23 Feb BACKSLIDING
It’s like a bug, creeping in on you and you do not even know it. It is so sneaky that if you are not careful you accept it as normal. It’s a cycle, first; you become a stranger or occasional visitor to your prayer closet, and then you turn your Bible pages only once or twice a week, or maybe only on Sunday mornings in Church (if you are still enthusiastic about attending church services). Once your prayer and study life grow cold, it affects every other thing. You are no longer interested in your group or departmental meetings. Cell groups or home fellowships, if you used to attend, now become something that you can find excuses for not attending.
Sin becomes a pattern of leaving
For the believer, her conscience is dead to sin and she often finds reasons to continue in it. “I am flesh and blood.” “No one can be perfect.” “I cannot keep waiting for a believer to propose, I’m not getting younger.” “I must do whatever to have my own children.” “If I sever this relationship, how will I survive?” “Everyone is doing it.” The cycle is difficult to break because you are no longer exposing yourself to people and things that can bring you back to track. Backsliding does not happen suddenly. No one just “suddenly” backslides. It happens bit by bit, by bit.
Interestingly, there are so many genuine reasons why believers cannot find time to pray, study their Bibles or attend church services. “My job!”, “The traffic!”, “My business!”, “My Husband!”, “My children!”, “My health!”, “My schedule!”…………The list is endless and hmnnn…very real.
Believers all over are trying to “make it”. The question will be “at what cost?” I have never stopped wondering how we fast and pray for God to bless us with all these things and now turn around to use the same blessings against Him. It reminds me of Adam’s excuse in the beginning when God asked him why He broke fellowship with Him and Adam used Eve as an excuse. Let me quote Adam’s words from the book of Genesis “The woman You gave to me as companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and yes, I ate it.” Genesis 3:12 Message Bible
Can you imagine?! Adam was lonely, without companion and God saw that it was not good and out of His bowels of love and mercy decided to meet that need. The same Adam, that cried out in sheer pleasure; “Finally! Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh,” is now blaming his irresponsibility and disloyalty on the blessing God has blessed him with. This is heart breaking.
How many times have we complained? “I was tired from the day’s job.” “I had this million dollar appointment.” “I could not leave my children or bring them.” “I had to make dinner or face my husband’s wrath.” “I slept late, could not pray and study my Bible.”Several times I have tried to imagine if God is more interested in our excuses than our obedience, really.
Serving God is sacrifice. In fact real service to God is sacrifice. No wonder the Scriptures talk about sacrifice in the following scriptures.
Serving God is sacrifice. In fact real service to God is sacrifice. No wonder the Scriptures talk about sacrifice in the following scriptures.
And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9: 23
This scripture above tells me that serving God requires daily sacrifice. Denying yourself, taking up your cross daily, that is sacrifice. It means that your will has become subject to God’s will. You no longer decide to do what you want or feel like doing. Your desire has become to please God above all else.
-It means rising up out of your bed no matter how heavy your eyelids are and pacing your room in order to ward off the sleep that will not let you commune with your heavenly Father.
-It means making sure you study your Bible no matter the distractions you face.
-It means putting your home in order so as not to miss a service or be late to God’s presence.
-It means not fixing business appointments as long as it is within your power, on service days.
-It means going out of your way as a matter of urgency to win souls to Christ.
-It means paying your tithe no matter how big or little, regardless of what will be left after you do.
-It means choosing to live a life that pleases God, at all costs.
-It means putting God before all else; husband, children, business…everything!
TESHUVAH is a Hebrew word meaning to return. This is a call to return to God.
You must get back to God! Get back to your first love!
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Revelations 2; 4&5
God says you should remember where and what you have backslidden from and do thy first works. Start praying like you used to, study like you used to, win souls like you used to, and serve me in spirit and truth, in honesty like you used to. If you have never been fervent you can start right now.
You are either serving God or not. There is no in between. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Revelations 3: 15 & 16
I know you do not want God to spue (vomit) you out of His mouth. Get back to God, no matter how far you have gone, start today. Get on your knees or bow your head or just open your mouth right now and begin talking to God again. That is the starting point; open the communication lines with Him again. He has been waiting for you with His heart full of love and arms open wide.
His love for you is everlasting.
Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.
Let us test and examine our ways, and let us return to the Lord! Lamentations 3:40
He is drawing you right now, that is the reason you are reading this at this moment.
He is calling out your name right now, heed the call. Start talking with Him. Open your Bible once again and just read, do not miss your church fellowships any more.
Not avoiding worshipping together as some do….Hebrews 10:25 Message
Note that this is a command.
As you heed these instructions you will regain that fervency once again.
I pray that as you answer the Spirit’s call, you will find that joy and fulfilment that only God can give.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there arepleasures for evermore.
The joy of your salvation will be restored to you in Jesus name. Amen.
If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and personal saviour and you would like to, you can right now by praying this simple prayer and meaning it from all of your heart.
Dear God, I know I am a sinner; I do not want to be a sinner anymore. I want you to be my Father, please forgive my sins, I believe that Jesus was born and was crucified to save me. Jesus I ask you into my heart, be my Lord and Saviour. Help me to live righteous and to be your true disciple, so that I can affect my world for You and spend eternity with You. Father I ask all of this in Jesus name, amen.
Copyright© Ugochi Oritsejolomisan 2013
Pingback:A remnant.
Posted at 15:12h, 05 February[…] my to be part of that remnant, I will not sleep the sleep of death. I will not allow the demon of backsliding perch on me. Know that this demon comes subtly and we must fight it to a […]
Pingback:LOVE GONE COLD
Posted at 08:32h, 16 June[…] this prophecy. Love waxing cold is like backsliding put in an order term, I wrote about that here. It does not happen suddenly, it creeps in bit by bit by bit… So we must be vigilant, we must […]
Ugochi
Posted at 15:40h, 04 AprilYou couldn’t be more correct T, and I love that song. Thanks for the comment.
Tim
Posted at 04:54h, 04 AprilMa’am true words, what better time to return to our first love than now.
For sure 1Corinth.10:12, admonishes us to consider our ways and not slide down from the heights we have attained simply because we refused to takeheed.
For havin done all to stand, we as a matter of urgency must stand therefore, constantly aligning our humanity with His divinity at work in us.
The lyrics of the song, Slowfade by the gospel group Casting Crowns comes to mind, “…..People never crumble in a day, its a slowfade”.
Cracks many lives may have from the subtle blows of the enemy, but if His call we would heed today and return to Him, He’ll heal our broken hearts, amend our shattered altars and restore us to Himself.