RESTORED BY THE LORD

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 24 May 2012

Hi all,

Restoration after backsliding is today’s topic for meditation. God deals very severely with those who know what He wants and don’t do it. I've learned this from personal experience!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Time with Jesus – Thursday, 24 May 2012
INTRODUCTION	DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	RESTORED BY THE LORD
The biggest problem facing men in this day and any age is women. This is not intended as a derogatory or negative comment about a woman or women in general. It is a fact. Men and women are different. A cursory glance is sufficient evidence to confirm this without reservation. Furthermore, a man is not a woman’s equal and a woman is not a man’s equal. The concept is preposterous. We are the same species. But we are different; wonderfully and marvellously so. We need each other. Helen of Troy may have had the face that launched a thousand ships. I can almost guaranty, none of the sailors on these ships were women! In addition I’ve never seen a man take part in the Miss South Africa contest. If we are the same, why not? Men have a weakness for women. We do! I do not apologise for saying this. It’s been like this since the fall, I’m told that men have an ability to love several women at the same time. To women this is anathema! But the women have an extraordinary ability to “multitask” Men have enough trouble dealing with one task at a time. I suppose we can say women multi-task and men multi-woman! My weakness for women has been the source of many of my problems since I entered puberty. Most of the dumb things I’ve said and done have been as a result of this weakness. Thank God He has provided a solution to this problem. It’s having a Godly marriage to a Godly woman and a shared faith in Jesus Christ. This weakness for women was what brought about ±18 years of backsliding. Of course, in my immaturity, I blamed the Lord for this. Most of us do. But the real reason was that my “plans” were thwarted and I needed someone to blame. I chose to blame Him. Let me say that the life of a backslider is the worst kind of “hell” we can find on this earth. You become something approaching being bi-polar. You know what you’re missing but are too busy sulking to do anything about it. Then something happens to disturb your tranquillity. Your heart wants to turn back to God. But your mind is still going through the sulks. We think all this is purely coincidental. It isn’t, The Lord is dealing with His child. He keeps on increasing the pressure until you surrender. I wasted ±18 years doing this. Eventually I capitulated. Life in the pig pen was unendurable. It was my own fault I got there, that’s when my heart and mind turned back to Him. So I set out to go home. That’s when my miracle took place. It only took a couple of steps and there He was! I wept over my foolishness. He took me in His arms and said, “Welcome Home My Son!” Jim & Phyllida Strickland	15 I will go back to my home in heaven. I will stay there until you admit you have sinned. Then you will turn to me. You will suffer so much that you will really want me to help you. Hosea 5:15 NIrV 1 Listen! The LORD’S arm is not too weak to save you, nor is His ear too deaf to hear you call. 2 It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, He has turned away and will not listen anymore. Isaiah 59:1-2 NLT 6 But when opened the door he was gone. My loved one had tired of waiting and left. And I died inside--oh, I felt so bad! I ran out looking for him But he was nowhere to be found. I called into the darkness--but no answer. Song of Solomon 5:6 MSG 17 I was angry, so I punished these greedy people. I withdrew from them, but they kept going on their own stubborn way. 18I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them I will comfort those who mourn 19 bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the LORD, who heals them. Isaiah 57:17- NLT 17 Haven’t you brought that on yourselves? I am the LORD your God, but you deserted me. You left me even while I was leading you. Jeremiah 2:17 NIrV 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. Luke 15:20 ESV 4 I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. 5 l will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; Hosea 14:4-5 ESV 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9 TNIV	The problem with backsliding is all the pain and hurt. You know the way things used to be and cannot stand the dirt. You think back on the fellowship which once was very sweet. And now you’re in the pig pen, with nothing you can eat. You think of what’s been wasted. You think about the time, When once you walked together. It seemed to be Divine! But something happened to you, which made you walk away. Your heart is filled with deep regret for what you did that day. You wish it hadn’t happened. You think you’re being brave. It’s difficult to realise you’re almost Satan’ slave But like a sulking school boy who won’t admit he’s wrong And yet It’s to the Lord your God you still want to belong! The pressure then increases. God won’t leave you alone! In spite of all your dreadful sin, He wants you for His own. He is the Hound of Heaven and you are now the prey. Don’t think for just a moment, He’ll let you get away. He will not use compulsion. The choice you make is yours. But in your covenant with Him, there’s no escaping clause. He’s totally committed to bring you home one day; And He will keep on chasing you, until you will obey. How do you think I know this? My friend I have been there. I knew what fellowship was like. I’d talked with Him in prayer. I knew Who filled that emptiness. It made me feel insane. The need to get back home again kept beating in my brain. The pressure kept increasing. At last my heart went “pop’! ‘Forgive me Lord!” I cried to Him. It made the pressure stop. And He had won the victory. I just capitulated. He knew that I would do it; and so the Master waited. He hadn’t once deserted me. I’d been a silly fool; And graduated once again from Jesus’ training school. Again the Lord had healed me. Once more He’d picked me up. Once more I had a little taste from His salvation cup. Since then I’ve grown much older. I left that all behind. And proved again conclusively that He is Good and Kind. He healed my gross apostasy, His anger turned away. The many years I’d wasted were forgiven me that day. Once more we walk together. I’m His and He is mine Restored to be a bond slave of Jesus Christ Divine. Jim Strickland  Written 24th May 2012