BACKSLIDING FROM PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES:

From John Collins, Evangelist:

“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.  But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’” 2 Peter 2:20-22 (NKJV).

Ah, the backslider, those slippery paths, that jumbled mess of a highway system that has him lost, confused and picking that well-traveled road. The see-saw of the decided Christian then the undecided Christian who misses the fun and back and forth. 

There has been a weakening of the term backslider for the Christian. Backsliding should not be taken lightly and although God is merciful and compassionate, God is also not stupid and is very aware of the desires of your heart and the choices that you make based on them. You cannot claim to be a Christian on Sunday and having been out drinking and whoring on Saturday night think that you are pleasing God in any way. God knows if you are genuine in your faith or not. God knows if you are truly committed to becoming righteous and God knows if you are genuinely working toward accomplishing that goal. Once you choose to be a Christ follower you should do so with a complete heart without turning from that choice.

Christians should not be casual in their faith and lazy in their efforts to claim their place in heaven. You are not guaranteed tomorrow so you should never wait to seek the Lord and you should never be complacent in your faith. Never take backsliding with a casual attitude but be forceful in your determination to see your life through with obedience to the Lord. What do you think the Christian faith would look like today if Paul had gotten lazy and inconsistent in his pursuit of doing the Lord’s will? It is necessary to claim consistency in your walk with God.

“But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” Luke 9:62 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

Read more about JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES or reach me, Pastor John, personally through John Collins Ministries at www.johncollinsministries.com.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: HONEST, NO EXCUSES

From Pastor John Collins:

“For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:20-21 (NKJV).

Honesty is a necessity if you wish to see the kingdom of God. It is not always needed for you to discuss your past with all those who cross your path, but it is needed for you to be willing to acknowledge your past with forthrightness.

When you are no longer the person that you once were and you are that new creature and a man or woman of God then you can easily speak of who you were as I have done and as Paul so easily spoke of the man that he was. There is not any shame in admitting where you were when you know where you are. It does not need to be the main focus of your life but it should not ever be something that you hide from either.

Each person that is born on earth will have a testimony that will be able to help another with the light of God shining on them. Each person needs to look at who they are, who they were and who they want to be. God is willing to forgive His children and that will only happen when you can admit your sins and stop sinning. I know that many will say that it is not possible to not sin but it is possible to attain righteousness in life and that does not include sinning.

Righteousness is possible when you make every effort to please God, to not sin and to monitor your heart and mind continuously to keep from backsliding. A liar should no longer lie, a thief should no longer steal and a cheater should no longer cheat. Those words should sound familiar and each person who believes in Christ should never make excuses for their sin but should make the effort to go and sin no more.

Be willing to be open and honest about who you have been, trust in who you are and look forward to who you will become, in Christ.

“John answered and said, ‘A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.’” John 3:27 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS 

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: SEE-SAW CHRISTIAN

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: BACKSLIDING

“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.  But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’” 2 Peter 2:20-22 (NKJV).

Ah, the backslider, those slippery paths, that jumbled mess of a highway system that has him lost, confused and picking that well-traveled road. The see-saw of the decided Christian then the undecided Christian who misses the fun and back and forth. 

There has been a weakening of the term backslider for the Christian. Backsliding should not be taken lightly and although God is merciful and compassionate, God is also not stupid and is very aware of the desires of your heart and the choices that you make based on them. You cannot claim to be a Christian on Sunday and having been out drinking and whoring on Saturday night think that you are pleasing God in any way. God knows if you are genuine in your faith or not. God knows if you are truly committed to becoming righteous and God knows if you are genuinely working toward accomplishing that goal. Once you choose to be a Christ follower you should do so with a complete heart without turning from that choice.

Christians should not be casual in their faith and lazy in their efforts to claim their place in heaven. You are not guaranteed tomorrow so you should never wait to seek the Lord and you should never be complacent in your faith. Never take backsliding with a casual attitude but be forceful in your determination to see your life through with obedience to the Lord. What do you think the Christian faith would look like today if Paul had gotten lazy and inconsistent in his pursuit of doing the Lord’s will? It is necessary to claim consistency in your walk with God.

“But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” Luke 9:62 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN