RESTORING THE BACKSLIDER
BY RICK L. ROBERTSON

In a day of gimmicks and programs all aimed at revival, we must not forget those individuals who have passed through our church doors, tasted the good gift of God, yet they are not with us today.

I hope that the guidelines which I have compiled from the scripture will help all of us to lead our fellow brethren back to a right relationship with God. We need our programs to reach the lost.

However, we must, with the help of God, find a way to stop the “leak” our churches seem to have when it comes to the retention of new converts. The only answer is prayer. We cannot make it happen, but God
can! Through right praying and proper follow-up, we can stop a great deal of the casualties and losses that the church is suffering.

STEP ONE: KNOW THE DIRECTIVE

This first step of restoration praying is the acknowledgment within our mind that we have a Biblical directive to restore a person to a right relationship with God.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted (Galations 6:1).”

The Greek word for “restore” is katartizo which means “to mend what has been broken or rent, to repair, to complete, to make one what he ought to be.” This, then, should be confirmed in our hearts that we have the Biblical authority to do this specific type of praying.

STEP TWO: RECOGNIZE THE STRONGHOLD

We need to recognize and focus in on the stronghold the enemy has in the backslider’s life. This came about by first “being caught in the snare of the devil.”

“And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (11 Timothy 2:26).”

NOTE: See also II Corinthians 10:4.

STEP THREE: TAKE AUTHORITY

Once the stronghold has been identified, we must use our God-given authority to take dominion over it. For as it is written, “Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven (Matthew 16:19).”

Likewise, we must take authority over the lying spirit that is telling the backslider that “they are not cared for” by the church: for we know that Satan “is a liar, and the father of it (John 8:44).”

STEP FOUR: MAKE CONTACT

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth (I John 3:18).”

Along with the binding of the stronghold and of the lying spirit comes the need for a kind word and an act of compassion which every backslider needs on their road to restoration. It is important to make
personal contact with the person (or persons) for whom you are praying.

During the course of your contact with the backslider, it is important to abstain from talking about the individuals or circumstances that offended them and caused them to leave church.

“…but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh (Matthew 18:7).”

Keep your conversation centered on the love of God and your desire to see them restored.

We must allow them to know that what God is doing inwardly through the power of prayer, we are following up outwardly by letting them know we care.

In this last hour of time, let us not forget those who have fallen in battle. We must bind together and restore as many as we can in the spirit of love.

McCormick’s Creek Church
RR#5 Box 190
Spencer, IN 47460
812-829-3609
Prayer Line: 812-829-2677

Service Times:
Sunday School at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Evening at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday Prayer at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday Bible Study at 7:30 p.m.

Home Bible Studies are given upon request.
Please call
829-3609 or 876-6819
to set up an appointment.

THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS PUBLISHED BY RICK L. ROBERTSON.

THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY AND RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.