Necessary Steps On The Way Back Home (Part 1)

Necessary Steps On The Way Back Home (Part I)

Psalm 51:14-17

Some weeks back there was a post on Facebook about a young man who was lost and could not find his way back home. Tricia El-Sharkaway posted a picture with this description: "My children and I have known (this young man) for several years and taken him food, clothes, and blankets. Sean is special needs. He can't read or write and sounds like an 8 year old child when he talks. He recently told me that he is here because he got lost and can't find his way home. He was on a Greyhound Bus to visit someone and got on the wrong bus at a rest stop. He's been lost ever since. He thinks he's from Springfield, Missouri. Someone has to be looking for him. He's such a harmless, gentle soul. Please pray for him."

There was another story of an elderly couple who were both in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's who left home and went missing for a couple of days. There story was a bit different. They were lost but they didn't realize it.

Both of these stories illustrate the spiritual conditions of certain people: Some are lost and don't know how to get back home. And some have wandered away from the Father and don't even know it. Then there are some who have turned from the Father and they know that they have...furthermore they know what steps are necessary to return, they simply refuse to take those steps.

In the Bible we are told of many individuals who took steps in the wrong direction.

- Moses was disobedient and suffered severe consequences

- Elijah came to a point where he asked God to take his life from him.

- King Saul failed the Lord on several occasions

- Jonah refused to go where the Lord sent him and went in the opposite direction.

- Peter denied the Lord 3 times.

- John Mark abandoned Paul, Barnabas and the ministry.

- Demas forsook Paul out of his love for the things of the world.

- Even David, a man after God's own heart (for a time) took his life in his own hands.

He rebelled and found himself far away from His Heavenly Father. Maybe you can relate to King David! Maybe you have fallen into sin and instead of taking those steps toward restoration, you have turned and gone further into your rebellion. It is my prayer that like David you will come to the realization that you can return. In fact, your Heavenly Father desires that you return right here right now!

- In Luke 15 we are told the story of the Prodigal Son. He had rebelled and left his father's house. He found himself in a bad situation and decided that he would return to his father and beg him to make him as one of the hired servants. We find that before he even made it to his father's house, the father saw him a long way off. (because he was looking for him) He ran to him, kissed him, put a ring on his finger, wrapped a robe around him and threw a welcome home party. - And Jesus tells us in that very chapter that "... there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" - Luke 15:10

I can promise you... your Heavenly Father will rejoice if you return to Him today. I invite you to join me in Psalm 51 as we see the...................... "Necessary Steps On The Way Back Home". There are some specific steps that are necessary if you desire to return to a right relationship with the Father. David took each of these steps in his journey of restoration and if you are going to be restored, you must do the same. Let's look at verse 3 and see:

STEP #1 - REVELATION - Psalm 51:1 "a A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba"

This Psalm of repentance was a result of David's sin being revealed to him. There is no question that David knew he had sinned. This was God's man! But this was a time of pride and rebellion. This was a time where his heart had grown cold and hard. And God in His loving mercy sent Nathan the prophet to confront David's sin.

David was hand picked by the Lord to be the King of Israel. King Saul had disobeyed the Lord and He sent Samuel with a message for Saul - 1 Samuel 13:14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people,