02-08-2020, 01:56 PM
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER {Jan ~June, 2020}
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Saturday, February 8, 2020
TOPIC: BEWARE OF BACKSLIDING
Read Hebrews 6:4-8
4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6. If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
8. But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
EXPOSITION
Backsliding, also known as falling away or committing apostasy, is a term used in Christianity to describe the process by which an individual who has been genuinely converted, reverts to pre-conversion habits and/or lapses or falls into sin. It is when a person turns from God to pursue his own fleshly desires. Hebrews 6:4-6 clearly shows that backsliding is possible only for those who have first experienced salvation, regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. It is not a mere denial of New Testament doctrines by the unsaved, within the visible church.
A series of steps always leads to backsliding, because everyday, we are either building up, or weakening our different spiritual characters. We are either moving forward, or falling backward. The steps include:
* Failure to take the truth, exhortations, warnings, promises and teachings of God's Word with utmost seriousness (Lk. 8:13; Jn. 5:44).
* Through deceitfulness of sin, the believer becomes increasingly tolerant to sin in his own life (Eph. 5:6; Heb. 3:12-13).
* Through hardness of heart and rejecting God's way, the believer ignores the repeated voice and rebuke of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19-22; Heb. 3:7-8).
The Bible issues warnings concerning the possibility of backsliding, designed both to alert us to the deadly perils of backsliding and motivate us to persevere in faith and obedience. Please, take time to read the following Bible passages for such warnings: Col. 1:21-23; 1 Tim. 4:1, 16; 6:6-10,; 2 Tim. 4:2-5; 2 Pet. 1:5-11. May these not stand to condemn us on the last day.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord Jesus, uphold me with Your right hand of righteousness, to the end. Do not allow me to fall away from faith, in Jesus' name.
2. Father, if I am already taking any steps that can lead to backsliding, convict me by Your Holy Spirit, and bring me back to repentance, in Jesus' name.
3. Please, intercede for our brethren facing persecutions because of Christ, that God will uphold them with His mighty hand of righteousness, to the end.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Exodus 32 - 33 & Mark 12
Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
Remain blessed!
THE LIVING WATER {Jan ~June, 2020}
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Saturday, February 8, 2020
TOPIC: BEWARE OF BACKSLIDING
Read Hebrews 6:4-8
4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6. If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
8. But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
EXPOSITION
Backsliding, also known as falling away or committing apostasy, is a term used in Christianity to describe the process by which an individual who has been genuinely converted, reverts to pre-conversion habits and/or lapses or falls into sin. It is when a person turns from God to pursue his own fleshly desires. Hebrews 6:4-6 clearly shows that backsliding is possible only for those who have first experienced salvation, regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. It is not a mere denial of New Testament doctrines by the unsaved, within the visible church.
A series of steps always leads to backsliding, because everyday, we are either building up, or weakening our different spiritual characters. We are either moving forward, or falling backward. The steps include:
* Failure to take the truth, exhortations, warnings, promises and teachings of God's Word with utmost seriousness (Lk. 8:13; Jn. 5:44).
* Through deceitfulness of sin, the believer becomes increasingly tolerant to sin in his own life (Eph. 5:6; Heb. 3:12-13).
* Through hardness of heart and rejecting God's way, the believer ignores the repeated voice and rebuke of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19-22; Heb. 3:7-8).
The Bible issues warnings concerning the possibility of backsliding, designed both to alert us to the deadly perils of backsliding and motivate us to persevere in faith and obedience. Please, take time to read the following Bible passages for such warnings: Col. 1:21-23; 1 Tim. 4:1, 16; 6:6-10,; 2 Tim. 4:2-5; 2 Pet. 1:5-11. May these not stand to condemn us on the last day.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord Jesus, uphold me with Your right hand of righteousness, to the end. Do not allow me to fall away from faith, in Jesus' name.
2. Father, if I am already taking any steps that can lead to backsliding, convict me by Your Holy Spirit, and bring me back to repentance, in Jesus' name.
3. Please, intercede for our brethren facing persecutions because of Christ, that God will uphold them with His mighty hand of righteousness, to the end.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Exodus 32 - 33 & Mark 12
Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
Remain blessed!