world. The irony of the disagreement is that Calvinists, who believe in predestination, are sometimes more active in witnessing and evangelism than Arminians who believe that man has a free will and should be encouraged to accept Christ as Savior. God, of course, looks on the heart and the actions rather than on the eloquence with which one defends a position.

Although the Assemblies of God adheres basically to the Arminian position on the spiritual security of the believer, there are extremes and potential abuses which must be avoided. The Christian life is not a roller coaster of Sunday salvation and Monday through Saturday backsliding. On the other hand, no Christian, no matter how spiritual, can claim perfection and sinlessness (1 John 1:8-10; 2:1). Therefore as Christians we must continually come to God sincerely asking His forgiveness for living below the potential He makes possible through the gift of His Holy Spirit.

The truth of God's marvelous and free grace has sadly led some to imagine and indulge in a cheap grace, a grace that covers all sins with no need to live a holy life. Such an attitude is an insult to the great price Christ paid to purchase our salvation. Though we may fail and fall, and sometimes sin, the heart of the true believer always regrets, repents, asks forgiveness, and seeks never to sin that way again. To carelessly participate in sin, expecting to gain forgiveness later, is itself an act of backsliding that will lead ultimately to losing one's salvation. We therefore reject any "once saved, always saved" doctrine that excuses sinful lifestyles.

Once saved can mean forever saved–if one continues in faith, growing in sanctification and holiness day by day. But God will not arbitrarily usurp mankind's free will. Our sovereign God does not overrule free will just to prove He is sovereign. When its all said and done and if you got this far down to the bottom of this blog, it is worthy to note: The gift of choosing releases more ability then the gift of LOVE. For God so loved...but we must choose.

Authority

The greatest teachers teach by example. Jesus did not just teach from a position of authority because he was the son of God. He wanted to teach you how to operate in brother authority. In other words, Jesus is our brother and we operate in the authority that our elder brother shows us. Matthew 7:29 says "For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." The scribes were so intent on getting every word correct that they left out authority.

Now it is important for us to understand there is a difference between power and authority. Authority is the badge, power is the gun when we see a policeman. The gun is power but the badge on his or her uniform is enough authority of the whole state or county to stop a moving vehicle when their hand is raise out to say STOP!

Now.."Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18 Jesus has given us His power but He has release His authority to us as believers too.

Luke 9:1,2 says that He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." It did not just stop at 12 it went to 60 then 120 and now to us! His vision and release of power and authority is within us now.

God given authority is awesome to think about but it is important to know that if we cannot submit to earthly authority here in the now, how in the world can you submit to God's authority? And if you cannot submit to HIS authority, how can you operate or exercise in it? At a young age we should obey our parents. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." Ephesians 6:1

It is also important to submit ourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:" I Peter 2:12,15

Likewise ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. I Peter 5:5

Once someone said, "The proof of Legitimate Authority is provision, protection and promotion."

Now sometimes it will seem odd when God asks you to walk in authority. Even in Jesus day it seemed odd to some why he cursed the fig tree. Matthew 21:18,19. Some critical writers feel that Jesus' cursing the tree is out of character. Their rationale is: "Jesus went about doing good. Why does He now reverse course and start cursing instead of blessing?

The economics of God are different from the world's economics. All living organisms function to produce abundance and reproduce. That's why the DE-GENERATE behavior of homosexuality is not only a sin to God but an abomination to God. Everything God created was created to produce abundance and reproduce. This tree was occupying space in an already crowded world. It's roots were taking valuable nutrients out of the soil. Its branches were soaking up sunshine. Its leaves were drinking in the valuable rain water. The tree was TAKING and not giving! Sound familiar? It was serving no purpose, yet was draining resources. So the creator removed it with AUTHORITY by speaking to it harshly.

Whats taking up valuable space in your life because of a lack of authority in your own life? Fear, poverty, insecurity, bodily infirmities? Anything taking up your time, space or energy without producing positive results should be removed from our lives. It will only be removed when you learn to walk in God given authority.

