FELLOWSHIP WITH UNREPENTANT BACKSLIDER HINDERS PROGRESS

 FELLOWSHIP WITH UNREPENTANT BACKSLIDER HINDERS PROGRESS 

March 5, 2024

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi 

"Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us."1 Cor 5:6‭-‬7 NLT

  In 1Corinthians Chapter 5 , a backslidden christian man was engaged in sexual relations with his father's wife : such sexual perversions brings shame to the church . The Holy Spirit is grieved whenever a Christian backslides . It is an act of betrayal .Every miracle of healing , employment , finance ,marriage ,children etc we received was given to us for the promotion of the gospel in righteousness and for soul winning  .The bible says  "Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given, He gave his people the lands of pagan nations, and they harvested crops that others had planted. All this happened so they would follow his decrees and obey his instructions. Praise the Lord !" Psalms 105:4‭-‬5‭, ‬44‭-‬45 NLT

    Backsliding grieves the lord ,it is a reminder of Adam and Eve's betrayal of the lord in Eden. The scripture says " And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”  Hebrews 10:38 NLT and ' But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”Luke 9:62 NLT.

   The bible describes backsliding as evil “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all! Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from me will shame you. You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear him. I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!Jeremiah 2:13‭, ‬19 NLT

   Backsliding is the result of allowing bitterness to grow in one's heart ( Heb.12:15) while being led away by vain imaginations (Jer.7;24 ) Idleness and gossiping also results in backsliding (1Tim 5:12,13;2 Tim 2:16) also a lack of fear for the lord demonstrated in not giving the Abrahamic tithe (Jer4:4 Deut. 14:23) Craving fellowships with haters of the words of  righteousness ( James 4:4) and fellowshipping with troublemakers ( 1Cor.15;33, Pro.13;20) results in backsliding.

    There are unpleasant consequences when a persons habitually fellowships with the backslidden. Backsliding is a deliberate attack against truth and partnership with the backslidden  requires compromising one's position on truth and eventually embracing deceitfulness ,corruption as a way of life . The Bible says " Of your own selves shall men arise , speaking perverse things , to draw away disciples after them ." Acts 29:28-30 and the backslidden is full of fear often masqueraded in arrogance and presumptuousness ( a know- it -all attitude) . Arrogance and presumptuousness are highly contagious and has destroyed many marriages and families (Deut. 20:8) 

   A backslidden Christian is unreliable and cannot be trusted , he or she is undependable . Therefore , it is not enough to vote someone into a sensitive political office or marry a person because of their claim to being a Christian . Christianity is more about a person's disposition to godliness and honesty than a religious title and involvement in church activities . 

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 to make progress in the face of adversity in Jesus name . 

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