Backsliding

byDagHeward-Mills

*****Copyright1998DagHeward-Mills

PublishedbyDagHeward-MillsonSmashwords.EmailDagHeward-Mills

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http://www.daghewardmills.org/healingjesuscrusade/http://www.daghewardmills.org/lci/

Unlessotherwisestated,allScripturequotationsaretakenfromtheKingJamesVersionoftheBible

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DedicationTomybigsister,BeatrixAyache

Thanksforyoursupportthroughtheyears.

Contents

1.WhatIsBacksliding?2.BibleDescriptionsofBacksliding3.PrincipalCausesofBacksliding4.ThePsychologyofBacksliding5.SymptomsofBacksliding6.MoreSymptoms7.EvenMoreSymptoms8.MyLastArgument

Chapter1-WhatIsBacksliding?GodraiseduptheProphetJeremiahatatimewhenIsraelandJudahwereabouttobetakencaptiveinBabylon.HeusedJeremiahtoshowthepeopleofIsraelthebacksliddenstateoftheirhearts.

Jeremiah,WhyAreYouCrying?TheBookof Jeremiahgives several vividdescriptionsof thebacksliddenstate.Jeremiah, also known as “the weeping prophet”, had most of his messagescentered on the theme backsliding. He was often at “war” with the people ofIsrael,constantlywarningthemtorepentandchangefromtheirwickedways.Theweeping prophet was concerned about the wayward attitude of his people. Herepeatedly urged them, “Turn away from your wicked ways. Stop doing evil!RepentandcomebacktoGod.”Heattemptedtoshowtheminmanydifferentwayswhatitmeanttobackslide.YetthepeopleofIsraelandJudahrefusedtochange.ManyyearsagoIlearntthroughexperiencethatbackslidingcanbelikenedtowalkingona roadwithnosignboards. In ourChristianwalk there are nosignboardstowarnyouthatyouarebacksliding.Thereisnosignthatsays,HELLAND DESTRUCTION - 200 METERS AHEAD. There’s simply no such sign!Backslidinghappensgradually,until youaredrawnsomewhereyouneverexpectedtobe.Graduallybutcertainly,youSLIDEthere.Backsliding is real and can be analyzed by studying the different forms ofbacksliding described by Jeremiah. The prophet used real-life situations todescribe thisverycommonspiritualphenomenon. It isacommonoccurrence intheChristianworld.TheBiblesays,…formanybecalled,butfewchosen.

Matthew20:16Inotherwords,manystartoutwithChristbutmanystillfallaway.TheBiblealsosays,…hethatendurethTOTHEENDshallbesaved.

Matthew10:22ManywhocometoChrist,fallawaylater.

EvenYOUCanBackslide!Some peoplemay scorn at this topic and say, “I can’t seemyself backsliding.”Thisveryattitudeshowsthatyouarepronetobacksliding.TheBiblecautionsin1Corinthians 10:12, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heedlestheFALL.”

ThisbookwillhelpyoutodevelopstayingpowerfortheChristianrace.Themoreyouknow,thesaferyouwillbe-andthemorestayingpoweryouwillhave.TheBiblesays,…forwearenotignorantofhisdevices.

2Corinthians2:11The teaching that this book offers will drive away the plague of ignorance.Rememberthatthosewhodonotreadarenobetterthanthosewhocannotread. In other words, those who refuse to seek knowledge are no better thanthosewhogenuinelydonothavetheabilitytodoso.Inthenextchapter,Iamgoingtoshowyoudifferentwaysbywhichyoucanlookatbacksliding.

Chapter2BibleDescriptionsofBacksliding

ExchangingFountainsforBROKENCISTERNS…theyhaveforsakenmethefountainoflivingwaters,andhewedthemoutcisterns,brokencisterns,thatcanholdnowater.

Jeremiah2:13WhenIwasamedicalstudent,IwassentonaworkingvisittoDanfa,aGhanaianvillage,fortwoweeks.Once,duringafieldtrip,wecameacrossanotherremotevillagethathadnorunningwater.Sincethevillagehadnorunningwater,theyhaddugalargehole inthegroundwherewatergathered;often, thiswaterwasdirtyandbrownish.

TheyDranktheDirtyBrownWater!Thepeople in thevillagebathed,defecatedandurinated in it.At thesametimetheydrank from it andused it to cook.Thiswaterobviouslygave themvariousdiseasesandsicknesses.In theBible,backslidingpeopleare likened topeoplewhohaveaccess toclearrunningwater,butexchangeitfordirtysmellywater- justlikewhatIsawinthatvillage.I amsureyouwouldwonderwhysomeonewould leavesweet, fresh, infection-freewater, for sickness-infested and dirty water. There are believerswho havehadaccesstoalifeofholinessandgodliness.However,theyhaverejectedthattoliveasinfulanddemon-controlledlife.Godhasgivenyouanalternativetothedirtybrownwater.Godistellingyouthat when you backslide you are going back to something terrible which willeventuallykillyou.Heistellingyounottodosomethingasabsurdasdrinkingthatmuddywateragain.

BecomingaDegenerateWildVine

…artthouturnedintothedegenerateplantofastrangevine…?Jeremiah2:21

The next Bible description of backsliding is that of a good plant which hasdegeneratedintoathornyandstrangevine.Here,Godshowsushowafarmer’splantationfromwhichhewasexpectinga good yield turned into a field of thorns and useless weeds. You, thebeliever,arethatbeautifulplantoftheLord.Whyonearthwouldyouwanttoallowyourselftodegenerateintoathornyandworthlessshrub?ThisishowGodseesyouwhenyoubackslide.God’s problem with Israel was that He had invested so much love, care,tenderness and time into their lives. Yet they had turned into disobedient,hardhearted andwicked people.Will you allow yourself to become aworthlesscreaturebeforeGod?Theanswershouldbeadefinite“No!”

BecomingaWildCamel…thouartaswiftdromedarytraversingherways.

Jeremiah2:23A backsliding Christian is also described as a swift dromedary traversing herways.Adromedary isanothername foracamel. It isawildandswift creature,whichstraysanywhere.Theheartofabackslidingperson isasunrestrainedasawildcamel. It isnotunderthecontrolofanything.Itislooseandwild.IremembersomeyearsagoIwenttovisitabackslidingChristianinLondon.

MyFriendHadGoneWildThebestwayIcoulddescribethispersonwaslooseandwild.IwastryingtobringhimbacktotheLord.Ittookmealongtimetolocatehishouse.Ieventuallygottohis flat aftermidnight.Hewas surprised to seeme, andwelcomedme into hishome.Aswegottotalking,herealizedwhyIhadcome.Beingaone-timematureChristianwhohadbackslidden,heknewalltheScripturesIintendedtoquote.Soatapointhe interruptedmeandsaid, “Listen, Iknowwhatyouaregoing tosay,andIknowalltheBibleversesyouarearmedwithtonight.ButIwantyoutoknowthatIdon’treallycare.”Sohetookouthiscigaretteandstartedsmokingright infrontofme.Hesaid,“Iwantyoutoseemesmoking.BecauseIamnotunderanyrestrictions.”Thenhetookoutanalbumandshowedmesomepictureshehadtakenwithhisgirlfriend.Someofthesepictureswerequitesuggestiveandlewd.Hesaid,“IwantyoutoseemeasIreallyam.ThisishowIamnow.ThisiswhatIdo.Andthereisnothinganyonecandoaboutit!”

Onceagainhewasmakingthepointthathecoulddoanythinghewantedto,andthatnoonecouldcontrolhim.Yousee,backslidersarelikewildcamelswhichhavenorestrictionsandboundariesanymore.YourChristianlifeissupposedtobegovernedbyGod’sWord.Whenapersonbackslideshebegins todowhat hewants todo, andnotwhatGodwantshimtodo.He’slikeawildanimalwithnochecksandcontrols.God’sWordgivesusguidelinesthatare forourowngoodbutabacksliderchoosestoliveoutsideGod’slaw.Whatapity!

BecomingaWildAssAwildassusedtothewilderness,thatsnuffethupthewindatherpleasure;inheroccasionwhocanturnheraway…

Jeremiah2:24IprefertheBerkeleytranslationofthisverse,whichsays:Likeawilddonkeyaccustomedtothewilderness,intheheatofherpassionsnuffingupthewind:inthetimeofhermatingwhocanturnherlustaway?

Jeremiah2:24(NewBerkeleyVersion)Manybackslidersarelikewildanimalsheatedupwithpassionlookingforamate.The Amplified Bible puts it this way: No males seeking her need wearythemselves;inhermonththeywillfindherseekingthem.

SheToldMe,“IHaveNoTimeForYou!”Irememberonetimegoingonavisittosearchoutabackslidingsister.Iwentwithagoodfriendofmine,withwhomIwasdoingsomepastoralwork.Whenwegottothisbackslidingsister’shouse,ItoldherthatwehadcometofindouthowshewasdoingintheLord.HerhousewasinapartofthecityIdidn’tknowverywellandithadtakenusaboutthreehourstofindthehouse.Whenwegotthereshelookedatmewithastraightfaceandsaid,“IcannottalktoyounowbecauseIamcooking.”ThenIsaid,“Wehavecomealongwaytoseeyou,andwon’tyouevenofferusaseat?”Sheinsistedthatshehadnotimeforus.Soaftermumblingahurriedexhortationto staywith the Lord,we scurried off. This young girl,who had no time for us,foundtimeforanunbelieverboywhowas‘chasing’her.ShehadnotimefortheChristianbrotherswhowantedtohelpher inherspiritual life.Buttheunbelieverboyfriendhadnoproblemgainingaccesstoher.TheMoffatttranslationoftheBibleelaboratesfurther:“Nomaleneedtroubletosearchforher;allcanfindheratmatingtime.”When you become a backslidingChristian, theBible says you become prey tounbelievers.Unbelieverscaneasilyleadyouawaytosin.

Showme a backsliding Christian, and I’ll show you an easy prey for thedevilandhiscohorts.Satan capitalizes on the fleshly passions of backsliders, and has little problemfinishingthemoff.

ALadyWhoForgetsHerOrnamentsCanamaidFORGETherORNAMENTS…yetmypeoplehaveforgottenme…

Jeremiah2:32AccordingtoJeremiah,thebacksliddenpersonislikeawomanwhoforgetstoputonherornaments.Many women are attached to their earrings, necklaces and make-up. Somewomen will never appear in public without adorning themselves with theseaccessories.(Unfortunately,manyladiessubstituteouterbeautyforinnerbeauty.Theyhavenotimetopray,orreadtheirBiblesbuttheyspendalotoftimeputtingonallsortsofornamentseveryday!)I must say I have rarely seen a lady who is not attached to her trinkets.Godcompares the backslidden person to a young lady who has forgotten tobeautify herself with her numerous dresses, shoes, necklaces, earrings,mascaraandtherest.Howunusual!

Jeremiahrealizedthatthesethingswerepartandparcelofeverynormalwoman,andthatwomenwereveryattachedtothesetrappings.He likened thisbondbetweenawomanandherornamental accessories to therelationshipthatexistsbetweenabelieverandGod.Goddescribestheactofbackslidingasawomanforgettingherornaments.Inotherwords,backslidingandgoingawayfromGodisaveryunusualthing.Itmaynotlookunusualinthenatural,butinthesightofGodandtheangelsitisaverystrangephenomenonindeed.Somepeopleremindmeofthisverything.Onceuponatimetheyusedtosing,praise,worshipandevenleadotherChristians.

Today,TheyAreJustNominalChristiansToday, theyare just nominalChristians.One thing I amsureof is that someChristiansdonotevenknowthattheyarebackslidden.IfavibrantcharismaticChristianleaderbecomesjustanominalprincipledindividualinsociety,hemustunderstandthathehasbackslidden.Althoughpeoplemayconsiderhimagoodperson,inthesightofGodheisfallenfromthe

high state that he used to be in - leading people to the Lord, exhorting them,sharingtheWord,layinghandsonpeopleandsoon.OnepersoncomestomindeverytimeIthinkofthisscripture.Shewasavibrant,witnessingandfruitfulChristian.

“OhPastor,WeStillGotoChurch”Nowandagain,whenIseeherIask,“HowisyourChristianlife?”Shesmilesandsays,“OhPastor,westillgotochurch.”AllIcansayforheristhatsheisagoodandmoralpersonwhodoesnoharmtoanythingoranyone.ButthereusedtobemoretoherChristianitythanthat!Can a person who was so attached to the active, fruit-bearing Christianexperience be separated from this state so easily? I wonder how the heavenlycloudofwitnessesfeelwhentheyseethishappen.Jeremiahcouldonlydescribeitinoneway-awomanseparatedfromherornaments.

ABrideWhoForgetsHerWEDDINGGOWNCanamaidforgetherornaments,oraBRIDEherATTIRE…

Jeremiah2:32Manybridesarein lovewiththeirweddinggowns.Beforetheweddingday,theyhang them in their wardrobes to ensure that they don’t get stained. Often, thegownispreparedinadvanceforthegreatday(andsomegownscostmorethanayear’ssalary!).

Thebride’sgowniswornforonlyafewhours,but thebridesparesnoexpensewhenshe isbuying it.Manywomenare thrilled tobe thebride - thestarof theday,themostbeautifulwomanoftheday,theprincessofthemoment.Shewalksdowntheaisleinsplendor!

NoWomanForgetsHerWeddingGown!GodissayingthatwhenyougoawayfromChrist,youarelikeabridewhoforgottowearherweddinggownonherweddingday.Ithinkifthiswereevertohappenitwouldenterthe“GuinnessBookofRecords”!Ifanyonereadingthishaseverheardofabridegoingforherweddingforgettingtoputonherweddinggown,pleasewritetomeimmediately!ThisiswhyGodissohorrifiedwhenChristiansforgettheirGodandbackslide.Itissimplyimplausible,inconceivable,andbeyondbelief.TheBiblemaintainsthatabridecannotbedivorcedfromherweddingdress.No!Andthat iswhyGodwashorrifiedwhenyoufirstshowedsignsofbacksliding.

ALoverPlayingtheHarlot

…thouhastPLAYEDTHEHARLOTwithmanylovers…Jeremiah3:1

God compares the backslider to a woman who is married to the man of herdreams,butthendecidestogoafterothermen.Shejumpsoverthewallatnight,leaves her dear, beloved, charming prince in bed and goes to hunt for “freshblood”.I know that many people find the profession of prostitution horrifying andrepulsive.Theycannotimaginehowpeoplecanabusetheirbodiesforaliving.Irememberalovelywomanwhohadarespectablehusband.Aftersomeyearsofmarriage,thisladybegantohaveaffairswithothermen.Shewouldclimboverthewall and run away at night, when her noble husband was asleep. Can youimaginethat?Butletmeaskyousomethingelse.Ifyourwifenotonlyleftyou,butwentoutintothestreetstobecomeaprostitute,wouldthatnotevenbeworse?Howwould it feel like topassby the“red light”districtanddiscoveryourwifebusilytradingherwares?

Youwouldbeshattered!ThisisexactlyhowGodfeelswhenHeseesthechildrenHesolovesstandingoutthereintheworldandsellingthemselvestotheworksofSatan.Howsad!

EatingYourOwnVomitAsadogreturnethtohisvomit,soafoolreturnethtohisfolly.

Proverbs26:11When itcomes to food Iamveryparticularaboutwhat Ieat.Mymotheralwaysgavemepipinghot food,so Iamnotused toeating food that isnotveryhot. IhavedecidednottoeatanythingIdon’twanttoeat.IrememberonceduringavisittotheFarEast,Isatattablewithsomedignitaries.I must admit it was a very difficult experience for me having to swallow a fewmorselsofwhatlookedlikeeels,snakes,clamsandsoon.Godknowshowdifficultitisforustoeatthingswedonotlike.Formostofus thereare thingswe justwouldn’teat,even ifwewerestarving.Forexample,yourownvomit.I recall one particular day when I saw a dog in my house vomiting somedisgusting,pudding-likesubstance.

TheDogAtetheStrangePuddingIt was so smelly I just avoided that area of the house.About an hour later, Ipassedbyand Iwasveryshocked to find thedogeagerly lappingup the

puddingofvomit.Howutterlydisgusting!Iwonderedwhythedogwaseatingit.Wastherenootherfood?Someofyoumusthaveseenthisphenomenonbefore.Well,thatisexactlywhatyou look likewhenyougoback toyouroldways,oldboyfriends,oldgirlfriendsandoldhabitsyouoncevomitedout.Godisutterlysurprisedatyou.Thisremindsusoftheprodigalsonwhoendedupeatingpigfeed.Theprodigalsonisanotherdescriptionofthebacksliddenbeliever.Hedemandedhis share of his father’s property and walked out of his father’s house. Hejourneyed toa farcountryandwastedallhissubstanceon riotous living. In theendhehadtofeedwithpigs.And hewould fain have filled his bellywith the husks that the swine dideat…

Luke15:16And that iswhat itmeans to backslide. If youhave theopportunity to eat attablewithyourChristianfamily,whymustyouendupeatingwithpigs?DearChristianfriend,Ihavetriedintheselastfewpagestodescribethehorrorsof backsliding as graphically as I possibly can. What else can I say? If thismessage isnotclear toyou,youmayeitherbedeaf,blindorsimplydishonest.GodistellingusclearlythatoncewehavecometoknowHim,wewilldowelltostaywithHim.Thereisnoturningbackandnofallingaway.Butwearenotofthemwhodrawbackuntoperdition…

Hebrews10:39…Noman,havingputhishandtotheplough,andlookingback,isfitfortheKingdomofGod.

