WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

WHEN A PERSON IS CONVICTED OF FAILING THE LORD AND BACKSLIDING, HE MAY EASILY HAVE A SENSE OF SEVERE GUILT AND CONDEMNATION. THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVES TO CONVICT HIM OF SIN, BUT SATAN COMES TO CAUSE A DEPRESSING CONDEMNATION AND SOMETIMES AN INDIVIDUAL MAY FEEL THERE IS NO HOPE.

GOD IN HIS LOVE AND MERCY WANTS TO FORGIVE. AS THE PEOPLE WERE TOLD IN HOSEA 14:4, HE WILL HEAL THEIR BACKSLIDING. AS ONE REPENTS OF HIS SINS GOD FORGIVES. WHEN GOD FORGIVES, HE FORGETS AND PUTS THOSE SINS UNDER THE BLOOD OF JESUS AND COMPLETELY AWAY FROM HIM.

THE PERSON MUST ACCEPT THIS FORGIVENESS AND ALSO FORGIVE HIMSELF. THE JOY AND BLESSINGS OF FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD THAT HAVE BEEN HINDERED BECAUSE OF SIN, CAN BE RESTORED.

SCRIPTURES ON BACKSLIDING

“CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD; AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME…RESTORE UNTO ME THE JOY OF THY SALVATION.” SUGGESTION: READ THE WHOLE PASSAGE." PSALM 51:10, 12

“COME NOW, AND LET US REASON TOGETHER, SAITH THE LORD: THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW; THOUGH THEY BE RED LIKE CRIMSON, THEY SHALL BE AS WOOL.” ISAIAH 1:18

“LET HIM RETURN UNTO THE LORD, AND HE WILL HAVE MERCY UPON HIM; AND TO OUR GOD, FOR HE WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON.”

“I WILL HEAL THEIR BACKSLIDING, I WILL LOVE THEM FREELY.” HOSEA 14:4

“FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND, AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE, I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.” PHILIPPIANS 3:13,14

“WHEREFORE HE IS ABLE ALSO TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST THAT COME UNTO GOD BY HIM, SEEING HE EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM.” HEBREWS 7:25

“IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” 1 JOHN 1:9