OPEN HEAVEN 23 MARCH 2021 – SIGNS OF BACKSLIDING II
OPEN HEAVEN 23 MARCH 2021 TOPIC: Signs Of Backsliding II
MEMORISE: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. – Matthew 5:8
READ: Matthew 7:17-18 (KJV)
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Romans 11-13
Open Heaven 23 March 2021 MESSAGE:
A major sign of backsliding is when you discover that your mind is constantly filled with immoral thoughts. A backsliding believer would have all manner of sinful thoughts flow through his or her mind. When David backslide, he cried to God for restoration, saying:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:10
His heart had become dirty. He discovered that immoral thoughts now filled his heart. When you begin to harbour immoral thoughts or suddenly become comfortable in revealing clothes, it is a sign that your heart is far from God. In the past, nobody would need to point out a harlot or a thug, they would be easily identified from their dressing. These days, we have professing Christians who dress like harlots and thugs.
When a person backslides, all of a sudden, God seems to be very far from the fellow. Don’t blame Him; His word says:
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, Ye double minded.” – James 4:8
When you are no longer intimate with God, what do you expect Him to do? David cried in Psalm 51:11:
“Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”
When Jesus bore the sins of the world on the cross, He had to cry out: “…My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” – Mark 15:34
God moved away because He cannot behold sin (Habakkuk 1:13) and He would also depart from any believer who harbours iniquity.
The Holy Spirit cannot stay with someone who is frolicking with sin; He is the Holy Spirit, not an unholy spirit. When you stop reading your Bible daily, you stop praying, you stop witnessing, you reduce your attendance of fellowships, you are drawing far from God. This is the beginning of backsliding and it won’t be long before sin creeps in.
Are any of these signs of backsliding evident in your life? Address them today.
Open Heaven 23 March 2021 PRAYER POINT:
Father, whatever is drawing me far from You, please remove it from my life today. If I am holding on to it too much, remove it by force, in the Mighty name of Jesus.
Open Heaven 23 March 2021 HYMN 4: Conquerors And Overcomers Now Are We
1 Conquerors and overcomers now are we,
Thro’ the precious blood of Christ we’ve victory,
If the Lord be for us, we can never fail;
Nothing ‘gainst his mighty pow’r can e’er prevail.
Refrain:
Conquerors are we, thro’ the blood, thro’ the blood;
God will give us victory, thro’ the blood, thro’ the blood,
Thro’ the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.
2 In the name of Israel’s God we’ll onward press,
Overcoming sin and all unrighteousness;
Not to us, but unto him the praise shall be,
For salvation and for blood-bought victory.
3 Unto him that overcometh shall be giv’n
Here to eat of hidden manna sent from heav’n;
Over yonder he the victor’s palm shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden crown shall wear.
Open Heavens 2021 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
