I have a question

[Naomi]

I'm sure some of you on this board have backslidden before and come back to God. I am presently in a backslidden condition. I know I need to go back to church, but I just can't seem to do it. Is this normal? How do I make myself do it? I never thought I would be in these shoes. My husband is backslidden, also. He is called to pastor. For years he was in and out of church, but I kept on hanging on to God. Finally, one day he said "No one can live for God. It's impossible." Something inside of me died at that moment. I just gave up. I don't know how to make myself do what I need to. Any suggestions?

[tufluv]

HELLO, NAOMI, WELCOME to our humble abode, the GNC:

YES, #1, summon up all your courage, convictions, and READ THE WORD, at the very least, a good starting point. DAILY.

I know a spiritual woman is to be lead by her spiritual husband, but sometimes, its the other way around, remember, we ALL must answer individually, to our LORD AND SAVIOR. And we woman are to be an example by our quiet still obedience to GOD, our words to our husbands, etc. IT IIS POSSIBLE TO REPENT AND COME BACK!

I know of some people in your same shoes, you must examine yourself very carefully, using the WORD as a guide, and go from there. May sound too simplistic, BUT, it works if you work it!
GOD is always willing to forgive, its never 'too late', although none of us knows when our last breath may be.

Why risk it?! This is a very general answer. You could profit more from face-to-face counsel with your pastor, or former pastor.
OR, some of the pastors here, I will take my leave now, and let others help you out better! I will pray for you, and feel free to email me at address on my profile, should you wish to have someone that 'listens' as well as 'talks'! Okay, GOD BLESS!
:angel:

[Bro.Steingass]

Naomi,

May I share my testimony with you?

I was backslidden for over 6 years, my wife as well. Partly due to the fact that we were never truly committed in the first place. During that time, my mind became almost reprobate, I wanted nothing to do with God. I became angry with God, and pretended he didn't exist and that I was in charge of my entire life.

but, apart from that, everything seemed normal. See Satan knew he had me trapped, I didn't need to be a serial-killer, or a heroin addict, Satan knew I was just fine, after all, he takes all kinds of people.

The Hell club is probably the most Politically correct club on earth, the only requirement is that every member not serve the one true Living God, Jesus. everything else is just fine, everyone is accepted.

I hated the mention of God, I hated being around people of God, because their lives they were living condemned my life. Instead of heeding to conviction, I angered at it.

It's soooo much easier to live for Satan than Jesus. However the pay is NOT the same for both Jobs.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I realized, as God kept convicting me, and I fought him harder and harder. He took an ungrateful, spoiled, snotty, superficial, know-it-all and overlooked me spitting in his face. I grudgingly followed my Wife to church one night. At this point, she was hours from just leaving me and divorcing me, because I was embracing sin so heavily.

I decided that fighting a God bigger than me was a losing battle. I accepted him. I sincerely repented...oh what a relief!! I said God, I'm sooo sorry, and before I could finish, his prescence came over me so strong as to say "welcome home" Once I was re-filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in toungues, my old habits suddenly began to melt like butter. I smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 10 years. That was a strong steel wall, that hindered everything. I was a slave to nicotine. That strong wall melted when God struck it down.

many other victories followed. But don't be fooled, Living for God takes work, it takes sacrifice, it takes determination, but God WILL give you that determination if you genuinely seek in in PRAYER. Speak to God the only way you know how, don't worry if you don't know how to pray, just get down on your knees somewhere private, and tell God all abut it.

Ask forgiveness, sincerely. Don't fight back the shakiness and the tears. God will begin to touch you.

The plan of Salvation is Acts 2:38

Even probably more paramount: Go to an Apostolic Church, even if your Husband does not, seek God yourself, you cannot Save him, however, if you live right, chances are much greater that he ses your light and submits to God himself.

God Bless You,

I will sincerely pray for you and your Family, and God promises to fill those who are hungry for Him:

Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.


When God Promises something, he WILL deliver. The Saints of God here will ALWAYS be your brothers and sisters in the Lord. We can answer questions, if not, then we'll ask God.

[nytxn1971]

Great testimony, Bro. Steingass

I also was backslidden for a long time. I'd been out there for 7 years before renewing my committment to the Lord in late January of 2002.

The whole time I was out there, I missed the Lord's presence, yet I would stay as far away from Spirit filled churches as I could. I was unwilling to bow my knee again, and even a brush with death did not melt my will.

I was finally willing to repent when I just grew so sick and tired of being sick and tired of living the life I was living. A few weeks after repenting, one night after church, as I lay in bed, I began to just thank God for the Blood, and for the cross. As I simply worshipped, the Lord showed up in my room (not visibly) and filled me with his Spirit, after he cast the demons out of me that I picked up while living in sin.

I got baptized a few days later.

It's been a great journey since then and God has used the situations I went through while I was backslidden to help others.

Naomi,

There is hope! You CAN live for God. You CAN come back to him and live an overcoming life. Regardless of what the enemy's lies say, You can be forgiven and walk with the Lord again. Sure it'll be a little tough at first, but you can do all things through Christ that gives you strength and his GRACE is sufficient for you.

We love you. I'm praying for you. I hope you make the right choice.

