This, to me, represents the greatest problem the church/people have ÔÇ£spreading the GospelÔÇØ
We slide up close to Jesus/God.then we backslide. The cares of this world choke us down.
So, when we get backslidden, our friends see us as hypocrites and say why do I need God, he aint doing nothing for youyou are out here in the world, getting beat to death by bills/worries/problems just like me
In other words,.non-believers see us getting beat down and losing our faithand they see no need to join us.
The world today is a TOUGH placeand being a grown up with bills & cars & houses & kids is a lot tougher than we ever thought it would be, and that makes it hard to live a solid Christian example.
Are you backsliding? I feel like I am.
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The Joy of His Salvation
by Scott Hunter
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:12)
In Psalm 51:12, David is praying a prayer of repentance and asks God to restore unto him the joy of His salvation. David had slipped away from his kingly responsibilities and as a result, sinned against God.
David had evidently lost something in his relationship with God and it cost him.
He prays for the Lord to create in him a clean heart and to renew a steadfast spirit within him. He then says that this restoration would cause him to lead others to God. When I look around the Body of Christ today, I see this same situation in many people.
They have walked away from their position in GodÔÇÖs plan and as a result, have backslidden from the joy of His salvation.
There is little evangelism in the church and even less passion for GodÔÇÖs presence. I often observe new people in the church, whether they are new to the move of the Spirit or new converts in the Kingdom. They always have such passion and zeal, and are always the first to share their new found place in God. The sad truth is that the presence of religion is greater than the presence of God in so many places, and that fire is dampened to a small flickering flame. I believe the key is to return to the cross.
The cross is the place where Jesus solidified our place with God. He paid the price and made a way for you and I to come boldly into the throne room of grace. At the cross is where we see how little we are and how great He is. We understand that there is nothing more important than our relationship with Jesus. I believe we need revival in the church, but it is a revival of the cross, the blood and the joy of His salvation.
I believe this revival will mobilize a sleeping church to take its rightful place and expand the Kingdom of God with greatness. I encourage you today to examine your life. Have you lost the fire? Are involved in religious works of obligation, or are you passionately serving our King? If you have, pray Psalm 51:1-17 from your heart and return to the joy of His salvation.
Check our ScottÔÇÖs Ministry and how God is using him at www.
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