Blessed stability

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Psalm 26:1-12
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Introduction

Are you sliding? Are you slipping? Have you slidden downward in your Christian walk and life? Have you slidden "out of the place" of blessing?
D. L. Moody heard it said, "The world has yet to see what God can do through one man who yields himself totally to the Lord." Then he said, "I will be that man." He never slipped out of that determined place of fruitful service.
Paul could say, "Be ye followers of me, even as I am also of Christ." "Be ye followers of me" or imitators of me. Was he boasting? Did he so conduct his life that he could really mean it? Yes, indeed.
David could say "I shall not slide... my foot standeth in an even place; ..I [will] bless the Lord" (Psalm 26:1,12). There are some reasons why he could say that he would not slide.

The Problem of Sliding into Sin

God must contend with the slipping saint. The problem of sin is ever present with us. It is puzzling that some of the most saintly people have fallen into outrageous sin. A backslider is a Christian who falls into sin. A lost sinner cannot backslide. One must go somewhere before he can slide back.

Illustrations of sliding. Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom and chose to live in that sinful city (II Peter 2:6-9). Abraham lied, and instructed his wife to say that she was his sister (Genesis 12:10-20). Moses smote the rock in anger (Numbers 20:7-11). David committed murder and adultery (II Samuel 11: 12). Samson frequented the house of a harlot (Judges 16: 1). Peter denied the Lord (Mark 14:26-31). [/FONT]​

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These examples ought to humble us, warn us, and teach us to "watch and pray." They teach us that a saint can slide into sin, and lose his testimony and perhaps his life. While sin does not affect a person's relationship to Christ, as he is still a child of God, there is a loss of joy, fellowship, and approval of the Father (John 1:12,13; John 10:27-29). No one can backslide unless they are already born again and belong to God.

Universality of sliding. Are there any Christians who have not slidden away from the place of sweet fellowship and blessing at one time or another in their life? (I John 1:8,10; James 4: 17). We all have fallen short and done foolish things. David did, but he also discovered the means of stability.

Reasons for sliding. Proverbs 14:14 says that "the backslider in heart is filled with his own ways." Backsliding comes from the selfish attitude of living for one's own desires. A person begins to drift away from his love for the Lord. The old sinful nature is controlling the life rather than the Holy Spirit (Romans 7:15, 25). [/FONT]
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Sometimes backsliding comes because of a failure to watch the path. We stumble and fall into sin because we are not aware of the dangers ahead (Matthew 26:41; Mark 13:33; 14:38). Sometimes we are careless and slip and fall as one might do on ice or snow. If we walk carelessly in this world of sin we will fall (Ephesians 5:15-17). [/FONT]
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Additional portions to read and study: Hosea 6:1; 4:16; 11 :7; Jeremiah 3:6, 12- 14, 22; 7:24; 8:5. [/FONT]
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Our slipping spiritually will have repercussions. It will "echo" to the very throne of God. Why do we know about Demas and Samson in God's Word? Because they fell, and slid into sin and wrong. We have a "bent" to backslide. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Prone to wander, Lord I feel it;
Prone to leave the God I love.
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]David did not say that he did not ever slide. But if certain things were true, he would not slide.

The Sorrows of Backsliding

If we slide and slip in mud, we will surely be well splattered. We might even break a bone. We will definitely have spots on our clothing. When a Christian slips into sin, he will become spotted with the world (I Timothy 6:14; Ephesians 5:27; Hebrews 9:14; I Peter 1:19; II Peter 3:14; 2:12; Jude 12, 23). [/FONT]
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In Jeremiah 2:19 we read, "It will correct thee, thy backsliding shall reprove thee, know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, that my fear is not with thee..." Backsliding will bring the chastening of the Lord (I Corinthians 11:29-32). It will bring the natural wages of sin (Galatians 6:7,8). It will bring remorse of conscience (Psalms 32: 1-5), and it will bring sorrow before Christ (Mark 14:22).

The Avoidance of Sliding

Every born again Christian will want to avoid sliding into sin. It is a terrible thing to be far from the Lord. We must have right thinking -- submission to the Word of God and application of the Word of God. We must have right walking, step by step walking in His will for us. David spoke of "right walking."
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Psalm 26:2 "examine me, prove me, try me..."
Psalm 26:3 "walking in the truth."
Psalm 26:4,5 rejection of those who did not love the Lord.
Psalm 26:6 seeking to be innocent of sin.
Psalm 26:7 a clear, outward testimony.
Psalm 26:8 a love of God's house.
Psalm 26:9-11 a rejection of all evil and the evil doer.
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]We must also have right standing. Our standing with the Lord and our testimony to those around us is very important (Psalm 26:12). "Standing in an even place" involved confession of sin (Proverbs 28:13), searching out sin (Psalm 32:1-5), judging sin and self, and walking in truth (I John 1 :6-9).

Conclusion:

To walk in an "even place" is to have the feet solidly planted on the Solid Rock, Jesus Christ. It is to have the heart and life firmly planted in Christ. Nothing is uneven or out of place (Hebrews 12:1). Nothing is between our soul and the Savior.
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]David could bless the Lord in the congregation because he was walking with the Lord. He did not neglect time with other believers, or time with God. Let his example encourage you. Let the Lord examine you and try your reins and heart. Where are you? Are you stable in the Lord? (I Corinthians 15:58) [/FONT]

 

My question to you is what dose a lost person have to backslide from, their already lost.

 

My opinion is also yesterday's trash,
Isaiah 64:6

King James Version (KJV)

6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. :smilewinkgrin:

 

this is from the dictionary backslider

[bak-slahyd]  
back·slide

   [bak-slahyd] Show IPA verb, back·slid, back·slid or back·slid·den, back·slid·ing, noun
verb (used without object) 1. to relapse into bad habits, sinful behavior, or undesirable activities.


noun 2. an act or instance of backsliding: a backslide from his early training.


****************************************************** What dose the word Backslider mean to you, I don't believe it makes no difference IF IT'S ONE PERSON OR A GROUP OF PEOPLE

 

KJV Dictionary Definition: backslide

backslide

BACKSLI'DE, v.i. back and slide. To fall off; to apostatize; to turn gradually from the faith and practice of christianity. Jer.iii. Hos.iv.
backslider

BACKSLI'DER, n. An apostate; one who falls from the faith and practice of religion. Prov.xiv.
2. One who neglects his vows of obedience and falls into sin.
backsliding

BACKSLI'DING, n. The act of apostatizing from faith or practice; a falling insensibly from religion into sin or idolatry. Jer. v.6.***********************************It is what it is, ether you accept it or you don't.