05.07. Backsliders
7. BACKSLIDERS In dealing with seekers desiring to be reclaimed, you will find the following promises of untold value.
"Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you ..." (Jeremiah 3:14).
Here God said, "I am married to the backslider."
"... Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts ..." (Malachi 3:7).
"I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away ..." (Hosea 14:4).
"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7).
Exhortation The following exhortation has often helped me in dealing with backsliders at an altar of prayer.
I would say to the seeker: "You may not feel at first as you did when you were saved; not many backsliders do. Remember, God did not leave you; you left Him.
"Your getting back to God depends on your being willing to give up every known sin, step out on His promise, and trust Him to take you back.
"Can you make this your prayer? ’Lord, after You saved me, I went back on You, but here and now I return; by Your help, I will give up every sin. I will pick up my cross where I laid itdown and, feeling or no feeling, the best I know how, I take You back and I trust You to take me because You said You would. From this moment on I am going to live for You.’
"If you will do this and really mean it, He will take you back now; and though at first you may not have the feeling you once had, as you go He will restore your joys and give you a better experience than you had before."
Many, longing to be back with God, are held up just at the border line, and some simple word of instruction or exhortation is all they need to enable their faith to take hold and claim the victory. Isaiah 55:7 Isaiah 55:7 is a wonderful promise to quote in dealing with a backslider. I have used it in this way.
"God said: ’Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.’
"God asks the backslider to do two things, forsake his sins and return unto the Lord.
"God, in turn, offers to do two things for the backslider who will do this, i.e., have mercy upon him and abundantly pardon him. God doesn’t give a little pardon.
"A sinner is a man who has never been converted, has never known God; therefore he cannot return to Him.
"This verse seems to be written especially for the backslider. He has known God, has gone away from him, and God calls to him, ’Return unto Me.’
"Do you right now give up every known sin and return unto God the best you know how?
"What did God say He would do for the man who would return? Two things, have mercy and pardon him.
"If you have returned, what does He do for you right now?"
Scores of times, after using this scripture in this simple way, I have seen the light break over the face of the seeker and he would rise to testify to God’s reclaiming grace.
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