Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 1 Timothy 4:1
You will hear some try to convince you that the person never had faith, to begin with.
The Holy Spirit say's they departed from the faith.
I believe the Holy Spirit.
JLB
Yes I am aware that some say that the person never had faith to begin with. I think confusion arises here. The following is from the NKJV bible study notes.
4:1 Paul begins a series of instructions specifically for Timothy. the Spirit expressly says: Paul may be referring to various prophecies inspired by the Holy Spirit concerning defection from God’s truth (see Dan. 7:25; 8:23; Matt. 24:4–12), or he might be speaking of a revelation the Spirit had given to him. Depart here means literally “to stand away from.” There will be various seasons in which some people will depart from their faith (1:19, 20). The reference here is not to a loss of salvation but to a failure to walk obediently (see John 19:25–27; 1 Cor. 3:1–3; 11:29, 30)
From personal experience I did depart from my faith in that I didn't walk in my faith but never lost it. For the many many years I stopped going to church (having being very involved) many people wrote me off.
A few people never wrote me off and prayed for me. They had no idea why I stopped going to church. They had no idea that I could not cope with the sexual abuse I suffered when I was fostered by a Christian family and the sexual abuse was from my foster father who was a Christian, they had no idea that my coping mechanism was gambling. At times I would be in the gambling club and I had no idea how I was there, at times I just found myself there.
They had no idea that I would not forgive my foster dad, they had no idea that when my foster mum found out and we chatted it turned out that he had been sent to prison for same offences when they led a foster home, she had no idea when he promised to stop and didn't and I never told her because I loved her, she was the mother I never had.
Point is that lovely beautiful Christian people who knew nothing about my life experiences prayed for me. And as I write this I have tears in my eyes. Because of my unforgivness and hurt and praying for healing that never came I got to the stage where I asked God to take my life so I would know where I would spend eternity. I was hopeful that it would be with him, but if not then my hell on earth would be the same as hell when God called time.
I got a phone call from a hospital one day saying that my foster dad was on his death bed and I should come down.
I thought good he is going to die and this man would be out of my life and I would be free from him. I actually prayed for him to die before I went to see him, then I would be free from this paedophile who wrecked my life.
When I prayed God let this man die so I never have to see him again so I will be set free God said to me "Let us go down to him and deal with it, I said no then God said it again and I said no again then God said to me again "Bill what part of US are you not getting, I'll walk with with you and I will help you to forgive him" I did that, I was sat with him and God gave me the strength to forgive him, I prayed in mind "I forgive you" and do you know what? I forgave him and I was set free. I held his hand as he was put on morphine, end of life care.
At that point I was set free, I unhinged the hook and no longer carry that pain and hurt and unforgivness.
Today in modern society we examine emotions, life experiences but we forget that in ancient times people also had the same experiences and on top of that persecution.
Sorry for the long post but what I want to point out is please don't write people off if you don't see them at church for a while, please pray for them, please keep in contact even if they rebuf you, pray that Jesus will seek out the one lost sheep that has gone astray. I went astray but I'm here with you all.
Please don't judge people like me. We have no idea how the Holy Spirit moves
