SIGNS OF A BACKSLIDING CHRISTIAN

BY PASTOR T. O. BANSO

“Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings” (Jeremiah 3:22 NKJV). 

The term “backsliding” is not found in the New Testament but is used in the Old Testament, especially in the book of Jeremiah, with reference to the children of Israel. “O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do it for Your name’s sake; for our backslidings are many, we have sinned against You” (Jeremiah 14:7 NKJV).

Backsliding means turning away or turning back from the Lord. It is falling from a level of spiritual attainment (Revelation 2:5). It is reverting to sin. It is the waxing cold of one’s love for God. It is one’s faith growing weaker. It is putting one’s hand to the plow and looking back. “But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God’” (Luke 9:62 NKJV).

Backsliding is like a dog returning to its vomit. “As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly” (Proverbs 26:11 NKJV). It is like salt losing its savors. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (Matthew 5:13 NKJV).

Backsliding is a thing of the heart but has outward manifestations. “The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above” (Proverbs 14:14 NKJV).  It is the heart that first turns away before others begin to see the physical signs of backsliding in a backslider. “So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice” (1 Kings 11:9 NKJV).

All the evils that Solomon did were as a result of his heart that first turned from the LORD. But he had been warned about this before then. “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods. ‘Solomon clung to these in love’” (1 Kings 11:2 NKJV). Did you see that? Solomon’s heart was turned away from God to foreign gods. This was the same Solomon that the Bible had said: “And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places” (1 Kings 3:3 NKJV). But this was during the earlier years of his reign.

Backsliding is a thing of the heart. Nobody is above backsliding. There are backsliding pastors who’re still preaching, and there are church workers and other Christians who have backslid, yet they don’t miss church programmes! Being a vibrant Christian is not about boasting or being self-confident. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV). The New Living Translation says it like this, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin.” You must watch your heart.

A backslider is a Christian who is committing sin, particularly privately, but sometimes publicly, a sin that causes him or her to regress from being a vibrant Christian to a lukewarm Christian. Non-believers don’t backslide – only Christians do – and this is because it is possible for Christians to sin. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10 NKJV). The truth is all Christians may have backslid in one form or the other, and need to repent and return to God. Non- believers have never received the saving grace and are living in sin; they’re down, and, therefore, need to fear no fall!

Signs of backsliding

1. Spiritual pride. This is when one begins to focus on one’s works and not the works of Christ on the cross. Our works are not the basis of our acceptance by God. We can’t stand and run the Christian race without Christ. Pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18). God opposes the proud (James 4:6). If you think you’re standing, take heed lest you fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).

In Luke 22:33, Peter started backsliding when he boasted that he was ready to go with Jesus to prison and to death. Later, when Jesus was arrested, Peter could only follow him at a distance, not closely (verse 54). Thank God that Jesus had prayed for Peter before his temptation. Jesus later restored him and reinstated him into ministry after his resurrection. The same Peter who had denied him later became a fearless witness of Jesus. Church history records that he died on the cross like Jesus, requesting, however, to be turned upside down as a mark of respect for his Master and Saviour. Beware of spiritual pride!

2. Lack of hunger for the Word of God. When a Christian begins to go for days without reading or studying the Word of God and still feels comfortable about it, he is backsliding. Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God (Luke 4:4). A Christian who has hunger and thirst for God will search the Scriptures daily like the Berean Christian (Acts 17:11).  He will treasure the Word of God in his heart (Job 23:12).

3. A sick or non-existing prayer life. When a Christian doesn’t pray privately as much as he used to do, he is backsliding. Jesus says man ought always to pray and not to faint (Luke 18:1). When the fire of prayer is going out gradually, there is backsliding. Such a Christian may be sleeping when he’s supposed to be praying. He may even be sleeping while praying! He may find prayer meetings with other Christians unattractive and unnecessary.

In Luke 22, Jesus told His disciples to pray so that they might not fall into temptation; unfortunately, they slept off. No wonder they deserted Him as soon as He was arrested.

While not despising congregational/corporate/public prayer, private prayer isn’t negotiable for a child of God. Your Father who sees you in secret will Himself reward you openly (Matthew 6:6).

