Backsliding Mind

You are responsible for laying aside false assumptions and taking on biblical truth. You are responsible for pastor and encourage you to send a schoolteacher can call and check on you, but you are responsible for throwing aside old assumptions and no one can work out your salvation. Open your mind to the work of the Holy Spirit. Cultivate biblical truth which means this Yahweh, you have to get up early in the morning.

No one is going to make you and read the word of God before you do anything before you put out the phone and start scrolling freight train.

Pray for that person. Pray for yourself, your family, pray for your church you have to do those of those acts. No one can register a portion of the upcoming message titled backsliding mind pass Robert on shot of Clearview church in Henderson, North Carolina I Clearview focus is on making Christ is for the way we worship to serve, to love one another.

Come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson or visit us online.

I Clearview BC.org join us for the rest of this week's message. Do you have kids in your life you have to stay on them to do something. Something as simple as cleaning up the room making their beds doing the dishes finishing the homework.

Anybody here has perfect kids right we read we have to. And what happens when you walk out of the room when you step out of sight. They start goofing around all four of ours did that start goofing around and play around and then we get back in the room to make some lame excuse for why they were not doing what they were supposed to do so. Also, many Christians begin well in their Christian life but they don't finish well and just like kids they get distracted in the start goofing around until someone holds them accountable. Someone checks up on them and they make some lame excuse about this and that in a season of life and problems her physical health or sometimes even about the church but many times you and I know they're just excuses.

And there has to be personal responsibility. You see, you need both accountability and personal responsibility in order to combat a backsliding mind and assess how the pharmacist is a backsliding mine and this is the final message in the series called mind reset. How do you combat a backsliding mind there has to be a balance between accountability and personal responsibility.

If you have your Bibles with you, turn to Philippians chapter 1 starting in verse 27. I would also read Philippians 2 and verse two, which will give you an idea why we are talking about backsliding from this passage. Let's all stand once again for the reading of God's word (pay careful attention to the words that Paul uses new makes sense why give an illustration of the make sense.

While were talking about backsliding. Paul says only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, just like a parent if you see me in the room or you don't see me whether I come or I'm not there.

I may hear of your affairs that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel in Philippians chapter 2 in verse 12.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only you can see mommy can see dad so I'm gonna do what I've been told to do, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, doesn't mean you work for your salvation would work out your own salvation. It doesn't mean that I have to do my part to get saved and to stay say no salvation from A-Z is completely God's work of grace, work out your salvation is to cultivate the mind of Christ. You have a responsibility this morning. The question is do you take responsibility for your faith universally honest. Many of us have not moved this past four months you're still somewhere on square to three. You haven't moved to 10. Do you take responsibility for where you are today. Do you have people in your life will hold you accountable. Are you backslidden preacher said one time, is the nature of the fire to go out. How is your fire house your fire, and before you can backslide to get a front slide you get saved you never been saved.

Don't worry about backsliding don't about your father going out, you never had far to begin with what needs to happen is right now. In fact, at this moment, so we all need to pray you to pray to get saved you to pray and asked Jesus to come into your life to forgive you of your sins and to take over as a simple prayer that goes like this all over this room. In fact, the last service ugly people are praying, simple prayer that goes like this. Jesus, I am a sinner. You are the perfect son of God, you give your life on the cross for my sins, I need you to come into my life.

Forgive me of my sins and here's the most important point and I want you take over Jesus on the sinner. You are the perfect son of God you died for my sins.

I need you to come into my life. Forgive me of my sins and take over if you not say right now as I pray I will print a moment and pray for God's blessing you pray to get saved those of never pray that prayer the front to the back mill outside Ukraine asked Jesus to save the past four months have been life changing for me and I know many of you have shared the same thing with me about this series called mind reset from Philippians chapter 252 11 is been mind changing for me how much God has worked in my life how much he has reminded me that I've been living under false assumptions leading to false expectations, causing a lot of frustrations in my life frustrations that come in the form of anxiety frustrations that come in the form of guilt and also resentment and that we as a Christian as a believer. We are to leave this volcano behind and move over to the tree that is planted by rivers of water that we have to cultivate the mind of Christ is God's work, but now you have to submit yourself to the truth of God to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life as you know Paul was in a Roman prison when he wrote this letter to the Philippian church upon couldn't get out. He knew that more than likely he would never get to see the Philippians again.

