BACKSLIDING : LOSS OF FIRST LOVE FOR CHRIST

 BACKSLIDING : LOSS OF FIRST LOVE

March  04, 2024

  By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi

  "Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back."Hebrews 11:14‭-‬15 NLT

". But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness." Psalms 73:2‭-‬3 NLT

    Backsliding is a term used to describe a condition were a person loses interest in the lord and his will . From the above scriptures, it is as a result of a christian desiring to live like a non believer . 

    When a person gets born again there is a need to renew one's mind. Renewing ones mind is liking pouring water into a clean glass cup . The backslidden heart is like pouring clean water into a dirty cup and expecting the water to be clean . The human heart is likened to a cup (vessels). "In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work" .2Tim 2:20-21 NLT. 

    Backsliding is inevitable when a person is filled with his or her own ways or cravings .  

"The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will  be  satisfied from above." Proverbs 14:14 NKJV When a person has a know-it-all attitude and thinks he or she is beyond correction they become prone to  backsliding. This is as a result having idols in one's heart ( Ezek 14:3,5,7-8 , Col3:5) 

   Backsliding is also caused by placing temporal gains over our heavenly goal . The bible says  "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Proverbs 29:18 KJV

. 

   Fair-weather-friends who quit when the going gets tough are prone to backsliding . The bible says " The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.  But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word." Matthew 13:20‭-‬21 NLT Luke8:13, 

   The backslidden have questioning,  unbelieving  and doubting attitude , nothing about church excites the backslidden anymore  (John6:60,66 Heb 3:12)  under such conditions a persons is prone to making terrible decisions against God. Backsliding is the first step towards marital infidelity and demonic oppressions and manipulation . The backslidden cannot be  trusted with kingdom resources because of the selfishness of their hearts . In our daily prayers we should pray for increasing  hunger for God's word , humility  and  against  backsliding.

Prayer: Heavenly father forgive me of my  sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as Lord and saviour and receive the Holy Ghost and power for stability and revival in my devotion to God's work in  Jesus name. 

 

+2348035536911  +2348098536911 email michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com