Luke9:62

Chapter3PrincipalCausesofBacksliding

Iknowthattherearemanycausesofbacksliding,but inthischapter,Iwill trytogiveyouthepredominantcauses,astheLordhasshownme.

Shallowness…andthesehaveNOROOT,whichforawhilebelieve…

Luke8:13Theparableofthesowergivesvariousreasonswhysomeoftheseedscouldnotgrow.Someseedscouldnotgrowbecausetheyfellonrockysoil.Jesusexplained that theseare theoneswho receive theWordofGodwith joy,andevenbelieve forawhile.But in the timeof testing, they fall awaybecausetheyhavenoroot.

EveryoneWillBeTestedAtimeoftestingwillsurelycomeforeveryChristian.Ifyouareshallow,inthetimeoftesting,youwillfall.ThroughexperienceIhavenoticedthatmanyChristiansdonothavedeep roots.TheydonotknowGod for themselves.Theycannotevenexplainwhy theydo the things theydo.Theydon’t knowwhy theybelong to aparticularchurch.Theydonotknowwhytheyspeakintongues.Theydonotevenknowwhytheygiveofferings.Whentheyfacealittlecriticism,theygetconfusedandhavenodefense.Having no personal experiencewithGod, these are the peoplewho can neversay,“Godspoketome.”Theyhavenoconvictionsoftheirown.A close friend who brought me up in the Lord deviated from Christianity, andbecameamemberofacult.ButIdidnotfollowhimintothatcultbecauseIhadmyowndeep-rootedconvictions.I know why I am serving the Lord, and so my father, mother or closest friendcannotchangemymind.ManyChristianswhoarenotrootedinsoundbiblicaldoctrinecaneasilybepersuadedtofollowfables.Someborn-againbelieversfallawaybecausetheydonotknowthedifferencebetweenthetruegospel,andthebeliefsofsectsliketheJehovahWitnesses.

IWitnessedtotheJehovah’sWitnessOnce, Iwasstandingat theThomasSankaraCircle in thecityofAccrawhenaJehovah’sWitnesscameuptometotrytoconvertmetohisfaith.Heasked,“DoyoubelieveintheHolySpirit?”Ireplied,“Icertainlydo!”ThenIaskedhim,“Haveyouheardof‘speakingintongues’?”Hesaid,“Yes.ButIdon’tbelieveinit.”SoIaskedhim,“Whatisthis…?”ThenI releasedastringof tongues in thedirectionof thissincere(butsincerelywrong)gentleman.This ended our conversation. He fled! If I were not convinced that speaking intongues is anabilitywhich comeswith theHolySpirit, he could have confusedme.ButIknewmyBible,andIknew(asIstilldotoday)thattheHolySpiritisfromGod,andspeakingintonguesisoneofhisgifts.Don’t just speak in tonguesbecauseothersare speaking in tongues.Youmustknow why tongues sound like a monotonous and repetitive language. It isbecausetheBiblesays,“withastammeringtonguewillIspeaktoyou”.Tonguesaredescribedasastammeringtongue.Itisnotjustanordinarylanguage.Itisaheavenlylanguagethatcomesoutinastammeringfashion.

WillYouFallattheNextCrisis?

Youmaybeinachurch,butifyouarenot“deep”youwill fallawayatthenext shaking and crisis. Next time there is a problem in the church, yourmembershipandcommitmentwillbeshaken.Onlya“shallow”ChristianwouldfallawaywhenagreatmanofGodgets intosomescandaloussin.Whathavethesinsof thatmanofGodgot todowithyourownsalvation?Whyonearthwould you think of leaving Christ because of your pastor’s mistakes?Christiansbehaveinthiswaybecausetheythemselvesareshallow!

Don’tFollowMe,IfIDon’tFollowChristIamthepastorofavery largechurch.IknowmanypeoplewoulddoanythingItellthemto.ButIalwaystellmychurchmembersnottofollowmeifIdonotfollowChrist.Afterall,Iamalsoaman,andcanmakemistakes.Itellthem,“IfItellyouto do something that is not biblical, do not do it. Only do things which can besupportedbytheBible.”Ifyouarenotsureaboutanythingyourpastorissaying,justaskhim,“PleaseSir,whatisthescripturalbasisforthisnewrevelation?”Notabidingbythisprincipleisthereasonwhysomeso-calledpastorscanbathetheirmembersinthenude(whattheycall‘holy’baths).Someso-calledministersarealsoabletodupepeopleoutofalltheirearthlypossessions.Thisisbecausethepastorsknowthattheyaredealingwithshallowpeople.Paul said, “Followmeas longas I followChrist”.Hewasamansubject to likepassions, sowhatever he did had to be scrutinized by the book of books: TheBible!DidyouknowthatAaronledthepeopleofIsraeltobuildagoldencalfafterGodhad delivered them from Egypt? These people were saved all right, but wereshallowintheirexperiencewithGod.WhenMoseswashelduponthemountain,theIsraelitesintheirshallowfaith,turnedshortlytoidolsanddeclared,“Thesebethygods,OIsrael,whichbroughttheeupoutofthelandofEgypt.”Don’tbeshallowandlight,blownaboutbyeverywindofdoctrine!Don’tjustfollowthecrowd!Itisshallowpeoplewhojustfollowthecrowd.

FollowingtheCrowdCanBeDangerousManybecamecalfworshippers in thedaysofAaronbecause they followed thecrowd.Many murmured and were destroyed in the days of Moses and the ten spiesbecausetheyfollowedthecrowd.Manygot involved in thekillingofJesus, theSonofGodbecausetheyfollowedthecrowd.Followingthecrowdcanbedangerous!Don’tbeashallowChristian.Bedeep.Don’tbeabelieverforjustawhile.

Letyourrootsgrowdeep.Asthesongwritersays,“Drawmedeeper,Lord!”Emptiness

…IamnobetterthanECHOINGbronze…1Corinthians13:1(RonaldKnoxTranslation)

Theword“echo”inthisScripturecomesfromtheemptinessIamtalkingaboutinthis section of the book. There are many Christians who are empty. There isnothinginthem.Icallthem“airyChristians”.TheyhavelittleornoWordinthem,neitheraretheyfulloftheHolySpiritoroflove.Theymayspeakintongues,buttheBiblesayswhenevertheydoso,theyarejustmakingalotofnoise.I think theRonaldKnoxTranslation of 1Corinthians 13:1,which I have quotedabove,reallybringsouttheconceptofspiritualemptiness.IfIhavenolove“Iamnobetterthanechoingbronzeortheclashofcymbals.”Isayonceagain,theechoandtheclasharearesultoftheemptinesswithin.

EmptyChristiansAreTargetsEmptinesswillattractotherthingstofillthatemptyspace.Aspiritualvacuumwillbe filled with spiritual things, either positively or negatively. Nature abhors avacuum,andeveryspacewillbefilled.Andwhenhe[anevilspirit]cometh,hefindethitUNOCCUPIED…

Luke11:25(GoodspeedTranslation)EmptyChristiansaretargetsfortheenemy.Thedevilwilltrytofillyouwithevilandbackslidingtendenciesbecauseoftheemptinesswithinyou.…andtheychoseStephen,amanFULLoffaithandoftheHolyGhost…

Acts6:5Asyoucansee,Stephenwas fullofsomethingpositive.That iswhyhedidnotbackslide,butwentontobecomeagreatevangelist.There is the saying that empty barrels make the most noise. These are theechoes1Corinthians13istalkingabout.ThissameprincipledefinitelyappliesinChristianity.Empty Christians are loud and noticeable but not substantial.ThereistheneedforeveryChristiantobefilledwiththeSpirit,withloveandwiththeWord.Whatareyoufillingyourspiritwith?FillyourspiritwiththeWordofGod,withfaith,with good Christian music. (By the way don’t mess around with non-Christianmusic;itwillfillyourmindwithjunk!)Fillyourtimewithchurchactivities.Ifyoudon’t fill your life with these good thingssomething elsewill fill it. Driveaway the emptiness from your spiritual life. This is a fundamental key tostayingpowerfortheChristianrace.

Lust

ForDemashathforsakenme,havingLOVEDthispresentworld…2Timothy4:10

Demaslovedtheworld.ThatiswhyhedesertedPaul.Ifyoulovesomebody,youwilleventuallygravitatetowardsthatperson.Thisexplainswhyyoungladieswillleave their lovingparentsandmarryvirtualstrangers.Loveor lust isoneof thereasonsforthatgravitationalpull.Ifyoulovetheworld-itsmoney,itswomen,itsmen,itsglitter-youwillfindyourself gravitating towards these things. It is therefore important that theChristianshouldnothaveanystrangeloveinhisheart.Ihaveone“love”formyLord,andasecond“love”formywife.Icannotallowanyother“love”toexistinmyheart.

StrongDesiresAreDangerous!TherearemanyChristianladieswhohavesuchstrongdesirestomarrythattheywill sacrificeall principlesandall the rules inorder togetmarried.To lust aftersomething is tohaveastrong,excessivedesire forsomething.Usually it isanuncontrollable, sometimes obsessive desire for a particular thing. Onedictionarycalls‘lust’ananimaldesire.Bewaryofallformsoflust,whetherit’s financial lust, sexual lust or power lust. Lust corrupts. Remember theScripture:…havingescapedtheCORRUPTIONthatisintheworldTHROUGHLUST.

2Peter1:4Theprodigalsonhadastrongdesirefortheworld.Hewantedtoleavehomesohe could have the pleasures of the world. He was deceived and wantedsomethingelse.Buttherewasnothingelse!Hesoonfoundoutthatthesituationouttherewasnotasgoodasitwasathome.OftenChristiansfeeltheyaremissingoutonsomethingintheworld.Sometimesthey feel theyare losingoutonmoney,sex,glamourandsoon.Apart from theloveofChrist,ifyouhaveanyotherloveinyou,youneedtobecarefulofit.Ifyouhaveanystrangelustsinyou,youmustkillthemnow,ortheywillgrowupandtakeoveryourlife.

IKilledIt!Ioncesawababysnakeinmygarden.Itlookedverymuchlikeanordinarywormbut itwasdefinitelyasnake.SoIsaidtomyself, “If Idon’tkill itnow,oneday itcouldkillme.”Ithought,“Itistoodangeroustoleavethisthingalive.Letmekillitnow,”Idecided.Thatishowwemustdealwithsomeofthosedesireslurkingwithinus.Dealwiththem like I dealt with that snake. Kill them now, when they are small andharmless.Ifyouallowthemtogrowandtodevelop,theywilldestroyyouoneday.

Bitterness…lestanyrootofBITTERNESSspringingupTROUBLEyou…

Hebrews12:15ManypeoplewhowalkoutofachurchareoffendedChristianswhobecamebitter.Theywereprobablygenuinelyoffended,buttheirwoundsneverhealed.Whenmywifewaspregnantwithoursecondson,Joshua,Isometimeswentwithhertotheantenatalclinic.TowhileawaythetimeIengagedinconversationwithoneofthedoctors.OnemorningasIchattedwiththisdoctor,Inoticedthatoneofhistoeswasmissing.

HeHadaMissingToeSoIasked,“Whathappenedtoyourtoe?”Heanswered,“Iamadiabeticpatient,andIoncehadaninjurytothattoe.(Youknow,thewoundsofsomediabeticpatientsdon’teasilyheal).”Hecontinued, “Ihitmy toeonanobject,butaftersometime thewounddidnotheal.Thiswounddeteriorateduntilitaffectedmywholeleg.”He lamentedabouthow thedoctorshadevenconsideredamputatinghiswholeleg.However,intheendtheydecidedtocutoffonlythetoeinquestion.“Itwasavery traumatic experience for me. That’s how I ended up without a toe,” heconcluded.AsImusedoverthestoryofthismissingtoe,theSpiritofGodspoketomeandsaid, “This is what happens to Christians who get hurt and never fully recoverfromtheirhurts.”TheHolySpiritshowedmehowmanyChristiansandpastorsallowtheirhurtstodegenerateintounhealed,gangrenouswoundsoftheheart.Hecontinued,“Theyseparate themselves from other Christians in the name of being cautiousandnotwantingtobehurtalloveragain.Thisseparationeventually leadstototalisolationfromthebodyofChrist-andbacksliding.”SometimesI thinkofall thehurtsI’veexperiencedinthisministry,andhowtheyhavetendedtoisolateme.Icanrememberwhenmyformerpastoroffendedme,andrefusedtosupportmewhenIstartedoutinministry!

NoneofThemCametoMyWeddingIinvitedallthepastorsIknewtomywedding.Butnoneofthemattended.Whenitwas time to take group pictures, the Master of Ceremonies called out for allpastorstocomeforward.Buttherewasnoone.Iwastotallyrejectedbytheotherministersinthecity.Aclosefamilyfriendandneighbouroncecalledmetheleaderofacult!Ihavehadtrusted pastors betraymeand turn againstme. I have experiencedmid-stream

desertion in ministry by trusted people. I have had faithful church members Iinvestedalotin,fightagainstme!Ievendecidedatapointtostayawayfrominteractionswithmanypeople.But,asI thoughtaboutthisman’stoe, Irealizedwhatwasgraduallyhappeningtome.Iwasbeingcutoff from the restof thechurch inGhana, just like thisman’s toe.Anditwasallbecauseofunhealedwoundsandhurts.Idecidedthentoallowthewoundsinmetoheal.Ihavenoticedthattherearemanyseniorsintheministrywhohavebecomedisappointed, disillusioned, and unforgiving. I have watched as greatministers who once affected the whole nation, become isolated and cut offthemselvesfromtherestofthebodyofChrist.

HeCouldNotHideHisWoundsfromMeOnetimeIwasintheofficecounselling,whenayoungmancametome.Heboldlystated, “Ihavedecided tobe inyourchurchbecause Ibelieve this iswhereGodwantsmetobe.”Iqueried,“Whydidyouleaveyourformerchurch?”Hereplied,“IwasledbytheSpirittocomehere.”I asked, “Apart from theSpirit’s leading did anything else happen tomake youdecidetoleavethatchurch?”Hehesitated,“Well…therewasaslightproblem…”Andhewentonandonaboutproblemsthathadariseninhispreviouschurch.I immediatelyknew thatwhat Isuspectedwas true.Thismanwashurt,andhisunresolvedhurtshadcausedhimtobecutofffromhischurch.Thisisoneofthecommonestreasonsforpeoplebackslidingandleavingchurches.

BackslidingLove!Married couples also backslide in their relationships towards each other. Theystart out with hot, strong and fiery love, which is often blind and unseeing.However,manycouplesafterseveralyearsofmarriageeither justco-existorevenhateeachother.How did they backslide from love to hatred? Often the hurts and offences ofmarriagewereneverfullyresolveduntiltheywerevirtuallycutofffromeachother.Thisisoneofthefavoritetricksofthedevil.Ifhecanisolateyouthroughhurts,hewillhavetheopportunitytospeaktoyouandmakeyoubackslide.Yousee,youaremorevulnerablewhenyouareisolated.ThebookofHebrewswarnsusthatbitternesscantroubleusgreatly.…lestanyrootofBITTERNESSspringingupTROUBLEyou…

Hebrews12:15

SinfulnessMyson,ifsinnersenticethee,consentthounot.

Proverbs1:10Many of the Christianswhowalk out of church and backslide have oftenbeenlivinginsin.Althoughtheywereinchurch,someofthemusedtocommitfornication,adultery,stealing, and other sins. These are the church members who easily becomeannoyedwiththeirpastorsforpreachingabouttheirevildeeds.TheydonotwantcertainportionsoftheScripturestobereferredto.Theyfeeluncomfortablewhencertainsubjectsarepreachedinchurch.

TheyDon’tLikeHotSermonsTheyalsohatehard-hitting,HolyGhostinspiredmessagesthatlaybaretherealitiesofrighteousliving.Onemorning,afriendofminewaschattingwithhercolleagueintheoffice.Sheaskedhim,“Howwasyourweek-end?”“Oh,itwasfine!IwenttochurchonSunday,”hereplied.“Howwaschurch?”sheasked.He answered, “I’m not impressed withmy church anymore. I don’t think I’ll gobackthereagain.”Shewassurprisedandwondered,“What’swrongwithyourchurch?You’vebeengoingthereforsometimenow.”He answered, “The pastor’s sermons are not uplifting. I tell you, we are notblessed!”Hewenton, “Ifhewants topreach,heshould justpreach.Butall thisgoingonaboutfornication,andpeoplehavinggirlfriendsisn’tnecessary.”Yousee,thismarriedmanwashavinganaffairwithayoungladyintheofficeandhedidn’t likehissinbeingexposed.Itellyou,therewasnothingwrongwiththatpastor’spreaching.FornicationisasubjectintheBiblewhichmustbeaddressed.Such Christians can easily leave church to avoid the confrontations of God’sWord,insteadofadmittingtheirsinsandrepenting.Whenabelieversinsandacknowledgeshismistake,he isonhisway tobeinghealed.Addressthesininyourlife.Correctthemistakes.Dealwitheveryevilthoughtandhabit. This will keep you in the Lord. Sin is definitely a primary cause ofbacksliding.Myson,ifsinnersenticethee,consentthounot.