4. Seemingly harmless worldly pleasures taking ascendancy over spiritual activities. A Christian is backsliding when playing games and sports, engaging in recreational activities, watching favourite TV programmes, including football matches, etc. become more important to him than prayer, Bible study, and other spiritual activities. “He who loves pleasure will be a poor man” (Proverbs 21:17a NKJV). Love of pleasure can also lead to spiritual poverty, which will affect other departments of one’s life. Love of pleasure will result in spiritual death. “But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives” (1 Timothy 5:6 NKJV). This does not apply to widows alone.

5. Justification of sin and loss of sense of guilt. When a Christian begins to excuse sin in his life, explains it away, and pardons his sin instead of being sorrowful and repent, he is backsliding. Such a Christian is departing from the faith and his conscience may become dead or seared. He’ll soon be wallowing in sin without feeling guilty. “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2 NKJV). We’re already in the latter times or end-time, therefore, many are departing from the faith.

6. Toleration of sin in fellow believers. Lack of abhorrence of sin in fellow believers is a sign of backsliding. A Christian should hate sins but love the sinner, including the sinning Christian. However, when a Christian begins to show understanding with fellow believers why they must commit certain sins or approve of their sins, he is backsliding. That is not biblical love.

Paul wrote the church in Pergamum (Pergamos) and after commending the church said, “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth” (Revelation 2:14-16 NKJV). This church was rebuked for tolerating heretical teachers. These teachers and those practising their wrong teachings should have been barred from the church if they didn’t repent. The church was asked to repent of this toleration of sin and compromise.

The church in Pergamum was unlike the church in Ephesus. Although that church had her own failing, she was commended for not tolerating evil people. “I know you don’t tolerate evil people” (Revelation 2:2b NLT). Unlike the church in Pergamum, the church in Ephesus hated the deeds of the immoral Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6).

The Bible says the soul who sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:20). Therefore, why should a Christian be tolerating the sins of others? A Christian cannot afford to be smiling at the sins of fellow Christians. That doesn’t mean he should hate them. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17 NKJV).

7. Control by the flesh. When a Christian is being controlled by the flesh (the desires of sinful nature) and not by the Spirit of God, it shows he is backsliding. Such a Christian will be manifesting the works of the flesh rather than the fruit of the Spirit. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV).

8. Worldliness. An obsession with the thought of making more money, acquiring more worldly goods, fashion, etc. is a sign of backsliding. The Bible says the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil, and some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10). “Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness!”  (Ecclesiastes 5:10 NLT). No Christian can serve God and money – you can’t serve two masters (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?  (Matthew 16:26). This world is passing away and all that is in it – don’t lose your soul by loving the world (1 John 2:15-17).

Worldliness is a dangerous sign of backsliding. Don’t allow anxiety about meeting your needs and acquiring your wants to cause God to be dethroned in your heart; seek first the Kingdom of God. “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:31-34 NKJV).

9. Living a hypocritical life. When a Christian begins to live a double life – he enjoys the company of sinners while maintaining a form of godliness among believers. That is hypocrisy, duplicity.

Such a Christian is gradually moving away from the church and integrating with the world until he is completely gone into the world. “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’” (Matthew 15:7-9 NKJV). Mark 7:6-7 says a similar thing. Be a Christian; don’t be a hypocrite. Don’t adjust your life to suit the world or to be accepted by the world – that is a sign of backsliding.

1o. Lack of concern for the sinful condition of the world. A backsliding Christian has no passion for the souls of sinners, which is tragic neglect of the Great Commission – go into the world and preach the gospel to sinners (Mark 16:15-18). Should Christians watch sinners go to hell? Ezekiel 33:8-9 says, “When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul” (NKJV).

11. Withdrawal from fellowship with saints. Before this symptom manifests, other symptoms are already evident – the heart first withdraws from God before a Christian begins to withdraw from fellowship with saints. The psalmist says, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the LORD’” (Psalm 122:1 NKJV). Fellowship with the saints becomes a burden to a backsliding Christian. This should not be so. Consider what the psalmist said in Psalm 84:10: “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness” (NKJV). Hebrews 10:25 says Christians should not forsake the assembling together of fellow Christians.

How to Avoid Backsliding

1. Cultivate daily fellowship with God in His Word and in worship and prayer. Treasure the Word of God enough to read it, study it, meditate on it, confess it, and obey it. Job 23:12 says, “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (NKJV).

The Word of God is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path (Psalm 119:105). Study and meditate on the Word. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8 NKJV).

