River of Life Blog
  • Pastor Todd Weston's Blog

RLA Pastor's blog

Backsliding

4/30/2018

 
Picture
Hate is a strong word.  It’s a word that may make us uncomfortable as believers.  We’re not supposed to hate.  We’re supposed to love.  But did you know that “hate” is a Bible word?  David used it in Psalm 101:3, “I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.”​

Can you identify with David?  Do you hate witnessing the slow erosion of someone’s faith?  Does it bother you when worldliness overtakes a once godly life?  Does it grieve your soul to watch zeal and love for God fade into oblivion?   

The signs of backsliding are obvious.  You know someone is in the process of backsliding when:

  • the earthly starts taking priority over the eternal
  • selfish desires begin to supplant spiritual disciplines
  • personal comfort and convenience cancel out commitment
  • participation in the things of God dwindles because spiritual passion is gone
  • hardness sets in because love for God has gone into a serious state of decline
Nothing breaks the heart of a pastor more than witnessing the painful process of backsliding in a person’s life.  It’s like watching someone you love die a slow death from cancer of the soul.  When the process is complete, the person you once knew is gone.

With all my heart I agree with David, “I hate the work of those who fall away.”  I hate it because of what it does to the person who backslides.  I hate it because of the collateral damage it brings.  It’s believed that when a ship sinks it creates a suction powerful enough to pull other things down with it.  Oftentimes, when a person backslides they don’t do it alone.  They pull others down with them — usually, those they love.  Not only that, they bring reproach on the cause of Christ.  When a believer turns away from the faith they once professed, they give hell reason to rejoice and mock.  No wonder David said, “I hate it!”

Notice what he said next, “It shall not cling to me.”  First, David vowed that he would not be pulled down by the faith-failure of others.  If any backsliding believer invites you to join them in their apostasy just tell them, “I love you, but not enough to go to hell with you.”  

Second, David determined he would not allow himself to become discouraged by the faith-failure of others.  He would not make the same mistake as Elijah in 1 Kings 19.  Surrounded by spiritual casualties on all sides, Elijah reached the wrong conclusion that he was the only true believer left in all Israel (1 Kings 19:10).  Actually, there was a faithful remnant seven-thousand strong (1 Kings 19:18).  Be assured, God always has a remnant!

David made another determination that helped him.  He said, “My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land” (Psalm 101:6).  Another translation reads, “I will search for faithful people to be my companions.”  Instead of looking at the spiritual wipe-outs, David focused on the spiritually strong.  Rather than being discouraged by the faithless, stay encouraged by the faithful.

The sad truth is that not everyone who starts the race will finish.  But you can!  Jude 20-21 gives a sure-fire antidote for backsliding, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”  

To prevent backsliding just keep building, loving, keeping, and looking.  In this way you will stay faithful to the faith, and will finish the race you started.

Pastor Todd Weston

Comments are closed.

    Pastor Todd

    Lead Pastor
    River of Life
    Assembly of God

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

    Categories

    All
    1 Timothy 4:12
    9/11
    Accountability
    Bible
    Bitterness
    Blessing
    Blessings
    Cheerful Heart
    Choices
    Christmas
    Church
    Church Ministry Center
    Comfort
    Commitment
    Compromise
    Confidence
    Connection
    Courage
    Courageous
    Creativity
    Criticism
    Daniel
    David
    Deceitfulness
    Direction
    Discernment
    Drifting
    Economy
    Elections
    Endurance
    Esther
    Faith
    Father
    Fear
    Fellowship
    Finances
    Forgiveness
    Generosity
    Gifts
    Gospel
    Grace
    Great Commission
    Greatness
    Haiti
    Heaven
    Hebrews 12:14
    Heroes
    Holiness
    Home
    Hope
    Israel
    Joseph
    Light
    Mary
    Media
    Mercy
    Miracles
    Missions
    Moms
    Mothers Day
    Motivation
    Natural Gifts
    New Year
    Obstacles
    Options
    Outreach
    Overcome
    Peace
    Perspective
    Planning
    Power
    Priorities
    Race
    Rapture
    Read
    Renew
    Rla Connect
    Running
    Servant
    Sin
    Sing
    Spiritual Gifts
    Success
    Time
    Tithe
    Trials
    Truth
    Unity
    Variety
    Vision
    Voting
    Wedding
    Willing Heart
    Word
    Youth

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.