He planted the church in Philippi, he was the one who led the first converts to Jesus Christ. But he also knew there's a good chance he was never gonna see them again but word was getting back to Paul. Maybe through Timothy maybe through Aphrodite as he mentions them in the letter that things were not going well in the church in Philippi, and in fact if you read this letter carefully read between the lines, it is very obvious that they were sort of slipping back to the old way of life. They were disputing there, finding the roof fussing. They were conceded they were excessively proud over their accomplishments and their family backgrounds and their family trees and all that stuff and Paul is writing to them to remind them not to regress in their faith, folks, we have to progress in our faith, but many of us were truly honest were regressing in our faith. So Paul writes this letter to them, encouraging them to press forward, encouraging them to keep on letting the lot mind of Christ to be cultivated in them and he demonstrates a balance. This is beautiful by the way, it's a balance between accountability on one hand, and personal responsibility. On the other. Backsliding is very common in what you need is both you need other people to keep you accountable but that's not enough. You also need personal responsibility.

It's a balance. So let's look at accountability for a moment. Paul was holding them accountable.

In fact, he begins in Philippians chapter 1 verse six by reminding them that he is confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will completed unto the day of Jesus Christ. Paul was shown the Philippians. Hey guys, listen, God is in control. God is the initiator of God is the overseer and God is also the one who is going to complete the work that has begun in their lives. You know all of us need people like that when you're going through a tough time when you're going through a time of struggle.

You need people to call you up and say hey listen you to be okay.

I have people in my life folks I have people don't go to church here. I have people in a lot in my life were very accomplished and time to time. They will call me. I don't know why they do that, but I'm grateful they'll call me and tell me hey this let you know you're doing a good work just let you know I'm praying for you. You'd be okay and I don't know how it works but said many times they have called at the perfect time and what Paul is doing to them, is it is accountability.

It is showing accountability by assuring them that God will finish what he has started in their lives. Don't lose heart. Don't give up. Don't run out something else. Paul does, he tells them that he is praying for them. Accountability also involves prayer now want you to hear the prayer. Paul prays for them. How beautiful is this prayer. He says that he is praying that they love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment and amazing right. Paul does not say. I'm hoping that you would stop complaining and disputing, and fighting.

He says no I want to focus on the positive. I'm praying that your love may abound still more and more in all knowledge and all discernment that you may approve the things that are excellent. Don't settle for mediocre stuff choose things that are the best that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. I want you to finish well in your marriage with your children and your ministry in your workplace. I want you to finish well. What is that he said this, listen to this, he said, but being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. In other words, Paul is reminding the Philippians that that his prayer was that they would finish with flying colors.

When I call my parents. They always tell me son were praying for you and praying for you were praying for your family were praying for your church God has some great great things coming your way.

It just feels so good Vince but I know that godly people are praying that I have people in discharge body who will who will tell me time to time they were praying for yards will let you know this charges you a girl this gonna go beyond this.

This these four walls and I hear that from them. They're sitting here right now and it just lifts me up but do you know there also people who pray for you that you don't even know about this happened very recently have them.

In fact, couple days ago I got an email or a message Facebook message from a lady who is to come to church but they moved around so didn't get a chance to see her in a quite some time. She came a few weeks ago. I recognize her right away.

Asked about her family and she was surprised I even remember her dead family names and so asked about her grandparents and she said well they're doing very well in every way, but her grandmother has some brain cancer going on is is is been a rough time in their life's.

I told us to just tell them that I will praying for them when you see them next with that afternoon she went to visit her grandmother. Her grandfather and carry, and then she send me that message just couple days ago. She said I told them about you and I told them that she remembered them by name, and these are the most amazing thing happened.

