The Disadvantages of The Disadvantages of Backsliding:Backsliding:

Lessons from the Life of Lessons from the Life of SolomonSolomon

What is backsliding?What is backsliding?

1. Continued willful disobedience of the Lord1. Continued willful disobedience of the Lord

I Kings 11:10-11 Although he had forbidden I Kings 11:10-11 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD's command. So the LORD said keep the LORD's command. So the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.give it to one of your subordinates.

I Kings 11:1-2I Kings 11:1-2King Solomon, however, loved many foreign King Solomon, however, loved many foreign

women besides Pharaoh's daughter-- Moabites, women besides Pharaoh's daughter-- Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites.They were from nations about which the Hittites.They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, "You must not LORD had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.Solomon held fast to them in love.

2. Turning of the heart away from God and following other 2. Turning of the heart away from God and following other godsgods

I Kings 11:4-6I Kings 11:4-6As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other

gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.his God, as the heart of David his father had been.

He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites.Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites.

So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done.done.

3. Loss of relationship with the Lord Rev 3. Loss of relationship with the Lord Rev 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.with him, and he with me.

4. “Sleeping” in the Lord 4. “Sleeping” in the Lord

Rev 3:2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains Rev 3:2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my your deeds complete in the sight of my GodGod

5. Lukewarmness Rev 3:15-16 I know your 5. Lukewarmness Rev 3:15-16 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!So, wish you were either one or the other!So, because you are lukewarm-- neither hot because you are lukewarm-- neither hot nor cold-- I am about to spit you out of my nor cold-- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.mouth.

The Disadvantages of BackslidingThe Disadvantages of Backsliding

1.1. Far-reaching consequences of sinFar-reaching consequences of sinBecause of Solomon the kingdom of Israel was dividedBecause of Solomon the kingdom of Israel was divided

IKings 11:11-13IKings 11:11-13So the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude So the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude

and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.Nevertheless, for the sake of David your subordinates.Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son.Yet I will not tear the whole out of the hand of your son.Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen."Jerusalem, which I have chosen."

Solomon loved the Lord at firstSolomon loved the Lord at first

David named him Jedidiah (beloved of the David named him Jedidiah (beloved of the Lord)Lord)

There was a time Solomon was so in love There was a time Solomon was so in love with the Lord, he wrote Song of Songswith the Lord, he wrote Song of Songs

He pleased the Lord when he asked for He pleased the Lord when he asked for wisdom instead of richeswisdom instead of riches

He was so full of wisdomHe was so full of wisdom

The Disadvantages of BackslidingThe Disadvantages of Backsliding

2. You can lead many people astray.2. You can lead many people astray.Solomon-led an entire nation astraySolomon-led an entire nation astraySolomon started Baal worship in Israel, he even built Solomon started Baal worship in Israel, he even built high places for the idolshigh places for the idols

IKing 11:7-9IKing 11:7-9On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for

Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites.He did the same the detestable god of the Ammonites.He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.The LORD became offered sacrifices to their gods.The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.appeared to him twice.

3. You end up neurotic and depressed and cynical 3. You end up neurotic and depressed and cynical – read the book of Ecclesiastes, which Solomon – read the book of Ecclesiastes, which Solomon wrotewrote

““The Neurosis of Disobedience”-you know the The Neurosis of Disobedience”-you know the truth, you have known the truth, but you don’t truth, you have known the truth, but you don’t follow it; you make excuses for your behavior, follow it; you make excuses for your behavior, you deny God, you deny His existence, His you deny God, you deny His existence, His word. But deep inside you know you are wrong.word. But deep inside you know you are wrong.