Studying and meditating on the Word of God helps you to renew your mind daily and not to backslide. “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” (Romans 12:2 NKJV).  

In addition, worship the Lord in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Worship Him in songs and with words. Worship Him in adoration. Worship him in appreciation of His holy splendor. However, worship goes beyond singing. It includes living a holy life. Worship Him with your entire life.

Furthermore, worship the Lord daily by fellowshipping with Him in prayer. Cultivate the habit of spending time alone with God in private prayer as Jesus did during which, among other things, you will commit yourself and your undertakings into His hand. “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5 NKJV).

Regularly spend time with God in prayer including praying in the Holy Ghost (Jude 20). Constant prayer was Jesus’ lifestyle – He prayed privately and publicly. Also, He taught the need for constant prayer and to never give up (Luke 18:1). Daniel prayed three times a day, giving thanks before his God (Daniel 6:10). 

Keep the fire of prayer burning in your life. Jesus told the disciples, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:41a NKJV). Mark 14:38a and Luke 22:46a record a similar instruction by Jesus. Unfortunately, the disciples slept in the place of prayer and couldn’t withstand the temptation that followed. They all deserted Him. Maintain a vibrant private prayer life. Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

2. Walk in the spirit. To walk in the spirit means to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16 says, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (NKJV). The New Living Translation renders it thus: “So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”

If you walk in the spirit consistently, you’ll not backslide. Not to walk in the spirit is to walk in the flesh. Jesus was filled with the Spirit of God before He was led into the wilderness, so He didn’t fall into Satan’s temptation (Luke 4:1–13).

3. Do regular self-examination. Do a frequent spiritual check-up to be sure your life is right with God. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV).

Identify any sin in your life; confess, repent, and forsake it. Don’t tolerate sin; don’t play with it; don’t rationalize it. No sin is too small to take anyone to hell-fire! “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:9-10 NKJV).

Concerning the church of Ephesus – the loveless church – the Bible says, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place — unless you repent” (Revelation 2:5 NKJV).

God is ready to forgive any sinner who genuinely repents. He’ll receive him and will not count his sin against him. He’ll treat him as if he has never sinned. “Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Return to Me,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 1:3 NKJV). You can repent and return to God today. He’ll heal your backslidings. “Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings” (Jeremiah 3:22 NKJV).

4. Embrace holy living. No habitual sinner is a Christian, and no Christian is a habitual sinner. “Those who are God’s children do not continue sinning, because the new life from God remains in them. They are not able to go on sinning, because they have become children of God” (1 John 3:9 NCV). The New King James Version says, “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”

Whoever says he knows God and doesn’t keep His commandment is a liar; the truth is not in him (1 John 2:4). And the summary of these commandments is love – love God and love fellow human beings. Love is the fulfillment of the law. “Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements” (Romans 13:10 NKJV). The New Living Translation renders it thus: “Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” 

5. Listen and respond to anointed messages that convict sinners of sin and call back sinning Christians to the path of righteousness. In 1 Timothy 4:16, Paul told Timothy to take heed to himself and to the doctrine and continue in them, for in doing this he would save both himself and those who heard him. There are messages that make those living in sin to be comfortable in sin. It doesn’t save them. This is dangerous.

After the anointed, convicting, and convincing message preached by Peter on the Day of Pentecost, 3,000 souls were saved, baptized, and added to the church. They were not pressured. No. It was the people themselves, after listening to Peter, who asked what they must do to be saved. “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:37-38 NKJV).

We need messages that will save sinners who are outside the church (non-believers) and save (cause repentance in) sinning Christians. We don’t need messages that make both categories feel comfortable. Ministers of the gospel have a duty to watch what they’re preaching. Are you preaching a permissive message or a salvation message, an edifying message?

6. Respond to God’s discipline. If you sin and God disciplines you, in whichever way He chooses, respond by repenting and forsaking your sin. That is how not to be completely lost. Don’t reject the discipline of God by persisting in sin. God disciplines you because He loves you and wants to save you from a journey into hell. “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:5-11 NKJV).

7. Don’t neglect fellowship with fellow Christians. Don’t let the devil isolate you from the ministry of the church. He can do that by making you see faults in other Christians, causing you to want to have nothing to do with them. By that, he also keeps you away from fellow Christians who can speak into your life and support you in difficult times. The devil can exploit this to draw you away from God.

