What is spiritual decline?
Spiritual decline or backsliding is turning back from following the Lord. It takes a variety of forms, but it always begins with the thoughts, and eventually it shows itself in a life which is no longer wholehearted in its devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Spiritual decline describes what the Bible calls backsliding.
Turning back from the Lord by degrees – Zeph 1:6
It is turning of the heart away from God – 1 Kings 11:9 so that the heart is not wholly true to God. See verse 4
It is a gradual forgetting of God. Hos 2:13
Serving of 2 masters Matt 6:24
It is an abandonment of our first love. Rev 3:16
It is pushing God to the outside of our life Rev 3:20
It is spiritual adultery. Hos 1:2, James 4:3-4
2. Backsliding will always show itself in different forms
It all begins with our thoughts. 2 Cor 11:3
Our prayer life will be affected James 4:2. We are commanded to pray Luke 18:1
Our attendance at the place of worship will be affected. Heb 10:25, Ps 84:10
There can be a complete complacency about their situation. Amos 6:1, 4-7; 1 Peter 1:9; Rev 3:17
He needs someone to teach him again. He doesn’t have the skill nor the ability to discern. Heb 5:12-14; 1 Cor 3:1-3
You will fail to seek His guidance. Pro 3:5-6
3. The causes of spiritual decline
The neglect or the misuse of prayer. Jam 4:2-3
Giving in to sin, with the sin unrented of and unconfessed. Ps 51:3-4
Disobedience to the obvious and know will of God. Jon 1:2-3; Jer 8:5-7; 1 Cor 10:23
Love of the world. Rom 12:2; 2 Tim 4:10; 1 John 2:15-17
Relationships 1 Kings 11:4; 2 Cor 6:14
Self assurance Pro 16:18; 1 Cor 10:12
The pursuit of false and unworthy ambitions. Jam 4:3
A lack of self examination. 1 Cor 11:31
4. The consequence of backsliding
It will grieve the Holy Spirit. Eph 4:30
We will become good for nothing in fulfilling God’s purposes. Mat 5:13
It removes the joy of God’s salvation. Ps 51:12
The ability to teach others is lost Ps 51:13
It makes the Christian concerned nauseating to Christ. Rev 3:16
It brings the believer under the displeasure of God. Ps 78: 57-59
It brings the believer under God’s reproof and chastisement. Rev 3:19
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