TEXTS: I Samuel 28: 1-12, Hebrews 10: 26-31
AIM: To alert or remind God’s children of the dangers and effects of spiritual relapse and to provide Biblical solutions by which anyone in backsliding situation can recover.
INTRODUCTION
As Christians, whenever we come across certain Biblical names either of people or places or use of certain words, we may have no other option but to shudder and search our hearts. Names of people like Judas Iscariot (Matthew 10: 4); Damas (2 Timothy 4: 10); Diotrephes (3 John 9). David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11: 3-4); Samson and Delilah (Judges 16: 20) and Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5: 1) point our attention to something very important in our Christian journey. Then names of places such as Sodom (Genesis 13: 13) and Sardis (Revelation 3: 1) make us have similar feelings. And to cap it, the presence and use of certain words or expressions In the scripture such as disqualified (1 Corinthians 9: 27); reprobate (2 Corinthians 13: 5, KJV); prodigal; and the expression in Revelation 2: 4, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”; more than anything else, cause us to think seriously about today’s topic – Dangers of Backsliding. The Bible says that one of the signs of the end-times will be a great apostasy (falling away from the faith) [2 Thess. 2: 3]. This may be why backsliding has become a very common feature in the church of today.
Who is a backslider? A backslider is a Christian who gets out of touch with the Lord. This happens when someone who is devoted to God, begins to take his or her relationship with Him less seriously as a result of carelessness, disobedience or negligence. The backslider is isolated between two worlds – he is not able to enjoy the Lord and he cannot enjoy the world. Backsliding does not necessarily mean a loss of salvation, but it can certainly lead to it. This is why the Bible warns believers many times not to compromise their faith in Christ and to repent when they receive the chastening of the Lord. “And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, do not make light of the LORD’s discipline, and do not give up when he corrects you. For the Lord discipline those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child” (Hebrews 12: 5-6 NLT).
F.W. Norwood comments “Life’s greatest tragedy is to lose God and not to miss Him.” It will not be out of place to use this to describe the situation in I Samuel 28: 1-12. The portion of the Scriptures reveals part of the experience of King Saul after he lost touch with God. Before this particular chapter, David who had been anointed king to replace Saul faced tough times as a result of Saul’s determination to eliminate him. There are very striking things in Verses 5-8 about the new state of King Saul who had once enjoyed God’s guidance and grace. He suddenly became very afraid of the war. He called on God who used to speak to Israel’s kings through dreams, the URIM and THUMMIM and prophets but did not get any signal. He later decided to consult a witch. Saul lost touch with God and did not miss Him. What a tragedy! However, this confirms something about backsliding. As progress is taking steps in forward and upward direction, backsliding is actually sliding backward. Both progress and backsliding involve movement. Progress is forward movement while backsliding is movement in backward direction. This Study seeks to alert us on the dangers and effects of Spiritual relapse and would provide practical steps, established in biblical teachings by which anyone in backsliding condition can recover and be restored.
Questions for Discussion
- When we wander away from Christ, no loud bang is created because it is a gradual thing. Mention various things a Christian can be involved in that can lead to spiritual decay? (Col. 3: 1-3; 2 Timothy 4: 10, Prov. 13: 20). What are the likely outward evidences or signs of backsliding in a Christian? (2 Timothy 3: 1-6)
- Fear is a logical response to living outside the will of God. Why do you think Saul was afraid according to today’s text? Mention other dangers we are exposed to whenever we fall out of touch with God (I Samuel 28: 5 & 6; 2 Peter 2: 20-22).
- Our Lord Jesus Christ has made enough provision for us to be more than conquerors. However, every Christian is still faced with the danger and the possibility of spiritual relapse. What steps can we take or what Biblical guidance can we adopt to survive every temptation that can make us backslide? (Songs of Sol. 2: 15; Hebrews 2: 1, Hebrews 3: 12-13, Hebrews 10: 29, Matt. 24: 42).
For Reflection: Spiritual decay is a gradual process. It is never a sudden thing because Christians do not suddenly fall out of touch with God. Backsliding begins in the heart long before the outward evidences manifest. Proverbs 14: 14 (KJV) says “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways.” The good news in all of this is that backsliders may return and be sure of a welcome. If any of us need to take this step today, please do not delay. Please also note that there are backslidden teachers and preachers who once knew the Lord, but have since fallen away and grown cold in their relationship with Him. Yet, these men and women are still preaching and performing mighty signs and wonders. Guard your heart from these because they are turning the grace of God into a licence to sin in order to justify their own lusts. They preach a man-centered, prosperity-driven gospel, promising their followers liberty, but they themselves are servants of corruption (II Peter 2:17-22). No one gains by backsliding. The church loses a member, God loses a servant, the brethren lose a brother or sister, the community loses Christian influence and the backslider loses his soul. For those backsliding or who are tempted to backslide, the time to repent is NOW!
Memory Verse: Revelation 2: 5 (NKJV) “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you repent.”