Withdrawal from fellowship will deny you the protection of the church and other benefits that church membership offers. Hebrews 10:25 says we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together (not neglect our meeting together) as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.

8. Be open to the prayer of other believers. In addition to personal prayers, believers need one another’s prayer to stand and keep standing because we are all members of the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:26 says, “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (NKJV). We should be our brothers’ keeper. Galatians 6:2 says we should bear one another’s burden – share each other’s troubles and problems – and in this way obey the law of Christ.

It was the prayer of Jesus that saved Peter. Maybe he would have ended like Judas Iscariot who committed suicide. “And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren’” (Luke 22:31-32 NKJV).

We need each other in the Christian race. Soldiers don’t fight separately; they fight together.  “Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere” (Ephesians 6:18 NLT). The New King James Version of this scripture talks about “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

No wonder, the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:25 and 2 Thessalonians 3:1, “Pray for us.” The same phrase is written in Hebrews 13:18, and Paul is one of the persons Bible scholars have mentioned as a possible writer of the book of Hebrews.

9. Receive encouragement from fellow believers. Encouragement from other believers is one of the key benefits of fellowshipping with other believers. There are times when a believer is weary or his faith is low, encouragement from a fellow Christian becomes an energizer. According to Titus 1:9, a person to be ordained an elder/pastor/bishop is expected to be able to encourage others with the right teaching based on the trustworthy message he has been taught. Indeed, there are Christians who have been giving a special gift of encouragement or exhortation. Romans 12:8a says, “If your gift is to encourage others, do it!” (NLT). The word encourage is rendered as exhorting in the New King James Version.

Everybody needs encouragement at one point or the other. The person giving it now may soon need it. Discouragement is one reason people backslide. Christians ought to be like the apostle Joseph or Joses named Barnabas by the other apostles. Barnabas means son of encouragement (Acts 4:36). His name is first mentioned in this verse in the Bible. Indeed, he was an encourager. Verse 37 says he sold his land and brought it to the apostles. We see Barnabas later being a great encouragement to Paul, John Mark, and the early church.

Christians should purposely encourage one another. That’s why the epistles are full of words of encouragement to the church then and indeed the church today. The apostle Peter said, “My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that the grace of God is with you no matter what happens” (1 Peter 5:12 NLT). Again, the word encourage is rendered as exhorting in the New King James Version.

Paul wrote to the Romans, “I’m eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other” (Romans 1:12 NLT). Did you see that? The people Paul wrote to needed encouragement just as he did too. Every Christian needs encouragement. The writer of the book of Hebrews says, “Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24 NLT). And Paul, writing to the Corinthians said in 2 Corinthians 13:11, “Encourage each other” (NLT). Timely encouragement can save many believers from backsliding.

10. Persevere in whatever hardship or persecution you’re going through. Hardship or persecution is another reason people backslide. “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV). In other words, expect persecution the moment you choose to live a godly life!

If you’ll not backslide, you must endure to the end; you must stand firm despite all persecutions. Jesus said, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 10:22-23 NKJV).

Matthew 24:12-13 says, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (NKJV). Persecution is part of the Christian package. Mark 13:12-13 says a similar thing. “Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (NKJV). Despite persecution, you mustn’t backslide; determine to endure to the end and God will help you. He’ll keep you from falling (Jude 24).

You must not allow hardship or persecution to abort your journey to eternity with Jesus. You’ve laid your hand to the plow; you mustn’t look back, no matter what. “Let this encourage God’s holy people to endure persecution patiently and remain firm to the end, obeying his commands and trusting in Jesus” (Revelation 14:12 NLT).

2 Timothy 2:3 says to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Stand firm, stand strong in the faith. Don’t go back because of any negative experience you’re going through. You won’t backslide in Jesus’ name. And if you’ve backslid, repent and return to Jesus. The Lord will forgive you and receive you back. Always remember that your affliction is temporary. “ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NKJV). Halleluiah, the afflictions or troubles you see will soon be over!  

Conclusion: There is restoration for every backslider if he repents. If you’re in that condition repent, confess your sins, and return to the Lord. Don’t die in your sin and go to hell. If you’ve not backslid, pay attention to the Word of God and keep asking for grace to stand to the end. You’ll make heaven in Jesus’ name.

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org