Proverbs1:10WithoutTruth

Myparentstaughtmenevertotelllies.Mymotherkepttellingmethroughoutmychildhoodthatmyfatherdidn’ttelllies,soIwasnotsupposedtotelllies.AsIgrewupIfounditdifficulttotelllies.ThesesixthingsdoththeLordhate…aproudlook,ALYINGTONGUE,andhandsthatshedinnocentblood.

Proverbs6:16,17Liarsarecompared towickedpeoplewhoshed innocentblood.TherearebornagainChristianswhohabituallyliethroughtheirteeth.TheylietoGodandtomanwithoutbattinganeyelid.Standyourgroundthen,withTRUTHforyourbelt…

Ephesians6:14(TwentiethCenturyNewTestament)Thisbeltoftruthholdsthewholearmourtogether.Truth,honestyandsincerityarethingsthatholdyourentireChristianlifetogether.WithoutsincerityyourChristianlifewilldisintegrate,andyouwillbackslide.Irememberbeinginaserviceoncewithsomeotherbrethren.Therewasayoungladywhohadbeenprophesyingandholdingupthewholeservice forperiodsoftime.

TheDemon-PossessedGirlShewouldstandupwhilsttheleaderwaspreaching,andinterrupttheservicewithverylongprophecies.Shewouldcommandthepriesttostoptheadministrationofcommunion. This young girl would prophesy andmake the entire congregationkneeldownandstandupatwill.Many of the leaders were inexperienced, and didn’t know what to do. So theywouldstandbackasthisyoungladydominatedtheentireservice.Ihadbeentoldaboutthisyoungladywhohadbeencontrollingthemeetings,buthadneverseenhermyself.Thatday,IrealizedthatIwasseeingthemanifestationofanevilspirit“live”.Thisyoungladystoodupandbegantotakeovertheservicewithherpropheciesjustashadbeendescribedtome.SoIgotoutofmyseat,tookacoupleofbrotherswithme,andescortedher into thebasementof thebuilding. Iknewthatanevilspiritwascontrolling thisyoung lady.Assoonaswegot into thebasement, thisyounglady’seyeswidenedandblazed.Shelookedstraightatmeandsaid,“DonotquenchtheSpirit!”Icouldvirtuallyseethedemonsdancinginhereyes.ThisalmostunsettledmeasIwondered,“WasIquenchingtheHolySpirit?”ThenIsaid,“Youfoulspirit,inthenameofJesus.Icommandyoutostopyouractivitiesandcomeoutofthisgirl.”

She immediatelywent into all sorts ofwrithingmovements. The spirit began tomanifest,spoketoususingthegirl’svoiceandsaidmanythings.Icannotgiveallthedetailsofthisdeliveranceepisodeinthisbook.However,therewasonethingthatstruckme,whichIwanttohighlighthere.Iaskedthedemonspirit,“Howdidyoucomeintothislady?”Thatspiritsaid,“Thebeltoftruthwasloose.”The demons had gained access to this young girl’s life because theprotectivearmouroftruth,sincerityandhonestywasdeficientinonewayortheother.I cannot tell you how exactly this girl’s belt of truth was loosed. That is notimportanttoyou.Whatisimportantisyourbeltoftruth.

LyingOpenstheGatetoEvilSpiritsAre you honest? Are you sincere?When youmake amistake do you admit iteasily?AreyoutruthfultoyourselfandtoGod?Itellyou,therearemanypeoplewho lie to themselves continually and tell themselves, “I am okay”, when theyknowtheyarenot.Donotdeceiveyourself!Behonestandsincere!Bestraightforward!Jesussaid,“Youwillknowthetruthandthetruthwillmakeyoufree.”Don’tbeangrywhenyouhearthetruth.Itisthetruththatyouneed.

RebellionThere isonesinwhich iscompared towitchcraft in theBible.That is thesinofrebellion.ForREBELLIONisas[like]thesinofWITCHCRAFT…

1Samuel15:23Rebellionisthefightagainstallauthority.Rebellionoftencamouflagesitselfasthefight for independence.Many so-called freedom and independence fighters areactuallydownrightrebels.Africa, for instance,hashad its fairshareof rebels.TherehavebeenrebellionsanduprisingsagainstgovernmentsalloverAfrica.Therearealsomanyrebelliouselementsinthechurch.Therearerebelliouspastors who break out of their rightful positions as branch pastors, assistantpastorsandsoon.Therearerebelliouschurchmemberswhobreakoutof theirGod-given places within churches. (I assure you that rebels usually have veryspiritualreasonsforthethingstheydo!)Rebellion stems from the heart. And every rebellious child of God hasrejected legitimate authority in his life. The result therefore is backsliding. Ihave known Christians who do not want anything, be it human or divine, to

instruct them concerning their lives. Rebellion is a cardinal factor in thebackslidingphenomenon.It was rebellion against his father’s authority that led the prodigal son to leavehome.Therebellionintheprodigalson’sheartledhimtoeatwithpigs.Iamsureyoudon’twanttoendupeatingwithpigs.Don’tbearebel.Allrebelsaredestinedto end in one way. Ask the prodigal son, ask Judas, ask Absalom, askAdonijah, ask Ahithophel, ask Shimei, and ask Lucifer to tell you whathappenedtothemwhentheyrebelled.Allrebelsareheadedforonejudgement-EXECUTION!!

FoolishnessHethattrustethinhisownheartisaFOOL…

Proverbs28:26ManyChristiansdofoolishthings.Theyventureintoplacesonlyfoolswoulddare.Therearesomesituations,andsomepeoplewhowillleadyouintotrouble.Someyoung unmarried Christian couples court disaster when they engage in certainthings.Sometimes during courtship, some Christians can be found in ‘unhealthy’situationsaftermidnight.Thenwhenyoubecomepregnantbeforeyourwedding,yougetsurprisedthatyoufellintosin!Whyshouldyoubesurprised?

WhatIsaBusinessLunch?Therearesomeladieswhosespecialtyistowineanddinewithmarriedmen.Andtheirexcuseisthattheyworkwiththesemen.“Oh,It’sjustabusinesslunch,”theysay.ButItellyou,theyareplayingwithfire.IhaveseenChristianbrothersandsisters live in thesame flat,andeven in thesameroom,all inthenameofsavingmoney.Thenextthingthathappenedwasthey fell in ‘love’.Thenbeforeyoucouldsay, “JackRobinson” theyhadababy.Foolishnesshasaprice.Allthingsarelawfulforme,butallthingsarenotexpedient…

1Corinthians10:23Some types of behaviour are straightforward foolishness. You should neveroverestimateyourspiritualstrength.Godhascontinuallydrummed it intome thatbeingapastordoesnotmakemeimmuneorspecial.TheLordhasmadeitclearthathewill treatmeashetreatseveryone else. So no matter whom you are, if you walk in foolishness andabsurdityyouwillbackslide.Itisassimpleasthat!Foolsmakeamockatsin…

Proverbs14:9

Chapter4ThePsychologyofBackslidingThepsychologyofbackslidingdealswiththewaybackslidersthink.ItdealswiththeattitudesofadefectingChristian.Yousee,theBiblesaysweshouldguardourheartswithalldiligence,foroutofitaretheissuesoflife.Keepthyheartwithalldiligence;foroutofitaretheissuesoflife.

Proverbs4:23Backsliding isoneof the issuesof life.The issueofbackslidingcomesfromtheheart.Athoughtintheheartbecomesanattitude.Anattitudebecomesanaction.Andtheseactionsbecomebehaviorpatterns.Let us look at the attitudes that form in the heart of a backslider. It is theseattitudesthatgivehimthefalseconfidenceinhisbacksliddenstate.

ATTITUDE1“I’mNotAlone,OthersAreBackslidingToo.”

Ihavenoticedthatoneofthethingswedo,istofindoutwhoelseisinaconditionsimilartoours.Andwhenwegetinvolvedinsomethingwealsotrytotakeotherswithus(likedrowningmen).ButtheBiblesays,…everymanshallbearhisOWNburden.

Galatians6:5Youmaytakeconfidenceinthefactthatothersseemtobedoingasbadlyasyouare.Butthatisafalseassurance.IrememberwhenItravelledtoacityinGhanaandvisitedabrotherwhomIhadknown tobevery zealous for theLord.Unfortunately, thisbrotherwhom I evenconsideredtobeintherankofaministerhadbackslidden,andhadmadeayoungladypregnant.Henolongerwenttochurchregularly.WhenmywifeandIgottohishouse,wechattedabit,andasked,“Howareyoudoingspiritually?”Hesaid,“Oh,Godisgood.”Thenheimmediatelychangedthetopicandaskedwhetherwehadheardaboutanothergoodfriendofourswhohadbacksliddenterribly.

ButMyConditionIsBetterThanHis“BrotherX’sconditionisveryunfortunate,”helamented.Headded,“Haveyouheard?He’sfallenintoverybadcompany,anddoesn’tgotochurchatall.”Hewastryingtomakeusseethatthisbrother’sconditionwasevenworsethanhis.

Asweweregoinghomeinthecar,Iaskedmywifeifshenoticedthatthisbrotherseemedtohavetakensomereassuranceinthefact thatourotherfriendwasinanevenworsestate.You can tell when people are trying to reassure themselves. Just listen to thethings they say. They say things like: “Nowadays a lot of people don’t go tochurch… City life is too busy for regular church attendance… There are nowmanyChristianswhodrinkalittlebeerwiththeirfood…”

Dear friend, don’t bedeceivedby theexistenceof a crowd.Youmay think thateverybody is sinning just likeyouare.ButwhenChrist comesyou’ll beverysurprised to find people whom you thought would go to Hell with you,passingyoubyontheirwaytoHeaven!AfriendoncetoldmeaboutanincidentthatjoltedhimintobecomingaChristian.

What?!AreYouAlsoaChristian?Hetoldme,“Iwasaparty-going,night-lifepersonwithlotsofgirlfriends.Oneday,Iwasgoinghome ina friend’scarafteroneofourusualpartieswhen Inoticedthatthecarwasunusuallyquiet.”“SoIdecidedtoslotinsomegoodolddiscomusictolivenuptheatmosphere.Ipicked up one of the tapes lying in the front of the car and inserted it. Tomyutmostsurprise,insteadofmusic,Iheardthesoundofpreaching.”Iexclaimed,“Hey,what’sthis?Sincewhendidyoustartlisteningtosuchthings?Areyoualsooneofthosebornagainpeople?”Andhisfriendreplied,“Hey,Iamsecuringmyself.”My friend said tome “I began to think very fast; if our carwas tohavehadanaccidentandwewerebothtodie,hemayhavegonetoHeaven,andIwouldhavegonetoHell!!”My friend suddenly realized that he had been deceived into thinking thatevery one of his friends was a ruthless sinner like he was. People weresecretlyseekingGodandsecuringtheirplacesinheaven.Youbettermakesurethatyouaredoingtherightthing.Donotlookatthecrowd.Youarebornalone,andyouwilldiealone.Donotevenlooktoyourhusbandoryourwife.Itisunusualforhusbandsandwivestobebornonthesameday.Itisevenmoreunusualforthemtodieonthesameday.YouwillstandbeforeGodasanindividual.Neverforgetthatfactoflife.

ATTITUDE2“IHaveaLotofTime;ChristisNotReallyComingSoon.”

TheworldistrulyamusedwhenwesaythatChristiscomingsoon.Theythinkitisatheorycookedupbysomederangedpeople.

Ontheotherhand,someChristiansknowthatChrist’sSecondComingisareality.Buttheythinkthat itwon’thappenverysoon.At least,not intheir lifetime.Theysuppose they can enjoy themselves and forget about the future. Butwhat theyforgetisthatChrist’scomingwillbeaveryunexpectedevent.…thedayoftheLordsocomethASATHIEFINTHENIGHT.Forwhentheyshallsay,Peaceandsafety;thensuddendestructioncomethuponthem,astravailuponawomanwithchild;andtheyshallnotescape.

1Thessalonians5:2-3A pregnant woman who is due might be all right one moment, and the nextmoment,gointolabour.Severepainwillstrikeherandababywillbeborn.SowillthecomingoftheLordbe.Everythingwillbeallrightonedayandthenext,totalchaosintheworld.

JesusCouldComeThisFriday!Jesus compares his coming to the coming of a thief.No one expects a thief. Iremember years agowhen thieves broke intomy father’s house.Wewere notexpectinganythingofthesort,butitjusthappened.ThewholeworldwillbeverysurprisedwhenJesuscomesagain.Manyof youhave takenGod’sgraceperiodof repentance for granted. Indeed,this grace periodmeans nothing to some of us.The grace period has ratherbecomemoretimetoplaythe“fool”.This ishowbackslidersthink. Ihavemoretime!Ihavemuchmoretime!!Youmay be planning to have your grandwedding. But itmay never come on.Perhaps,thosewhoareinschoolmaynevercompletetheircourses.Thetrumpetwillsuddenlysound,andthoseofuswhoarewashed in thebloodof theLamb,andreadyfortheSaviourwouldbecaughtupinthecloudstobewithHimforever.

ATTITUDE3“ThereAreShortCutstoEverything,IncludingGoingtoHeaven.”

The world is under the delusion that there are short cuts to everything.Unfortunately, someChristians think in the sameway. They assume that theremustbesomeshortcuttoHeavensincethereseemstobeashortcuttoalmosteverything.

ILearnttheHardWay!YoucannotescapetheChristianrudimentsandgotoHeaven.Youcannotescapethecross. Jesussaid, “Takeup thycrossand followme.”There isnoshort cutaroundthecross.Youmusttakeitup.Inthisdayandageofinstantcoffee,instantteaandjettravel,everybodywantstohavethingsfast,quickandshort.When I was in boarding school, I learnt the hard way that short cuts must beavoided.

Those of us in the junior forms were asked to do some general scrubbing inschool.Iobtainedanexcusedutyslipfromthedoctor.Itexemptedmefromanyassigneddutiesforthenextfourdays.Ihappened todiscuss thisexcusedutyslipwitha friend,andexcitedly toldhimhowIwouldn’thavetodoanyhardworkforthenextfourdays.ThenhecameupwithwhatIthoughtwasabrightidea.He suggested, “Why don’t you write “1” before the “4” so it reads “14” daysinsteadof“4”?Youwillthenhavefourteenwholedaystorelax.”AsImusedoverthissuggestion,Ithought,“Whatagoodidea!Noonewillnotice.”

TheDayIMetMyFirstJudasButthisfriendwasthefirstJudasIwastomeetinmylife.After I had taken his suggestion and changed the ‘4’ to ‘14’, this same friendreportedmetotheseniors.HetoldthemthatIhadforgedmyexcusedutyslip.Everyonepouncedonme,andIwascharged.Itellyou,Isufferedgreatlyforthatmistake.Firstofall,myfourdaysofexcusewerecancelled.Iwasgiventhemostdifficultjobstodo.AndthenIwasgivenextrapunishment.FromthattimeIdecided:Nomoreshortcutsinlife.IrealizedlongagothattherewasnoshortcuttoHeaven.Iwillhavetogothehardway.WemaythinkthatthereisashorterwaytoHeaven,butthereisonlyonewaytoHeaven.It isnotthroughAllah,Islam,fetish,chantingormeditation.It isonlybyacceptingtheLordJesusChristasyourpersonalSaviourandbeingbornagain.Thereisnoshortcut.In the secular world, wise businessmen are wary of any “get-rich-quick”schemes.Manyhowever,arenottiredoftryingonequickschemeaftertheother.Sotheytakeadvantageofeveryopportunitytomakesomequickmoney.

TheySaid,“YourChurchWillBeRich.”Someoneonceaskedourchurchtojoinanew‘get-rich-quick’bank.Heexplained,“Asagrowingchurchyouwillneedalotofmoneytohelpcompleteyourbuildingproject.”ButIimmediatelysaid,“Itsoundstoogoodtobetrue,andtooquicktobereal.”Sowedidn’tjoinit.Afewweekslater,Iheardofhowthatnewbankhadcollapsed.Manypeoplelosttheirmoney.Ialsoheardofhowsomechurcheshadlosthugesumsofmoneybysavingthere.TheBiblesaystheKingdomofHeavenislikeamustardseed,whichneedstimetogrow to becomeagreat tree.When youput the seed into theground, itwillneed to go through the longprocess of dyingandgrowingbefore yielding fruit.

Unfortunately,someofuswanttoescapetheprocessesofdyingandgrowingup.You cannot expect to just put money in the offering and hope thateverythingwillbeallright.Youcannotavoidtherealityoffasting,praying,fellowshippingandwitnessing.TheseareBiblicalstandardswejustcannotavoid!!

ATTITUDE4“GodLovesMeTooMuchToPunishMe.”

I have heardChristians say thatGodwill never punish them. They quote, “ForGodsolovedtheworld…”They argue that sinceGod loves the world somuchHewill not destroy them.Theysay,“IknowGodwillforgiveme.”Becauseofthistheyaddsintosinwithoutbattinganeyelid.

