HSD: Backsliding is Not What You Think
Come here. Come take a walk with me.
Do you remember when we briefly talked about Adam, Eve and the first sin?
Let me refresh you just in case. The Holy Spirit led me to inform those who didn’t know that the eating of the fruit was actually the physical manifestation of the first sin. The first sin was Adam and Eve coming into agreement with the lies of Satan and out of agreement with the truth of God (See ‘Believe Him the First Time: Part 1’ for details).
Longer story shortened, here we are again with the same concept but different situation.
You may have it memorized that backsliding means to return to your old ways and/or worldly habits.
The Holy Spirit would like to clear something up.
Returning to your old ways is symptomatic of the spiritual digression that is actually happening.
Everything happens in Spirit first before it is manifested physically.
Remember the Lord’s prayer says this, “Thy kingdom, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-13)
His word tells us before we were formed in our mother’s womb, He knew us. (Jeremiah 1:5)
These are examples which prove that what happens on earth is the gradual development or progressive manifestation of what has already been established in Spirit or in Heaven (See upcoming post: Can You See the Picture? For more.)
This means that backsliding actually means to slowly or gradually slip out of agreement with faith in the Lord.
This is why He says without faith, it is impossible to please Him for He who comes to God must believe that He is and He rewards those who diligently seeks Him (Hebrews 11:6).
Based on this concept of emphasis, one can deduce that the erosion of faith is what really leads to the sinful behavior which separates us from God.
So that habit you have returned to isn’t just a sign of weakness. It is indicative of a lack of faith because if you consistently and decidedly remembered that who the Son has set free is free indeed (John 8:36), you wouldn’t have fallen into temptation.
But your lack of faith, the erosion of your faith, has led you to return to comforts in which case, just like the Sower parable in Matthew 4, that seed of faith that was once strongly positioned in you was left open to be snatched out by Satan or was choked by the cares/lies of Satan.
If you find yourself struggling in an area you were once strong in, mentally lock into the Word of God so that this hearing may increase your faith.
Doing so stops the process of backsliding dead in its tracks before it has the chance to mature into a physically perceivable state.
Reflect on this. Receive this, and if led, share this.
And remember in everything you do…
Be sure to lead by example…
And lead others to Christ with Love.
Holy Spirit, I thank You for this Word today. Please let it meet the eyes of every person who needs to hear this so that they may be encouraged to move forward and lead others to you with Love. We love You, Lord, and we thank You. In Jesus’ Name to the Glory of the Father by the leading of the Holy Spirit, we thank You. Amen.
