Spiritual Restoration:
Encourage, Renew!
By: Hannah Tomambo
Restoration
as defined by Merriam-Webster is an act of restoring or the condition of being
restored, a bringing back to a former position or condition, reinstatement,
reinstitution, to restore the impaired to its normal condition. It employs a
total reinstatement of mind from previously divulging an act of the opposition
to coming back into what is intently in good shape. It requires a fast or slow
paced process yet, it has one goal, to return on what we think as rightful in
the sight of God. It is a broad idea in coming to a point on how this process
will be done, but it is specific if we focus on one thing intangible and its
existence goes beyond immeasurable thought – it is our faith in our savior Jesus
Christ.
Restoration, in one’s point of view,
implies an overwhelming process of total transformation into something new, the
tear and wear of old self. It connotes an idea of personally changing one’s
mind into the renewing and setting it on spiritual view. Yet, here’s the
dilemma, why do the word restoration comes in the picture?. Well, here’s the
gist, someone or somebody or even our own selves get in the middle of doing
unrighteous or ending up doing sin. Is it right? In some point, we are being
wired up in doing unlawful things which regresses us and can cause broken
relationships to others or to God.
One of the most difficult things to
watch is when a believing Christian friend or even us becomes hounded, or
trapped in sin. It is usually but not always, something that sneaks us up, or
because it isn’t noticed right away, eventually it overwhelms us at some point,
and become caught in the deceptive web and unknowingly we end up needing help
on getting out of the dungeon of the sins we are in. Sometimes, in our ongoing battle wth sin, it
can knock us around and get the best of us, or what we called the unguarded
moments of our life. Then in those times, we are most especially to bear one
another’s burdens (Galatians 6:1-2) by coming alongside and helping. Bearing one another’s burden in a more general sense should
be a normal part of the church ongoing body life to begin with and by being
strong who are ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please
ourselves (Romans 15:1-3). But how do restoration process gets going to
a person who is caught in some sin and cant’ escape? There are two line of
thoughts:
Thought # 1. Encourage and at the same time Warn.
We thrive on encouragement,
personally I really do. We’re all like that way and we actually like on hearing
encouraging words, but few really have
the gift of encouraging, and sure they have it.
In the meantime, if you’re one who thrives on words of discouragement
intended to bring you down, you should seek help. Just saying.
The writer of Hebrews wrote and
revealed the power of encouragement. If condemning, ostracizing and treating
others with disdain when they are struggling with sin or contemplating sinful
decisions or actions is such a good thing, well then let us look on the book of
Hebrews, the writer clearly means and blew a perfect chance to model what encouragement
should be. He showed what it means to encourage and not to maltreat the person,
instead of shunning them and treating them harshly, he turned to words of
encouragement beautifully blended with urgency, warnings and the message of the
Gospel.
See to it, brothers, that none of
you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But
encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you
may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we
hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.( Hebrews 3:12-14,
NIV).
All of us desperately need to hear
this kind of encouragement that comes from the Gospel. Paul also tells us
directly how to gently treat someone who is caught in sin.
Brothers, if someone is caught in a
sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or
you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will
fulfill the law of Christ. ( Galatians 6:1-2, NIV).
The “spiritual” that Paul is
referring aren’t the super saints in the church, but those who are not caught
in the sin at that particular juncture. Yet, this can be a moving target
because those who are spiritual this week may be caught in their own sin next
week. That’s why there is a warning to “keep watch on yourself, lest you to be
tempted”. Regardless, the spiritual are to help restore those who are caught in
sin.
Thought # 2. Renewing of the mind from the inside
out.
Going on, Spiritual Restoration still depends on what one
thinks needs “restoring”. If restoration focuses on changing our inner self
wholeheartedly then outside appearance will follow the transformation ongoing
within us. Being a Christian, concentrating on the very core of the Gospel,
being Christ centered, believing the supernatural miracles that God can offer,
Christian mission oriented and the ministry to the world in divine
strength, I tell you, certainly it can allow, encourage, and stimulate
spiritual renewal and a luminous inward to outward recondition of the 3
components of the person, which are the soul, body and mind.
However, if the desired
"restoration" primarily revolves around only outwardly, and particularly
if the restoration is superficial, then there is a tendency that it becomes an
end within itself,or the motives will fall wrongly. Then it will regard spiritual renewal as a
threat and will reject it whenever it appears. External goal of renovating ourselves
is a lot unclear in stating of “restoration” in our own selves for it does not
involve total transformation and renewing but, a partial and an inch of
contrite heart to offer .How true? Yes, this exists, but the question lies, can
we let this from coming and pass by just like that? Then we are all reminded
that the great "restoration" will be God's own accomplishment at the
End (Acts 3:21). Even now, however, God gives us "times of
refreshing" to sustain us as we wait for his great "restoration"
(Acts 3:19).
In the meantime, God is all in the manner
of restoring us, and in our part, it is also our call to respond in restoring
and consecrating ourselves according to what God commands us to be – to be like
Him.
Finally, all of you, live in
harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate
and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with
blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For "Whoever
would love life and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He
must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes
of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their
prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." ( 1
Peter 3: 8 – 12,NIV).
Therefore be clear minded and
self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply,
because love covers over a multitude of sins ( 1 Peter 4: 7 – 8, NIV).
So then, those who suffer according
to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue
to do good.( 1 Peter 4:19, NIV).
