{"id":3694,"date":"2015-10-14T00:30:10","date_gmt":"2015-10-14T07:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/?p=3694"},"modified":"2015-10-13T23:32:22","modified_gmt":"2015-10-14T06:32:22","slug":"1014-how-to-avoid-backsliding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/2015\/10\/14\/1014-how-to-avoid-backsliding\/","title":{"rendered":"10\/14: How to Avoid Backsliding (\u8bd7119:33-40 \u5e16\u540e2:1-17 \u803629:24-31:14)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u8bfb\u7ecf\uff1a\u8bd7119:33-40 \u5e16\u540e2:1-17 \u803629:24-31:14<\/h2>\n

How to Avoid Backsliding<\/h2>\n
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As a young man, Philip was kidnapped and held hostage in Greece. There he remained for several years. During this time he received a military education. Then he returned to his homeland, which had conceded many defeats and had lost much land. Within five years he had become king.<\/p>\n

Philip II of Macedon desperately needed his army to stand firm. He is remembered for two major innovations. First is the sarissa<\/em>, a very long spear. Second is the re-development of a rectangular military formation used by ancient armies (known as a phalanx<\/em>). A core of highly-trained infantrymen, armed with Philip\u2019s longer spears, stood shoulder to shoulder<\/em> in files normally eight men deep.<\/p>\n

As long as they stood firm<\/em> and did not break rank they were virtually invincible and struck fear into the hearts of their enemies. Using this tactic, Philip united the city-states of Greece and took the city of Philippi (that is named after him) in 356 BC.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, it seems that the Christian life is like facing a powerful enemy. It feels like an intense struggle in which another team is attempting to push us back and break down our ranks. If we don\u2019t stand firm, we fall on our backs and slide in the mud in the wrong direction. We have seen how Jeremiah warned the people many times against backsliding <\/em>(Jeremiah 2:19; 3:22; 5:6; 14:7; 15:6).<\/p>\n

It is not a matter of us standing firm on our own. We are part of a community. In today\u2019s New Testament passage, Paul invokes the image of the phalanx\u00a0<\/em>with which Philip II of Macedonia once conquered the city of Philippi (Philippians 1:27). Shoulder to shoulder, the church can stand firm. This is one of many occasions that Paul exhorts the church to \u2018stand firm\u2019 (2 Thessalonians 2:15).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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1. Get a firm grip on your heart and your eyes<\/h2>\n

Psalm 119:33-40<\/a>It has been said that \u2018a great oak is only a little nut that held its ground.\u2019 The temptation to fall away and backslide usually begins with our hearts and eyes. The psalmist clearly experienced a battle within himself. He wrote, \u2018Turn my heart <\/em>towards your statutes and not towards selfish gain. Turn my eyes<\/em> away from worthless things\u2019 (vv.36\u201337a).<\/p>\n

So often, backsliding begins by setting our hearts on what\u2019s in it for us, or allowing our eyes to wander onto \u2018worthless things\u2019 (v.37).<\/p>\n

As The Message<\/em> puts it, \u2018Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets\u2019 (v.37). Turn your hearts and eyes to God\u2019s words and you can stand firm.<\/p>\n

The psalmist speaks of God\u2019s word as the place where he finds delight (v.35) and where he is enabled to persevere (vv.37,40). This is because God\u2019s \u2018laws are good\u2019 (v.39). The psalmist prays, \u2018Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end\u2019 (v.33). Jesus said, \u2018Whoever stands firm to the end<\/em> will be saved\u2019 (Matthew 24:13).<\/p>\n

Lord, help me to find delight in your words. Turn my heart away from \u2018selfish gain\u2019 and my eyes from \u2018worthless things\u2019 (Psalm 119:36\u201337).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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2. Hold firmly to the truth of the gospel<\/h2>\n

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17<\/a>Paul urges his readers to persevere and stand firm<\/em>, holding firmly to the truth of the gospel.<\/p>\n

He\u00a0warns the Thessalonians, \u2018Don\u2019t let anyone deceive you in any way\u2019 (v.3). \u2018[Don\u2019t] become easily unsettled or alarmed\u2019 (v.2).<\/p>\n

Satan is a deceiver. Paul warns about \u2018the coming of the lawless one\u2019 that \u2018will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives\u2019 (v.9). Those who \u2018refuse\u2019 to \u2018love the truth\u2019 will be taken in by \u2018a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie\u2019 (vv.10\u201311).<\/p>\n

We are not to be taken in by those \u2018saying that the day of the Lord has already come\u2019 (v.2). When Jesus returns, it will be obvious to everyone. There will be great darkness before the dawn (vv.3\u20137), but the powers of evil will be revealed. These powers are absolutely nothing compared with Jesus: \u2018And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming\u2019 (v.8).<\/p>\n

The early church lived in daily expectation of the second coming of Jesus. So should we. Martin Luther said, \u2018I live as though Jesus Christ had been crucified yesterday, had risen this morning and was coming again tomorrow.\u2019<\/p>\n

While you wait for Jesus\u2019 return, stand firm<\/em>. Paul has every confidence that the Thessalonians will do so. What is true of them is true of you \u2013 you are \u2018loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved by the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ\u2019 (vv.13\u201314).<\/p>\n

You have your part to play. You have to \u2018stand firm <\/em>and hold to the teachings\u2019 (v.15) of the New Testament. However, the reason that you can be so confident in standing firm to the end is because of the love of God, \u2018the sanctifying work of the Spirit\u2019 and the power of the gospel which enables us to share in the glory of Jesus Christ (vv.13\u201314).<\/p>\n

So Paul writes, \u2018May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word\u2019 (vv.16\u201317).<\/p>\n

Encouragement is like sunshine. It warms our hearts and brings light to our lives. God himself has given you \u2018eternal encouragement\u2019 (v.16) and wants to encourage your heart.<\/p>\n

God encourages you so that you may encourage and help others \u2018in every good deed and word\u2019 (v.17). We are encouraged to live like Jesus \u2018who went around doing good\u2019 (Acts 10:38).<\/p>\n

Father, thank you that I am loved by the Lord and that, one day, I will share in the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Help me to stand firm, holding onto the truth of the gospel in spite of opposition.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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3. Stand firm together as a strong community<\/h2>\n

Jeremiah 29:24-31:14<\/a>You are not on your own. God never intended you to fight your battles alone. He called you to be a part of a strong, healthy, vibrant, growing community of his people. Together we can stand firm, not only resisting backsliding but moving forward together.<\/p>\n

Jeremiah warned the people against being deceived by false prophets: \u2018This is what the Lord says\u2026 Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send him, and has led you to believe a lie\u2026 he has preached rebellion against me\u2019 (29:31\u201332).<\/p>\n

Yet, in spite of the fact that Israel had backslidden \u2013 \u2018your guilt is so great and your sins so many\u2019 (30:14) \u2013 God promises that he will restore them: \u2018But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds\u2026 I will restore the fortunes of Jacob\u2019s tents and have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt\u2019 (vv.17\u201318). He promises at least four things:<\/p>\n