MY LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MONDAY APRIL 12, 2021
THE DANGER OF BACKSLIDING 1
MAIN TEXT: EZEKIEL 18:24
But when the righteous shall turn away from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All his righteousness that he has done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die. (AKJV)
ECCLESIASTES 10:10 – If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
Backsliding refers to a believer losing spiritual appetite for God. It is the act of regressing, slipping backwards and reverting to a previous worse state of sin and unrighteousness. It is the failure to maintain a high state of righteousness and spiritual responsibilities.
It is dangerous and disastrous to backslide. This is because God our Father frowns and hates it. His eyes cannot behold iniquity as such His glory will depart from a backslider. When this happens, the person is vulnerable to attacks and oppressions from Satan the devil. Remember that when the hedge is broken, the Serpent will bite (Ecclesiastes 10:8). The peace and grace of God will depart. He or she will lose divine direction; this means that they are on their own, God will no longer direct their ways. God will not have pleasure in him/her (Hebrews 10:38-39). The righteousness done before will be forgotten by God and He will begin to count sin for him/her. There will be loss of divine protection, fellowship with the Father, Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. There will also be loss of bravery and spiritual energy to soldier on in faith in the face of challenges. In Ezekiel 18:20b, God said that a backslider in his sin of backsliding shall die. This means double death; the death of the body and the soul. In view of these dangers therefore, it is very important to examine yourself as a child of God as directed by God in 2 Corinthians13:5.
THE BACKSLIDDEN MIGHT BE KNOWLEDGEABLE BUT HE LACKS SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING AND WISDOM
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please draw me back in every step that I am taking that is moving me away from you
BY BISHOP NGOZI DURUEKE (HE REIGNS CHAPEL INTERNATIONAL) To send your testimony, write us: mylivingwaterdevotional@gmail.com.