TwoSidesofaCoinGod’snatureisliketwosidesofacoin.Onesideofthecoinshowsthehead,and theothersideshows the tail.OnesideofGod’scharacter showsHisgreatlove,andtheothersideshowsHisjudgement.A Christian sister spoke of a woman who was having an affair with her bestfriend’s husband. Because the two ladies were good friends they would oftenspeakon thephone.Every time thisadulteressput thephonedown,shewouldsighandsay,“OGod,forgivemeforwhatI’mdoing.”Strangely,shestilldidn’tstopdestroyingherfriend’smarriage.SomepeoplefeelthatGodwillnotpunishthem.Thatiswhytheycontinueinsin.WhenGodshowsyouonesideofHischaracteryouwillseelove,forgivenessandmercyof thehighestorder.Godwill forgiveand forgetyoursins.Buta timewillcomewhenGodwill showyou theother sideofHisnature;which is judgment,justice, fairness, equity and jurisprudence. These are the two sides of God’snature.WearenowintheDispensationofGrace.Godisshowingyoumercyandlove.Think about all the wicked sins you have committed, but still receive Hisforgiveness. At a certain point, the Spirit of the Lord will not strive with mananymore.Godhastojudgeyou,otherwisetherewillbechaosintheKingdom.Thekingbyjudgmentestablisheththeland…

Proverbs29:4GodlovesyousomuchthatHewillpunishyouwhenHehasto.

ATTITUDE5“IHaveMoreTime;I’mNotGoingtoDieSoon.”

People think thatbecausetheyareyoungtheystillhavea lotof time.AlsotheythinktheyhaveenoughoftheirlivesaheadofthemtosortthingsoutwithGod.IwrotethisbookatatimewhenthewholeworldshookatthenewsofthedeathofPrincessDianaandhermillionairecompanion.Nooneinhiswildestimaginationwouldhavethoughtthatsomeonesoyoung,socharmingandsobeautifulcouldbetakenoffthefaceoftheearthsosuddenly.Thesecurityofanarmour-platedMercedesBenzwithairbagsallaroundcouldnotpreventherdeathinacaraccidentinParis.Itellyou,noneofuswasexpectingthis!Everyone thinks that there ismore time. I’m surePrincessDiana thought thereweremanymoreyearsahead.Wealldid.Butitwasnotso.Thatiswhythewholeworld trembledwithshock. It isnotsafe toassumethat there ismoretime.TheBiblewarnsusthatbecausewedon’tknowthedayorthehourChristwillcome,wemustbereadyallthetime.Thekeywordhereispreparationandreadiness.…thuswill I dounto thee…because Iwill do thisunto thee…PREPARE tomeetthyGod…

Amos4:12InLuke12,theBibletellsthestoryofamanwhohadasuccessfulbusiness.Hehadsomuch thathewonderedwhat todowith theprofits.Hedecided tobuildbiggerbarns tostorehisgoods. Inour timethiswouldbeequivalent toopeningnewbankaccounts.Whenhecompletedhisprojects,hesaid tohimself, “Soul,thouhastmuchgoodslaidupformanyyears.Takethineease,eat,drinkandbemerry.”

ComeUpforaMeetingGod reacted immediately fromHeavenandsaid, “…Thisnight thysoul shallberequired of thee.” In otherwords, Iwant to have a discussionwith you tonight.Godhastherighttocallyouupforadiscussionatanytime.Godisshowingusherethatthereisjustastepbetweenusanddeath.There are three times in your lifewhenpeoplewill gather to honour you. Theygatherwhenyouarebornandchristened.Thentheygatheragainwhenyouaregettingmarried.Andfinally, theywilldefinitelyalsogather foryouwhenyoudie.Somebody might contend that he or she is too young to die. But go to themortuary,andyouwilldiscoverthatevenlittlebabiesdie.Iwasonceinahospitalwardwithoneofmyassistantpastorswhenwehappened tosee thebodyofalittlebabywhohad justdied.Although itwasatinybabywhohad justbegantolive,itdied.Thatbabywasnottooyoungtodie.DearChristianfriend,donotputoffyourgodlyobligationsbecauseyouthinkyouarestill youngand there ismore time.YouneverknowwhenGodwill summonyoutoaccountforyourlife.

…thuswill Idounto thee,…because Iwilldo thisunto thee…PREPARE tomeetthyGod.

Amos4:12

Chapter5SymptomsofBacksliding

AndthereshallbeSIGNS…whenyeseethesethings…KNOW…Luke21:25-31

In the field of medicine a symptom or sign is the outward clue of somethingdangerous.Oftenwhenyouaresearchingforsomethingthatishidden,youlookout for clues to lead you. Symptoms and signs help doctors tomake the rightdiagnosis.

SymptomsRevealtheConditionA symptom ismeaningless to the unlearned, but important to the learned. If asymptomisdetectedearlyitcansavealife.Whenadoctordetectscertainsigns,heknows that thepatient’s life is indanger.Buta laymanmayhaveno ideaofwhatisgoingon.When thehandofapatient showscertain signs, it isan indicationofa seriousdiseaseinthe liver.Whathasthehandgot todowiththe liver?Theyaresofarapart anyway.But itmaysurpriseyou to know thata shakingand jerkinghandcouldindicateliverfailure.Totheunlearned,thatshakinghandisjustanunusualspasm.Somemayeventhinkthatitisasignoftheanointing!Thepancreas is located somewheredeep in theabdomen.Howcan you knowwhetherthepancreasisworkingornot?Theonlywaytoknowisto lookoutforcertainsymptomsorsigns.Ioncenoticedamiddle-agedpersondrinkinga lotofwaterandpassinga lotofurine. This person was fat and overweight. As a medical doctor I immediatelythought,“Perhapsthispersonisdiabeticanddoesn’tevenknowit.Theremaybesomethingwrongwithhispancreas.”Itwasanimportantsigntome.Whenyouarelearnedincertainfieldsyouwillnoticethingsthatothersdonot.Asyoureadthisbookyouwill learnaboutsomeofthesymptomswhichgiveanindicationthatapersonisbackslidingspiritually.Andthispersonmaybeyou!Mayyoubecomespirituallyalert,andnottakecertainthingsforgrantedanymoreafterreadingthissection.

SymptomsoftheSoulAsscientistssearchforsignstoknowwhatisgoingoninsidetheBODYofaman,wemustalsolookforthesignsthatuncoverwhatishappeninginsidetheSOULofaman.

The early detection of some of these symptoms can save a believer frombackslidingandgoingtohell.KnowledgeoftheexistenceofthesesymptomscangiveyoustayingpowerfortheChristianrace.Thereisnopointinregularlyattendingchurch,knowingtheLord,andlaterdyingasabackslider!WhyshouldIspendallmyyearspreachingandlaterbecomeacastaway?WhydotheLord’sworktoday,andservethedeviltomorrow?This isapictureofwhathappenedtothefivefoolishvirgins(Matthew25).Theywereall virgins, all tenof them, but fivewere foolish and fivewerewise.All ofthemhadoilatacertainpoint in time.Lateronwhen it reallymatteredsomeofthemdidn’thaveoil.Perhapstheyearbeforetheywereallzealousandanointedwithoil.Butattheendofitall,someofthemhaddroppedaway.I am teaching on these symptoms and signs of backsliding, because manyChristians display these symptoms. If you detect any of these symptoms inyourself,knowthatyoumaybeonadangerouspathtodestruction.Let’sreadon.

BadCompanyExperienceintheministryhastaughtmetotakenoteofanyChristianwhokeepsbadcompany.Itisaverybadsymptom,withaverypoorprognosis.Badcompanywill eventually lead you to badplaces.When you seeaChristianwhohasbadfriends,itislikelyhewillfindhiswayoutofchurchone-day.Badcompanyruinsgoodmorals.

1Corinthians15:33(RevisedStandardVersion)Thereisasaying:“Birdsofthesamefeatherflocktogether.”OneGhanaianproverbcanbe rendered: “Showmeyour friend,and Iwillshowyouyourcharacter.”Thismeansthatwecantellthekindofpersonyouarebyjustlookingatthekindoffriendsyouhave.Within every large church there are smaller groups of Christians. When youobservethesegroups,youwilldiscoverthattheyarepeoplewiththesamekindof“feather”. The friends you move with will either lead you to church or to badplaces.IfyouarearealbelieverandyouwanttoremaininChrist,thenyouneedtohavegood friends. They should be real born-again Christians, who attend a “born-again”church.Theymustbelievethethingsyoubelieve.Youmustgotochurchtogether.Yourfriendsmustnothaveanythingagainstyourgoingtochurch.Iftheydo,theymustnotbeyourfriends!

“Do”ThemBeforeThey“Do”YouIfyoukeepbadfriendstheywilleventuallyconvertyou,oryouwillconvertthem.We had this saying inmy school, (Achimota School) “Do them before they do

you.”Thisisawarningtoinfluenceyourfriendsbeforetheyinfluenceyou!Theway todealwithbadcompany is toconvert themandbring themtoChrist,beforetheycauseyoutobackslide.This, you must realize, requires a lot of wisdom and if you are not a stableChristianyourself,don’tattemptconvertingyourbadfriends-youmayfallaway!

CanYourWifeBeBadCompany?Somepeopledonotrealise that thepersontheymarrywillkeepthemcompanyfor the rest of their lives, and this ‘marital company’will trulyaffect you.This ishowKingSolomon,whobuilt the templeandaccomplishedgreat things for theLord,eventuallybackslid.TheBibletellsusthathiswivesturnedhisheartawayfromGod.Solomon’swiveswerebadcompanyforhim.Youdonotneedtoexposeyourselftothecircumstancesofbadcompany.Youarenotmoreanointed thanSolomon. If theBiblewarns thatbadcompanycan ruinyourlife,you’dbetterbelieveitandsaveyourself!Everywifeaffectsherhusband,andeveryhusbandhasgreat influenceoverhiswife.Whoeveryouare,yourwifewillinfluencethewayyouthink.Ifyourhusbandthinksinacertainway,intheprocessoftime,youwilleventuallythinkinthesameway.

Irememberasweetoldladywhohadnothingagainstotherraces.However,afterbeingmarriedformanyyearstoaracist,shebecameprejudicedherself.Ifyourwifedoesnotwantyoutobeintheministry,youwillnotbeintheministry.Iknow this fromexperience. Ifmywifehadopposedmygoing into theministry, Idon’t think I would have been able to come this far. That is why I am veryconcernedaboutwhomypastorsgetmarriedto.Bad company - whether friends, brothers, husbands, or wives - will lead tobacksliding.Stayclear!

LookingBackwardsInGenesis19,wecanstudythetestimonyofLotandhiswife.TwoangelsweresenttoLotandhisfamilyinSodomandGomorrah.Theirmessagewassimple:…Escapeforthylife,LOOKNOTBEHINDTHEE…lestthoubeconsumed.

Genesis19:17ButtheBibledeclaresthatLot’swifelookedbackandbecameapillarofsalt.Jesus also reminds us of the terriblemistake that Lot’swifemade as shewasescapingfromSodomandGomorrah.

Shewastheonlymemberofthefamilywholookedbackatherpast.Wecanlikenthistobelieverswhobackslidbecausetheykeptlookingbackattheworldandallithadtooffer.Asborn-againbelievers,Godhasdeliveredallofusfromsin,andit is importantthatwedonotlookback.

IWentoutwithManyMenI always remember the story of a lady who stood before a Christian group totestify.Shehappilyrecountedwhatshehaddoneasanunbeliever:“I used to go out withmanymen. They would pickme up to party withme atnightclubsanddiscos.Idancedallnightwiththem.Itwasgreat.”Shesaid.Withgreatexcitementinhervoice,shetoldtheChristians:“Itravelledallovertheworldwiththem.Wereallyhadagoodtime.”Thenhervoicedroppedandshesadlysaid, “But Igotsaved,andhere Iam inchurch.”Toher,salvationwasratherthe“bad”thingthathappenedtoher.Itwasasthoughbeingsavedwasanunfortunateexperience.Thiswomanwaslookingbacktotheexpensivecars,thechineserestaurantsandthe“good”timesshehadhadasanunbeliever. If you keep on thinking and remembering your past sinful life withnostalgia,youwillturninto“apillarofsalt”!When you see a married woman who talks with excitement about her pastboyfriends,thenyouarelookingatawomanwhomaynotbehappywheresheis.Itismostprobablethatshemaywanttogobacktoher“great”guys.Youwill goback if you keep lookingback.And youwill fall if you keep lookingbackwards.I am looking ahead, and I intend to go forwardwithGod’swork. As amedicaldoctorinfull-timeministry,Icouldlookbackandconsiderreturningtothepracticeofmedicine.There are times when I can remember the peculiar smell of the hospital. Iremember thosedayswhenIwalkedthewardsandheardthepatientscall, “Dr.Mills”, “Please, Dr. Mills.” But I am not looking back. I am going forward,preaching,teachingandplantingchurchesallovertheworld.Ihavenointentionofgoingbacktothefull-timepracticeofmedicine.Ifthereisalonginginyourhearttogobackwardsortolookbackwards,thenyouaremanifestingadangeroussymptomofbacksliding.ComebeforetheLordandaskHimtohelpyou“kill”thatinterestinthepast.Letitdie!

Over-ConfidenceAnover-confidentpersonissomeonewhohastoomuchtrustinhisabilities.Itisdangerous to be over-confident as a Christian. Being too confident in your

righteousnessandinyourownspiritualityisabadsign.…LethimthatTHINKETHHESTANDETHtakeheedlesthefall.

1Corinthians10:12IfyouregardyourselforyourpositioninChristasfoolproof,youareindangerofbacksliding-especially,ifyouhavehadpromotioninchurch,orhavebeenusedbyGodinthepast.IhaveheardsomeChristiansboast,“Iwillneverfornicate,Icannotsimplydoit.”This isover-confidence. It remindsmeofaparticularbrother inmychurchwhowouldregularlycometomeandsay:“Pastor,yourchurchissogood;Iwillneverleave Lighthouse Chapel.” He spoke about his commitment to me and to thechurchwithsuchconviction.Afewmonthslater,hewalkedoutofthechurchandneverreturned.

SatanSmilesatBoastingChristiansWhen a Christian continues to boast about his strength, Satan hears him anddecidestotesthim.Suchapersonisapotentialbackslider.Where you are over-confident is where you can be the weakest, because youhavedroppedyourguard.YoucanalsotellthataChristianisover-confidentbythewayhetalksabouttheweaknesses of others. I have heard Christians criticize others as though theycould nevermake the samemistakes. They overestimate their own ability, andlookdownonothers.

DoNotLaughatThemYou need to be humble; otherwise one day you will find yourself in the sameshoes, much to your own surprise. Staying on the right track is largely by thegraceofGod,andnotbyyourownstrength.WhenDavidheard thatSaulwasdead,hedidn’t ridiculehimor rejoiceoverhisdeath. David could have lashed out at Saul and criticized him at that time. HecouldhavetakentheopportunitytotalkabouthowSaulhadbeendisobedientandstubborn. He could have discussed what led to Saul’s downfall. Instead hedeclared,TellitnotinGath,publishitnotinthestreetsofAskelon…

2Samuel1:20AlthoughDaviddidnothaveaproblemwithstubbornnessanddisobedience,hedid not venture to denounce his predecessor because of his weaknesses.Wemustalllearnsomethingfromthisexample.…LethimthatTHINKETHHESTANDETHTAKEHEEDlesthefall.

1Corinthians10:12

StubbornnessThenextsymptomofbackslidingisstubbornness.Astubbornpersonispronetofallingaway.Thebacksliderinheartshallbefilledwithhisownways…

Proverbs14:14IfyouknowastubbornChristianwhodoesnotheedcounsel,butwillalwaysdowhathewantstodoinspiteofalladvice,youarelookingatapotentialbackslider.AndmypeopleareBENTTOBACKSLIDINGfromme…

Hosea11:7OftenIwouldcounselChristiansandfindattheendofthesessionthattheyarestillset in theirways.Theyarebentondoing theirown thing.Everybodyneedsadvice.TheBiblesaysthereissafetyinthemultitudeofcounsel.Better isapoorandawisechildthananoldandfoolishking,whowillnomorebeadmonished.

Ecclesiastes4:13I remember counselling a young lady not to continue in a certain unhealthyrelationship.

AreYouDifferentfromtheOtherGirls?Iasked,“Whatmakesyoudifferentfromtheothergirlshehasthrownaway?Hehashad17girlfriends,andyouarethe18th.Theonlydifferencebetweenyouandtheothersisthatyouarenewtohim.Butonedayyouwillbecome‘old’justlikethe others. And he will then throw you away.” In spite of this admonition, shepersistedinherways.IsthereanybodywhowasmightilyblessedbyGodalthoughhewasstubbornandrebellious? Never! Stubbornness to God, to His Word, to His pastors and tobiblicalcounselisasignthatbackslidingisimminent.

