"The Pathway Home, Restoration"

Title: "The Pathway Home, Restoration."

Introduction: David said that his sin was "against the Lord." In Psalm 51, David said, "Against thee and thee only have I sinned."

There are many people who, when confronted with sin, seem to shrug their shoulders and sigh away their sin by simply saying, "Oh well, I am sorry." Then, 1 John 1:9 is quoted, and nothing seems to change.

I am not saying that David did not fully understand the impact of his sin. Remember, David laid prone on the earth for seven days weeping and fasting for the life of his Son.

With this message, I want to bring a scriptural mandate for saints to follow in order to be fully restored from sin.

Let us begin with this verse:

(Gal 6:1) 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.

Now... the pathway home:

1. Whatever happened to "Responsibility?"

(Luke 12:48 KJV) ….For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

David was a King. The weight of his sin would effect his entire Kingdom. Nathan reminded David that the nations around him would now have a reason to blaspheme the God of Israel.

God can, and will forgive a person who has committed sin, but that does not always undo the earthly consequences of our sin. Bathsheba’s baby would die.

2. Whatever happened to "Repentance?"

(2 Cor 7:10 KJV) For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Where are the tears? Again, I remind you that David wept, laying on the earth for seven days.

When is the last time that God impressed you to respond to a Bible message and kneel at an altar? When is the last time that you actually cried about your sin? The better question is, "Does sin ever make you cry?"

Jeremiah was known as the "weeping prophet."

3. Whatever happened to "Resolve?"

(Josh 24:15 KJV) And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

If a person has genuinely repented of their sin, their will be a resolve to live a changed life.

We need to die to fleshly desires and walk in newness of life. Someone needs to pour out their "Strong drink" down the sink! Someone needs to toss their pornagrahic magazines into the fire! Someone needs to smash their cigarettes with a hammer! Someone needs to put some duck tape over their evil tongue!

We need to resolve to let God take control our lives again! Put a date on it, and pen your name to it!

4. Whatever happened to "Reconciliation?"

(Mat 5:23,24) Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

David looked very "Christian" in his outward appearance. He had taken a poor widow into his care. The truth was, he had taken another man’s wife into his bedroom!

Because David would not confess it as a sin, God exposed it as a sin.

Look again at Matthew 5. Before we can be right with God, we need to get right with our brother. David had only sinned against the Lord, he had sinned against, Uriah the Hittite, Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, his own wife, Michael, his children, his Kingdom, and the nations round about him. Sin hurts everybody!

5. Whatever happened to "Restitution?"

(Luke 19:8 KJV) And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

Note the righteous example of Zacchaeus. He was willing to repay fourfold those whom he had been accused of sinning against.

6. Whatever happened to "Reliability?"

(1 Tim 3:6 KJV) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Trust is earned. When trust is lost, it takes time and holy living in order to restore what has been lost.

7. Whatever happened to "Restoration?"

(Gal 6:1) 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.