Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” (KJV)

Introduction by Grantley Morris

Despite being a Christian for very many years, Lynne regularly enjoyed in her fantasies wild sex with animals. She had what she believed to be an imaginary friend and stumbled upon a www.net-burst.com webpage about how, for Christine, imaginary friends had turned out to be demons. (Part of Christine’s testimony appears on the previous page: Forsaken by God?)

Slowly and reluctantly, Lynne came to the devastating conclusion that her imaginary friend was actually a demon. She contacted us and was soon totally delivered, but not before demons had manifested themselves to her in such a way that it become undeniably obvious to her that she indeed been intimate with demons.

I questioned Lynne as to whether she wanted me to share these facts and provide her real name in this testimony. She replied:

Yes, you may use anything I have written – including the sex with demons – and you may use my real name. Seriously, I’m not nervous or afraid of this. I don’t want anyone experiencing what I experienced.

People need to know they do not have to live this way. Yes, there is a way out, and that way is Jesus Christ. He died on that cross for all my sins. He only has a problem if I willfully continue in my sins....yet there is still forgiveness, if I regret my sin and seek forgiveness through Jesus.

Soon after Lynne had forced the demons to leave her by commanding them to do so in Jesus’ name, she joined the net-burst.com Prayer Team and read a prayer request that shook her. Below is the e-mail she sent me about it.

I received the prayer request about “B" who is struggling with the sixth chapter of Hebrews. I decided to read it so I would know how to pray for him better.

I’m thinking he’s probably having trouble with verses four to six because when I read them yesterday I also had trouble. In an instant I felt this cold chill and immense feeling of fear come over me, and I felt all the progress I’ve made over the last few months go right out the window.

As I read it the thought speared my heart, “All the sexual acts you’ve taken part in – both spiritually and physically – are way too perverted to have any chance for Christ’s forgiveness again. How could you have sex with animals, enjoy it, and ever expect God to take you back? That’s just sick!! God is righteous and pure and would never have anything to do with me. I had my chance and I blew it.”

I thought that way for a few hours last night, and I really felt myself sinking into despair. Within about five minutes I began contemplating engaging in every sin and bondage I’d worked so hard to be free from. I even wondered about cutting myself.

And then it hit me: Satan is using this passage to create despair, depression, and desperation in my mind. He is trying to stop me from going forward in God’s will and good plan for my life. He is trying to steal the peace I have through Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.(KJV)

I don’t know what that fourth verse in Hebrews 6 means. I’m not a Bible scholar. But I do know this: Nothing can separate me from the love of God and with God all things are possible – not in my own strength – but through his strength, power and mercy. God will never leave me nor forsake me but, I could choose to leave Him. I did choose to leave him at one time, but now I’m back. “B” can come back too. My heart hurts for him so much. I don’t know what to say to him, but I’m definitely praying for him.

I can see that these prayer requests are twofold. My prayers help the person I’m praying for, but they can also strengthen me and my resolve in my walk with Christ. Praise God!!!

Here’s a couple of comments of mine on what Lynne wrote:

 . . . way too perverted to have any chance for Christ’s forgiveness again.

It is glorifying to God to think that he is not loving enough to forgive everyone who repents? Did Christ not suffer enough to bear the penalty for all sin? Should he have suffered more to make his sacrifice adequate?

God is righteous and pure and would never have anything to do with you.

On the contrary, God is too righteous not to forgive!

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I really felt myself sinking into despair.

When we feel this way, who benefits? God? Us? Only the devil benefits. And that indicates the source of the feeling.

But I do know this . . . God will never leave me nor forsake me

Lynne is here quoting Hebrews 13:5. She is quoting from the very book of the Bible that had previously upset her. By doing so she was putting that disturbing verse back into the biblical context, and the full biblical revelation – expounded in detail elsewhere on this site – is that God forgives and accepts all who come to him through Christ, no matter how atrocious and repeated their sins.

If you read the book of Hebrews in its entirety you will see that it was written to Jewish Christians who were teetering on the edge of abandoning Christ and salvation through his sacrifice and returning to Judaism. This is why the book commences with insisting that Jesus is superior to Old Testament prophets, angels, and Moses. It moves on to expound how Jesus is greater than the high priest and that Jesus’ sacrifice is superior to animal sacrifices. Jews tempted to revert to their former religion needed to know that there is no salvation for anyone who refuses to accept that forgiveness is through Christ’s sacrifice alone. That does not mean that a person cannot later change his mind and again make Jesus his Savior but during the period when he is rejecting the saving power of Jesus’ sacrifice, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover his sin.

Hebrews 10 warns those who “deliberately continually keep on sinning” but even if a person keeps falling, no one who wants to stop sinning can be said to be deliberately continuing to sin.

There are more spectacular testimonies to come but the following simple testimony is from Andy.

I started going to church at eight years old. I had a commitment to Christ but for many, many years it was not very deep.

I came back to Christ in 2002 after being obsessively worried about my health. I kept worrying I had a certain condition, despite medical tests proving I was fine. I turned back to the Lord in a big way, seeking his forgiveness for my many years of being very immature and distant in my faith.

I beat myself up over the past, despite the Lord undoubtedly putting two texts in front of me on multiple occasions:

Philippians 3:14  . . . Forgetting what is behind . . .

Isaiah 43:18 Forget the former things . . .

These verses would give me peace for about ten minutes before I would dismiss them and return to worrying about my past sins.

After about five years, my faith grew cold and for a number of reasons my marriage broke up and I have now remarried.

I lived away from the Church for eight years but very recently I suspected I had prostate problems (despite on-going worries, all the medical tests say there is no problem). This worry made me consider my life and what would happen to me when I died. I had known Hebrews 6:4-6 and I felt I fell into that category where I was lost from God for good. I began obsessively looking through the Internet to find reassurance. It has become clear to me, however, that I am taking this portion of Scripture out of context and that I should instead be concentrating on the parable of the prodigal son.

During my searches, I was struck by your pages on Scrupulosity. It hit me that I look for God’s confirmation multiple times and yet I should stop this and simply trust him that I am forgiven. I should believe God!!!!!

I have printed out the prayer in your webpage about accepting the reality of Jesus’ power to forgive all sin and his eagerness to do so, and refusing to seek confirmation of this. I am going to use this statement of faith on a daily basis because you are right that obsessive thinking is the root of my troubles and this condition is being used by Satan to attack me. I have also commenced medical treatment for the problem (medication and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and I will try to use the techniques outlined in your webpages.

I have returned to the church I left eight years ago and have been received with open arms.

Warning:
To keep seeking reassurance from people will end up being futile for you and for them. Instead, keep putting into practice the vast amount of support provided in these webpages.

Not to be sold. © Copyright, 2006, 2007 Grantley Morris. Not to be copied in whole or in part without citing this entire paragraph. Many more compassionate, inspiring, sometimes hilarious writings by Grantley Morris available free at the following internet site www.net-burst.com Freely you have received, freely give.