Attitudes - expecting less from people more from God.

Your attitude towards God and God's business directly effects your attitude towards people. Someone once said, Attitude determines our altitude. Although it would be correct to say that when flying and aircraft, it is also correct to say that in our personal lives.

Have you ever asked God to help you correct your attitude? I have. I have often been obedient but not willing. I have at times done things in obedience to God's word but my attitude was not willing. Is 1:19 says that the willing AND the obedient shall eat the good of the land. Just because you were obedient doesnt qualify you to enjoy the blessings. No, you have to be willing too.

I heard a motivational speaker once say, "The attitude of the servant controls the atmosphere of the Palace." I always thought that was a powerful statement.

In the book of Daniel we read (Daniel 6:3) "Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set hiim over the whole realm." Promotion comes because and excellent spirit created an attitude that is worth promoting.

Someone is looking for a good attitude to promote. Could it be yours. Sometimes we get synical towards life and the let downs that occur. Watch your thoughts and your behaviors and your attitudes towards life and learn that by keeping a good attitude, you will be empowered to minister to GOD.

Hannah of the Bible had a very important prayer. Hannah was a barren woman in a time when not only the wife's worth, but the husband’s esteem was measured by how many sons they had. She was the wife of Elkanah, a man who had two wives.

Because Hannah was barren, he took a second wife, Peninnah, who bore four sons. Hannah was treated contemptuously by Penninah because of her barrenness. Penninah jeered and mocked Hannah relentlessly until Hannah could not even eat. It was not long before Hannah became, in her own words, bitter of soul. But she believed God answered fervent prayer! So in I Samuel 1:10-11 we read her prayer:

In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."

Sure enough, that night God "remembered Hannah"! (1 Samuel 19-20)

Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.

So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, [literally "heard by God"] saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."

Now Hannah had promised God that if He would give her a son, she would give the son back to God. By this she meant when the son was weaned at the age of three, she would make the long journey back to the Temple and leave her son with Eli, the Priest.

As one author had said, "why a mother who was so grateful for the one son she had would be willing to leave him with Eli the Priest"? As you dig deeper into the unhealthy family, we could say she was wise. She knew her son would be better off serving the Priest than he would be fighting off his half-brothers who would treat him as their own mother had treated Hannah.

The big day comes, and Hannah and three-year-old Samuel make the long walking journey to the Temple. She leaves her precious son with a the man of God (who had two evil sons who Hannah probably was unaware of). Really, Samuel was probably left in an even more sinful environment than the home into which he was born. And instead of crying, Hannah prayed a prayer of rejoicing. I want to show you a small part of her prayer, taken from 1 Samuel 2.

Then Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn [strength] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.
"There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God."

I'm wonder what your attitude and my attitude would be if we left our only son behind?

So determine to begin your prayer with praise. Who is God? Why is He worthy to be praised? Next comes gratitude. What are at least three things for which I am grateful today? Next comes my petition. What exactly was I asking God to do? And finally, thanks for God's faithfulness to His Word and to me.

Something begins to happen in your attitude when you pray like this. You will find yourself being more positive in your thoughts, actions, and words.

You will expect less of people and more of God.

It was similar to a reformatting of a computer's hard drive: negative out, positive in! An added bonus is that it makes you more hungry for God's word and all HIS attributes!

Atmosphere

The churches which are making a mark on our culture war are those who know how to create an atmosphere. Many so called, "mega churches" are reaching only a few thousand people when they should be reaching THOUSANDS of people. The atmosphere that we create in people's lives will leave a mark for years to come. I am putting together my product table in our services and I have learned that the atmosphere I create in our services will always be the product I produce. The most valuable thing a person can take away from you as an individual is created by the atmosphere you produce. If everyday you nag and complain about something, people will feel as though they get nothing from the relationship. What sort of relationship are you breeding? An ugly one or a beautiful one?

