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KEEPING THE PEOPLE
FROM ABANDONING THE FAITH:
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I t was a bad time when I was called to pastor my second church; at the time I was only twenty-seven years old, with a pregnant wife. I took a church that sixty percents of its members were unemployed, hungry and some naked. No financial provisions were promised to me. To make matters worst, I was required to share what little I had with starving members. In six months all our unemployed members were working.
I never had a member openly backslidden, open left the church, and went off to a cult church, I never had a member who divorce, I never had hungry are naked members, in my pastoral work. In this message I intended to show you how to do, and have the same success.
All my sermons go into the troubles spot of people lives. Marriage life, home and family life. Child raring, cults and false religions, finding and keeping jobs, living and getting on with your neighbour’s. Finding the right mate, sex and impotency. It does not make sense hooking a fish only to let it go. “ Fallow me and I will make you” Good pastors try to stop the trend of backsliding of members.
NO CHRISTIANS CAN GROW IN GRACE WHEN THEY HAVE SATAN PASTORING THE CHURCH IN DISGUISE AS SERVANT OF GOD.
Acts 20:29-31 (KJV) For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. [30] Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. [31] Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
You will never be able to grow in grace nor advance financially when Satan and his demons are ministering to you posing to be God’s servants.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF HOW I STOP THE PROBLEMS.
2 Tim. 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Before each service ended I ask all members who have no food for this week to see me after church. For example if four people came and report that they have no food for this week. I ask who among us can provide food for one or more people for seven days? If two people came foreword. I instruct two members who have no food to eat at these two people table for seven days. And the other two, can eat at my table. I gave them job letters, to go look for a job, some of them we teach them trade, and so they could find employment. The friday night offerings we give that money to newly converted women, who were unemployed. Hard times will make women go back into a sinful life. So within six months we banish hardness from among our group.
DEALING WITH CULTS OR FALSE RELIGIONS.
you might think! Stoping backsliding is the work of the Holy Spirit? Part of it is our work. I remember a dog, that have litter of ten pups each times, and all died, she is a breeder, but cannot keep any alive. If a pastor keep having backsliders in his or her ministries, maybe he she is not a pastor, but an evangelist. An evangelist can draw souls, but having problem keeping them when he/she worked as a pastor. If you are having too many people leave your ministries over the years, you might need to questions your ministry.
Galatians 6:1 (KJV) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
John 21:17 (KJV) He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
1 Peter 2:2 (NASB) like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
DEALING WITH A SEDITIOUS PERSON AMONG YOUR MIDST
Acts 20:29 (NASB) "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; Acts 20:30 (NASB) and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Even before you move on to establish a ministry, you have to have training on identifying and removal of spiritual wolves, that will rise up among you. The first sign of a wolf is his mouth. His or her mouth is what they will have to use to draw away people. You must not attack a person because they are zealous and want to work for God. Some people only want to work for God, others want to get people to go start their own thing. Or to drive you from the church and take it over.
James 1:26 (KJV) If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
BACKSLIDING CAN BE STOP:
THE SOWER IS THE EVANGELIST OR PASTOR:
(1) THE WAY SIDE CHRISTENS:
Fowls speak of Satan, but not Satan alone, but his whole host. "Fowl without the "S" is speaking of Satan alone. Fowls also speak of false religions, or religious groups of people under Satan's control.
(1) THE WAY SIDE CHRISTIANS GREATEST PROBLEMS IS CULTS:
THE SOUL IS WITHIN THE PERSON:
THE SOUL CAN DEPART:
MAN HAVE BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT, which can be preserved blameless:
HOW TO HELP THE WAY SIDE CHRISTIANS:
2Timothy 2:14-AV Of these things put [them] in remembrance, charging [them] before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, [but] to the subverting of the hearers. 2Timothy 4:2-AV Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
(2) NO DEPTH NO ROOT CHRISTIANS:
NO ROOT:
(2) THE CHRISTIANS THAT HAS NO ROOT, NO DEPTH IN THEMSELVES, CAN BE HELPED, IF THEY HAVE GOOD PASTORS: THIS IS WHAT OUR LORD SAYS:
The good pastors pray for the procrastinating Christians, so he do not get cut down. " Let it alone lord, till I shall dig about it, and dung it" The dresser say he is going to give it stability, by digging around it root, open up its roots so fresh oxygen, water, and vital nutrients can go in.