ChristianSurprisesThereissomethingIcall“Christiansurprises”.“Christiansurprises”aresurprisesthatareuniquetotheChristianexperience.TheseareshocksyouexperienceinthecourseofyourChristianwalk.Unfortunately,somepeoplegetsoshockedbywhattheyseeandhearinchurchthatitactuallymakesthemfallaway.AswegrowasChristians,wewillencountertheseChristiansurprises.Mostofusare quite naïve when we become Christians. We think we have come into aperfectworld.So,when theso-calledborn-againsaintsdisappointuswebecomesoamazed.Wecan’tbelieveit’strue.ButtheBiblesaysweshouldnotbeamazed.AshockedoramazedChristiancaneasilyfallawayfromthefaith.

…aslongasyedowell,andarenotafraidwithanyAMAZEMENT.1Peter3:6

…and letnothing terrifyyou -notgivingway tohysterical fearsor lettinganxietiesunnerveyou.

1Peter3:6(AmplifiedBible)Beinginastateofshockisbeinginadangerouscondition.Anygooddoctorwhoseesapatientinastateofshockknowsthatheisdealingwithsomeonewhocaneasilypopoffanddie.Anyexperiencedpastorwhoseeshismembersinastateofshockandsurpriseatwhatmayhavehappenedinthechurchalsoknowsthatheislookingatamemberwhocaneasilyfallaway.

AllLeadersAreHuman!Oneof the things thatmaycauseChristians to fallaway isdisappointment inaChristian leader. Sometimes your leader can disappoint you beyond measure.Samson,David,Peterandothermightyleadersmademistakes.Thatcouldhavedisappointedtheirfollowers,andcausedthemtobackslide.The Bible tells pastors not to be greedy, pompous or lord their authority overothers.Itstatesclearlythatpastorsshouldnotrunaftermoney,orwomen.God’sministersaresupposedtodoHisworkfromtheirhearts.TheveryfactthattheBiblespeaksaboutallofthesethingsmeansthatChristianleaderscandothem(andhavedonethem)!These days one of the favourite activities of the press is towrite stories aboutfallenmenofGod.Somepastorshavebeeninvolvedinsex,moneyandbreakawayscandals.Christians have been surprised at such behavior coming from the people theyhave loved and looked up to for many years. Such surprising behavior oftendestabilizeshitherto‘stable’believers.ButremembertheWordofGod.…thereisnonewthingunderthesun.Isthereanythingwhereofitmaybesaid,Seethisisnew?ithathbeenalreadyofoldtime…

Ecclesiastes1:9,10Ifyouhaveall throughyourChristianlife,putyourtrust inaman,thenit isverylikelythatyouwillbedisappointed.

FixYourEyesonJesusPaulsaid,“FollowmeasI followChrist.”WhichmeansyoucanonlyfollowyourChristian leaderas longashe followsChrist! I often tellmy church, “Theday IstopfollowingChrist,isthedayyoustopfollowingme”.IrememberwhensomegreatmenofGodintheUnitedStatesfellintosin,manyChristians also fell away from the faithwith them.Whywas this so? They had

experiencedaChristiansurprise.Buttheyneedn’thavefallen.IfyoufixyoureyesonChrist(lookinguntoJesus),youwillbeastableChristian.Christiansmayalsobecomesurprisedwhentheypray,butdonotgettheanswerstheyexpect.Aclosememberofthefamilymaybeterminallyill,oryoumayhavebeenprayingforyourhusbandtobesaved,onlytoseehimgetworse.YoucaneasilyfeelsurprisedandshockedthatGodhasignoredyourprayers.Donotbesurprised!Itisnoteverythingthatyouknow.Ihopeyouknowthat!Youarestilllearning,andyouarestillgrowingintheLord.

IWasSurprised!IrememberonetimewhenIwastravellingtoTamale,atowninthenorthernpartofGhana.IwasdrivingwiththepastorsofourbranchesinKumasi,ZurichandaCanadiantraineepastor.Onthehighway,twobicycleriderssuddenlycrossedmypath.Ihad toapply thebrakes immediately inorder toavoidhitting them.WhenIdidthis, my car began to skid, and before I could say ‘Jack Robinson’, we weresomersaultingintheair.Thecareventuallyrolledtoahaltsome30metresofftheroad.Wewerenowliterallyupsidedown,withthewheelsofthecarintheair!Whenwe all came out alive and well, I must admit that I was surprised - andalmost angry with God.Why should God allow such a thing to happen to us?Didn’tHeknowthatwewereallpastorstravellingonlytodomoreofHiswork?However, a few days later the Spirit of God ministered certain things to meprivately.One thing I can tell you that He said to me was, “Instead of being angry andsurprised, you shouldbegrateful that I haveallowed this tohappen inorder todrawyourattentiontosomethingveryimportantforyourlifeandministry”.Youmaynotunderstandthisnow,butasyougrowinChristyouwillunderstanditbetterbyandby.

Surprisingly,JesusDidNotHealEveryone!When Jesus was here, He did not heal everybody. Jesus went to the pool ofBethsaida, a place that had a host of sick people. (That is the equivalent of amodernhospital.)Butheonlyhealedoneman,whohadbeensickfor38years.Whydidn’tHehealanyoftheothers?Jesussaid,“MyFatherworks,andIwork”.JesusmeantthathewasdoingexactlywhatHisFatherwasdoing.Shouldwebesurprisedat thismoveofChrist?Wehaveto learn to trust in theSovereigntyofGodandnotbeannoyedwithHim.

TheDisciplesWereSurprised!

ThearrestandcrucifixionofChristsurprisedthedisciples.AweekbeforeHehadsat on a donkey and the crowds had cheered Him. They hailed and sang,“Hosanna,blessedisHethatcomesinthenameoftheLord!”ThedisciplesknewthatHewasagreatman.Butaweek laterhewaskilledonthecrosslikeacommoncriminal.Theymusthavebeenverysurprised.Asweallknow,thesefrightened,surprisedanddisappointeddisciplesdesertedtheirSaviourandwerescattered.Thisistheequivalentofbacksliding.

ITryNottoBeSurprisedEver since I became a pastor, the lifestyles, habits and practices of someChristian leaders have surprisedme. But I have had to teachmyself not to besurprisedanymore.Whathasbeenevenmorebewilderingisthedualityofsomeministers.Irememberoneministerwhospokeofcommittingfornicationalmostasif it was an everyday occurrence in his life. Yet this man was the pastor of achurch. Timeand timeagain, I havehad to bracemyself anddecide not to beastonishedoramazedbywhatgoesonaroundme.OtherwiseImayhavelefttheMinistrybynow!Decide not to be surprised, astonished, dazed, bewildered, or even angry withsome of the things you see in Christianity. Keep your focus on Christ and HisWord.

ToBeEasilyOffendedWhen you see someonewho is very touchy, easily hurt and offended, you arelookingatapotentialbackslider.Irememberoneabsenteechurchmemberwhomwevisited.Wewantedtoknowwhyshewasnotinchurchanymore.Shetoldusthatonce,whenshecameinlate,theusherswronglyseatedherandlaterrelocatedher.Thishadhappenedmorethanonce.Soshebecameoffendedanddecidednot to come to churchanymore.This personwasoffendedby theinexperiencedusherandsimplyleftthechurch.Imaginethat!Some church members are irritated because the pastor does not seem toremembertheirnames.Othersareoffendedbecausethepastordidnotsayhellowhenhemetthemintown.Thinkaboutthisforamoment;whywouldthepastordelibratelynotsayhellotohisownchurchmember?Doesitmakesense?Ishetrying to gather people or to scatter and offend them?Could it not be that thepastordidn’trecognizeyou,orthathegenuinelydidnotnoticeyou?Thinkaboutit!

ATouchyPersonIsDifficulttoLiveWithIfyoumarryatouchyperson,youwillalwayshaveproblems.Theyaretheoneswhocomplain,“Whydidn’tyousmiletoday?Iputmytoothbrushinthecenter,why

haveyoumovedittotheright?Howcomethetoweliswet?Don’tleavemytowelonthebed.Whyhaveyouputmyshoeshereinsteadofthere?”It’sverydifficulttolivewith people like that. They are not only difficultmarriage partners, but alsodifficultchurchmembersforthepastor.TheycanevenbecomeoffendedwithGodHimself!

MyFatherDiedWhilstIPrayedIf I were to be easily offended, I would not have been able to continue in theministry.Someyearsago,ItravelledfromGhanatostartachurchinZurich.WhileIwas fastingandpraying toestablishGod’swork,my fatherdiedbackhome inGhana.Throughout theweekbeforehedied,hehadbeenseriously ill,but Iwasn’t fullyinformedaboutwhatwasgoingon.Thenonedayafter Ihadbeenprayingandfastingfor5daysandnights,myfatherdiedabout11O’clockinthemorning.Oneofmyassociatepastorscalledtoinformmeaboutwhathadhappened.Iwasshockedandsurprised.AndwhenIputthephonedown,Iweptlikeababy.IhadeveryreasontobeoffendedwithGod.Wasn’tIonthemissionfield,doingHiswork?IconsoledmyselfthatIwouldunderstanditbetterbyandbyandtruly,Ihavenotbecomedisillusionedwiththeministry.Iampressingon!IfaChristianeasilygetshurt,heislikelytobackslide!

Chapter6MoreSymptoms…

ForgetfulnessGod warned the children of Israel…AND THOU FORGET the Lord…whichbroughttheeforth…

Deuteronomy8:14ChristiansfallawayfromChristbecausetheyforgetwheretheycamefrom.TheyforgetthattheirsourceisChrist.Don’teverforgetthatitisChristwhobroughtyoutoyourposition,andblessedyou.

Don’tForgetWhereYouAreComingFromManyofushaveforgottenwhoweusedtobe.Wehaveforgottenwhatitwasliketohaveahangoverinthemorning.Wehaveforgottenwhatitwasliketohaveyourdifferentgirlfriends“clashing”.WehaveforgottenthefearofnotknowingwhetheryouhavecontractedgonorrhoeaorAIDS.Let us remember where the Lord brought us from. When we bought our firstchurchbuilding,wewereallsoexcited.WemarchedfromtheKorle-BuHospitalinAccra,toournewheadquarterslocation,amidstsinginganddancing.Thebuilding

wasanold cinema thatwe rebuilt intoabeautiful cathedral. Indeed,weplayedbeforetheLord.Somebodywhowatchedme later on video laughedand commented: “It seemsthatoldcinemahallmeantalottoyou”.Ireplied,“Youdon’tknowwheretheLordhasbroughtmefrom.Ihavenotforgotten,andIdonotintendtoforget.”Many churches have forgotten the vision and principles of their founders. Theyhave forgotten the ideals and standards which their founding fathers stood for.That is whymany of them are in a backslidden condition. If some founders ofchurchesweretorisefromthedeadnow,Ibelievethatmanyofthemwouldnotjointheverychurchestheyfounded.Thecurrentleaderswouldevenrejectthem.I always try to remember why I came into the ministry. Why did I leave therespectedandnoblepracticeofmedicinetocomeintotheoftencontroversialandridiculedjobofbeingapastor?Myoriginalmotivationwastowinsouls.IkeepthatattheforefrontofmymindandI keep pressing on to win more souls. If I forget that, I can easily slide intoeducation,medicine, socialworkorevenpolitics.Anybodywho forgets canslipandslideintothingshedidn’tintendtoinvolvehimselfwith.

NotFastingFastingkeepsthebelieverfrombacksliding.IntheBiblethewordassociatedwithfastingisaffliction.Infact,thewordafflictioncanbeinterchangedforfasting.WhereforehaveweFASTED…whereforehaveweAFFLICTEDoursoul…

Isaiah58:3BeAFFLICTED,andmourn,andweep…

James4:9BeforeIwasAFFLICTEDIwentastray:butnowhaveIkeptthyword.

Psalm119:67How do you afflict yourself? According to the psalmist, oneway you can afflictyourselfisbyfasting.

FastingKeepsYouonTrack!Hesaidthatbeforehefastedhewentastray,butwhenhefasted,hewasabletokeepGod’sWordandstayontrack.TheygraduallymoveawayfromGod.TheninPsalm119:71,hesays,“ItisgoodformethatIhavebeenafflicted,thatImight learn thy statutes.” Do you think that God is saying it is good to havesicknessanddisease?Afflictioninthatsenseisnotsickness.InthiscontextGodissayingthatitisgoodfortheChristiantofast.

FastingMakesYouHumble!

Anotherwordthatisassociatedwithfastingishumility.InJames4:10,theWordofGodsays,“HumbleyourselfinthesightofGodandHewillliftyouup.”WhenthepsalmistfastedinPsalm35:13,hesaid,“Ihumbledmysoulwithfasting”.Carryingyour pastor’s bible, speaking softly, or walking slowly are not signs of humility.Godsaysyoucanhumbleyourselfbyfasting.During a fast, especially when you have not eaten for several days, youexperience extreme weakness in your body. This kind of suffering in the fleshsobersyou.Itmakesyouhumble.Andifthereisanythingweneedinthismodernage ofChristianity, it is humility.Remember that pride comesbefore a fall, andfastingwilltakeawaythepridethatleadsmanytoafall.Asabelieveryouneedto fast,otherwiseyour fleshwilldominateyou,and leadyouintofleshlysins.Tobecarnallymindedisdeath.

SomeProblemsWillBeSolvedOnlyWhenYouFastAnother reason for fasting is that thereareparticularproblems thatcanonlybesolvedthroughfasting.Somepeoplehaveproblemsthataregoingtomakethembackslide.Someof theseproblems thatcausebackslidingmustbesolved through fasting.Jesustoldhisdisciplesaftertheyfailedtohealanepileptic,…THISKINDgoethnotoutbutbyprayerandFASTING.

Matthew17:21Jesusmeantherethatnotallproblemsarethesame.Somedifficultonescanbesolvedonly through fasting. It is nowonder thatChristianswhodonot fast areweigheddownbyallkindsofproblems.EvenwintershouldnotpreventChristiansfromfasting.IhaveheardChristiansinEuropeandAmericacomplainthatitisnotpossibletofastduringthewinter.Itispossible.During several of my church-planting exercises, I have had to fast during thewinter.IrememberoncewhenabrothervisitedandrealizedIwasfasting,hecouldnotbelieveit.Heaskedme,“Howcanyoufastwhenitissocold?”Heexplainedthateatinghelpstokeepwarm.

FastingPreventsSpiritualColdnessBut this is thevery reasonwhymanyAfricanChristianswho live inEuropeandAmericaareafarcryfromwhattheyusedtobeintheirowncountries.Theyhavestoppedfastingforvariousreasons,andhavegrownspirituallycold.Fasting isnotanoption.Jesussaid inMatthew6:16:“whenyefast…”Hedidn’tsayifyoufast.ThismeansHeexpectsustofast.

Fasting has its rewards. In Isaiah 58, God has listed some of the rewards offasting.Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine HEALTH shallspringforthspeedily…Thenshaltthoucall,andtheLordshallanswer:thoushaltcry,andheshallsay,HereIam…

Isaiah58:8,9Oneoftherewardsoffastingisthatyouwillstayspirituallyhealthy.

FastingLessThenextsymptomofapersonwhoisbackslidingisthesymptomoffastingless.Fastingisaspiritualexercisethatkeepsusonourtoes.Themoreyoufast,themorespiritualenergyyougenerate.Themoreyoufast,themorespirituallytunedupyouwillbe.Ifyouusedtofastregularlysometimeago,butnowfastless,itisapossiblesignthatyouarebecoming“cold”.

FastingIsNotanOptionTheprophetDanielwaseightyyearsoldwhenhe fasted for threeweeks.EvenpregnancyshouldnotmakeaChristianwomanabandonher fasting life.Duringpregnancy, you should be able to fast to some extent, and still remain healthy.‘Thebabymaybecomeanointedandgrowevenbetter’.Fasting less is a sign that your investment into spiritual things is graduallydecreasing.AngeratCorrectionAnybelieverwhogetsangryatcorrectionmustbewatchedclosely.Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke awiseman, and hewilllovethee.

Proverbs9:8Awisemanwillbehappyatcorrectionbecausehewillthinkthroughitandrealizethathe isbeinghelped.Oftenthetruth ispainful.WhenJesustold thecrowd inJohn8:44“…yeareofyourfatherthedevil…”theywereoffended.

JesusCalledPeterSatanOnoneoccasion,JesusaddressedPeterandsaidtohim,“Gettheebehindme,Satan.”NoticethatPeterwasnotangryatbeingcalledSatan.Afterthisrebuke,PeterwentontobecomethegreatmanofGodwhopreachedtothousands!A friendatschool toldsomeonewhowas irritatinghim, “Satan,get theebehindme.” This person was astonished, amazed and very offended at being called“Satan”.HisreactionwasverydifferentfromPeter’s!I havenever referred to anybodyasSatan (although I have seenmanypeoplebehave just like the devil). I wonder what would happen if I dared to correct

someonebyreferringtohimasSatan?Hewouldprobablyexplodeinanger!TheMusicianWasNotOffended

Duringavisittooneofmybranchchurches,aninstrumentalistwasveryrudetohischoirdirector.Thepastor inchargesternly rebuked thismusician. Iwatchedthisscenequietlyfromtheside,wonderingwhatwouldhappennext.Fortunatelythismusiciandidnotgetangryathispastor’srebukeandisdoingwellupuntiltoday.Iknowsomemusicianswhowouldhavewalkedoutatthatkindofcorrection.Better isapoorandawisechildthananoldandfoolishking,whowillnomorebeadmonished.

