Lone Pine Assembly of God

This is a subject that many of us in this room today and watching online have experience with. We called upon the name of Jesus. We were excited and living our life for the Lord and suddenly an old habit, an old lifestyle, an old friend or acquaintance came calling and suddenly we found ourselves running back into our old ways- those ways that are BC- before Christ. How is this possible? Why do people do it?

To do this means we are literally turning our backs on the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ- running from freedom and running back to bondage and being a slave to sin.

Some will depart...Scripture tells us this specifically;

1 Timothy 4:1-2- Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.

Hebrews 3:12-13- Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.

So, we see that you can make the decision to walk away from God. Some faith’s call it backsliding, others call it “never really saved”- either way, it is going back to the old life.

God sent two angels to Lot, (now we know why Abraham was interceding- he had family there)-

Imagine if God still turned us into pillars of salt for disobeying Him? There would be a lot more obedience that is for sure- but that is not happening today.
This event in Genesis 18-19 is what we call a “ type” story. It is a story from the Old Testament that points to the New Testament…and this one is in reference to the end times judgment. God will indeed judge each and every one of us. We will stand before God and give an account for our life.

God does not want anyone to perish, but to come to repentance! He is patient- because His desire is that everyone will follow Him. God loves us, but He will force us to follow Him. He loves you enough to allow you to choose…

If today was the day that Jesus returns for His people, would you be counted among them? Have you called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you repented of your sins? Have you? If not, you will be in the group that is cast into the lake of fire.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2- Working together with him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.” 2 For he says:
At an acceptable time I listened to you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.[a]
See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!