The Need For Constant Spiritual Restoration

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise.” Psalm 51:10-17

“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. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.” Galatians 6:1-5

The process of spiritual restoration is amazing! On Sunday, December 14th we welcomed Sean “Tiny” Stafford back into the fellowship of sold-out disciples as we celebrated our Christmas service! Sean’s heart for God and his actions to seek him are to be imitated. Sean has lived a challenging life, enduring abuse at a young age and other family issues, while continuing to be an A-student. The pressure of the world and the enticement of sin led to his incarceration before he began to turn his life around. After being invited out the church in Syracuse, NY, he was baptized into Christ in 2002. As he read his Restoration Letter to the church on Sunday, he tearfully shared his disillusionment by the controversy and rebellion ensued by the Kriete Letter in 2003, and how it led him to allow the sins of mistrust and slander to become rampant in his life once again. He decided to “fall away” from his relationship with God (Luke 8:13) and moved down to Virginia to engage in a life of grotesque sin. Once he heard about the planting of the Washington, DC International Christian Church, he contacted me and joined us for our Inaugural Service on September 14th of this year. He became eager for advice and discipling in his life and on his own volition decided to drive over three hours to church every Sunday to join us for service! Not only did he drive up to DC and sleep on the brothers’ couches, but he also brought visitors! One of the men who were present at his restoration on Sunday is the Executive Director for the Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan: The National Network in Washington, DC who is open to studying the Bible!
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