Reading: Pursuing Restoration - Slides

Restoring Relationships
Transforming Justice

Lecture 19

Pursuing Restoration but Experiencing Offense

Pursuing Restoration

Sometimes when we pursue restoration of relationships we experience more conflict.

Pursuing Restoration

God’s three-step path to peace - confrontation, acknowledgement/confession, and forgiveness - is not a formula that guarantees reconciliation in every conflict. 

Pursuing Restoration

At each step of the reconciliation process the earthly kingdom, our natural desires, and the devil will work to keep the Wildfire burning and attempt to hinder restoration. 

Pursuing Restoration

The adversary baits the trap of offense at each step of the process. 

Pursuing Restoration

When someone confronts us with our wrongs/our sin, we might be tempted to take offense at the confrontation and make excuses for our sin, deny that we have done wrong, or even attack the person confronting us. 

Pursuing Restoration

The person confronting us can be tempted to take offense if we disagree or refuse to acknowledge our sin. 

Pursuing Restoration

It is the Holy Spirit’s role to bring conviction of sin and wrong doing, not ours. 

Pursuing Restoration

How we communicate with others in the Wildfire  is important. 

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Galatians 6:1

Pursuing Restoration

When we confess our wrongs to someone who confronts us, we might be tempted to take offense if that person criticizes or discounts our confession. 

Pursuing Restoration

When we forgive someone, we might be tempted to extend shallow forgiveness, fake forgiveness, or a forgiveness that is motivated by something other than our love for the Lord and restoration of relationship. 

Pursuing Restoration

The person we are willing to forgive might be offended if we tell that person that we forgive them before they ever acknowledge or confess wrongdoing. 

Pursuing Restoration

So what do we do if we encounter offense while pursuing reconciliation? 

Pursuing Restoration

So what do we do if we encounter offense while pursuing reconciliation? 

Remain at the Peacefire, give thanks, and wait patiently on the Lord for the next opportunity to reconcile.  The Lord is always at work.

Pursuing Restoration

Our responsibility is to be at peace with all people – but only as much as it lies with us. 

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Pursuing Restoration

If you encounter difficulty, don’t give up! Continue to seek the Lord and ask Him to lead you in the pursuit of restoring relationships and transforming justice.

Lecture 19

God’s three-step path to restoration is not a formula that guarantees reconciliation in every conflict.  

The adversary baits the trap of offense at every step of the process to hinder restoration. 

It is the Holy Spirit’s role to bring conviction of sin/wrongdoing, not ours. 

Lecture 19

When restoration doesn’t occur, remain at the Peacefire and wait for your next opportunity to restore relationship. 

Even when it looks like the restoration failed, the Lord is always at work.