Open Heaven Daily Devotional 4 April 2022
TOPIC: Why You Should Never Backslide (I)
MEMORISE:
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
(Luke 9:62)
READ: 2 Peter 2:20-22 (KJV)
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Open Heaven Daily Devotional 4 April 2022 | MESSAGE:
There are several reasons every Christian should pray and work earnestly never to backslide. One of these is that anyone who strays from the path of righteousness will dwell in the congregation of the dead (Proverbs 21:16). When we got born again, we were translated from the kingdom of darkness into light – we passed from death to life. To go back to the congregation of the dead is a terrible thing that all Christians must do everything possible to avoid.
Hebrews 10:38-39 states clearly that: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. God has absolutely no pleasure in backsliders. The moment a child of God backslides, he or she immediately becomes unfit to enter the Kingdom of God as we read in our memory verse today.
The moment you backslide, God says, “You have lost the qualification required to enter into His kingdom”. The interesting thing about this is that once the devil sees that a person is displeasing God, he comes in and pushes the fellow to the point where he can make a mockery of him or her. I know many people who backslid and first thought that they were free from all the ‘restrictions of the gospel but soon realised that they had become objects of mockery. Their end was indeed terrible.
The prodigal son for example backslid and thought he was free from his father’s rules and regulations, but he did not know that the devil was pushing him to the point where he would beg to eat food served to pigs. As for me, I am determined never to backslide. If you are currently considering the pleasure of this world, remember that it is just a bait for the devil to get you. Hold fast that which you have in the Lord, so that someone else does not take your place in Christ (Revelation 3:11).
KEY POINT: Backsliders may think they are having fun at first, but soon they will end up as objects of mockery for the devil.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 11-13
HYMN 20 – ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS!
1. Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
Looking unto Jesus,
Who is gone before;
Christ, the Royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See His banners go.
CHORUS:
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
Looking unto Jesus,
Who is gone before.
2. At the name of Jesus
Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers
On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise:
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthem raise.
3. Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God:
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod.
We are not divided,
All one body we
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.
4. Crowns and thrones may perish,
Kingdom’s rise and wane;
But the Church of Jesus
Constant will remain:
Gates of hell can never
‘Gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise
And that cannot fail.
5. Onward then, ye people,
Join our happy throng;
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song:
“Glory, praise and honour,
Unto Christ the King”,
This, through countless ages,
Men and angels sing.