Ecclesiastes4:13AGoodFatherWillCorrectYou

Godgaveusfathersandmotherstocorrectandadviseus.YoushouldthankGodifyourparentsarealive.There are many people who do not have strong fathers to guide them. Suchpeopleoftengoastray.Mywifetellsmethatshewantedtobeasecretaryforthewrong reasons, but her father counselled her.Heencouragedher to study law.Todaysheisgladthatshefollowedherfather’sadviceandbecamealawyer.Those who do not have good parents to guide and correct them are at adisadvantage. Correction will help you stay on track, so do not be angry atcorrection!AllowingtheCaresoftheWorldtoChoketheWordAndthecaresofthisworld…choketheword,anditbecomethunfruitful.

Mark4:19Jesus told the story of a sower who went out to sow. Some seeds fell on thewayside, some on stony ground, some among thorns and the rest on goodground.Jesus compared the four types of ground to four types of hearts. In one heart,thornschokedtheword.Inanother,theheartwaslikeastone,sothattheWordcouldnotenter.Inanotherheart,theWordfellbythewayside.

Only25%oftheSeedsWillSurviveIt was only the good heart that bore fruit. This story implies that only about aquarterofallthosewhoheartheWordofGodwilleventuallyremaininChristandbefruitful.What are the cares of the world? Paying your debts, your bills, and all theresponsibilitiesthatgowithfamilylifefallunderthese“cares”.

Thereisnothingwrongwithpayingyourbillsorlookingafteryourfamily.Indeed,ifyouhaveawifeor family, youought to lookafter them.Ahusband’sduty is tofellowship with his wife and to take care of his children. These are legitimatechallengesthateveryoneinthisworldwillhavetograpplewith.Godwarnsusagainstbecomingoverburdenedwiththeseresponsibilities.Thesecaresshouldnotdominateourlives.Whentheybegintodominateyourlife,youareindangerofbacksliding.Asapastor,IhaveobservedthatwhenChristianstakeonnewjobs,theybecomesoengrossedinthem-tothedetrimentoftheirspirituallives.Sometimesbecauseofsuchnewjobs,theyneithergotochurchnorhavetheirquiettimesanymore.Thecaresoftheworldhavebeguntocausebacksliding.Everystudent’s“care”istopasshisexaminationsbutGodshouldnotbeexcludedfromyourlifebecauseofyourbooks.As amedical student I successfully combinedmy schoolwork withmy pastoralwork.ForyearsIwasastudentaswellasapastor.IhaveneverputtheWordortheworkofGodasidebecauseofschool.In my ministry, I have had medical students pastoring large branches of thechurchfaithfully.Itisnotanimpossibletask.Asamedicalstudent,Ioftenasked,“Is being a medical student a curse? Does it mean that I cannot serve Godanymore?DoesitmeanIhavetobackslide?”Theanswerisno!Beingamedicalstudent is just another ‘care’ of this worldwhichmust not be allowed to chokeGod’sWordandwork.

Don’tBackslideBecauseYouArePregnantAnewbabyorapregnancyshouldnotmakeyoubackslide.OtherChristianshavemadeit,andsocanyou!When our first sonwas born, I carried him to churchwhen hewas only sevendaysold. Ihadapreachingappointment tohonour,andhad togowithmywifeandmynewbornson.Irememberhowwecarriedourseven-day-oldbabythroughthecoldweatherontothebuses,andinthestreetsinordertokeepthispreachingappointmentinGeneva.Mybabydidn’tdie.Neitherwillyours,ifyoucontinuetodotheworkoftheLord.IamsorrytosaythatmanynewmothersarebackslidingChristians,becausetheyareallowingthecaresoftheworldtochoketheirChristianlives.

AllowingRichestoChoketheWord…and the deceitfulness of riches…choke the word, and it becomethunfruitful.

Mark4:19Thosewhoareveryrichhavecertainproblemswhichpoorerpeopledonothave.Theseproblemsoftherichtendtokeepthemawayfromchurch.

Whenwe first purchased theLighthouseCathedral property,we ran intoanewproblemwhichwe did not have before.We had to think of security!We hadn’tthoughtofsecuritybefore,becausewehadneverhadanypropertytoprotect.I have noticed that as people becomemore successful they tend to stay awayfromchurch.WhentheLordblessesyou,donotmakethemistakeofallowingtheresponsibilitiesassociatedwithnewblessingstochoketheWord.Remember that itwasGodwhogaveyou thepower toacquirewealth.God,byblessingyou,didnotintendtokeepyouawayfromHim!Yourarelyseetheso-called“big-shots”atprayermeetingsandcrusades.Theydonotturnupforallnightprayermeetingsprobablybecausetheyaretiredfromallthe work they do, or because the time could be spent doing something“profitable”!Learnhowtomaintaintheglowinspiteofyournewfoundtreasures.Don’tallowyourrichestocrowdouttheLord.

TheLustoftheWorld…andthelustsofotherthingsenteringin,choketheword,anditbecomethunfruitful.

Mark4:19Lust for anything apart from God’s Word is dangerous. It can ruin your lifebecauseyouwillsacrificesomanythingstogetwhatyouwant.ThereareChristianswhowillsacrificeanythingtorideinamercedesbenz.Theywillsteal,cheatandlietoownone.SuchBelievershaveastrongdesiretohavesomematerialpossession,andtheywilldoalltheycantohaveit.Thisstrongoverpoweringdesire iswhatGodcalls lust.But lust isdangerous! Itdestroys.…havingescapedtheCORRUPTIONthatisintheworldthroughLUST.

2Peter1:4Corruptionhascomeintotheworldthroughlust.Governments are often corrupt because of officialswho have strong desires toacquire certain possessions. These officials take bribes in exchange for illegalfavours.They also receive gifts and handouts in exchange for signing bogus contractswhichruintheeconomiesofentirenations.Lust(strongdesires)corruptspeople.

DesiretheWillofGodAsaministerIhavelearntnottohaveastrongdesireforanythinginparticular.Itcan easily destroy your ministry. Mind you, I also have desires, but they are

subjecttotheWordofGodinme.ThestrongestdesireinaChristian’slifeshouldbeforthewillofGodtoprevail.…Takeheed,andbewareofcovetousness:foraman’slifeconsistethnotintheabundanceofthethingswhichhepossesseth.

Luke12:15ThereisnothingthatisworthsacrificingyourChristianityfor.Youwillonlylive(ordie) to regret it. If you see someonewho has a very strong desire formaterialthings,youarelookingatapotentialbackslider.Onedaythedevilwilldanglethatthinginfrontofyou,andyoumayjustwalkoutonChristtogetit.SomeChristiansdesperatelywantahusband,andthereforetheywillbreakalltherules,andsacrificeeverymoralprinciple inordertogetone.Othersdesperatelywanttohaveachild.Andtheywillgoasfarashavingsexwithothermeniftheirhusbandsaresterile.

HeSaid,“IDon’tTrustAnyWoman.”OncewhenIwasworkinginthehospital,adoctorfriendexplainedthathisworkinthe gynecological department had made him distrust women. He said he hadseenfemalepatientswhom,whentheyrealizedtheirhusbandsweresterile,wentaheadandsacrificedtheirmaritalvowsinordertobecomepregnant.Herelatedhowonehusbandhadcometohishouseweepingforjoyafterhiswifehadhadababy.Hemarvelled,“Thismandidnotknowthathiswifehadcheatedonhimandhadhadachildbyanotherman.”Donotletyourcravingformaterialpossessionsmakeyoubackslide.

APoorQualityConscienceApersonwhodoesnothaveagoodconscienceisapotentialbackslider.Agoodconscience is necessary to keep you on track. It is the next symptom ofbackslidingIwantustoconsider.Holding faith, and A GOOD CONSCIENCE; which some having put awayconcerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus andAlexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that theymay learn not toblaspheme.

1Timothy1:19-20Two church members, Hymenaeus and Alexander, put away faith and a goodconscience,andthus,theymadeshipwreckoftheirChristianlives.Aslongasweputourconscienceaway,wewillhavethecapacitytodogreaterandgreatereviluntilthedaythatweforsakeGod.

YourConscienceIsaVoice-Protectit!

Theconscienceisthevoiceofthatbettercomponentofahumanbeing(whetheraChristianornon-Christian).Itistheconscienceofamanthattriestokeephimfromdoingevil.Itisimportanttohaveagoodandstrongconscience(innervoice).Youcaneitherhaveastrongconscienceoraweakone.Paul,thegreatapostle,saidhehadagoodconscience.Healsorevealedthathehadalwaysmaintainedagoodconscience,evenasanunbeliever.IdaresaythatsomeunbelievershavebetterconsciencesthansomeChristians.Whenourconsciencebecomeshardened, it isdifficult forGod tospeak tous. Ihavealways tried to haveagood conscience, because I know thedanger of ahardenedconscience.Itisthisconsciencewhichpricksmeeverydayandkeepsmefrombacksliding.When your conscience is gone, that element within you that can stop thebackslidingprocessisalsogone.Youarenolongertouchedbytheanointing,bytheWordofGod,bythepreaching,orbytheHolyGhost.Yourconscienceislikethepalmofyourhand.Someofushavesofthands,whilstothershavecallousones.Yourhandswillbecomehardened,andthesoftnesswillgoawayasyoudohardworkwithyourhands.Inthesameway,yourconsciencewillbecomehardenedasyoucontinuetosinwithoutrepenting.When believers become indifferent to the promptings ofGod, it is a dangeroussign.

NoPreacherCouldReachHimApastor friendofminewhoseentire family issavedexcept foronebrother toldmehis story.He relatedhowhismother had takenhis brother to somanyFullGospelBreakfastmeetingsthathehadbecomehardened.He had heard many different testimonies from several speakers but these nolongermadeanimpactonhislife.Indeed,heknewwhenthespeakerwouldmakeanaltarcall.Heknewwhatthenextitemontheprogrammewas.ManyChristianscanlieandtheirconscienceswillnotprickthemanymore.Someofthemcaneveninventfalsestorieswithoutbattinganeyelid.Ihaveheardofpastorswhosaytheypreachbestafterfornicating.Thedifferencebetween these pastors and you is just a gradual process of hardening. Youbecomeharderandharderasyoubecomeusedtosin.Thenatapointwhenyousinyouwon’tbebotheredanymore.Youcancommitbiggerorsmallersinsdependingonyourconscience.Ifyouhaveaverysensitiveconscience,thesinsthatyoucancommitwillbe“small”ones.Butasyourconsciencebecomesmorehardenedandmorewornout,yourability tocommit‘wilder’sinsgrows.

IDon’tCareifIGotoHeavenorHell

Recently,Isatbeforeacertainrichman,andIsaidtohim,“YoumustbepreparedtomeetyourGodatanytime.”Hewaswithtwoofhiswealthyfriends.Herepliedthathewasnotprepared,buthereallydidn’tcare.Whenyougettothestagewhereyoudon’tcarewhetheryougotoheavenorhell,thenyouareindanger.Perhaps,whenyouwereyoungeryouwouldhavecared,butnow,youaresohardenedthatyoudon’tcareanymore.EveryChristianneedstohaveasensitiveconscience.Donotgetusedtosin.Donot get to the stage where you do not care anymore. Be sensitive to the littlepromptingsoftheinnervoice,soyoudon’tbackslide!

Chapter7EvenMoreSymptoms…

PrayingLessThenextsymptomofbackslidingIwantustoconsiderisprayingless.Jesussaid,“Praylestyoufallintotemptation”.PrayerkeepsusfromfallingawayfromGod.Anybodyyouspendtimetalkingtobecomesclosetoyou.Inthesameway,anyChristianwhospendstimetalkingtoGodwillbecomeclose toHim. It follows that if youdon’t spend timepraying toGod,youwillbefarfromHim.Thisisoneoftheprinciplesthatexplainhowpeoplecanhaveextra-maritalaffairs.Manyofusforgetthatifyoucontinuouslycommunicatewithsomebody,heorshebecomesclosetoyou.Youcanunknowinglyfallinlovewithamanorwomanwhoisnotyourpartner.Spending time togetherwithsomebodymakesyouclose,whetheryou intend tobecloseornot.SowhenaChristianspendslesstimepraying,heisunknowinglymovingawayfromGod.

TheDayIMetaStrangeWomanWhen you pray, God gives you strength to overcome temptations. He willstrengthen you to doHis will and youwill not fall away.Many years ago,GodknewIwasgoingtoexperienceaserioustestingofmyChristianfaithsoHewokemeupearlyinthemorningtopray.Tongues were flowing out of my spirit like a river and I knew something wasamiss,soIprayedthemore.Ilaiddownonthefloorandcontinuedinprayer.Asayoung Christian I was normally doing an hour a day in prayer, but this time Iprayedforoverthreehours.AndthatdayImetastrangewoman.TheBible tellsusaboutayoungman inProverbswhometastrangewoman. Ihadasimilarexperience.And,behold,theremethimawomanwiththeattireofanharlot,andsubtilofheart.

Proverbs7:10I had no ideawhat this Christian lady had inmind. But that day, I tell youmyfriend,Goddeliveredme!IbelievemydeliverancewasverymuchrelatedtotheprayertimeIhadhadinthemorning.Iwasverystrong.Wheredidthatstrengthcome from? Jesus told His disciples to pray because they might fall intotemptation.The Lord gaveme strength through prayer. If you see aChristianwho doesn’tpray,youarelookingataChristianwhowillfallintoonetemptationafteranother,untilheeventuallybackslides.

NotBeingCommittedThe next symptom of backsliding I want us to consider is the symptom of notbeingcommitted.Anybodywhodoesnotwant tobecommitted toachurchwillultimatelyleavethatchurch.There are countless Christians who are just visiting churches, but are notcommittedtoanyofthem.Thesearethe‘watchingChristians’.Theyarewatchingoutforhowthingswillturnoutbythenextmonth.Iftheydon’tfeeltoohappywiththepastororhissermons,theywillmovetothenextchurch.Godexpects thebeliever tobe likea tree that isplantedby the riversofwater.The riversofwaterare thepowerful, life-changingmessages that flow from thepulpit everySunday.EveryChristianmust be planted in the houseof the Lord.Youmusthavesomebodytorelatetoasyourpastor.Godcreatedusinaspecialway so that we are like sheep, who need a shepherd. You need to belongsomewhere!I remember one friend who finally came home after sojourning in Europe forsometime. He didn’t want to join this church, or that church. He was just notcommittedanywhere.Hewouldgohere todayand there tomorrow.At a point Ihad to remindhim that it isonly thedevilwhogoes toand froaccording to theBookofJob!AnuncommittedChristianisapotentialbackslider.

IrregularFellowshipThenextsymptomisthesymptomofhavingirregularfellowship.Ithinkthisisoneofthemostimportantsymptoms.Itisactuallyoneofthemostcommon.Yourheartissupposedtobeatatregularintervals.Butunfortunately,somepeoplehaveanirregularheartbeat.Thismeansthatwhentheirheartsbeatcorrectlyonceortwice,itisfollowedbyamis-timedbeat.Anirregularheartbeatmayberegularlyirregularorirregularlyirregular.PleasetryandunderstandwhatIamsaying.

AreYouIrregularlyIrregular?A patient with an irregularly irregular heartbeat is suffering from what is calledatrial fibrillation and experiences symptoms like fainting and palpitations. Topreventdeathsuchpeople’sheartsneedtobestabilized.

Unfortunately,therearemanyChristianswhohavethisproblemofbeingirregularin their spiritualwalk.This irregularity is either regular or irregular.Their churchattendancemaybe regularly (constantly) irregular. (For instance theyconstantlycometochurchonceortwiceamonth).Forsome,churchattendancemaybe irregularly irregular.Forsuchpeople theirchurchattendancemaybe totallyunpredictable throughout theyear.Thepastorcannotpredictwhentheywillnextbeinchurch.Canyouimaginewhatitwouldbelikeifyoudidn’tknowwhennextyourheartwouldbeat?Televisionandradiosermonscannotsubstituteregularfellowship.Youmusthavea specific church, which you attend regularly. Observe the irregular Christians.Youwillnoticehow they tend tobackslide.But the regular feedingofyourspiritwillkeepyoufrombacksliding.

LazinessandExcusesThenextsymptomyoumustwatchoutforislazinessandexcusesTheslothfulmansaith,Thereisalionwithout,Ishallbeslaininthestreets.

Proverbs22:13ThelazyChristianisfullofamazingexcuses.Hewouldsayhecouldn’tleavehisbedbecauseofanimaginarylioninthestreet.Suchapersonwillnotamounttomuch because anyone who wants to be successful must be prepared to workhard!

HardWorkBreedsSuccessWhen I was in Achimota School I passed with distinction at the ordinary levelexams.Itdidn’tjusthappen.Ihadtoworkveryhard.Whilesomeofthestudentswereplayingaround,Iwasstudyingveryhard.In the third year of my medical schooling I earned another distinction. Inpreparation for thatexam, Ididn’tsleep in thenight forsixweeks. Islept in theafternoonsbetween2p.m.and6p.m.Thenfrom6p.m.tillthenextdayat2p.m.,Iwouldn’tsleep.Iwouldgoforwalks,memorizingandretainingsomeofthecoursematerial.Irememberwalkingupanddowninthe‘R’Blockofthemedicalstudents’hostel,memorizingallsortsofinformationaboutworms,flies,andinsects:thiswormlayssomanyeggsperminute,thatinsectfliesatthisspeedpersecond,itdivesatthisangleintothewater,etc.Whenotherstudentswereasleep,Iwaswalkingbehindtheirroomsmemorizingthings about worms, crabs, scorpions and every other creature I had to learnabout.WhenyouseesomebodysucceedingasaChristian,ordoingwellinanysphere,hemustbeworkinghard!

