Displaying Christian Sermons by tag: David Wilkerson
David Wilkerson - Watch Sermon: You Really Do Reap What You Sow. Are you reaping what you have sown in your life? All our choices have blessings or cursing as a result. What are you results producing?
David Wilkerson - Watch Sermon: The Awful Consequences of Backsliding.
I once heard a preacher say, "The Bible never says anything about backsliding." That man doesn't know his Bible! The Scriptures speak much about backsliding, because it is a very serious matter — with very severe consequences!
In reading the history of Israel and Judah, we see one generation after another backsliding against the Lord. God told Hosea, "My people are bent to backsliding from me..." (Hosea 11:7). In Hebrew, the meaning is, "My people are in the habit of turning their backs and withdrawing from me. They've always had this tendency!"
And Jeremiah's frequent heart-cry was: "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married to you..." (Jeremiah 3:14). "O Lord...our iniquities testify against us...for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee" (14:7). "(Jerusalem's) transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased" (5:6).
The term backsliding means, simply, "turning one's back on God." Ironically, God's people backslid mostly after times of great blessing and prosperity. Often, when God poured out incredible mercies on Israel, the people soon turned away from him.
"How shall I pardon thee for this? Thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods; when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery...The house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the Lord" (verses 7, 11). The Lord is saying here, "I blessed them, I favored them. And now they've turned their backs on me!"
In this passage, Jeremiah describes exactly who a backslider is. First, a backslider is someone who once enjoyed the blessings and favor of God. He walked before the Lord with a devoted, humble, kind heart. He loved praying and digging into God's word. He vowed, "I will serve the Lord always, with all my heart." And for a while he did seek the Lord faithfully. He forsook his wicked ways and delighted in the fellowship he found with other saints in God's house.
But then something began to draw this believer's heart away from the Lord. He no longer had genuine love. Instead, rebellion crept in. Soon he lost both the love and fear of God. He no longer trembled in the Lord's presence. His heart slowly grew cold.
"I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?" (verse 21). The Lord is saying, "How could you have turned away from me, when I planted you and tried to establish you? Yet, you turned and walked away!"