OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2ND 2017- BACKSLIDING: NOT AN OPTION

Memorise: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12
Read: Matthew 27:3-5
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that l have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver inthe temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

1. One unfortunate thing about backsliding is that backsliders often fall so slowly that they hardly notice their deteriorating state. By the time some of them realise how far they have gone, it is rather too late. 
2. Are you a backslider? May the Lord restore you fully to Himself today!
3. According to James 1:14-15, backsliding is a process that progresses from lust to sin, and ultimately ends with death.
4. In Luke 22:3-6, Judas accepted to be paid 30 pieces of silver to betray his Master. He must have thought he was going to make some quick, free money. He probably believed that nobody would be able to capture Jesus. After all, how could anyone apprehend the man who calmed the storms by His words? However, after the plot blew up in his face, he felt so disappointed in himself that he returned the money and committed suicide by hanging himself. The question is, why steal or accumulate what you are not going to spend?
5. Do you know that some people who are stealing, particularly from God, will not be able to spend their evil loot? Those who steal God’s money to buy a car are only driving a moving coffin which can claim their lives at any time. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
1 Corinthians 10:12
6. On the straight and narrow way to Heaven, overconfidence has killed quite a lot of people, preventing them from making it to the very end. A case in point is Samson. His fall from grace, which led eventually to his tragic death, was a gradual process. From violating little instructions not to eat anything from a dead animal as a Nazirite, to unwholesome jesting and riddles that made light of the commandments of God he had broken, to visiting a harlot, and eventually ending his ministry on Delilah’s laps (Judges 14-16, Numbers 6:1-21).
7. Overconfidence has brought many people to the pitiable place where they are now.
8. Always remember that nobody can stand by his or her own power alone, except God helps the fellow. In fact, we are so weak that we need to always rely on God’s strength to live the Christian life.
9. Have you ever thought or even boasted that you cannot fall? You are just like Peter who boasted that he would never deny Christ, but at the end of the day he denied Him thrice (Matthew 26:31-36).
10. Recognise your weakness and engage in regular Bible study, prayers and fasting to draw strength from God.
11. Furthermore, deliberately avoid any appearance of evil that can tempt you, and break any tie that can lure you back into sin.
12. The Lord will keep you from falling, and He will restore you if you are already down.

Our father in the Lord clearly listed and discussed things that can make a believer backslide in today’s devotional. The breakdown is easy and simple enough for anyone to understand. Please let us pray that the holy Spirit will continue to lead and help us stand in the way of the Lord. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May God continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in wisdom, grace and strength in Jesus name.

Action Point
Pray that God will keep genuine Christian leaders across the globe from falling.
HYMN
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus,
no turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me,
still will follow;
Though none go with me,
I still will follow;
Though none go with me,
I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
My cross I’ll carry, till l see Jesus
My cross I’ll carry, till l see Jesus
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me,
The cross before me
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me,
The cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
 

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