Seestthouamandiligentinhisbusiness?heshallstandbeforekings;heshallnotstandbeforemeanmen.

Proverbs22:29Allthosewhoaredoingwellarenotmagicallyblessed;theirsuccesscomesoutofworkingveryhard. In thesameway, thosewhoarenotbackslidingarenot justmiraculouslystayingoncourse.TheyareworkinghardattheirChristianlives!The Lighthouse Chapel International is doing well because so many differentpeoplecontributetowardschurchgrowth.Therearepastorswhoworkveryhardandoftenleavethechurchpremisesverylate.Therearealsounpaidvolunteerswhomake great sacrifices of time. It is this great commitment that makes thechurchwork.Lazinesswillnot takeanybodytoHeaven.Seest thouamanwho isslothful;hecaneasilygotoHell!IttakeshardworktostayontrackwithGod.WatchthelazyChristiansinthechurch;theyarepronetobacksliding!

ColdnessColdnessisthenextsymptomofbackslidingIwantustoconsider.Andbecauseiniquityshallabound,theloveofmanyshallwaxCOLD.

Matthew24:12Youcandetectcoldnessbyfirstidentifying“coolness”inchurch.

ChristianDiplomatsSomeChristiansarevery‘cool’inthehouseoftheLord.Theyrefusetobepartofjubilantpraiseandworship.Theydon’tjoininshoutingorclappingtheirhandstotheLord.They just refuse to release themselves in thepresenceof theLord. I call thesepeople “Christian diplomats”. To all such people I say: there is no place fordiplomacyinChristianity!IfyouwantGodtobeattractedtoyou,thenbelikeKingDavid.Davidlostallhisinhibitionswhen he danced before the Lord. Therewas no coolness about thewayhedanced.Infact,hedanceduntilhisclothesfelloff!ThebackslidingChristianhasnojoyinexpressinghimselfbeforetheLord.TohimitisabothertoliftuphishandstotheLord,orshoutwiththevoiceoftriumph.Itisamazingthatthissame“cool”Christianwouldlosehis‘coolness’whenhisfavoritesoccerteamisplaying.Hewillshout,screamandclaphishandswhenagoalisscored.I have noticed that when Christians are backsliding they first become aloof,diplomatic and uninterested. They yawn, look bored and keep glancing at their

watchesduringtheservice.ThesearemanifestationsofwhatIcall“coldness”or“coolness”.Watchoutforthem;theyaresuresignsofimminentbacksliding.

FoolishQuestioningFoolishquestioningisanothersymptomofbacksliding.Butfoolishandunlearnedquestionsavoid…theydogenderstrifes.

2Timothy2:23Someoneasked,“WhomadeGod?”Anotherpersonsaid,“I’llcometochurchifyoucantellmewhoCain’swifewas”(ReferringtoAdamandEve’sfirstson).Theanswer to thisparticularquestion isverysimple.But it isa foolishquestionanyway.Yousee, theproblemisnotwhomarriedCain; therealproblem iswithyour backsliding tendency! You now want to find some reason to doubt theauthenticityoftheBible!

YouHavetheProblemOthers would question “Why are the pastors driving nice cars?” Again, theproblemisnotwiththepastor’scarorhowmuchthepastorsarebeingpaid.Theproblem is that you are backsliding and are trying to find some fault with yourchurch.Youdesperatelyneedtofindareasontojustifyyouractions.These are foolish questions, a classic symptom of a backsliding Christian. Ofcourse, I am not against the asking of legitimate questions. But there is adifferencebetweenagenuinequestionandafoolishquestion.Watchoutforthosewho come up with all sorts of criticisms and reviews of the church and itsministers.Theyoftenhaveahiddenmotive.

HavingNoSpiritualAmbitionAnother symptomof backsliding is havingno spiritual ambition.Asa believer ifyoudon’tgoforward,youwillgobackwards.Ifyoudon’thaveinyouanambitiontopressforwardinChrist,youwillhaveaproblem.IhavenoticedthatChristianswhohavenospiritualambitionhavethetendencytogrow“cold”andeventuallyfallaway.Paulhadavisiontokeeppressingon.…butthisonethingIdo,forgettingthosethingswhicharebehind…IPRESStowardthemarkfortheprizeofthehighcalling…

Philippians3:13,14Wemustforgetthegoodandthebadandpressonahead.Wehaveallhadbadandgoodexperiences inour lifetime.Butwemust forgetabout themandpressforward.SomeChristiansarehookedon to thepast.They tell talesof thegreatexploitsGodusedthemtodointhepast.

Youcannotjustbecontentwithwhathappenedsomeyearsago.Whataboutthepresent?WhatisGodusingyoutodotoday?Thetimetoministertoothersisnow.Forwhenforthetimeyeoughttobeteachers,yehaveneedthatoneteachyouagain…

Hebrews5:12One thing that has kept me from falling away is my pursuit of spiritualachievements.Youmust havea spiritual heart,whichwill propel you to rise upandgoaheadtoministertoothers.The greatest blessing you can have is to become a blessing yourself. GodpromisedAbrahamthatHewouldblesshimsomuchthathewouldalsobecomeablessing.

ICouldn’tPreachTherewasatimeinmylifewhenIcouldn’tpreach.ButIdidnotstaythere.IkneltdownbeforeamatureChristianbrotherandaskedhimto layhandsonmeso Iwouldbeabletopreach.AfterthatprayerIstartedpreaching.Istoodbeforelittlegroupsandbeganministeringtothem.Maybeyoualsohavethesameproblem,oryoufeelveryshytospeakinpublic.ActinfaithbyspeakingtheWordwithafewpeople,andyouwillbesurprisedatwhatGodcando.Itwillkeepyoufrombacksliding.AChristianshouldhavetheambitiontobeusefulinGod’shouse.ManypeopledonotwishtobegreatinGod’shouse.Onthecontrary,youwillbesurprisedatthenumberofbelieverswhocravetobemillionaires.Theylookforalltheopportunitiestobegreatinthesecularworld.However,whenitcomestothethingsofGod,theyhavenodrive.Ihavealwayswantedtobeapreacher.Ilistenedtoandwatchedotherpreachersminister. I used to go home from the university towatch videos of preaching. Iinvestedbothtimeandmoneytoachievemygoal.ThatiswhyIneverbackslid.Pastors!Watchthesheepwhohavenospiritualdrive.

CuriosityThenextsymptomofbackslidingtonoticeisthesymptomofcuriosity.

CuriosityDoesn’tOnlyKillCats!Curiosity, they say killed the cat. But in another sense curiosity also killsmanyChristians. SomeChristians have been deceived by the devil into thinking thattheyaremissingsomething.Sotheybecomecuriousandwanttoexperimentwiththeseforbiddenareas.

Somewouldsay,“Ihaven’ttastedalcoholallmylife.Iwanttoknowwhatitfeelsliketobedrunk.”Otherswould say, “I have never used drugs before and Iwant to knowwhat itfeels like tobe ‘high’.”Youmayonly findoutwhat it is like tobemad!Youmayacquirewhatwecallmarijuana-inducedschizophrenia.Iwaswithmyboss inaconsultingroomat thementalhospitalonedaywhenamotherbroughtinherson.Thisboyhadbeenexperimentingwithmarijuana.ThePsychiatristtookthisyoungboyonatourofthementalhospital.Thereweremeninlittlecubiclesmakingvariousstrangenoises.Therewerespecialplacesforverywildandmadmen.Itremindedmeofthezoo.ThePsychiatristwarned this youngboy that if he continuedexperimentingwithdrugshiscuriositywouldendhimupinthis“zoo”!Iwillneverforgetthattour.Itisthissamekindofcuriosity,whichledtheprodigalsonoutofhisfather’shousetoeatwithpigs.Whatcouldn’ttheprodigalsonhavehadathome?Headmittedthathisownfather’sservantshadmorethanenoughtoeat.Hewasjustcuriousaboutwhatwasgoingonoutthere.Youwillnoticemenwithverybeautifulandcharmingwives,whostillchaseafterotherwomen.Someof thesemenare just curious.They think there ismore todiscover.Thereisnothingnewunderthesun.Thereisnothingnewtosee.Curiositykilledthebackslider!

MurmuringThenextsymptomofbackslidingismurmuring.Doallthingswithoutmurmuringsanddisputings:

Philippians2:14Murmuringmeanstocomplain,togrumble,tomumbleandtocriticize.ThereareChristianswhomurmurathome,atworkandinchurch.Godisagainstthosewhomurmur. He was especially displeased with the people of Israel when theymurmuredagainstHimandMoses.SomecomplainedandnaggedsomuchthattheynevermadeittothePromisedLand.Peoplewhomurmur and complain nevermake it to the Promised Land. Inmyexperience people who murmur and complain often leave their churches andeventuallybackslide.When you complain against someone, it is likely that you are angry with thepersonor thatyoudon’t like thatpersonanymore.Thosewhocomplainagainsttheirgovernmentsareoftenangrywiththeirgovernment.InthesamewaythosewhomurmuragainstthechurchareoftenangrywithGodandarereadytoleaveHim.

Mark thosewhomurmurandcomplain, because theyarepotential desertersoftheship.

ApprovalandAdmirationofEvilorWrongdoersThe next very important symptom is “approval and admiration of wrongdoers”.Peopleusuallybecomeattractedtosomethingbeforetheygofor it. Inthesameway,ifyouapproveofsomebodywhoisdoingthewrongthing,thenyouarelikelytowanttodothesamethingyourself.God expects theChristian to disapprove of evil. AlthoughSaul was Jonathan’sfather,JonathanacknowledgedthattheKing,hisfather,waswrongintryingtokillDavid.Davidhaddonenowrong,butoutofjealousy,Saulattemptedtokillhim.Jonathan disassociated himself fromwhat his fatherwas doing and associatedhimselfwiththeright,whichwasDavid.ThatiswhatarealChristianmustdo.Youmustnotapproveofwhatiswrong.Youmustbeboldandsay,“Thisiswrong,andthatisright!”“AndIstandforwhatisright.”Woeuntothemthatcallevilgood…

Isaiah5:20YouBecomeWhatYouAdmire

From experience I have noticed that if you praise evil, one day you will alsocommitthesameevil.Ifsomeoneisarebelandyouapproveoftheperson,oneday youmay also be a rebel. Iwatch for peoplewho do not condemn the evilgoingonaroundthem.Thechristianshouldneverapproveofevil.…Whereinhaveweweariedhim?Whenyesay,Everyonethatdoethevilisgood…

Malachi2:17WatchoutforChristianswhodonotdisapproveofevil;theyareprobablythinkingofdoingthesamethingoneday.

PoorAdaptationReflexes…HowshallwesingtheLORD’Ssonginastrangeland?

Psalm137:4Thechildrenof Israelhung theirharpsuponthewillowswhentheyencounteredtheir new circumstances. They packed up their instruments of praise becausetheyhadbeencarriedawayascaptives.

AdaptQuicklytoYourNewCircumstancesChristianswhofinditdifficulttoadapttotheirnewcircumstancesoftenbackslideintheirwalkwithGod.Theycannotadaptthemselvestotheirnewrolesaswives,husbands, mothers, fathers and so on. They are simply unable to adaptthemselvestotheirnewjobs,newhusbands,newwives,newbabiesandsoon.

SometimeswhenaChristianrelocates toanothercity,hechanges frombeingastrongandvibrantChristiantobeingcoldandindifferent.Hecannotadapttohisnewenvironment.WhyshouldyouturnyourbackonGodbecauseofyournewcircumstance?RiseupinthenameofJesus!Youwantedsomuchtohaveawife,ahusbandandajob. Now you have it, so adapt quickly to your new circumstance, and do notbackslide.

YouCanSingtheLord’sSongTheLORDismystrengthandsong,andisbecomemysalvation.

Psalm118:14Noticetherelationbetween“mystrength”,“mysong”and“mysalvation”.Youcannotseparateyoursongfromyourstrength.Neithercanyouseparateyourstrengthfromyoursalvation.Theygotogether.YouneedtosingtheLord’ssongwhateveryoudoandwhereveryoufindyourself.Dearfriend,evenifyouaremarriedtoanunbeliever,don’tgiveupyourwalkwiththeLord.

MarriageCanAffectYourAnointingIoncehearda “bachelor”pastorbeingchallenged.Hewas told, “If youarestillanointedafter youmarry, thenyouare really calledofGod.”Themessagewasclear!Youwillhavealotofadaptingtodoafteryougetmarried,otherwiseyouwillbackslide!…andifthoumarry…shallhaveTROUBLEintheflesh…

1Corinthians7:28Nothingcomescheap.Itwasextremelydifficultformetobecomeadoctoraswellas a pastor.When you become a doctor your life changes. Your life becomestotallyinvolvedintheconditionofyourpatients.ButIhadtoquicklyadapttomynew circumstance in order to continuewith theministry.You can’t put the Lordasidejustbecauseyouhavetraveledtoanewcountryortoanewschool.The Christian who cannot adapt quickly to his new circumstances is likely tobackslide.Youmustadaptinordertostayalive!Learnhowtoidentifythesethings.Donotbeignorantofthedevil’sdevices.WhyfallawaynowthatyouknowtheLord?Godhasgreatplansforyou; there isnodoubtaboutit.Hehasplanstoblessyou,toprosperyouandtoincreaseyouinthis life. Remember, however, that such blessings are not meant to draw youawayfromGod,buttoestablishyourfaithandconfidenceinHim.Donot let thenewcircumstanceswhichyourblessingsmaybringcauseyou tobackslide.Developstayingpower!

Chapter8MyLastArgumentThisismyfinalargumentagainstbacksliding.Inthischapteryouwillseeinveryrealtermsthefollyofbacksliding.YouwillhearthetestimoniesofrealChristianswho made it to the very end. You will also hear the last statements of thebacksliddenand lostsouls,andwhat theysaidastheyapproachedthegatesofHell.Youwillseehowreallyterriblebackslidingis.InourwalkwithGodthereisacertainlinethatwemustnotcross.Thereisapointofnoreturn.Ihaveheardbelieverssaythattheywillbackslide,butwillcomebacktotheLordaftersometime.Theyforgetthattheremaybeapointofnoreturn.

ThePointofNoReturnWewillallstandbeforethepresenceofGodtoaccountforour lives.WhenthattimecomesandyouareusheredintothepresenceofGod,whatwillyousay?Willyoubeready?WillyouhavedonewhatGodwantedyoutodo?AChristian brotherwas committing fornicationwhen he heard a loud blast. Hethought it was the sound of the trumpet heralding the return of Christ. So hejumped out of the bed, but was not caught up to heaven. He was so worried,because he thought that he had been left behind at the rapture. This anxiousChristianwasoverreactingtothehonkofabigbus.Abacksliderlivesinfearanduncertainty.

GodWantstoReasonwithYouComenow,andletusREASONtogether…

Isaiah1:18GodisarationalBeing,andHewantstoreasonwithyou.Manypeoplethinkthatwhenyoudealwithspiritualthingsyoumustputasideallreason and stop thinking rationally. But theBible records thatGodwants us toreasonwithHim. IfGodtellsyoutoreason, thenHemustbeaGodwhothinkslogicallyandsequentially!Iamgoing to reasonwithyouandarguewithyouaboutbacksliding.Youcouldcallit“Argumentsforandagainstbacksliding”.IwillshowyoucertainpeoplewhowerehappyandfullofjoyastheyenteredintotherestofGod.ThesewereChristianswhoservedtheLordanddidnotfallaway.Ontheotherhand,Iwillshowyouwhatsomedyingbacksliderssaidastheyleftthisearth.Thesetestimoniesaloneshouldmakeyoudecidenever,never,nevertobackslide.

TheSaints

First, Iwantyou tonoticewhatBiblesaintshad tosaywhen theyweremovingfromthisworldtothenext.

ApostlePaulApostlePaulwas in prisonwhen he knew that his time of deathwas near.Hesaid,“Fortome…todieisgain.”Inotherwordshewashappytobedying.Howmanypeoplearehappytodie?IfyouareconfidentofyourrelationshipwithGodyouwillnotfeardeath.

JacobWhen thePatriarch Jacobwas dying inGenesis 49:33, theBible declares thataftercommandinghissons,“…Hegathereduphisfeetintothebed,andyieldeduptheghost…”Whatawaytogo!Heknewthathewasgoing.Hehadtimetoinstructhischildrenwith confidence.After commandinghis sons,hegatheredhis feetonto thebedanddied.Yousee, thedeathof therighteous isverydifferent fromthedeathofthewicked.Balaamtheprophetsaid;…Letmediethedeathoftherighteous…

Numbers23:10Now let’sstudyhowsomeordinarypeople,after livinga lifewithoutbackslidingwentonhappilytobewiththeLord.

