BACKSLIDING Jeremiah 8:4 – 7



Evidences Of A Backslidden Condition

Jeremiah 8:4 – 7

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Introduction / Review

➢ Jeremiah was called by God to prophesy to the Backsliding Children of Israel

➢ Israel Returned To Their Own Ways.

Jeremiah 2:13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.

They Forget God & They Do Things Their Own Way!

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While backsliders do not all manifest the same traits, Evidences of their condition are not difficult to pinpoint.

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1. Prayer Ceases To Be A Vital Part Of A Professing Christian's Life.

➢ If the heart does not earnestly commune with God, there is no genuine prayer present.

➢ Prayerlessness and mere formality in saying prayers are unmistakable marks of a backslidden condition.

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2. The Quest For Biblical Truth Ceases and One Grows Content With The Knowledge Of Eternal Things Already Acquired.

➢ Almost all backsliders demonstrate a sense of satisfaction with the truth already in their possession.

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3. The Biblical Knowledge Possessed Or Being Acquired Is Treated As External Fact And Not Applied Inwardly.

➢ The Bible was designed by God not merely to inform, but to transform us

It’s time to be doer of the word and not just a hearer only. James 1:23-25

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4. Earnest Thoughts About Eternal Things Cease To Be Regular And Fascinating.

A. The mind turns less and less toward heaven, God, and holiness.

B. Thoughts are on self, here, now, and not on eternity.

C. As a person becomes more and more filled with his own ways,

there will simply be less room for thoughts of eternal things.

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5. The Services And Ministries Of The Church Lose Their Delights.

➢ When backsliding begins, things change…

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Conclusion:

➢ Backsliding Just doesn’t happen overnight!

➢ It’s a Process!

➢ These Evidences show that Backsliding is in process in your life!

….19 more to go? [Pastor’s preaching notes follow]

Evidences Of A Backslidden Condition

Jeremiah 8:4 – 7

4 "Moreover you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord: "Will they fall and not rise? Will one turn away and not return?

5 Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, They refuse to return.

6 I listened and heard, But they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, 'What have I done?' Everyone turned to his own course, As the horse rushes into the battle.

7 "Even the stork in the heavens Knows her appointed times; And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow Observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord.

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Introduction / Review

➢ Jeremiah was called by God to prophesy to the Backsliding Children of Israel

➢ How Did Israel Backslide?

A. Their fathers strayed…

B. The People forgot what God had done…

C. The Spiritual leaders forgot God…

➢ Israel Returned To Their Own Ways.

Jeremiah 2:13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.

A. Forsook God – the fountain of living waters

B. Did Things their own way….hewn themselves broken cisterns

C. People Today Do the same Two Things:

They Forget God & They Do Things Their Own Way!

Page 2

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While backsliders do not all manifest the same traits, Evidences of their condition are not difficult to pinpoint.

Tonight we will deal with 5 of 24 evident signs of backsliding!

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1. Prayer Ceases To Be A Vital Part Of A Professing

Christian's Life.

A. Some Don’t Pray

B. Others Pray Repetitious, Religious, Pious, Meaningless,

Mechanical prayers

C. If the heart does not earnestly commune with God, there is no

genuine prayer present.

• The formulation of thoughts and ideas along religious lines, the mouthing of words, the bowing of the head and body, and the repetitions of pious phrases, do not in and of themselves constitute real prayer.

• The mere repetition of religious expressions, no matter how beautifully constructed or sincerely spoken, does not constitute real prayer.

D. Prayerlessness and mere formality in saying prayers are

unmistakable marks of a backslidden condition.

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2. The Quest For Biblical Truth Ceases and One Grows

Content With The Knowledge Of Eternal Things Already

Acquired.

Page 3

A. Almost all backsliders demonstrate a sense of satisfaction with the

truth already in their possession.

• The more one knows the more they can do

• Who Wants to do more?

B. They are content with what their mother taught them or what they

hear at church

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3. The Biblical Knowledge Possessed Or Being Acquired Is

Treated As External Fact And Not Applied Inwardly.

A. Not every backslider has totally abandoned the acquisition of

Biblical truth.

• Some badly backslidden pastors acquire new Biblical knowledge on a weekly basis.

B. The Bible was designed by God not merely to inform, but to

transform us

C. Biblical truth already acquired must be acted upon

• Some backsliders teach Sunday school every week.

• They carefully prepare their lessons and diligently consider the facts they are to present.

• However, the Word of God does not move from their head to their heart

• They Teach one thing …and… Do another

• They Teach tithing……but… They do not tithe

• They Teach faithfulness…but…They are not faithful

• They Teach how to work…but…They never work

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D. Many do the same thing in church

▪ They sit in a Bible preaching church

▪ They listen attentively to the words spoken and congratulate the preacher on his unfolding of biblical truth

▪ But they do not internalize the Word preached or heard

E. According to James 1:23 – 25, It’s time to be doer of the word

and not just a hearer only.

James 1:23-25

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;

24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

• God needs hands, feet, hearts, and pocket books working – not ears only!

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4. Earnest Thoughts About Eternal Things Cease To Be

Regular And Fascinating.

A. The mind turns less and less toward heaven, God, and holiness.

B. Thoughts are on self, here, now, and not on eternity.

B. As a person becomes more and more filled with his own ways,

there will simply be less room for thoughts of eternal things.

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5. The Services And Ministries Of The Church Lose Their

Delights.

Page 5

A. The recently converted find participation in the services and

ministries of the church a thrill and a joy.

▪ They sit on the edges of their seats to hear the sermon

▪ They are the first participants in church ministry opportunities

▪ They are not content to come only on Sunday mornings

B. When backsliding begins, things change…

▪ The sermon doesn’t mean much to them anymore

▪ Worship and singing have no value

▪ Church attendance is sporadic – except for the times they are to sing, teach, or be in the limelight…

C. Church has a different definition…

▪ The Church’s problems are thought of more than the Church’s opportunities

▪ The backslider thinks of what he or she has done and not what he or she can do

▪ The backslider thinks what he or she does do is greater and better than what others are doing

D. In time, the backslider will either change and “return to his first

love” or find another church where backsliders are more

comfortable, or quit church altogether.

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Conclusion:

➢ Backsliding Just doesn’t happen overnight!

➢ It’s a Process!

➢ These Evidences show that Backsliding is in process in your life:

Page 6

1. Prayer Ceases To Be A Vital Part Of A Professing Christian's Life.

2. The Quest For Biblical Truth Ceases and One Grows Content With The

Knowledge Of Eternal Things Already Acquired.

3. The Biblical Knowledge Possessed Or Being Acquired Is Treated As

External Fact And Not Applied Inwardly.

4. Earnest Thoughts About Eternal Things Cease To Be Regular And

Fascinating.

5. The Services And Ministries Of The Church Lose Their Delights.

….19 more to go?

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