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HIS
SERVANTS' MINISTRY, Inc.
www.hisservants.org
WHAT
IS BACKSLIDING?
Backsliding
is going back to sin and wrongdoing, after you have accepted
Jesus as Saviour and Lord. To stop moving forward in the Christian
walk; to spiritually regress. To backslide is to draw back or
apostatize in matters of religion. (Acts
21:21; 2 Thes. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1). This may be either partial
(Proverbs 14:14) or complete (Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:38-39). The
apostasy may be both doctrinal and moral. The results, are as
follows.
- Selfish Absorption. Proverbs
14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with
his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
[KJV] Isaiah 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden
with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters:
they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy
One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
[KJV] Jeremiah 14:7 O Lord, though our iniquities
testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for
our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.
[KJV] Hosea 11:7 And my people are bent to backsliding
from me: though they called them to the most High, none
at all would exalt him. [KJV]
- Religious Indifference. Matthew
24:12 And because iniquity
shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. [KJV]
- Unfitness
For The Kingdom. Luke
9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No
man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back,
is fit for the kingdom of God. [KJV] Galatians
1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that
called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
[KJV]
- Bondage. Galatians
4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather
are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly
elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
[KJV]
- Divine Displeasure. Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but
if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in
him. [KJV] 2 Peter 2:20 For if after they
have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge
of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled
therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them
than the beginning. [KJV]
- Loss Of Spiritual Enthusiasm. Rev.
2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because
thou hast left thy first love. [KJV]
It
produces:
Absence
Of Spiritual Leaders. 1 Samuel 15:11 It repenteth me that I have
set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following
me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved
Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night. [KJV] Exodus 32:1 And when the people saw that Moses
delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered
themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make
us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses,
the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we
wot not what is become of him. Exodus 32:8 They
have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded
them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped
it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy
gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land
of Egypt. [KJV]
Evil
Associations. 1 Kings 11:4 For
it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned
away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect
with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. [KJV]
Worldly Success. 2 Chron.
25:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord,
but not with a perfect heart. [KJV] 2 Chron.
25:14 Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was
come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought
the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be
his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned
incense unto them. [KJV] Psalm 78:57 But
turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers:
they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. [KJV] Hosea 6:4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee?
O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is
as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. [KJV] Zeph. 1:6 And them that are turned back
from the Lord; and those that have not sought the Lord,
nor enquired for him. [KJV]
Shallowness. Luke 8:13 They
on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the
word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while
believe, and in time of temptation fall away. [KJV]
Emptiness
Of Life. Luke
11:24-26 When the unclean spirit
is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking
rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my
house whence I came out. [25] And when he cometh, he findeth
it swept and garnished. [26] Then goeth he, and taketh
to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and
they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of
that man is worse than the first. [KJV]
Lack
Of Spiritual Insight. John 6:63-64 It is the spirit that quickeneth;
the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit, and they are life. [64] But there are some
of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning
who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. [KJV] 1 Tim. 5:15 For some are already turned aside
after Satan. [KJV]
Love
Of The World. 2 Tim. 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having
loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;
Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. [KJV]
Scripture
Verses on Backsliding
- Psalm
85:8 I will hear what God the Lord
will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and
to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. (KJV)
- 1
Cor. 10:12 Wherefore let
him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (KJV)
- Jeremiah
2:19 Thine own wickedness
shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove
thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing
and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God,
and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of
hosts. (KJV)
- Psalm
85:4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause
thine anger toward us to cease. (KJV)
- Lament.
5:21 Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall
be turned; renew our days as of old. (KJV)
- Psalm
37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly
cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. (KJV)
- Proverbs
24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and
riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. (KJV)
What
Are Some Signs of Backsliding?
Backsliding
starts in such subtle and indirect ways. WHO is guilty?
We ALL are, at certain times of our lives! NONE of us
are as true to God as we should be. NONE of us love
God as we should. Do you TRULY love God with ALL your
heart, with ALL your soul, with ALL your mind, and with
ALL your strength? (Mark 12:30). As much as I love God,
and as much as I would like to say "Yes" I
cannot! I would be a liar if I claimed this.
Here
are some signs or marks of backsliding.
#1 Prayer
ceases, or isn’t as regular as it should be.
#2 Bible
study has stopped, or isn’t as frequent as it should
be. You seem content with what you already know.
#3 What
you know about the Bible isn’t applied to your life.
#4 Sports,
recreation and pleasure have become a large part of
your life, and you are unwilling to give them up for
God.
#5 Money
and earthly possessions have become the dominating factor
in your life.
#6 You
sing hymns and read Scripture without it coming from
your heart.
#7 You
can watch dirty movies, soap operas and read immoral
literature and your conscience doesn’t bother you.
#8 The
slightest excuse will keep you away from worship services.
#9 You
are content with your lack of spiritual power.
#10 You
have adjusted well to the world’s lifestyle.
#11 Your
tears are gone; and nothing seems to be able to bring
them back. In other words, your heart has become cold
and hard.
What
the Bible has to say.
BACKSLIDING is:
- Is
turning from God. 1 Kings 11:9 And the
Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned
from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto
him twice, [KJV]
- Is
leaving your first love. Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless
I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left
thy first love. [KJV]
- Is
departing from the simplicity of the Gospel. 2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means,
as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so
your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that
is in Christ. [KJV]
- God
is displeased at. Psalm 78:57 But turned
back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they
were turned aside like a deceitful bow. [KJV] People
are rebellious and disloyal, unreliable as a crooked
arrow.
- Warnings
against. 1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore
let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he
fall. [KJV]
- Guilt
and consequences of. Isaiah 59:2 But your
iniquities have separated between you and your God,
and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will
not hear. [KJV]
- Brings
its own punishment. Jeremiah 2:19 Thine
own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings
shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is
an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the
Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith
the Lord God of hosts. [KJV]
- A
proud and arrogant spirit leads to. Proverbs
16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an
haughty spirit before a fall. [KJV]
- Inclined
to. Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth
seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall
fall into mischief. [KJV] The true
believer may fall, by stumbling at some obstacle in
his path; but he gets up with the help of Christ, and
goes on his way with much more care. This can be falling
into trouble, and also falling into actual sin.
- In
danger of continuing. Jeremiah 8:5 Why
then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual
backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. [KJV] When we fall down or realize we are headed
in the wrong direction, it only makes sense for us to
get up or change directions. But
people live sinful lives by choice, deceiving
themselves that there will be no consequences. They
lose perspective concerning God’s will for their lives
and try to minimize their sin. Are there some indicators
that you have fallen down or are heading the wrong way?
What are you going to do to get back on the right path?
- Backsliding
is not hopeless. Psalm 37:24 Though
he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for
the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. [KJV]
- Try
to bring back those guilty of. James 5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth,
and one convert him; [20] Let him know, that he
which converteth the sinner from the error of his
way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide
a multitude of sins. [KJV]
- Pardon
of backsliding promised. 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear
from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will
heal their land. [KJV]
- Afflictions
sent to heal. Hosea 5:15 I will go
and return to my place, till they acknowledge their
offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they
will seek me early. [KJV]
- Blessed
are those who keep from. Proverbs 28:14 Happy
is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth
his heart shall fall into mischief. [KJV]
- Hateful
to saints. Psalm 101:3 I will set
no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work
of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to
me. [KJV]
When we backslide,
we need to RUN BACK to God
immediately!
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