Restoring The Fallen:
The Fruitfulness of Repentance
~Danny Steyne~
“Danny,
thanks so much for that message from the Lord on 'Restoring the Fallen', it
really blessed me and I am so glad that you have opened the door for me!”
The message came from several sources. Individuals still caught in the trap of
sin and not repentant over their condition. I quickly responded, “That wasn’t
a word for you!” God still requires repentance in order for restoration to
happen.
Years ago I learned a valuable lesson. I believed and practiced that Scripture
that says, “Love covers a multitude of sins!” (1 Peter 4:8) There
were those in my life who continued in their behavior that was sinful, but I
felt it necessary to “cover their sins, because love covers!” What I learned was
that Love does cover “confessed sin!” But sin that is unconfessed, God wants to
expose so that restoration can happen. My “covering” people’s sin was enabling
their behavior to continue in sin. Jesus told the woman caught in adultery to
"go your way and SIN NO MORE!" It’s not religious to tell people to
stop sinning! If we fail to speak truth, we lead people into error by default!
The Sacrifice of Jesus on the cross only “works” when people receive it’s
forgiveness as they recognize their waywardness. If we continue to deliberately
walk in disobedience there is no confidence of walking in forgiveness. “If
we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the
truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.” (Hebrews 10:26)
Restoration is based on Repentance. Repentance has fruit. John
questioned the self-righteous Pharisees who knew how to twist truth to meet
their own agenda and doctrines. His words were like a sword! "Produce
fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8) Grace doesn’t annul a
holy lifestyle, grace simply overwhelms our confessed unholy unrighteous
acts with the Love of Christ that forgives!
But having said that; neither does
repentance come as a result of believers beating each other up. It doesn’t come
as a result of a heavy hand that extracts justice and revenge. It doesn’t come
as a result of judgment! It's the kindness, not judgment, of the Lord that leads
people to repentance. "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his
kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you
toward repentance?" (Romans 2:4) Just as we can “quench and grieve
the Holy Spirit,” we can also be contemptuous of the ways of God as He works
with His kids. God lavishes the riches of Grace on us through kindness,
tolerance, and patience. When we step in and become the taskmaster and produce
judgment beyond the parameters of Grace, we reveal hearts that are very
different than our Father in Heaven.
I don't in any way believe that we "restore people who are continuing in sin
“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans
6:1-2)“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed
remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God”. (1
John 3:9)
My heart is not to "bless those who continue destroying lives," I don’t believe
that is the Father’s heart either. He indicated that those who cause little ones
to stumble were those who needed to be stopped! Jesus made it very clear when he
talked about a millstone around a man’s neck! The Scripture calls those who prey
on the innocent, wolves! It is the nature of a wolf to deceive in order to
manipulate situations to their benefit and ultimately to their capturing further
prey! We don't want to bless wolves in any way!! BUT regardless of the sin we,
as His Children, must forgive and release people into their callings. (Jesus
only spoke of one unforgivable sin - that I won't discuss in this article).
Grace changes lives. People do change. All things become new! If
we don’t believe this, we don’t really believe the power of the Gospel, and we
are simply walking out memorized doctrines without a true understanding of Him
who bought us!
I too am one who has born the brunt of difficult situations against my own life,
against my family, my wife, my daughters, and my sons... but at the end of the
day, Jesus believes His Sacrifice was plenty for not only Him to forgive those
that wounded me, but for me to forgive them as well.
The examples of Scripture indicate God used pretty messed up people.... who were
changed by His Grace! When people repent, we MUST recall them to the destiny
that God has for them. The fruit of their life will evidence the changes that
Grace made!
There is a vast difference between punishing and shaming a person and
disciplining and correcting a person! The first is administered by the letter of
the law that brings death, the other is administered by the Holy Spirit who
gives life! Jesus demonstrated well this grace when He overcame the
"requirements of the law" with grace when He ministered to the woman caught in
adultery. "Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn
you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:10-11)
The fields are ripe. Just a couple days ago the Lord spoke to me that He needs
more workers. In the conversation I knew He was going to be making a profound
prophetic call to some who had gone AWOL (absent without leave/ deserters from
His army). I knew He was going to be calling some who had been benched and were
living in caves! I knew that that call was going out to those with extreme
failures… the ones that would give the Apostle Paul pretty close competition for
his statement in 1 Timothy 1:15-16. ”Here is a trustworthy saying that
deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of
whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me,
the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an
example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
Some have failed miserably. But many are going to burn more brightly than ever
with His Glory!
The evidence of Grace is that God can take a man or a woman and redeem them. He
can change their lives where fruit prevails, where once there was only baggage.
He can show His awesome kindness to the world by overwhelming the worst with the
Love of the Greatest! I am looking for that army! He is looking for that army!
Broken…. but covered with GRACE!
The world awaits this army of Grace! What are you waiting for? Get off the
bench… His Grace is greater than all the shame. His Grace is greater than all
your failures. His Grace is sufficient to reveal, not your reputation, but HIS
through your life!
Saved by Grace!
Overwhelmed by Kindness!
Mesmerized by Love!
Thank you Jesus!
Danny Steyne
Would you like to receive these
words directly in your email when they come out? Subscribe to MOW at In Jesus.