False Sanctification

FATHER, backsliders have walked in Your ways long enough to have “…seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit,…” (Heb 6:4 MSG). They have personally experienced the sheer goodness of Your Word and the powers of the age to come (Heb 6:5) but have, at some point, turned away from CHRIST to pursue Christianity in a way of their own choosing.

CHRIST warned the church at Ephesus for they had abandoned their love for Him. They toiled and patiently endured, and could not bear those who were evil, and judged those who were false. They did not grow weary in their work, but they had forgotten CHRIST which made it impossible to continue growing spiritually (Rev 2:1-4).

Eugene H. Peterson describes “backsliding” as he interprets the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians regarding the process of growing spiritually (sanctification):

“You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it’s obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the Cross was certainly set before you clearly enough. Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you?…only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it?…It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up” (Gal 3:1-4 MSG)!

FATHER, I pray for ____ whose actions prove (he/she) is working in (his/her) own strength in (his/her) own way to please You. (He/She) has fallen into choosing work “that is not impossible to perform but indeed quite possible, though difficult and meticulous at times” (ref#3, p10). Enlighten (him/her) for (he/she) does not realize the standard (he/she) has set for (himself/herself) is just “difficult enough to weed out the undesirables but not so difficult as to become overly burdensome” (ref#3, p10). This sin of pursuing Christianity by human methods disguises itself as spiritual enlightenment. This sin FATHER is what I pray against for ____. (He/She) is blind and thinks (he/she) can see. Help (him/her) please.