RETURN FOR A RE-KILL

Imagine the killing of Goliath without cutting off his head; imagine a situation where after the fall of Goliath, David just jumped away in the jubilation of victory. Imagine a situation where the Philistines succeeded in taking away the wounded Goliath for treatment, recovered and re-attacked David. Imagine such reprisal happening in the days when kings go to war but David relaxed to walk upon the roof of his palace to behold wives of soldiers bathing in broad day glare! Imagine further that David received a visitor at such a defenseless moment, and alas it was a Goliath that was not properly killed!

No man was ever born an Angel, the psalmist from experience and inspiration admits that we were shappen in iniquity and sin (Psalms 51:5). The entire nature of sin in man was supposed to be completely put to death at conversion, just in the same manner that David beheaded the domineering Goliath in (1 Samuel 17:48-54). However, many do not do as perfect a work as David in the cutting off of the head of the controlling Goliath.

Before conversion, many of us were junkies, fornicators, magicians, hoodlums, rapists, pedophiles, robbers, fraudsters, liars, ritualists and every other evil thing you can think of, but when we came to the Lord Jesus Christ, we were enjoined to crucify our old nature in the same way David did his, in the same manner Christ was crucified in the flesh. This old man is often referred to as the “adamic nature”.

The troubling question now is that why and how do so many still get defeated by the old nature that ought to have been put to death? How come the wounded Goliath will be able to re-trace David? Why then do we still read of believers who returned to a revived old life? Why do we still read of so called ushers who steal from church purses, and pastor who diverts mission funds for personal usage? How come some “Apostles” still finds it convenient to lure gullible and helpless female members into adultery?

Today, the paparazzi make fortunes when ordained church pastors and deaconesses in private financial sectors are convicted of misappropriation and diversions. I once heard of a one-time prayer secretary in a vibrant campus fellowship who became a guide to the village masquerade!

What Went Wrong?

Could it be that the old man (Goliath) was not properly killed?

Could it be that the Goliath was killed but not beheaded?

Could it be that the dogs returned to their vomits?

Could it be that the supposed initial repentance from dead work was never real?

Could it be that the seeds of God’s word planted into them had no roots?

Something definitely must have gone wrong somewhere, either with the old man or the new man.

The former nature

If it’s with the old man, then your guess is as good as mine – the old man was not properly put to death!

    

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Col 3:5 NIV

If not properly mortified, there is possibility of resurrection, possibility of re-attack, possibility of reprisal, and the possibility of being drawn back.

        

 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James 1:13-15 NIV

And just because it was not properly killed, it has the potential to drag, entice, and to kill.

The wisdom here is to kill whatever has the potential to kill you whilst you have the chance to do so.    

The new person

The other possibility is if the assumed new man is not truly new. Many today go about with half-baked kind of salvation. Here comes the day where someone who has never had the Calvary experience is mistaken for a saint; days where the Christian experience is been seen as a drama. An infidel these days through gimmicks and socialization, with a bit of rehearsing the born-again terminologies finds his way to the pulpits and pastorate.

These are those who through their financial supports and contributions to the church have been accorded some undue recognition, and possibly endorsed for ordination. Little wonder we now find titles like Deacons, Bishops, and Pastors as convicted criminals; even as worse as having a renowned Reverend on death row for murder charges! What went wrong?

Postulations

Two factors are involved in this issue: The Old & New Man. These are the issues that we need to consider in order to remain victorious.

Foremost, there is need to be sure you are truly and genuinely saved by Christ, and that you are filled with the Spirit of the Holy God. If you have never come to a point of change (A turn-around kind of experience), where the things you used to enjoy became irritating to you, and a mysterious passion for divinity sprang up inside of you; there may be need for you to personally return to the feet of the Calvary.

For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.

"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols.

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

"And you will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago. You will be my people, and I will be your God.

Ezek. 36:24-28 NLT

That is one of the major reason we call it the New Man. The Bible talks of a new heart, a new spirit! These are what make up of the real man and not the flesh. That is why people, who thoroughly wash their mouths and bodies before prayer (salat), will always have to return for the same process because, that methodology and its similitude cannot bring about the newness required for a new life. Therefore the core of this matter is the matter of the Heart.

Rather than leaving these things to chance, of whether your “Goliath” was properly mortified or not, why not just re-visit him for a re-kill today!

What actually do we mean when we say return for a re-kill?

Apostle Paul enjoins us to examine ourselves daily to ensure that we are still in the faith.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you,

except ye be reprobates?

2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV

A daily appraisal of one’s faith is exigent for continuity. Nothing assures like a double sure confidence. The Christian race is a lifetime marathon, and not a dash-sprint