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KNOWING WHEN YOU ARE BACKSLIDDEN
HEBREWS 10:35-39
(June 12, 2022 – SUN p.m.- MBC baesa)
     The word “Backslide” was mentioned in the Bible: In Proverbs, 1 time; in Hosea 3 times; in Jeremiah 14 times.
            The word “Backslide” is totally an Old Testament word but it was used in a New Testament sense.
            The word “Backslide” is defined in the New Testament as “carnal” or “draw back” or a “Brethren sin”.
            The word “Backslide” is defined by Webster dictionary “to fall off”, it is a brother who neglects his vows of obedience and falls into sin. It means to turn gradually from the faith
     The Backsliding is only applicable and happen to the true Believers of Christ, the unsaved, lost souls, unbelievers do not backslide, their heart will not backslide from God because they do not yet Jesus Christ as their Savior, they do not yet repent from their sins and have faith toward God. Only saved people backslidden.
Proverbs 14:14 “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.”
Jeremiah 2:19 “Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts.”
Jeremiah 8:5 “Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.”
            1. Backslider is compared to a heifer
Hosea 4:16 “For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer:”
A picture of stubborn which means will not go where the owner wants it to go. Will stands back when it should go forward. Will turns aside when it ought to move straight on. The heifer wiggles and twists in protest against the leadership of the owner.  The heifer got angry or irritated by the yoke and resents the goad used by the owner. The backslider has a heart and mind like of the heifer.
            2. Bitterness can bring hardness.
Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”
Hebrews 3:12-13 “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Proverbs 28:13-14 “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief (kalokohan).”
            Backslider Just go through the motions but by wrong motives or by ritualism.
I – UNHAPPY IN SERVICE
You can know when you are backslidden when you are not happy in service.
Happy is the people whose God is the Lord, he obeys and follows the will and words of God
John 16:24 “ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
Psalm 144:15 “happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.”
            A. Complain about serving God
  • Complain about serving in the church
  • Complain about serving on other Christians
If you truly love God, you will not be happy in your life, something always missing in your life, unless you are doing service for the Lord whom you love! Examine yourself if you are really loving God.
Proverbs 16:20 “whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.”
                        1. Backslider demand too much – Proverbs 29:18; Proverbs 14:21
As a Believers we should be under the authority of the Word of God, not like a spoiled sons of God who wants always to be pleased and wanted all his own will to be granted.
Proverbs 29:18 “but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
As a Believers do not demand God
Proverbs 14:21 “but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.”
                        2. Backslider deprived too much
You are a Backslider, you become more interested in what you get from church than what you put into it. 
You want the church to always serves you, instead of serving in the church.
You want to get something from other Christian, instead being a channel of blessing to the needy in the church.
We need to be strong in your biblical conviction than just looking for comfort, easy Christianity, doing nothing.
            B. Complacent in service of God
  • Complacent being just satisfied
  • Complacent being indifferent 
Jeremiah 4:18 “Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.”
Jeremias 4:18 “Ang iyong mga lakad at ang iyong mga gawa ang nagdala ng mga bagay na ito sa iyo.
Ito ang iyong pagkasalanta, anong pait! Ito'y tumatagos sa iyong puso.” FILIPINO VERSION
Jeremiah 5:25 “Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.”
Jeremias 5:25 “Ang inyong mga kasamaan ang nagpalayo ng mga ito, at ang inyong mga kasalanan ang nagsipigil ng kabutihan para sa inyo.” FILIPINO VERSION
                        1. Softening heart – sensitive – Proverbs 28:13
Proverbs 28:13 “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
                        2. Hardening heart – Crystalize – Proverbs 28:14
Proverbs 28:14 "Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.”
                                    a.) Declining from the point reached – “draw back” (Hebrews 10:39).
Hebrews 10:39 “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
A person’s life is retreating from the state he has reached, he no longer enjoys the usual service he had made,
From busy life of service, he used to do, he instantly goes back from being sitting, saved, satisfied.
                                    b.) Destiny is always down or away from God – cause great injury to self and to God.
A person’s life is always going down or getting away from God.
A person who was easily offended being sensitive during preaching time.
A person’s spiritual life is not advancing, wants to cover up sin, that ruined their Christian life and stained the testimony of Christ and the church.
II – UNFORGIVING IN SPIRIT
  • You can know when you are backslidden when you have an unforgiving spirit.
Matthew 6:14-15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
            A. Bitter attitude toward someone – Hebrews 12:15
Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”
                        1. Bitter at work because you are not paid enough or promoted or received bonus
                        2. Bitter at friends because you are not appreciated, treated right
                        3. Bitter at home because family (your wife and kids are rebellious) or (your husband does not notice your work, and your looks.
  • They are in misery, they don’t care, don’t forgive, don’t understand and don’t love others unselfishly, they don’t look for the good of others, insteashowing mercy especially those needy, hopeless and helpless.
            B. Bad attitude toward sin – John 3:19
John 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
                        1. Unembarrassed when committing sin
Angry, ashamed if the sin he committed was known to public, but he doesn’t regret or hesitate to sin privately.
                        2. Unnoticing of yourself while criticizing other for sin.
Angry and easily offended when others criticize his sin, but he is not aware that he is criticizing others for sin.
III – UNFAITHFUL IN STEWARDSHIP
  • You can know when you are backslidden When you are unfaithful in stewardship
I Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
Ephesians 4:28 “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”
            A. Uncommitted to the church – they are not neglectful but they are simply uncommitted.
                        1. The purposes of the uncommitted – There is no greater use of life in which to involve self
                        2. The pursuit of the uncommitted – There is no greater use of energies in which to include self
            B. Unconcerned about the Christless – they are not indifferent but they are simple would not go
Psalm 126:5-6 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
                        1. Not witnessing (Ecclesiastes 11:6)
Ecclesiastes 11:6 “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand:”
This verse shows serving God to the fullest, to the point of being exhausted, fatigue.
Not opening our words and say nothing about the gospel is backsliding.
Take every opportunity to share the gospel to every person who has gone through your life.
                        2. Not inviting (II Peter 3:9)
II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
I Timothy 2:3-4 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
God wants all to be saved, so He wants us to invite others because God is not willing anyone should go to hell.
Inviting people to come to church is not propagation of the gospel, but inviting others is one way they may hear the gospel.
                        3. No prayer (Romans 10:1-2)
Romans 10:1-2 “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”
I Timothy 2:1 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;”
We need to pray to God first before sowing the gospel of salvation because it was not us who save souls but it was God who will save souls.
If you notice that you do not have any more burden for lost souls, and you do not care for souls, it was a sign that you are backsliding.
We need to pray so that lost people will know the God whom you know.
  • Backslider are selfish, they don’t witness, they don’t invite, they don’t pray for lost souls to be saved