Restoration Road Ministry.org

Are you struggling to find joy, or living in pain or grief? Do you find yourself still feeling detached from the life you wish you had, even though you have called on Christ for help? If so, you are not alone, as many struggle to find the inner peace they are searching for, not recognizing that forgiveness is the key to unlocking the door that is keeping them from receiving what they are longing to feel.

We believe that forgiveness is an integral step to the process of healing and restoration we seek in our lives, and to finding the peace God desires for us to experience through his expression of love we are to embrace. But more importantly, it is necessary for us to recognize that this is a biblical mandate we are instructed to obey as God’s children, with negative consequences for us if we fail to honor God through our obedience.

But, we don’t enter into the process of forgiveness easily, as our flesh desperately holds onto the emotions of resentment, anger, hurt, disappointment, discouragement, and grief as a result of how we are treated by others. Consequently our response is to repay them by withholding forgiveness, through our own selfish, sinful attitude and behavior.

Our own fleshly response produces further emotional, physical, and spiritual decline as a consequence of our disobedience to forgive as we have been instructed. Therefore, we must recognize that the key to finding peace, joy, and love, first depends on our humility to let go of our self-entitlement that desires to repay wrong for wrong; only then will God empower us with a supernatural ability to forgive, even when we feel justified not to.

As we continue to dive further into God’s word and apply his instruction in our own lives, we begin to appreciate more clearly what scripture is pointing out for us to learn–that there is a part of our spiritual growth that cannot be accessed until we first embrace the spirit of humility. It is through this spirit that we are then able to receive forgiveness for our own sinful participation that has brought guilt, shame, and unrighteousness to our name, as we surrender each of these before Jesus through repentance. The same spirit of humility also allows us to forgive those who have hurt us through their own spiritual neglect and sinful participation, while acknowledging that we are also sinners and guilty of the same.

It is through our surrender and humility to receive forgiveness as well as to forgive others that the love of Christ is restored in our hearts. We cannot find healing for our own painful struggles, no matter what they are, until we allow God to forgive us first; and our response is to forgive others in the same way, through an expression of Godly love we are to exhibit.

However, if we are unwilling to receive forgiveness and/or to forgive others, we store up for ourselves those ungodly traits that we have been told to let go of, including guilt, shame, resentment, anger, hostility, and division, which separate us from the relationships we should experience, not only in the flesh, but also with our Heavenly Father and his Son.

For this to happen, we must grow in awareness of our enemy, Satan, and the schemes he uses to entrap us through those ungodly traits he tempts us to exhibit in our fleshly weakness, in this case, a spirit of unforgiveness, which is contrary to Godliness.

It is Satan who came to steal, kill, and destroy. Yet, we often assign those satanic attributes onto the people who we come in contact with, who have harmed us in one way or another, instead of separating their flesh from the spirit acting within them.

Instead, we ought to become more aware of who our true enemy is and learn not to assign our blame to the individual, who has not separated themselves from Satan’s influence yet.

However, this discussion focus has more to do with each of us than pointing our fingers at others. We must first wrestle with our own sinful attitudes and behaviors, through a proper spiritual lens, before we can hope to repair the problem elsewhere.

Our first responsibility to our Heavenly Father is to submit ourselves in righteousness through the example given to us by his Son, Jesus Christ. Through this we either glorify him with our submission and obedience to his teaching, or reject him through our defiance and disobedience of his truth and instruction.

We must also recognize the biblical pattern throughout scripture, which demonstrates God’s blessing on those who remain faithful, loyal, and obedient to him, and destruction to those who are not. Then we must apply this pattern to our own lives, recognizing that our blessing or punishment is rightly determined by our response and whether or not we will hold fast to God’s commandments as we have been instructed to obey.

Our mission here, at Restoration Road, is dedicated first to call out Satan’s schemes and his antichrist spiritual traits, which cause us to stumble daily in our flesh and contribute to all forms of sinful brokenness in our lives. And second, to help God’s children examine their own lives more closely, so that they come prepared at the time they stand before Jesus Christ to give an account of their lives in response to his instructions.

However, we cannot expose Satan’s schemes or traits until we first examine ourselves closely against scripture and recognize truth from the lie. In this case, we must look for the log in our own eye before trying to expose the speck in the eye of others. And as we do, it is our understanding that God will heal us spiritually, as he blesses us with increasing spiritual fruit, as we not only receive his forgiveness, but also submit in forgiving others, just as Christ taught us to do.

Recall from earlier that having a spirit of humility appears to be necessary, in order for us to receive the ability to exercise other spiritual fruits, including forgiveness, and with it the ability to engage in forgiving others.

Therefore, if you are struggling with unforgiveness, this may explain the reason behind unanswered prayers for lacking joy or experiencing ongoing pain and grief that have not been resolved because of a missing spirit of humility in your life. We are to possess all of the fruits of the Spirit, not withholding some because our flesh will not let go. Therefore we must surrender our flesh in order to receive God’s spiritual fruit.

It also appears that these spiritual fruits influence one another, and therefore each will affect the other as each are expressed or withheld in our lives. Each fruit can build others up in response, or the works of the flesh can tear down other fruits along the way, depending on our obedience or defiance to God’s word and instruction.

What we are implying here is that embracing humility allows God to provide us greater spiritual awareness within our life. And with each act of our obedience to follow God’s instruction, we are given more spiritual fruit to exercise and mature with in our understanding. The cascading effect of this process allows us to enter God’s salvation through our humility and desire to be forgiven, resulting in our ability to receive his love, compassion, and forgiveness to then extend to others in like manner.