IgnatiusIgnatiuslivedin100AD.HewastheBishopofAntioch,andapersonaldiscipleofJohn the Apostle. He was sentenced to death, and as he was dying, his lastwordswere, “I thank thee, ohGod, that thouhast honouredmewith thyWord,praiseGod!”Thesewerethe lastwordsofamanwhowassentencedtodeathbyburningatthe stake. Some other people would have been screaming, defaecating andsalivating.ButthismandiedpraisingGod!

FatherPolycarpFatherPolycarp,anotherdiscipleofJohnlivedduringthereignofEmperorNero.Hewasalsosentencedtodeath.Hewastakentocourt,andthere,hewasgivenanoptiontoeitherdenounceJesusorbeburnttodeath.PolycarpsufferedmuchforChrist’ssake.TheRomanProconsulcommandedhimtoswearallegiancetoCeasar, saying, “Swear, and I will set thee at liberty; reproach Christ.” HowcourageousandmagnificentwasPolycarp’sreply!Hesaid,“EightyandsixyearshaveInowservedChrist,andHehasneverdonemetheleastwrong.How,then,canIblasphememyKingandmySaviour?”FurthereffortstomakehimdenyhisLordfailedandPolycarpwascondemnedtobe burned at the stake.When the day came for him to be burned alive, those

responsiblefortheburningwantedtonailhimtothestake,butheprotested:“LetmealoneasIam:forHewhohasgivenmestrengthtoendurethefire,willalsoenableme,withoutyoursecuringmebynails,tostandwithoutmovinginthepile.”Finallyheexclaimed,“Oh!Lord,FatheroftheBelovedSonJesusChrist.IthanktheethatthouhasallottedmeaplaceamongtheMartyrs.”

AugustusMontagueTopladyAugustusMontague Toplady (1710-1778),will ever be famous as the author ofone of themost evangelical hymns of the EighteenthCentury, “Rock of Ages,”which was first published in 1776. During his final illness, Toplady was greatlysupportedbytheconsolationsoftheGospel.Nearhislast,awakingfromasleep,hesaid:“Oh,whatdelights!WhocanfathomthejoyofthethirdHeaven?Theskyisclear,thereisnocloud.Come,LordJesus,comequickly!”He died saying, “No mortal man can live after the glories which God hasmanifestedtomysoul.”AndwiththosewordshewenttobewiththeLord.

WilliamShakespeareWilliamShakespeare (1564-1616), theworld’soutstanding figure in literature,ofwhoselife,timesandworksawholelibraryofbookshasbeenwritten,livednearhisBibleasthenumerousquotationsfromitinhisplaysanddramasprove.

AFamousManKnewtheLordHisendcamewhenhewasonly52yearsold.HislastwillthatwaswrittenintheyearhediedrevealedhisfaithinGod.“I commendmy soul into the hands of Godmy Creator, hoping and assuredlybelieving,throughtheonlymeritsofJesusChristmySaviour,tobemadepartakeroflifeeverlasting,andmybodytotheearth,whereofitismade.”

MatthewHenryMatthew Henry (1662-1714), was the eminent non-conformist theologian whogave theChurch the devotional commentarywhich held a foremost place in itsfield. He died a week after his settlement in London as pastor of a church inHackney,buthisendwasfullofconfidenceintheSaviour’sgrace.His lastwordswere: “A lifespent in theserviceofGod,and incommunionwithHim,isthemostcomfortablelifethatanyonecanleadinthispresentworld.”

JohnWesleyJohnWesley,thefounderofthegreatMethodistChurchsaid,“Thebestofall is,Godiswithus.”Ireallylovetheselastwordsofthisgreatfounder.

JohnWesley, ofwhom it has been said that eternity alonewill revealwhat theworldowes tohismightyministry,wasactive to theveryend.Until theend,hewasfullofpraise,counselandexhortations.

TheGreatFounderDiesinPeaceInhislastmomentswithwhatremainingstrengthhehad,hecriedouttwiceover,inholytriumph:“Thebestofallis,Godiswithus.”TheverylastwordWesleywasheardtoarticulatewas:“Farewell!”Then, without a lingering groan, the evangelist of the highways and by-ways,belovedpastorof thousands,and fatherof thegreatMethodistChurch,enteredintothejoyofhisLord.Noticeagain,death to theconfidentChristian- Itwasapeaceful transition fromoneworldtoanother!

AdoniramJudsonAdoniramJudsonwasamissionarytoAfrica.Infact,thefirstAmericanmissionaryto Africa. He went to Burma, wrote and translated the Bible into the Burmeselanguage.TheDepartureofAfrica’sFirstAmericanMissionaryHealsowroteadictionaryforthem.Whenhewasdyinghesaid,“Nooneeverleftthisworldwithbrighterhopesorwarmerfeelings.”Don’tbeafraid,deathwillnotsurpriseme.InspiteofwhatIsay,IfeelsostronginHim.”This is amanwhohad strengthwhenmost people areweak. Let’s all pray forsuchstayingpower,thatwemayallprevailuntiltheveryend.

CharlesBridgmanCharlesBridgmandiedattheageoftwelve.AsachildhelovedtoreadhisBibleanddesiredspiritualknowledge.YoungCharleswouldoftenrebukehisbrothersifthey forgot to thank God at meal times. When he became ill, he was askedwhetherhewouldratherliveordie,heanswered“Idesiretodie,thatImaygotomySaviour.”

TheStrengthofaLittleBoyAshistimedrewnear,hislastwordswere:“…IntothyhandsIcommendmysoul!Nowclosemineeyes.Forgiveme,father,mother,brother,sisterandalltheworld!NowIamwell,mypainisalmostgone,myjoyisathand.Lordhavemercyuponme.OLord,receivemysouluntoThee.”Howmanyyoungboysof todaywouldspeakthewaythisyoungmanspoke?

RobertBruce

RobertBruce,oneofthemostdistinguishedmenofhistime,enteredtheministryand became prominent in Edinburgh. Scrupulously maintaining the establishednormsofthechurch,heexposedhimselftomuchpersecutionforthetruth’ssake.Atthetimeofhisdeath,hecalledforthefamilyBibleandsaidtohisdaughter:“CastuptometheeighthchapterofRomans,andsetmyfingeronthesewords,‘Iam persuaded that NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE … SHALL BE ABLE TOSEPARATEMEfromtheloveofGodwhichisinChristJesusmyLord.’”ThenBrucesaid,“Ismyfingeronthem?”“Yes,”saidhisdaughter.Thenhereplied:“NowGodbewithyou,mychildren. Ihave justbreakfastedwithyou,andshallsupwithmyLordJesusthisnight.”Howexcitingitmustbewhenyouknowyouareready!Therecanbenoreasontobackslidewhenyouheartheseexcitingtestimonies.

AndManyOthersAnotherdyingChristiansaid,“Howbrighttheroom,howfullofangels!”SomeotherChristiansaidconfidently,“Thebattle is fought.Thebattle is fought,andthevictoryiswon.”Withthosewords,hewenttobewiththeLord.Alexander II, full of divine faith, exclaimed: “I am sweeping through the gates,washedinthebloodoftheLamb.”Someoneelsesaid,“IwishIhadthepowerofwritingtodescribehowpleasantitistodie.”Another one exclaimed, “Oh! That I could tell what joy I possess. I am full ofrapture,theLordshineswithsuchpoweruponmysoul.Heiscome,Heiscome.”One surviving believer said, “I shall soon bewith Jesus.PERHAPS I AMTOOANXIOUS!”

IsItAlwaysSweettoDie?Anotherpersonsaid, “IT ISSWEETTODIE.”Howwillyoubeable tosay, “It issweettodie”whenyouhavebacksliddenandyouknowjudgementawaitsyou?One Christian brother questioned, “Can this be death?What? It is better thanliving.TELLTHEMIDIEDHAPPILYINJESUS.”Another one said, “They sing. The angels sing. IS THIS DYING? NO, IT ISSWEETLIVING.”Oneluckybackslider,Oliver,adoctorofphilosophy,hadlivedthelifeofaninfidel.ButshortlybeforehisdeathherepentedandturnedtotheSaviour.His finalwordwas one of deep regret: “Would that I could undo themischief Ihave done! I was more ardent to poison men with infidel principles than any

ChristianistospreadthedoctrinesofChrist.”TheSinners

Now,letusconsiderwhatsomebackslidersandsinnerssaidastheyweredying.The pride and rebellion of these wicked people did not help matters as theyapproached the gates of hell and accountability. Some of these people werebacksliddenChristians. They died as frightened, screaming and hopelessly lostsouls.ThefirstpersonIwantustoconsiderinthiscategoryisamancalledTomPaine.

TomPaineTomPaine(1737-1809)wasconsideredtobealiterarygiant.Hewrote“TheAgeofReason”andlivedduringtherevivalsofJohnWesleyandGeorgeWhitfield. He lived a life that was againstGod, and drew people awayfromGod.IbelievethatthisisoneofthepeoplewhohavemadeEuropesoanti-Christandatheist in theirwayof thinking.Onepersonwhowitnessedhisdeathsaid,“Heistrulytobepitied.”Althoughhedidnot believe inGod,at thehourof deathonhisbedhesaid, “Iwouldgiveworlds,ifIhadthem,that‘AgeofReason’hadnotbeenpublished.Oh!Lordhelpme.Oh!God,whathaveIdonetosuffersomuch?”Thenafterthathesaid, “But there isnoGod.Yet if there isaGod,whatwillbecomeofme in theworldafter?Ifeverthedevilhadanagent,Ihavebeenthatone.”

HeWasFrightenedtoDieWhenanelderlywomanattendinghimwantedto leavetheroom,hesaid,“Staywithme.ForGod’s sake, I cannot bear to be left alone. For it is hell to be leftalone.”TheverylastwordsofTomPainewere,“MyGod,myGodwhyhasthouforsakenme?” And with these words he died. This is the death of the wicked. UtterlyhelplessandhopelessinthepresenceofarighteousGod!

VoltaireWheneverIgotoGeneva,IcrossoverintoFerney-Voltaire,alittleFrenchvillagenamedafteranotedinfidelVoltaire(1694-1778).OnenightIdrovewiththepastorofmychurchinGenevatolookatastatueofthisman.Isawallofthetributesthatwerewrittentohisnameandallofthegoodworksthathewassaidtohavedoneforthecommunity.ButthismanalsolivedandfoughtagainstChristianity.

TheManWhoCursedChristNotice what this noted French infidel said of Christ our Saviour: “Curse thewretch!”HowonearthcanyougathersomuchconfidencetocurseChristandcallHimawretch?

Heonceboasted, “In twentyyears,christianitywillbenomore.Mysinglehandshalldestroytheedificeittooktwelveapostlestorear.”These are the peoplewho have laid the foundations for the atheism that is soprevalentinEuropetoday.Shortly after his death, the very house in which he printed his foul literaturebecamethedepotoftheGenevaBibleSociety.ThenursewhoattendedVoltairesaid:“ForallthewealthinEuropeIwouldnotseeanotherinfideldie.”

HeWasHelplessandDesperateonHisDeathbedThephysician,Trochim,whowaswithVoltaireathisdeathsaidthathecriedoutmostdesperately:“IamabandonedbyGodandman!IwillgiveyouhalfofwhatIamworthifyouwillgivemesixmonth’s life.Then Ishallgo tohell,andyouwillgowithme.OChrist!OJesusChrist!”Noticethedesperationandhelplessnessofthisblasphemerashedescendedintotheabyss.Hehimselfadmittedthathewasonhiswaytohell.MydearChristianfriends,let’smakenomistakesabouttherealityofHeavenandHell.

ThomasHobbesThomasHobbes (1588-1674), was a noted English political philosopher whosemostfamousworkwas“Leviathan”.This cultured, clever skeptic corruptedmany of the great men of his time. Butwhatregretwashisattheendoftheroad!Whathopelessnesspermeatedhislastwords:“IfIhadthewholeworld,Iwouldgiveittoliveoneday.Iamabouttotakealeapinthedark!”Thegoodnewsis:Christiansdonottakeleapsintothedark!WhentheydietheygotoHeaven!

ThomasCromwellThomas Cromwell (1540), who became Earl of Essex, was the noted EnglishstatesmanwhowasnexttotheKinginpowerandinfluence.HewasresponsibleforthediggingupofthebonesofThomasBecket,andtheirburningasthoseofatraitor.

TheManWhoWasSeducedOver ambitious, Cromwell lost his influence and also his head, for he wasexecuted.Historianstellusthatashedied,hesaidinaspeech:“THEDEVIL ISREADYTOSEDUCEUS, AND I HAVEBEENSEDUCED, butbearmewitnessthatIdieintheCatholicFaith.”

NoticehowpeoplewanttoassociatewithGodatthelastmoment.Thismanwasinsistingthathewasinthefaith!

ThomasCorkThomasCorkcriedoutinanguishashewasdying.Hesaid,“UntilthismomentIthoughttherewasneitheraGodnoradevil.ButnowIknow,andIfeelthatthereare both.” He exclaimed, “I am doomed to judgment by the judgment of theAlmighty.”

RobertGreenIngersollHeWroteAbouttheMistakesoftheBible

Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899), famous American lawyer and prominentagnostic, lecturedonBiblical inaccuraciesandcontradictions.His famed lecture“TheMistakesofMoses”ledonedefenderoftheBibletosaythathewouldliketohearMosesspeakforfiveminutesonTheMistakesofIngersoll!

DoIHaveaSoul?Whenhecame to thegatesofhell hewas frozenwith terrorandhesaid, “OHGOD,IFTHEREISAGOD,HAVEMERCYONMYSOUL-IFIHAVEASOUL.”

SirFrancisGilfortSirFrancisGilfort,wastaughtearlyinhislifeaboutthegospel.

ThePotentialMinisterWhoBackslidHewasabacksliddenChristian.Infact,itwasexpectedthathewouldbecomeaminister, but he fell into bad company.Whenhewaspassingon to eternity, hesaid,“Fromwhere is thiswar inmyheart?WhatargumentsdoIhavetoassistmeinmattersoffact?DoIsaythereisnohellwhenIfeeloneinmybosom?AYE,AMICERTAINTHATTHEREISNOJUDGMENTWHENIFEELPRESENTJUDGMENT?Oh,wretchthatIam.WhithershallIfleefromthis?ThatthereisaGod,Iknow,forIcontinuallyfeelthatofHiswrath.Thatthereisahell,Iamsurelycertain.Oh! That I was to lie upon the fire that never quench for a thousand years topurchasethefavourofGod,andtoberevertedtoHimagain.Butit isafruitlesswish.Millionsandmillionsofyearswillbringmenonearer to theendofmy torment.Eternity,eternity!”

DoYouWantAnyonetoPrayForYou?As the distress of thisman increased, hewas askedwhether hewanted somepeopletobeinvitedtoprayforhim.Heresponded“Tigersandmonsters,areyou

devilstocometotormentme?WillyougivemetheprospectsofHeaventomakemyhellmoreintolerable?”Thenhesaid,“Oh!the insufferablepangsofdeath.”Andwiththathedied.Howfrightening!

WilliamPopeWilliam Pope, was a born-again Christian, and knew the love of God. But hebackslid when his wife died, and he followed Tom Paine. Not long after hebackslid, he contracted tuberculosis, which was known at that time as TheConsumption.He is said to have been the leader of a company of infidels who ridiculedeverythingreligious.

TheyKickedtheBibleandToreitupThis was a classic backslider who said when he was dying, “No case iscomparabletomine,Icannotrevert,Godwilldamnmeforever.”OneoftheexercisesofheandhisfriendswastokicktheBibleaboutthefloor,ortearitup.Friendswhowerepresentinhisdeath-chamberspokeofitasasceneofterror.

AFrighteningSceneofDeathHiseyesrolledtoandfroashewasdyingonhisbed,andhelifteduphishandsashecriedout,“Ihavenocontrition.Icannotrepent.Godwilldamnme.Iknowthe day of grace is past…You see one who is damned forever…Oh, Eternity!Eternity…Nothingformebuthell.Come,eternaltorments…Doyounotsee?Doyounotseehim?Heiscomingforme.Oh!theburningflame,thehell, thepainthatIfeel.Eternitywillexplainmytorment.”Andwiththesewords,hedied.Theseweretheverylastwordsofabackslider!!Dear Christian friend, what else can I say? I have shown you the real lifetestimonies of real people just like yourself. If that is not enough tomake youbelieveandstaywithGod,thenperhaps…I have bargained for your soul, sharing with you all that a pastor can. I haveshown you why you should not backslide. I have shown you the causes ofbacksliding, the descriptions of backsliding, and the symptoms of backsliding. Ihave shown you how people who backslide behave when they approach thegates of eternity. On the other hand, I have shown you the happy farewells ofChristianswithstayingpowertotheveryend.MyprayerforyouisthatyouwillfindChristandSTAYinChrist.ForonChristthesolidrockwestand.Amen!!

Tothemakingofmanybooksthereisnoend.Maythisbookblessyourministry.Amen.

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LoyaltyandDisloyaltyLeadersandLoyalty

TransformYourPastoralMinistryTheArtofLeadership

ModelMarriageChurchPlantingTheMegaChurch

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