"And it came to pas, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord." I Kings 8:10-11. Can you imagine that kind of glory...that kind of atmosphere? Where even the leadership could not stand. That is a service that you will never forget.

I remember in 1997 we had a service similar to that. The glory of the Lord was so strong that not one person was standing. They were either laying out prostrate or kneeling before the Lord. The only one that was left was our piano player. I went over and sat on the bench and he fell of the side of it. Moments latter, I fell off the other side. We were in that church till 2am! What a time.

The atmosphere created was soemthing that NONE of us will forget.

Evil spirits will depart when you have a right atmosphere. "and it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand, so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spriti departed from him." I Samuel 16:23 Can you imagine. The cloud of depression or oppression leaving you and sitting in your home completely refreshed? That is what the atmosphere of the Holy Spirit does to you.

Ask the Holy Spirit today to build an atmosphere in your life today. He will help. That is his job description. He is a helper and he is also a comforter. Hallelujah. He puts his children in comfort and he stands beside you as an aid to help you when you need help. You need HIM to make your atmosphere glorious.

Atheism

Before I reprint Ray Comfort's masterpiece of, "Why the Atheist doesn't exist", let me state a few scriptures. Last week I was negotiating two pieces of much needed audio equipment that the ministry needed. After negotiating, the business man's wife (who was born again) explained to me that she had been twittering to an atheist man and was making progress with him. We were both very excited about the good news.

Someone once said, "The evidence of God's existence far supersedes the proof of his absence." Whoo.

Romans 1:28 says, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;"

2 Corinthians 4:3,4 says, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In who the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, let the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God should shine unto them."

Psalms 14:1 says, "The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good."

Romans 1:20-21 says, "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly sen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as Go, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."


Why the Atheist doesn't exist


There can be no such things as an atheist. This is why: Let's imagine that you are a professing atheist. Here are two questions for you to answer: First, do you know the combined weight of all the sand on all the beaches of Hawaii? We can safely assume that you don't. This brings us to the second question: Do you know how many hairs are on the back of a fully-grown male Tibetan yak? Probably not. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that there are some things that you don't know. It is important to ask these questions because there are some people who think they know everything.

Let's say that you know an incredible one percent of all the knowledge in the universe. To know 100 percent, you would have to know everything. There wouldn't be a rock in the universe that you would not be intimately familiar with, or a grain of sand that you would not be aware of. You would know everything that has happened in history, from that which is common knowledge to the minor details of the secret love life of Napoleon's great-grandmother's black cat's fleas. You would know every hair of every head, and every thought of every heart. All history would be laid out before you, because you would be omniscient (all-knowing).

Bear in mind that one of the greatest scientists who ever lived, Thomas Edison, said, "We do not know a millionth of one percent about anything." Let me repeat: Let's say that you have an incredible one percent of all the knowledge in the universe. Would it be possible, in the ninety-nine percent of the knowledge that you haven't yet come across, that there might be ample evidence to prove the existence of God? If you are reasonable, you will be forced to admit that it is possible. Somewhere, in the knowledge you haven't yet discovered, there could be enough evidence to prove that God does exist.

Let's look at the same thought from another angle. If I were to make an absolute statement such as, "There is no gold in China," what is needed for that statement to be proven true? I need absolute or total knowledge. I need to have information that there is no gold in any rock, in any river, in the ground, in any store, in any ring, or in any mouth (gold filling) in China. If there is one speck of gold in China, then my statement is false and I have no basis for it. I need absolute knowledge before I can make an absolute statement of that nature. Conversely, for me to say, "There is gold in China," I don't need to have all knowledge. I just need to have seen a speck of gold in the country, and the statement is then true.

To say categorically, "There is no God," is to make an absolute statement. For the statement to be true, I must know for certain that there is no God in the entire universe. No human being has all knowledge. Therefore, none of us is able to truthfully make this assertion.