However, if we remain hardened in our heart and mind, we will reject God’s word and instruction, and with it those spiritual fruits that we are to possess. This occurs in those who reject Jesus Christ from the very beginning, and the same can occur when we fail to grow and mature in Jesus Christ through the spiritual transformation as maturing disciples.

We all have a responsibility to enter into the process of Christlike transformation rather than remain resistant and unwilling to conform to Christ’s image as we have been instructed. If not, God warns us that what was given may be taken away.

Scripture affirms this giving and taking away of God’s Spirit and his spiritual fruits with the following verse. “For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Matthew 13:12, ESV, 2001, Crossway). Therefore, we must be diligent in our spiritual growth and maturity to ensure that we build up our spiritual gifting that God is providing, to ensure that it is not taken away through our negligence and disobedience to his instruction.

This same point is reiterated with the Parable of the Talents, to whom three servants were entrusted their master’s property, according to their ability. Expecting that each servant would multiply what was given to them upon his return. However, only the first and second servant multiplied what was given to them, while the third had buried what he was given instead of multiplying it. Therefore, the first and second were faithful over a little, and were blessed by being set over much and entered into the joy of their master. But the master said to the third, ‘you wicked and slothful servant! And took the talent from him and gave it to the first servant, who had multiplied his talents the most. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’ (Matthew 25:14-30).

We believe that because of this many people fail to heal physically, emotionally, or spiritually, as they hope to experience, not necessarily through a lack of prayer, but through a hardened heart that prevents forgiveness to be received and expressed as God intends.

What we hope to illustrate through scripture is the necessary heart posture required of us, as followers of Jesus Christ, through a surrender of our flesh in obedience to God’s word. And further, that we are to put on the love of Christ, as we bear his likeness through our lives in word, action, and deed, thereby demonstrating to the world around us, that we are distinctly different from those living in darkness.

Let’s look at the parable of the unforgiving servant Jesus taught us in the following passage:

“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.

So also my Heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart” (Matthew 18:21-35).

This parable is drawing our attention to forgive others, just as we have received forgiveness from our Heavenly Father, and to recognize that we will be judged for our disobedience, if we fail to forgive others from our heart, as God instructed.

To ensure that scripture is well represented we must look at the heart of God through multiple verses throughout scripture, so that we adopt his patterns and likeness accurately. This is something that we believe to be extremely important as we apply scripture for teaching in this ministry. And it is our desire and hope that you will do the same, to ensure that what you receive from us holds up as sound doctrine biblically.

Let’s observe the following verses to hear what God is expecting of us, so that our foundational understanding of his instruction becomes evident for us to then apply to our lives.

Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1-2).

He then says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered , thrown into the fire, and burned” (John 15:4-6).

And then he goes on to say, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:8-12).

Jesus says, “Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4).

Jesus says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12).

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

Jesus says, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:2-5).

Jesus says, “For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28).

Jesus says, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who its in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25).

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:7-10).

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility, and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3).

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:12-17).

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1).

“So you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs” (2 Corinthians 2:7-11).

Jesus says, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all” (Romans 12:17).

“Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 18:12).

“Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD” (Zephaniah 2:3).

“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him” (Psalm 103:12-13).

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:6).

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1Corinthians 13:4-7).

We all long to be forgiven yet we struggle to forgive others as we should. And there are consequences as a result that will affect us in the earthly realm as well as the spiritual realm when we fail to let go and forgive as we have been instructed.

In our earthly existence unforgiveness creates division, separation, frustration, resentment, loneliness, heartache, sorrow, discouragement and bitterness to rise to the surface in our mind and heart, which then prevents us from experiencing the fullness of love, joy, and peace that we could experience otherwise.

The same is true in our spiritual existence. When we resist forgiving those who have wronged and hurt us, we undergo all the same earthly emotions but also experience the negative impact of being drawn away from the love, joy, and peace we are to experience with Jesus Christ, in the spirit.

Furthermore, we cannot receive his forgiveness for the wrongs we have committed when we will not forgive those who have wronged us. We are therefore reaping what we sow, and if our hearts and minds are unwilling to forgive through our hardness of heart, we will suffer in the same way as we are pulled away from our loving Lord through our sinful agreements in our flesh.

On the other hand, when we adopt the nature of Jesus Christ through humility and gentleness, we begin to recognize the patterns of fleshly sin unfolding all around us. We see that the flesh walks in its own direction and is self-serving in its disposition while remaining unapologetic to others and refusing to surrender to Christ.

This culminates in a focus and attitude of me, myself, and I, over others. It requires others to submit rather than self. And through this selfish disposition, there is a failure to recognize the depravity of our own spirit being misled through our emotions, because we have taken our eyes off of our Good Shepherd.

We see the negative consequences of unforgiveness play out everywhere in society, through breakdowns in marriages, family, friendships, partnerships, and society in general.

While this may be the natural course in which the world is heading, because of sin and through the influence of man rejecting Jesus Christ and his Father, it does not excuse those who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ from doing the same.

Therefore, we must exercise forgiveness quickly, so that we are not pulled away from the love of Jesus Christ through our own disobedience like the world around us.

And we must recognize that the forgiveness we seek from our heavenly Father is dependent on our heart and mind attitude toward forgiving those that have hurt us, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the hurt.

When we fail to forgive, we are propagating the fallout of negative consequences through our own disobedience to Christ, and we will encounter the spiritual consequences through our own sinful emotions as we are pulled further and further away from the love, joy, and peace we are to experience through our new identity in Jesus Christ.

Resentment, grudges, and an unwillingness to forgive are all hallmarks of sin that Satan uses against us in his efforts to steal, kill, and destroy those relationships that will not find healing and restoration, until humility, love and forgiveness are encountered.

In Christ.