CHARACTERISTICS OF A BACKSLIDER

LUKE 22:31-34


Pastor Rick Jackson


The Devil has a will for your life! The Devil's will for you is that you never be saved!


2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.


But he has a will for saved people too! See what Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:31! Peter was God's man in Satan's sifter! Peter is now with Jesus and safe from that sifter... but you're not! The Devil wants to ruin your testimony, wants you to be defeated, discouraged and despondent! Peter knew what that was like and he warned us about it in 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.


So what ate some characteristics of a backslider that we might avoid them like the plague?


I. PRIDE [Lk. 22:33]


1 Peter 5:5 "... for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."


Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.


Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.


II. PRAYERLESSNESS [Lk. 22:40, 45]


Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;


Psalm 14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.


James 4:2 ... ye have not, because ye ask not.


III. ACTING WITHOUT THINKING [Lk. 22:50-51, Jn. 18:10]


Mt. 26:52-54 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?


Ephesians 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.


IV. FOLLOWING AFAR OFF [Lk. 22:54]


1 Samuel 14:36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.


Saul didn't follow that advice and the consequences weren't good.


James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.


V. KEEPING WRONG COMPANY [Lk. 22:55]


II Cor. 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty


Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.


VI. DENY THE LORD (BY LIFE OR LIPS) [Lk. 22:57-60]


Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.


2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.


2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:


Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.





If you are backsliding in any area come back to the Saviour. Confess that sin as sin and start anew living for the loving Saviour! If you are not a Christian you aren't a backslider, you're lost! Come to the Saviour now!