Always Hope For Backsliding Christians

Date: Friday, August 08, 2014
Today's Chapters: Jeremiah 1-3
Message Title: Hope For Backsliding Christians
The Book of Jeremiah is the twenty-fourth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains fifty-two chapters. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 629BC – 588BC, approximately 70 years after Isaiah prophesied about the same thing. The author of the book is Jeremiah and it was written to Judah to warn them of the coming captivity of the Jews, and a call for repentance. What we are to learn from the book is that national disasters and deterioration of the world is often due to disobedience to God, but as we return to God things will be restored. This book is actually directed to backsliders. “And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.” - Jeremiah 12:5.

Jeremiah was quite young when God called him to be a prophet, so, naturally his first response was to tell God that he felt he was too young. God encourages Jeremiah, letting him know that He already had this purpose for him before he was born. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” - Jeremiah 1:5-9.

Before we were formed in the womb, God had a purpose for us, sadly, not everyone fulfills that purpose. Those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior are, in fact, a child of God. God has already touched our mouths and put His words into it. The talents He gives us are not meant for selfish gain, but to serve Him, and amazingly, the more we serve Him with them, the more prosperous we become using them. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” - Psalm 1:1-3.
Those who are saved and living their lives with Christ, know they have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, because of this, God expects a little more from them. Can I tell you that there are some unsaved people that do more for God than saved? The sad thing is they have no idea that all that work is meaningless unless they are saved. Many who know Christ, continue to live wicked, sinful lives, fully knowing that they are saved. While that behavior does not destroy a persons salvation it does mean that they will suffer the consequences of their sin. Through Jeremiah, God addresses the ones who do know Him, those who use to love Him, but have chosen the world over Him. “Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD. Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.” - Jeremiah 2:3-5,8.
It breaks God's heart to see one of His very own children living in sin, to see them suffering, but they will not come to Him. If you are saved and born again then you are a child of God, one of His very own. To submit to and remain captive to sin is of that persons own flesh, not God who brings upon the suffering. It is Christ who lives in us through the Holy Spirit, He and He alone is our only hope of ever becoming free from the sins that hold us captive. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” - Romans 13:12-14.

Israel had already faced judgment for turning their backs on God, now, Judah, who were the Christians of that day, were about to face judgment, the sad thing, their sins were more abominable than Israel's. God illustrates their backsliding as an adulterous woman, and gives them one more plea to repent before it's too late. “They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD. Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed. And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.” - Jeremiah 3:1-3,11,22.
Whether you are saved or not, judgment will come before Christ returns, and while God does chasten His people He eagerly awaits the day they repent, meaning walk away from the sin and return to Him. Do not mistake the judgments of God for losing one's salvation, we cannot lose our salvation for living in sin, even if you have been a backslider for decades you are still a child of God. Think about it, you were born into this world, having one father and one mother, even if you walk away from them, you are still their child. If you asked Jesus to save you, you are born again, a child of God, even if you have forgotten, God hasn't. “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” - 1 Peter 1:22,23.
Today's Prayer: God, It is amazing how much You reveal to us through the Holy Spirit, I know sometimes I get over confident and think that I can do this on my own, but You reveal to me time and time again that my way leads to a big mess, but Yours always leads to victory. Thank You for giving me those second chances to get back up and move forward, let me not be held captive to the world or any sin, only let me depend on You as I walk with You, my Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going To Heaven? Visit: God's PriceLike Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
©2014 I'm Following Jesus