Notes And Quotes For Today
Seven Reasons Why Christians Fail – III
Backsliders start with dusty Bibles and end with filthy garments.
When a person gets saved, he/she gets a new life. the believer has a new nature, and he has the Holy Spirit living within. There is no other way you can live right. The old nature is put down- crucified. God does not waste any time trying to treat the old man. “ I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ lives in me, and the life that I live now, I live by the faith the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”
The believer of this age is privileged to have three things to live the new life in Christ. He has the Word of God, The Holy Spirit and the Church. Now it depends which way you want to go. When the Christian caters to the flesh and neglect that he has been bought with a price; he is going to be chastised. Beloved, we may not spank our children when they get out of line, but God is a loving father who will not let His children misbehave or go astray without His chastisement. Hebrews 12:6 “for whom the Lord loveth He chastens and scourges ever son whom He receiveth.” Dearly beloved Chastisement means little if it does not gain our attention.
So many believers forget to burn the bridges behind them. They neglect to sever their ties with their past. They want to carry somethings of the past in to the new life. Their old companions, their old habits, and pass times. Those things hinder their moving forward, and even chock their new life. How many Christians try to assimilate the past with the new life? No wonder they find it very hard to walk! To grow and make difference! To the extent the unbelieving friends and loved ones don’t see any difference in their life. we read in Galatians 4:30 , “Cast out the bond woman and her son. For the son of the bond woman shall not be heir but the son of the free woman.”
It sure is hard for many of us to leave behind our old friends, which does not mean we hate them. If we can be a fruitful Christians we can not have a false fellowship and association with unbelievers. We read in 2nd Corinthians 6:14, “ be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship has righteousness (a saved person)with unrighteousness (unsaved person)?….” we have nothing in common with our friends who are in the world. We don’t hate them; we try to talk to them about the Lord, be a witness to them when the opportunity arises; plead with them. Write them, knock on their doors, call on the phone, for the sole purpose of telling them about the Lord!
A story is told of a young lady who got saved, and attending a church and she went out to a dance with this unsaved man; while on the dance floor she was concerned about the man, and she thought of witnessing to him about the Lord while on that dance floor. And in some kind of armament he asked her, “ do you really believe in it?” she said, “ yes, I do! I really do!” in a somewhat surprising tone he said, “ then what in the world are you doing here?” Remember this; that the world will judge your testimony by weakest moment.
Beloved, the unsaved, expect us believers to act, and talk, and behalf like Christians. “ If you are a Christian do what Christians are doing!” An unsaved young man was once asked ” what do you think of a young woman who is dressed up in long skirt?” He said right away ” She must be a Christian.” They sure will be sick and tried of seeing those who claim to be believers, and still live the way they live. Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “ no man having put his hands to the plough, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Burn the bridges behind you; otherwise they are going to drag you down. Our Lord also said, “ Remember Lot’s wife.” Mrs. Lot though physical she got out of Sodom, her heart was still in there!
6.The neglect of the Church: Beloved, we read in Hebrews 10:25 we read, “ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching….” As we stated above one of the three things that the New Testament believers are privileged with is the gift of the local church. Believers should be faithful to attend their church. Not just once a week or twice a week. Beloved we need all the church we can get. We need all the body of Christ to work well. With anyone of our physical body missing we are sick people. Every time the church opens its doors and believers gather the desire and determination should be there to attend that meeting. And no matter how old the believer should not be tired of it! We need to come and get the strength of the Word preached to us; and the fellowship of one another. We need to add to it; and not be minus.
Many times, the first thing what happens is that people start missing Wednesday night Bible study and prayer meeting! Then they start missing Sunday night. Then they start missing the special meetings. And not long after that they stop coming altogether. Why? Because their focus is not the church. We are not talking about perfect church! No church has ever been perfect; no church is going to be perfect in this old world; yet, the church remains to be the place for the people of God, where the Word of God is preached. Acts 2 :42 we read, “ … and they continued steadfastly, in the apostles doctrine, and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers….” Yes, they continued! So we need to be faithful! Believers who are raised up in a church, continue to go to church as part of their life! Thank God for that privilege!
The Greatest victory we can ever win is the victory over ourselves !
To Be Continued……………………..
From The Peoples Gospel Hour Staff