Wisdom warns us not to be backsliders… Jesus did too!
Wisdom record by The Holy Spirit in Proverbs chapter 14:
14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from Above.
How many messages have you heard in recent years warning us about backsliding? It’s been decades since I heard such a message, yet it needs to be addressed in this hour. Many believers who were once fervent for THE LORD are now simply warming the pews as a custom. They are counted among the lukewarm mentioned by Jesus in Revelation chapter 3:
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My Mouth.
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-
One of the prophetic voices declared, “The year 2026 will be the year of sifting and shifting!”
It is written by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 2:
1 This is why it is so crucial that we be all the more engaged and attentive to the Truths that we have heard so that we do not drift off course.
Backsliding begins when Truth slips away and you drift off course and step out of the light.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Galatians chapter 5:
1 At last we have freedom, for Christ has set us free! We must always cherish this Truth and firmly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past.
And in Romans chapter 12:
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God.
It the mind is not renewed, the life cannot remain transformed and stay in fellowship. The believer who neglects renewing of the mind will always drift back toward old patterns of thinking.
Backsliding is not about losing salvation; it is about losing fellowship.
Jesus spoke concerning the prodigal son in Luke 15:
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of My Father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
The son had lost consciousness of his fellowship with His Father but finally came to the realization of who he was. That realization is what caused him to return to His Father’s House.
There is a common misperception that backsliding begins with a dramatic fall or major sin. Instead, backsliding starts quietly with a subtle shift in a believer’s consciousness and identity. The enemy’s primary strategy is not temptation, but disorientation, aiming to dim one’s awareness of righteousness and diminish confidence.
Backsliding as Erosion, not Rebellion: It’s described as an erosion of confidence, conviction, fellowship, and awareness, which is subtle and internal.
The Battleground of Identity: The core issue is losing sight of who one is in Christ. When a believer forgets their identity, they become vulnerable to sin; when they remember, they are almost impossible to pull into sin.
Drifting from Truth: Backsliding is a gradual loss of grip on the Truth that once anchored a believer, a slow drift of the heart away from revelation and the reality of union with Christ.
Focus on the Root, Not the Symptom: Sin is a symptom, not the root cause of backsliding. The root is losing sight of one’s identity in Christ.
Reactivation of Old Thinking: Backsliding isn’t the resurrection of the old nature, but the reactivation of old thinking patterns that lead to old emotions and habits.
Relational Distance and Spiritual Amnesia: It’s characterized as a relational distance from God and Spiritual amnesia, a loss of consciousness of righteousness.
Restoration through Awareness and Remembering: The path to restoration begins with returning to consciousness and remembering one’s identity in Christ. This includes remembering righteousness, union with the Lord, acceptance, and the greater power within.
Agreement Determines Direction: Backsliding thrives when a believer agrees with weakness, guilt, or distance. Conversely, agreeing with Truth leads to restoration.
Danger of Spiritual Dullness: The danger of backsliding is not losing salvation, but becoming Spiritually dull in hearing, conviction, resistance, and discernment, which opens doors for the enemy.
Impact on Influence: Backsliding ultimately hinders God’s work through the believer by stealing confidence, clarity, and intimacy, thereby limiting their influence.