We don’t hear too much about backsliding these days. The term describes the believer’s weakening commitment to Christ that results in reverting back to bad habits and worldly living.
Someone said, “Backsliding starts in such a subtle way that most of us are not aware of it, and many of us may be backslidden and not even realize it.”
We get used to being far from God, and before we know it, we are like the person described in Proverbs 14:14 – “The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways … ” The backslider slips further away from God.
Once we recognize our need, we must take responsibility for our condition, turn from our sin and turn back to God. This change of heart and mind is called repentance.
Acts 3:19-20 reads, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment may come from the presence of the Lord … ” (NLT). Can you use a time of refreshing?
We need a supernatural outpouring of God’s Spirit among believers that brings us to brokenness and confession of sin, and energizes a renewed zeal for living for Him.
This supernatural outpouring of God’s Spirit still happens occasionally.
In January, 1995, on a regular Sunday in the early service at Coggin Avenue Baptist in Brownwood, Texas, revival broke out. The service was normal and Pastor John Avant started a sermon series on the Ten Commandments. At invitation time, a Howard Payne University student named Chris Robeson asked if he could share.
Avant, who later served in Fayetteville, let him share, and Chris read Joel 2:12 – “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” Chris began to weep and cry out to the Lord as he confessed sin.
People were moved to tears, and others began to share. People streamed down the aisles with hearts broken over sin and began pleading for revival.
A woman challenged the people that they were not a praying church and must begin to pray and seek God diligently. She asked, “If we don’t turn back to Him in prayer, what is God going to do with us?”
People approached the microphone and shared scripture and burdens. People entering the 11 a.m. service sensed that something was different. They joined in seeking God, many kneeling at the altar in prayer.
The 11 a.m. service was broadcast live on the radio, and as the service came on, the entire structure had changed and the invitation was being given. People were streaming down the aisles, and 22 decisions were made.
In nearby Pioneer, Texas, a rancher who was a strong believer had to take care of a cow in labor and could not go to church. With him was a 50-year-old ranch hand. It was cold and they sat in the truck and listened to Coggin Avenue’s service on the radio. The ranch hand was so moved that he asked how to receive Jesus, and the rancher led him to Christ right there. He asked what to do next, and was told he needed to be baptized.
They couldn’t find a church in that rural area with a baptistery, but they found a pastor and a place to be baptized, and, in the January cold, the new believer was baptized outside that afternoon.
That same Sunday, as God moved at Coggin Avenue, God was also moving at several other area churches.
The Howard Payne students in those services that day brought their excitement back to campus and revival spread to the university. God began moving among university students.
Henry Blackaby preached at Coggin Avenue on Feb. 11, and the power of God fell, and people responded with brokenness and repentance as Henry preached.
Sunday night, 20-30 churches cancelled their Sunday evening services and joined Coggin Avenue for a moving service that lasted three hours. Blackaby spoke in chapel at Howard Payne the next day, and revival broke out there. Revival continued to spread in other locations for a season.
God wants to send revival, but it takes believers hungering and cooperating. How do we do that?
Second Chronicles 7:14 reads, “If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
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[Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Georgia. Check them out at www.mcdonoughroad.org, and “like” them on Facebook. They’d love for you to worship with them this Sunday.]