My grandfather just stood right up and walked to the back room and then came back with a tattered looking diary like a notebook and opened it up and showed me your name in that book, he set up in praying for that man every single day.

How awesome is that I wrote her back. He made us a look, you have a godly legacy you and your family to finish well if that's the kind of people praying for it. Even though this couple is praying for me. How amazing is active.

Praying for you, not just for me that praying for Clearview church. How also how uplifting you see what I'm saying to you today is, you need people like this in your life you will need godly people to hold you accountable. You need godly people to encourage you and breed confidence in you and praying for you but something else Paul says here he tells the Philippians that there was a strong possibility that he was not going to make it out of prison and he was fine with it. What Paul said, for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain is not love God event top off my head. No problem. I know where I'm going. I would be with Jesus. But then he says in Philippians 124 he says nevertheless, on second thoughts to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. I can leave I can go even Jesus, no problem. But you guys need me, and then he says and being confident of this good I know this for sure you need me. I know that I should remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith is so awesome. Paul is in prison. He has written the letters he needs to write. He knows his time is coming to a close.

Make it fast. Lord, let me get outta here, but I gotta stay I need to stay because you need to grow in your faith and ask you this morning if God for bid God forbid if something were to happen to you right this moment. Hope not. Hope you have a great summer. Do everything you want to do God forbid something happens to you right this moment you you fall over or you get hit something happens whose faith would be devastated right now who was safe for my goodness, Lord, please send someone who can replace that man or that woman in my life because I don't have anybody over life just rolled around just fine. You see all of us need a Paul in our lives and all of us should be appalled to someone else who was it who would say, oh God, please help. What a powerful model of accountability that Paul lays out for us. All of us need godly people who can speak biblical truths into our lives. All of us need Christlike men, Christlike men, Christlike women who would breed confidence in the work of Christ in our lives. I have people like that in my life and the check up on me and they tell me there praying for me. Do you have those people. Let me flip that around all of us can be appalled to someone there's somebody men. There are other men out there at your workplace big parade to get saved but nobody is discipling them. No one and what we do is meet for Choco and safe than ever saved to begin our interviews.

They will be doing all the stuff did you take the time to encourage them. Did you take the time to pray for them. Did you invite them over a break and say hey guys, what I walked to the book of James to get scum on 10 minutes us all is to know the Bible, I don't know enough. I got my own problems and listen, there's always someone out there who is a little lower than you in their faith. Be appalled to them. Ladies same for you last night as some a family was leaving that they had invited another family with them to church and the family attends church said to me, is it that's my Paul acid was a Paul is a you know what you just preached. I was think it was an acronym how quickly I forgot my own message as it what's up all as you got rolled her eyes and husband so you know the Paul Paul the apostle Paul said ladies like us all okay is not just for men only. This also ladies who are doing that that accountability for somebody else. Simple Hoosier Paul and who around you names a Paul but now the stickers make a shift from accountability to personal responsibility. Let's go back and read those opening verses again. Okay, starting in verse 27 what does Paul say is that only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that that word behind conduct that is worthy. It's a Greek word that means to live out your citizenship. It's a word that is use to describe a group of citizens who are living in this in a foreign country together. You know, Philippians, this is written to the Christians in Philippi and in the people in Philippi were Roman citizens living on Greek soil.

So when Paul use that word probably to use Todd.

They knew exactly what he meant ways, telling them is even though your performance also is don't you forget you are still under Roman law, you are still Roman citizens was the word for us was the word for before the Philippians what Paul was telling them it doesn't matter if I'm there or if I'm not conduct yourselves as believers conduct yourselves as followers of Jesus Christ in my presence, or in my absence. You don't need me to stand over you, for you to behave as a Christian is supposed to behave both as great to have accountability is great to have people to call and check on us. But if accountability is the only thing that keeps you away from sin, you have some false assumptions when we first moved to this town. After a year of being a youth pastor a start. As a pastor of this church there was a lady who told me is that him you don't fuss at me like my like the other pastor that she was complementing me as I was glad to hear that an arm or the teaching type. You know I like to see people get saved and plug to know I need you to fuss at me as if why would I fuss at you. The middle fuss at me. I go up there not crazy outside you.

