Backslider

By: David Hopkins

Tue, May 13, 2008

If you're a backslider you need to know what causes you to backslide. If you don't, do you at least know how to get back right with God? But most importantly, how to prevent yourself from backsliding in the first place? If not, you'll discover the answers to those all important questions in this article.

Which Type Of Backslider Are You?

According to Jesus in one of His famous parables there are three ways a person can backslide. (Mark 4:3-20).

Seed that falls by the wayside, seed that falls on stony ground, and seed that falls among thorns.

Seed that falls by the wayside is the word of God that you get but don't understand. The devil comes immediately causing you to forget. Then you go back to what you're used to doing and you backslide.

Seed that falls on stony ground is the word of God that you get and understand but it's not rooted inside you. So when the devil comes with hard times you can't handle it. This offends you, so you get mad and backslide.

Seed that falls among thorns is the word of God mixed in with the cares of this world, pursuit of riches, and other lusts. This chokes the word before it can produce and you go back to doing what the world does, give up and backslide.

How To Turn Back From Backsliding

A backslider is a Christian who withdraws him or herself away from devotion to God and His word to go back under the control of a self-pleasing spirit.

"The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways..." (Proverbs 14:14).

This occurs when fear somehow replaces the faith you have in God. It then causes you to run away from the spirit of God back into the sinful world of the flesh to satisfy your doubt and unbelief.

This means you must be careful not to mix yourself up with former sins and addictions like you did in the past. But if you do there will come a time when you regret it. Your soul will long to be back depending on the Lord your God for direction and guidance. You may even be experiencing these feelings right now as you're reading this article. But don't worry.

God said, "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings..." (Jeremiah 3:22).

So how do you return to God? "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19). Therefore repent, get back into the word, and let God blot out your sins. It's that simple. Just pray and ask God to forgive you and clean you up.

What Backslider Prevention Technique?

Right before telling another one of His famous parables Jesus said, "That men ought always to pray, and not to faint." (Luke 18:1)

The keyword in that sentence is the word faint. This is just another way of saying backslide. Jesus is talking about "praying without ceasing" or stopping. (1 Thessalonians 5:17). You should do this instead of giving up and backsliding.

The parable goes on to explain how a wicked judge who had no regard for God avenged a widow even though he could care less whether justice was done for her or not. Yet He avenged her because she showed initiative, was persistent, didn't give up and kept asking him. Because of this he said in his heart "Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me."

The point of the parable is if a wicked judge avenges a widow simply on the basis of her continual asking, "shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?" The answer of course is an astounding YES! So don't forget to keep praying to God without giving up until He gives you whatever you ask Him to do for you.

For example: if the devil steals some word from you, or if hard times come, or even if you love money and sex a little bit too much you can keep praying to God to deliver you from whatever it is that causes you to backslide. Don't be afraid because eventually He will heal you of your backsliding and you will be free. So don't ever give up on praying to God no matter how you feel or how bad your situation looks.

In conclusion, it is also extremely important that you continue to pray after God has forgiven you, and cleanses you and when you are in good standings with Him. Because Jesus said, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41).