King James Bible Believers

Over the years I have seen a pattern in the lives of out of fellowship Christians. I know of no better term than masochism for it. It is a desire to be chastened by God because of their "backslidden condition".

1John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Rather than come to the Saviour and be forgiven they "wallow in self-pity" and though mentally they know that the blood of Jesus Christ can restore them they continue in sin. This self-indulgence is spiritual masochism. This is, if you were to rip off the veneer, it is often a self-deceiving excuse to continue in sin brought about by the flesh and the devil.

How does it work? All you have to do is verbally chasten yourself and tell yourself how stupid and wicked you are then once this is done, you continue in your backslidden state.

Most of us either know or have known men in this shape. Many will go back on former vices (liquid, dope or even painkillers) until God has to use a leather strap.

This is nothing more than a spiritual perversion of humility and self-justification to sin. All, whom I’ve met in one form or another, will say, "I know I should get right" and then proceed with self-abasement, thus having an alibi to be backslidden.

Jer 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

While the Scripture does teach the following, it is NEVER an excuse to remain out of fellowship. This self-abasement to justify sin is a lie for the flesh and a trick of the devil.

Job 15:16 How much more abominable and filthy [is] man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean [thing] out of an unclean? not one.

Twelve Things Every "Backslider" Should Know.

1.You are not special. 1Corinthian 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

1Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

2. Other saints have been through far worse and your troubles and failures can be used for good.

Job 2:8-11 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. (9) Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. (10) But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

2Co 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

3. God knows your heart and knows if you are "playing fun and games". John 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

4. People who smile all the time belong in a mental institution and many a saint has been under a juniper tree.

Ecc 3:3-4 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; (4) A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Ecc 1:18 For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

1Ki 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I [am] not better than my fathers.

Luk 7:20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

Jer 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But [his word] was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not [stay].

5. This is not Heaven and the world hates your guts and will use your backslidden condition to mock your Saviour and other Christians.

Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

1Jo 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

(1 Peter 4:4) Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with [them] to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of [you]:

(2 Samuel 12:14) Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also [that is] born unto thee shall surely die.

(Romans 2:24) For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

6. Your enemy the devil is playing you for a fool and you are letting him by doing things your own way.

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Job 41:22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.

Pro 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.

7. There is a part of you that hates God.

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lust

Rom 7:18-25 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

8. You have no right not to serve The Lord.

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.

(Luke 17:10) So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

9. No Christian has "all his ducks in a row"! (There is no such thing as a perfect Christian.) You can not compare yourself to others for you probably do not know of their private struggles and family jousts.

Pro 14:10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

2Co 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

10. You may say you love the Lord, but you can make your mouth say anything.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Isa 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

11. God can still use you and while God never condones sin he has used former backsliders many a time. (David 11 Samuel 12:13, Peter John 13:38, Elijah 1 Kings 19:4, Moses Exodus 4:24, Daniel Daniel 2:46 and many other mention in Scripture and the past.)

Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.

1John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Phi 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

12. You have allowed the devils and the flesh to turn you into a masochist. Do you enjoy wallowing in your own vomit or mire? Remember your backslidden condition can cause great future harm to your love ones!

Do you want God to use the buckle rather than the strap; there is no excuse and this maybe a self-deceiving ploy of the flesh to sin. And if you are saved the "game" is now over!

2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Phi 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

1Co 11:30 For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Lam 3:39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

How do I know of this condition…I have been there years ago.

This devotional is being written to a backslidden spiritual masochist friend of mine.

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.