I need you to fuss at me as a unit is call you up and just get on to you. Yes, if you don't see me. Just call me up and you just tell me where were you and you give me a name where were you what you up to us that the interest in a pretty odd for me as a pastor to call up woman in this town until you are ready I can do that is a know I need you to fuss at me so I did it for a few weeks and then unfortunately after that I me I can be calling people and fussing at them. I stop, guess what, she stopped coming.

She kept her word she needed someone to fuss at her. What Paul is saying here is, there is a personal responsibility, let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. Whether I see you are don't want that look like that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel getting along without me having to watch over you. He repeats the same injunction again in verse 12 of Philippians chapter 2 we read the set as well, but he he says something different. The first time he says he says I want you to conduct yourselves as citizens of the heavenly country, even if I'm not around, get along with each other strive together.

Don't fuss and fight, that's the assumptions. Some people have the assumption that church people fight all the time. Break the assumption go to biblical truths which are how beautiful how pleasant it is for brothers to to work together to live together in unity. You have to move from the volcano to the tree but then Paul gives another injunction in the same commandment, but the something different this time. Listen to verse 12 he says. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not is it not presence only, but now much more in my absence. When we do. Paul work out your own salvation. Work out your own salvation. He doesn't say work for your salvation, he says work out and people have debated that line for many many years was that mean in the context in the series that we just did. Philippians chapter 252 11.

This is verse 12. In the context listen carefully working out your salvation is cultivating biblical truths in your mind and your heart.

You are responsible for laying aside false assumptions and taking on biblical truth. You are responsible, the pastor can encourage you the Sunday school teacher can call and check on you, but you are responsible for throwing aside old assumptions and taking on biblical truth, no one can do that for you work out your own salvation.

Open your mind to the work of the Holy Spirit. Cultivate biblical truth which means this got awake. You have to get up early in the morning. No one's gonna make you and read the word of God before you do anything else before you pull out that phone and start scrolling. Pray pray pray for that person.

Pray for yourself. Pray for your family. Pray for your church you have to do those those acts. No one can do that for you. But then Paul says something in the end, work out your own salvation. How was essay with fear and trembling, you know that that line that phrase that that the cost with fear and trembling at its it's always using the Bible in the context of godly fear, work out your own salvation with godly fear.

It means this even if no one's around. Keep in mind, God is watching.

Even if I'm not around doesn't give you the license man to look at pornography, even if I'm not around. Ladies doesn't give you license a said there and and and scrolled through videos that you have no business watching. You have to live in the conscious awareness that God is there all the time people can hold you accountable. I will do the best I can and do that to social media. Honestly, I've said it before, I want you to hear me and I hope you don't misunderstand me. I don't care one bit about your life they go until you do I care.

I don't but I do care what I mean is, I'm not nosy, you having a great time. God bless you. Have fun with you. You've got us promotion you bought a new car you got a new dog or some or whatever great.

The only reason I even do that is just to keep up with people and say ALL that beautiful, wonderful, praying for you.

Honestly, other than that is a pastor of this church. I can't keep with their body.

I hand some possible great to have accountability is great to have people who can talk these all I love small churches for that reason because thereby well are you here something was missing right is not about small church a big church. It's about seeking out godly people mentors in your life who can speak into your life again and courage you and pray for you can hold you accountable. Having said that, you have to make choices. Your response to maintain unity.

You are responsible for working after salvation. Thank you so much for joining us for this message.

If we were to guard ourselves against backsliding into a sinful mindset that practiced accountability with other believers, being ourselves vulnerable and allowing them to point us toward Christ else to take personal responsibility diving in getting involved in different ministries and growing ourselves as we move toward Christ instead of away from more information, visit us online at.org for the sermons, notes, check out Pastor Shah's blog@allbutonshah.com