(3) THORNY CHRISTIANS:
(3) THE CHRISTIANS AMONG THE THORNS CAN BE SAVE, IF WE CAN MOVE THEIR EYES OFF THE CARES OF THIS WORLD:
John 6:27-AV Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Isaiah 26:4-AV Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH [is] everlasting strength:
THORNS SPEAK OF FALSE BRETHREN WHO HAVE NOT LOVE TO HELP:
FALSE BRETHREN LOVE TO QUOTE PS 37:25 AND MALACHI 3:9. But they forget about 1 John 3:17-18 and James 2:15-16.
THE GOOD GROUND CHRISTIANS:
THE GOOD GROUND CHRISTIANS TAKE LITTLE WORKS, THEY KNOW HOW TO FEED THEMSELVES:
THEY ARE MORE NOBLE:
THE FOWLS COULD NOT ROBBED THEM:
No fowls can robbed a people that are hungering and thirst for the word of God. This is the secret of the good ground Christians. They know how to hunger and thirst.
Matthew 5:6 (KJV) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
WHEN THE CALL CAME THEY ARE THE FIRST TO HEAR, GRAB AND KEEP IT.
THEY DID NOT WANT PAUL TO STAND AND FIGHT WHEN HE CAN RUN AND AVOID BEING INJURED:
So you see even those that were not planted in good ground could remain with the faith, and in the faith., I learn this principle early and never have a member backslide, while I was their pastor.
HELPING THEM TO GET HUNGRY:
I told many pastors that I never had a backslider since I begin to pastors, and some seem like they do not believe me. Not while I was their pastor. I always give out gospel tracts in the street, I came across many backsliders, I listen to their complains. Over a period of years all the complains begin to fallow a pattern. Therefore, all my sermons, were designs for those troubled arias. You will have to help people cross over their spiritual bridges.
MIND SET INDOCTRINATION.
You need to have sermons on the trinity of God. Sermon on justifications. Sermons on salvations, the believer must know how a person get save and are able to explained it to others. Each believers must now all the church doctrines, like second nature. Just because the real doctrines are being preach, right from the pulpit. If you believe on worshiping on Sunday, you must have sermons surrounding that, the believers must be able to prove it from scriptures. Many Christian’s churches today are only preaching a prosperity massage.
HAVE DISCIPLESHIP CLASSES.
Acts 14:21-22 (KJV) And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, [22] Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:21-22 (Living) After preaching the Good News there and making many disciples, they returned again to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, [22] where they helped the believers to grow in love for God and each other. They encouraged them to continue in the faith in spite of all the persecution, reminding them that they must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations.
TEACHING THE BELIVERS HOW TO FELLOWSHIP WITH EACH OTHER. .
TEACHING THEM NOT TO BE INTIMIDATED BY THE URGES OF THE BODY.
Eccles. 7:16 (NASB-U) Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?
1 John 1:8-10 (NASB-U) If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
1 Peter 2:24 (KJV) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Romans 8:13 (KJV) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
2 Cor. 5:10 (ASV) For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2 Cor. 5:10 (Living) For we must all stand before Christ to be judged and have our lives laid bare--before him. Each of us will receive whatever he deserves for the good or bad things he has done in his earthly body.
DO NOT BE COVETOUS OF GIVING HONOR TO EACH OTHER FOR GOOD EFFORTH.
Romans 13:7 (KJV) Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Philip. 2:3 (KJV) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Philip. 2:3 (Living) Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.
INFORMATION ON HOW TO LEAD PEOPLE TO CHRIST.
Begin, continue, and end every work, purpose, and plan with God. Self-sufficiency and self-confidence have been the ruin of mankind ever since the fall. Man's sin has been to live independently of God. True religion consists of full acknowledgement of God in all human affairs (Proverbs 3:5).