Introduction:

In the previous study, we discovered that God takes a very serious view of backsliding. The terms He used for backsliding in His word include “shaming my Son, Trampling Jesus under foot, Despising the Holy Spirit, etc. It is, therefore, evident that backsliding is a dangerous thing indeed. Today, we continue in this series by having an indepth study of the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32.

May the Lord uphold us till the end in Jesus name.

(1) SOME BACKSLIDE IN ORDER TO GAIN SUDDEN WEALTH, BUT JESUS IS ENOUGH FOR ME:

a) Those whose inheritance is the Lord are blessed people, just as sorrow belong to backslider.

Like the prodigal son, many leave God, their Father, because they want sudden wealth, but Jesus is enough for me. He should be enough for you too.

Some people, due to a lot of prosperity, believe they no longer need God. They forget that whatever we have comes from God anyway.

Psalms 16:2-6, Psalms 17:15, Mark 12:44, 2 Chr 33:1-10, Job 21:7, Job 22:15-18, Psalms 10:4-6,

b) Backsliders have a lot of queries to answer from the Lord: A chick that stays away from the mother hen is playing with death. Similarly anyone who stays away from the shadow of the Almighty is playing with fire. The excuse that The truth is hard is unacceptable because God is the Truth anyway. Those who forsake the Lord have a lot of queries to answer therefore. Some of the queries are:

(i) Is God evil? (ii) Has He ever failed? (iii) Was it not to fellowship with Him? (iv) What evil has the Lord done?

Psalms 73:27-28, Prov 27:6-9, Isaiah 30:8-15, Jer 2:5, 13,17-19,31,  Micah 6:2-3, Eph 2:11-18, Luke 16:1-19.

(2) SEX AND LAZINESS ARE POTENT FORCES THAT PUSH MANY DOWN THE HILL:

a) Many have been lured away from the narrow way by sex. Illicit sex may appear attractive to you but beware, its end is as bitter as wormwood. God terms adultery as taking fire in the bosom, even though satanism may inform you that it is enjoyment. Some CHRISTIANS are also backslidden today because they are too lazy to pray, study, and attend services, etc. For some, the down hill journey is caused by the love of pleasure.

Proverbs 5:3-4, Prov 6:26-33, Prov 18:9, Prov 21:16-17.

(b) Don’t envy the fun seekers: they are heading for divine judgement, worldly pleasure may appear to be fun, but it’s end is sorrow. Once you know the truth don’t let him go. When the urge to backslide comes, please listen to the counsel of elders, or else there will be sudden destruction. For each fun had by the fun seekers, they will be judged by God. That is why those who are revelling today have a secret fear, that death will come one day.

Prov 23:19-23, Prov 28:7, Prov 29:1, Ecc 11:9-10, Isaiah 22:13, Isaiah 56:12.

(3) WE HAVE WASTED ENOUGH OF OUR LIVES: LET US SPEND THE REST FOR HIM.

Those revelling as if the day of reckoning is still far away are in for a surprise: the end is nearer than they think. Surely this is not the time to backslide; rather it is the time to tighten our belts. In any case, we have wasted enough of our lives. To go back to our former allies in sin is to tarnish our garment and miss the rapture. The end is near; let us do all we can before the Lord returns for His spotless Bride.

Amos 6:3-7, Rom 13:11-14, 1 Peter 2:12-18, Eph 5:27.