Bible

[thrifty]

They backslide because...
imho
Jn. 3:19
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

1 Cor. 10:12
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.

1Cor15:33
Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

Placed into the People of God
by Henry T. Blackaby and Melvin D. Blackaby

God has a purpose for every person in His family. His purpose, however, is never for the individual; it has a corporate dimension. Unless the corporate dimension of salvation is understood, a person will never fulfill the purpose God had for his life when He chose to save him. From the beginning, God has chosen to work through His people. Even when God chose to go to Moses, He did not go simply to bless Moses. He went to free and bless the entire people of God. The heart of God is always turned toward all His people, because as the people of God go, so goes the redemption of the rest of the world. Therefore, God's heart cry is always toward all of His people.

Over the last few decades, the focus has shifted away from God's people to evangelism and the lost. However, significant evangelism is a by-product of what God does with His people. If we bypass the people of God, we have shut down evangelism. But when we help the people of God know who they are in Christ and what God purposed for their lives through salvation, the world will be turned upside down. The most significant statement in the Great Commission is found in the third part:

"Teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20).

If God's people are not practicing everything Christ has commanded, they will be ineffective in evangelism. But those who are walking in an obedient love relationship with their Lord will naturally share the good news of the gospel with convincing power.

Whereas sin leads to independence and self-centerdness, salvation leads to radical interdependence and Christ-centerdness.

When we examine how the early apostles implemented the Great Commission, we may be surprised. The apostles were not focused on evangelizing the lost. Rather, they turned their attention to teach the people of God to obey all that Christ commanded. Acts 6 gives us another clear picture of this strategy. The apostles' priority was to devote their efforts toward "prayer and to the preaching ministry" (Acts6:4). As a result of their decision to walk with God and invest in God's people, "The preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly" (Acts 6:7).

excel you said "We need to discuss."
:)