Let us start by asking what backsliding is.

WHAT IS BACKSLIDING?

“Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings” (Jer 3:22 NKJV).


The term “backsliding” is not found in the New Testament but is used in the Old Testament, especially in the Book of Jeremiah, with reference to the children of Israel.

“O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do it for Your name’s sake; for our backslidings are many, we have sinned against You” (Jer 14:7 NKJV).

Backsliding is turning away or turning back from the Lord. It is falling from the spiritual level one has attained (Rev 2:5). It is reverting to sin. It is the waxing cold of one’s love for God. It is one’s faith growing weaker. It is like putting one’s hand to the plough and looking back.

“But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”'(Luke 9:62 NKJV).

Backsliding is like a dog returning to its vomit.

“As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.” (Prov 26:11 NKJV).

It is like salt losing its savors.

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” (Matt 5:13 NKJV).

I think backsliding is not just going backwards but failing to go forward. Such a person won’t be at the place he is supposed to be – he’ll be lagging behind. If one isn’t going forward, one is, in a way, going backwards. Backsliding is a thing of the heart but has outward manifestations.

“The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above” (Prov 14:14 NKJV).

It is the heart that first turns away before others begin to see the physical signs of backsliding in a backslider.

“So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice” (1 Kings 11:9 NKJV).

All the evils that Solomon did were as a result of his heart that first turned from the Lord. But he had been warned about this before then.

“You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods. ‘Solomon clung to these in love’” (1 Kings 11:2-3 NKJV).

Did you see that? Solomon’s heart was turned away from God to foreign gods. This was the same Solomon that the Bible had said during the earlier years of his reign:

“And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places” (1 Kings 3:3 NKJV).

Backsliding is a thing of the heart. Nobody is above backsliding. There are backsliding pastors who’re still preaching and church workers and other Christians who have backslid and don’t miss church programmes. This is not about boasting or being self-confident. You must watch your heart.

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin” (1 Cor 10:12 NLT).

A backslider is a Christian who is committing sin particularly privately but sometimes publicly – a sin which causes him or her to regress from being a firebrand or vibrant Christian to a lukewarm, joyless Christian. Non-believers don’t backslide – only Christians do – and this is because it is possible for Christians to sin.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10 NKJV).

The truth is all Christians may have backslid in one form or the other, and need to repent and return to God. Non- believers have never received the saving grace and are living in sin; they’re down, and therefore need fear no fall!

What then are the signs of backsliding?
There could be many signs but I have five of them described below.

FIVE SIGNS OF BACKSLIDING

#1 When You No Longer Experience Brokenness
One of the earliest signs to note when you are backsliding is when you no longer experience that daily brokenness of sprit that you experienced at the foot of the cross when you gave your life to Christ as Lord and Saviour. Brokenness is about having humble heart to live daily to die and die daily to live. It is about realisation of your inadequacy before God and His power to help you in your limitations to live to please Him.

#2 When You No Longer Find Reading And Meditation Of God’s Word Exciting
One of the experiences of a believer who is genuinely saved is his intense desire to read and meditate on the Scriptures. It is the place of reading that we learn more of God and His plans for us as disciples. When the desire is gone, it is a clear indication of backsliding


#3 When You No Longer Desire To Tarry In The Presence Of God In Ardent Prayers
Prayer is very important in the life of any believer. Prayer is an indication of the believer’s absolute dependence on God to be to him, all that God is- Redeemer, Saviour, Deliverer, Provider, Sustainer, Healer, Sanctifier and Enabler. When you no longer have desire to pour out your emotions in prayers before the throne of our Father in ardent prayer, you are already backsliding!

#4 When You No Longer Feel The Prompting And Nudging Of The Holy Spirit
Another sign to watch out for is when you don’t feel the prompting and nudging of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is there to help you to live the life our Father in heaven wants us to live. It is the Holy Spirit that can help you live in holiness through His nudging and prompting that He gives moment by moment. However when you no longer have that prompting and nudging, you could be thousands of miles away from the Father spiritually.

#5 When You Are Tongue-tied To Witness Christ To Others
The fifth sign on my list is when you no longer feel comfortable to witness Christ to others. Believers are expected to witness Christ to others. It is important to note that you could be on backsliding mode when the desire to tell others about Christ is lost.

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Thank u and may God help me...

Juliusmomoh:
Thank u and may God help me...

Amen