4. Nature never forgives4. Nature never forgivesSexual sin leads to sexually transmitted disease, viral infections, bacterial Sexual sin leads to sexually transmitted disease, viral infections, bacterial

infections, parasitic infections, fungal infectionsinfections, parasitic infections, fungal infections1 Cor 6:18-201 Cor 6:18-20Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body,

but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,

whom you have received from God? You are not your own;whom you have received from God? You are not your own;you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Drugs-damage brain cellsDrugs-damage brain cellsNicotine- damage blood vessels and cause blockage in blood vesselsNicotine- damage blood vessels and cause blockage in blood vesselsAlcohol- damages liver cellsAlcohol- damages liver cellsAnger, bitterness- increases cortisol, depresses immune system, causes Anger, bitterness- increases cortisol, depresses immune system, causes

autoimmune diseaseautoimmune diseaseCancer- starts from one cell that mutates and never diesCancer- starts from one cell that mutates and never dies

Life Application:Life Application:

1.1. Follow God because you love Him.Follow God because you love Him.

2.2. Love the Lord with all your heart.Love the Lord with all your heart.

3.3. Don’t turn away from God.Don’t turn away from God.

4.4. Don’t follow other gods.Don’t follow other gods.

5.5. Don’t compromise.Don’t compromise.

6.6. Don’t let people lead you astray.Don’t let people lead you astray.

""Heart BackHeart Back""

One thing I want, I want is my heart back One thing I want, I want is my heart back One thing I need, I need is to know that One thing I need, I need is to know that First love I lost, I lost now way backFirst love I lost, I lost now way backSome time ago, I don’t know, it’s just like thatSome time ago, I don’t know, it’s just like thatI don’t remember, how lost this first love I don’t remember, how lost this first love I got so busy, I lost my intimacy with Love I got so busy, I lost my intimacy with Love I got so busy, where is He, I don’t know LoveI got so busy, where is He, I don’t know LoveGod’s love, but I forget and I don’t know why? God’s love, but I forget and I don’t know why?

I remember those days, when I was sky high I remember those days, when I was sky high I used to pray, everyday, and it felt so right I used to pray, everyday, and it felt so right But now, I don’t even know where my love wentBut now, I don’t even know where my love wentI need a miracle, man I need a God sent I need a miracle, man I need a God sent Angel, to come down and rescue meAngel, to come down and rescue meFrom this mess I made, man, this catastrophe From this mess I made, man, this catastrophe Help me God, I need to get back right with youHelp me God, I need to get back right with youI want my heart again, to run hard after You! I want my heart again, to run hard after You!

One thing I seek, I want to get my heart back One thing I seek, I want to get my heart back One thing I ask, I ask for that ancient path One thing I ask, I ask for that ancient path Back to the path, the path that I used to know Back to the path, the path that I used to know Down on my face, going down that glory road Down on my face, going down that glory road Where your glory and Your presence used to Where your glory and Your presence used to touch me touch me Where your power and Your fire used to burn Where your power and Your fire used to burn me me You keep telling me, calling me, come back You keep telling me, calling me, come back Return to Me, come to Me, get your heart back Return to Me, come to Me, get your heart back

I don’t know, where I’ll go, where I’m I don’t know, where I’ll go, where I’m gonna be gonna be I don’t know, all I know, is that I want to I don’t know, all I know, is that I want to see see The light again, all I want to be is Your The light again, all I want to be is Your friendfriendOh God, come back, this can’t be the end Oh God, come back, this can’t be the end I just want to be, right here, with You I just want to be, right here, with You In your presence, in your essence, just In your presence, in your essence, just me-You me-You

Life is beautiful, when I’m here, with YouLife is beautiful, when I’m here, with YouIt’s true, eternal life is knowing You It’s true, eternal life is knowing You Knowing You, I wouldn’t trade it for Knowing You, I wouldn’t trade it for anything anything I’m the Bride, You’re the Christ, here’s my I’m the Bride, You’re the Christ, here’s my wedding ringwedding ringYou’re all I want, all I need, you’re You’re all I want, all I need, you’re everything…everything…Jesus Christ, right here, You’re everything!Jesus Christ, right here, You’re everything!

Put yo hands in the air, get a soul clap Put yo hands in the air, get a soul clap Come on everybody, uh, get your heart Come on everybody, uh, get your heart back back If you lost your first love, and you know dat If you lost your first love, and you know dat

Right here, right now, get your heart back Right here, right now, get your heart back