TEXT: Proverbs 14:14 – “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways...”
Other verses that pertain to a backslider are:
Matthew 24:12 – “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
Galatians 4:9 – “...how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements; whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”
Luke 8:13 – “They on the rock are they, which when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.”
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF BACKSLIDING?
1) Do not want to read their Bible or pray.
Joshua 1:8 / I Thessalonians 5:17 / Psalm 16:11
2) Not interested in faithful church attendance.
Psalm 92:13 – “...planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish...”
Psalm 84:4 – “Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house...”
Hebrews 10:25 – “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together...”
Psalm 122:1 – “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.”
Psalm 26:8 – “I love the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honor dwelleth.”
NOTE: Other places, people, and interests crowd out the need and desire for church.
3) Lost souls are not important anymore. Not a soul winner, either.
Matthew 18:11 – “For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Mark 16:15 – “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Proverbs 11:30 – “...he that winneth souls is wise.”
Matthew 9:37 – “The harvest is truly plenteous, but the labourers are few.”
II Peter 3:9 – “...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
II Corinthians 6:2 – “...now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
NOTE: The backslider is full of his/her own cares! Doesn’t care about lost souls going to hell.
4) Uncontrolled temper.
Proverbs 22:24 – “Make no friendship with an angry man...”
Ephesians 4:31 – “Let all bitterness, and wrath and anger, and clamour and evil speaking, be put away from you...”
James 1:19 – “...let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
5) Unforgiving and critical spirit.
Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, that ye be not judged...”
Matthew 6:14–15 – If we don’t forgive others, God will not forgive us.
Here are some verses about how not to be critical of others:
Titus 3:2 – “Speak evil of no man.”
James 4:11 – “Speak not evil one of another brethren...”
I Peter 2:1 – “...lay aside all evil speakings...”
Proverbs 13:3 – “He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his life...”
Proverbs 21:23 – “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”
I Peter 3:10 – “Let him refrain his tongue from evil...”
Psalm 101:5 – “Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off...”
Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth...”
Matthew 12:36 – “Every idle word...they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
HOW TO RECOVER FROM BACKSLIDING:
1) Repent. – I John 1:9 / Revelation 2:5
2) Change your heart by the reading and meditation of the Bible and being obedient to it.
Hebrews 4:12 – “For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword...”
I Samuel 15:22 – “To obey is better than sacrifice.”
I John 2:15 – “Love not the world...”
3) Love God. Love people.
Deuteronomy 6:5 / Matthew 22:37 / Mark 12:30 / Luke 10:27
John 15:13 – “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
I John 4:21 – “He who loveth God, love his brother also.”
Luke 10:27(b) – “...love thy neighbor as thyself.”