If you insist upon disbelief in God, what you must say is, "Having the limited knowledge I have at present, I believe that there is no God." Owing to a lack of knowledge on your part, you don't know if God exists. So, in the strict sense of the word, you cannot be an atheist. The only true qualifier for the title is the One who has absolute knowledge, and why on earth would God want to deny His own existence?

The professing atheist is what is commonly known as an “agnostic” - one who claims he “doesn't know” if God exists. It is interesting to note that the Latin equivalent for the Greek word is “ignoramus.” The Bible tells us that this ignorance is “willful” (Psalm 10:4). It's not that a person can't find God, but that he won't. It has been rightly said that the “atheist” can't find God for the same reason a thief can't find a policeman. He knows that if he admits that there is a God, he is admitting that he is ultimately responsible to Him. This is not a pleasant thought for some.

It is said that Mussolini (the Italian dictator), once stood on a pinnacle and cried, "God, if you are there, strike me dead!" When God didn't immediately bow to his dictates, Mussolini then concluded that there was no God. However, his prayer was answered some time later.

Excerpted from God Doesn't Believe in Atheists by Ray Comfort

Astrology

During a deliverance session years ago near Tampa, Florida, a young lady had begin to manifest demon spirits through hear when we prayed over her. The demon spirit spoke through her and said, "I trapped her! She was so worried about her future and I trapped her!" Wow, what a day that was. I told the demon to hold her peace and loose her, to come out of her and let her go. Of course the demon obeyed me and she was delivered gloriously. I showed her how to pray and renounce the astrology that she was tricked into. With many tears she learned that she did not have to rely on "familiar spirits", but could receive 9 gifts of the spirit to aid in her walk with Christ. Satan has a counterfeit for everything.

The scripture is very clear about astrology or the "observing of times". "Ye shall not...use enchantment, nor observe times." Many people observe the moon, the sun, the stars and even silly fortune cookies to know what is going to happen the next day. This is grievous to the Holy Spirit in your life. "And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set My face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people." Leviticus 20:6. That is strong. To be cut off from God is a personal disaster. We see the stong command here and those who play with the starts or phycis are dancing with disaster.

"But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord...also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger." 2 Chronicles 33:22,6 When you dabble in these things you not only open the door to the devil to come live inside you but you also provoke God to anger. Beloved, please, whatever you do, provoke anyone, but please don't provoke GOD!

In days of old, I believe that there was a time that God spoke through his people through the heavens. Now we have the holy spirit and to go back to an old system allows the devil to get involved and mess with your mind. Look at Isaiah 44:24,25; "...I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;...That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad;"

Starts do not decide your life; God decides your life. Have confidence in God and let Him speak to you through the precious Holy Spirit.

Associations

There are those who will not increase what God is doing through you. There are many who unknowingly decrease God's plan in your life.

Not everyone in your life is ordained of God. Not everyone on your face book enjoys what God wants to do in your life.

Years ago in my library, I pulled a 1965 Sunday School curriculum book from GPH and was astonished to see what it said. "Don't just sanctify your bodies but sanctify your friendships". I was taken back. We don't hear that type of preaching much anymore. We think that everyone is acceptable to be friends with. God gave us wisdom, we just have to use it.

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." Proverbs 13:20

Take heed to thyself, let thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou go est, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee. Exodus 34:12

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Amos 3:3

"But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one do not to eat." I Corinthians 5:11

"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." I Corinthians 15:33

A dear precious lady once said to me while I was young, "You can be friendly with everyone, just learn not to be friends with everyone." At the time I thought that was rather harsh but later in my adult life I realized that everyone has a motive. Those motives may be pure or they may be polluted, it is up to you to discern what their motives are up too.

Watch and pray over your associations. Someone may be getting ready to drag your speed down. Someone may be getting ready to accelerate you into greatness. Don't live in fear but trust that God will reveal the right relationships to you today.