God bless you, Naomi! :)

[servant]

Naomi,
Good to hear from you! I want you to know something. God doesn't give up on anyone as easily as they think He does. You may have given up on God, and maybe even yourself, but God hasn't given up on you. He doesn't want you to be lost. He paid too much for your salvation. He's not going to leave you alone or let you go.
Going back to church seems to be a HUGE hurdle for backsliders trying to get back to God. There are fears of being rejected or looked down upon by your former peers. Satan is a master deceiver. He knows that there is strength and safety in numbers. He has to keep you away from the rest of the Body of Christ to keep you weak and defenseless. It's just the way predators do. They prey on the weak and the sick and the young. They seperate and isolate them from the rest of the herd, and then they strike.
You can only do so much on your own by praying and reading your bible. You need the strength of the Body. You need the encouragement and the fellowship of your spiritual family. Go back and find the healing and restoration you need.

God bless,

Servant of the Lord :)

[nytxn1971]

Amen, Servant!
Great post.

You ARE loved, Naomi!

[Thelordisone]

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Naomi, hopefully this helps you. Also, I always say that there is nothing greater than my God. He is still bigger and better than any problem that can come my way.

Ron,

You said you were re-baptized at one point in your testimony. Does that mean you were not baptized in Jesus name before?

God Bless All!!

[TRUEAPOSTOLIC]

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Naomi, hopefully this helps you. Also, I always say that there is nothing greater than my God. He is still bigger and better than any problem that can come my way.

Ron,

You said you were re-baptized at one point in your testimony. Does that mean you were not baptized in Jesus name before?

God Bless All!!

The scripture you quoted simply means that when we are truly born again of the new birth of God, and we are living for: and swerving God with all that is within us, we do not have to fear that something beyond our control will come along and separate us from God, and from our salvation.
It DOES NOT mean that we cannot be separated from God.
Notice that your scripture DOES NOT say that sin will not separate a person from God. Neither does it say that a person can't separate himself from God.
Willful sin will separate one from God, and from his / her salvation.
If a person goes about willfully committing sin, then he has turned his back on God, and has separated himself from God through disobedience and sin.

In The Love Of Jesus Christ
Brother Jackson

[TRUEAPOSTOLIC]

HELLO, NAOMI, WELCOME to our humble abode, the GNC:

YES, #1, summon up all your courage, convictions, and READ THE WORD, at the very least, a good starting point. DAILY.

I know a spiritual woman is to be lead by her spiritual husband, but sometimes, its the other way around, remember, we ALL must answer individually, to our LORD AND SAVIOR. And we woman are to be an example by our quiet still obedience to GOD, our words to our husbands, etc. IT IIS POSSIBLE TO REPENT AND COME BACK!

I know of some people in your same shoes, you must examine yourself very carefully, using the WORD as a guide, and go from there. May sound too simplistic, BUT, it works if you work it!
GOD is always willing to forgive, its never 'too late', although none of us knows when our last breath may be.

Why risk it?! This is a very general answer. You could profit more from face-to-face counsel with your pastor, or former pastor.
OR, some of the pastors here, I will take my leave now, and let others help you out better! I will pray for you, and feel free to email me at address on my profile, should you wish to have someone that 'listens' as well as 'talks'! Okay, GOD BLESS!
:angel:
This is to everyone who has posted here.

WHICH IS WORSE:
A PERSON HAVING NO HOPE OF SALVATION?
OR; A PERSON HAVING A FALSE HOPE?
The denominational churches are full of people with a false hope.
the Apostolic churches are supposed to be full of people who have a true hope of salvation.

Will someone please explain Hebrews 10:26-31. Matt. 12:31-32. Luke 9:62.
2-Peter 2:1-22. especially verses 20-21-22. For me?
Also I would like the scripture where the Bible says a backslider can be saved a second time. Thank You.

ALSO: I have a very good booklet on this subject if anyone would like one, they are free for the asking.

In The Love Of Jesus Christ
Brother Jackson
While there are

[witness]

Naomi, Trueapostolic asked for scripture that a backslider can
be saved:

Eze 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Eze 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Eze 18:22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

Eze 18:23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

Eze 18:24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

Eze 18:25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?

Eze 18:26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

Eze 18:27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

Eze 18:28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

This verse indicates that if a person who has sinned turns away from sin, they can be saved. God will look to the broken and contrite heart. David was cleansed of his sin before God after he had Uriah killed and committed adultery. Not that there isn't a cost to backsliding. There are consequences.

But God will cleanse you and renew you.

Go back to the place where you fell from, and pick yourself up again and don't look back.

Sis Pam

[Norman]

I have a suggestion for Naomi. Is there anyone in church that you can socialize with, maybe invite over to your house for coffee or meet them for lunch somewhere? If you can do that it might become easier to go back to church.

[Norman]

Another thing I would like to mention, many years ago my Dad's younger brother told him he was quitting church because it was too hard to live for God. My Dad told him that the Bible says the way of the transgressor is hard. Sometime later, after my uncle quit church, he told my Dad he was right, living without God is harder than living for God. At first when you go back to church it might seem like that's not true but if you are determined, living for God becomes easier.
My uncle is very strong in church now and has been for a long time.