Jeremiah 14:7b (KJV)
...for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.
BACK - to the place from which one came; behind; not advancing; not coming
or bringing forward; towards times or things past; to return to a former
state.
SLIDE - to glide; to move along a surface without stepping; to pass smoothly
along without agitation or jerks; to pass in silent unobserved progression;
to pass with an easy, smooth uninterrupted course or flow.
How would you describe your present level of spiritual maturity, dear
lady? Are you advancing as a believer? If so, there would be a continual
awareness of opposition in striving to crucify your flesh and bring it
under the Spirit’s control. Could it be that you have silently, without
notice, slipped back into your old sinful patterns? Are you taking care
of yourself as well as you used to? How about your weight? What is the
quality of your housework? Your cooking and baking skills? How’s the management
of your finances going? The training of your children? Your church attendance
and involvement? Have you yet to establish a consistent habit of Bible
reading and prayer? Have your attitudes and responses to trials and tribulations
improved or grown worse? Of what nature is the music you choose to listen
to? How about the television programs you watch, the books you read or
Internet activities you engage in? These are some examples of areas in
our lives where we tend to let things slip. Beware when you start to relax
in your work ethic – you are headed for a setback! Backsliding can be
partial or complete, doctrinal or moral. Certainly no Christian wants
to consider themselves to be in a backslidden state! But ladies, do you
know what kind of attitudes or actions would mark a Christian who is slipping
away? Today we will review them... Hopefully you care to know so you can
quickly identify those areas in your life where a gradual change in a
backward direction is occurring and stop the decline, for it disgraces
Christ!
A Backslider Is Self-Absorbed
Proverbs 14:14 (KJV)
The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good
man shall be satisfied from himself.
A Backslider Is Indifferent In Attitude
Matthew 24:12 (KJV)
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
A Backslider Is Unfit For Ministry
Luke 9:62 (KJV)
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and
looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
A Backslider Renews Old Addictions
Galatians 4:9 (KJV)
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?
A Backslider Has Lost Spiritual Enthusiasm
Rev. 2:4 (KJV)
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy
first love.
A Backslider Greatly Displeases God
Hebrews 10:38 (KJV)
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall
have no pleasure in him.
Ladies, if everyday we worked faithfully toward the goal of building a
closer relationship with the Lord, we would not have to fear drawing back
and displeasing Him. Backsliding does nothing but rob us of the spiritual
progress we worked so hard to achieve!! Every day, every hour, every moment
should result in the advancement of our spirits and our experience with
the Lord. If you've known for sometime now that you've got the symptoms
of a backslider, God can forgive you and heal you of that terrible, downhill
disease before a total collapse occurs!
2 Chron. 7:14 (KJV)
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.
Jeremiah 3:12 (KJV)
Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding
Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you:
for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever.
Jeremiah 3:22 (KJV)
Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold,
we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God.
There are no obstacles to backsliding, no opposition at all, because the
flesh puts up no resistance to returning to its old ways! Once you start
sliding, the momentum picks up and it's hard to stop the process without
literally just falling on your face. Hence, you’ll have lost your sense
of security... Though we are all prone to backsliding (Hosea 11:7), all
is not lost when we do; it is possible to get back on track! The only
thing a slip-sliding child of God can do is turn to from their wicked
ways and grab hold of the Lord once again. He'll receive you, restore
you, revive you and then send you on your way -pointed in the right direction.
Commitment to God keeps our steps sure!
Jude 1:24-25 (KJV)
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you
faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the
only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both
now and ever. Amen.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2001 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
