The Path to Restoration
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Intro
Intro
Text - Zechariah 12.10-13.1
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of pleading, so that they will look at Me whom they pierced; and they will mourn for Him, like one mourning for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.
11 On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be great, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
12 The land will mourn, every family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself and their wives by themselves;
13 the family of the house of Levi by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself and their wives by themselves;
14 all the families that are left, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves.
1 “On that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for defilement.
Title - The Path to Restoration
Background
Background
Israel in the last days
The context of Zechariah 12 has something to do with Israel’s restoration in the last days.
Israel will experience a series of restorations
a national restoration
a spiritual restoration
a kingdom restoration
Our text describes what happens when Israel is to be restored spiritually.
God will pour out His Spirit of grace and supplication
Israel will go through a time of mourning
Israel will be tested before the kingdom of God is set up in Jerusalem
Main Idea
Main Idea
Spiritual restoration of a backslidden believer is not as simple as going back to church activities.
Restoration is a process, and spiritual restoration is a spiritual process.
Whether a person is backslidden for a short time or for a long time, the process is the same.
Main Points
Main Points
Using God’s dealing with Israel as a guideline, we can understand how the path to restoration takes place.
First, God initiates the process
First, God initiates the process
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of pleading, so that they will look at Me whom they pierced; and they will mourn for Him, like one mourning for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.
It is God who opens the path that brings the backslider back to Him.
God draws us to Himself - John 6.44-45
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.
God drew Israel to Him with love - Jeremiah 31.3-4
3 The Lord appeared to him long ago, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you out with kindness.
4 “I will build you again and you will be rebuilt, Virgin of Israel! You will take up your tambourines again, And go out to the dances of the revelers.
God opens the path to restoration by “pouring out” the Spirit of grace and supplication!
this is similar to Joel 2.28-29
28 “It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, Your old men will have dreams, Your young men will see visions.
29 “And even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
Because it is a spiritual restoration, it can only happen through the working of the Holy Spirit of God - John 16.7-8
7 But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment:
THE PATH OF RESTORATION IS A WORK IN THE PERSON’S LIFE!
THEREFORE, THE PATH BEGINS WITH, NOT WITH THE PERSON’S DECISION!
Second, God convicts the heart
Second, God convicts the heart
God pours out the Spirit of grace and supplication - Zech 12.10
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of pleading, so that they will look at Me whom they pierced; and they will mourn for Him, like one mourning for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.
The Spirit of God will convict the heart because of sin and righteousness - John 16.8-11
8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment:
9 regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me;
10 and regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me;
11 and regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
The Spirit of God will show the backslider what he or she has done!
“they will look on me whom they have pierced… and they will mourn and weep bitterly…”
THE PATH OF RESTORATION THAT GOD OPENS FOR THE BACKSLIDER WILL BE FILLED WITH TEARS OF REPENTANCE!
IT WILL RESOUND WITH PRAYERS OF ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS FOR SIN!
note how John the baptist rejected the priests and scribes - Matthew 3.7-9
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance;
9 and do not assume that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you that God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham.
Third, God cleanses His people
Third, God cleanses His people
God opens a fountain for sin and defilement - Zechariah 13.1
1 “On that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for defilement.
fountain - a free-flowing water used for cleansing or purification rituals
God will wash away the sins and defilement from the world
symbolized by baptism (for the sinner) - Acts 22.16
16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name.’
the working of the Holy Spirit
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
IT IS GOD WHO DECLARES THE PERSON IS CLEANSED!
OUR IS TO KNOW AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE TRULY CLEANSED AND RESTORED!
First - the guilt of sin is GONE!
SECOND - you feel and experience the freedom by the Spirit of God
to be and live as a Christian should,
joyfully participating in Christian activities and fellowship and
enjoying communion with God through prayer, Bible reading etc.
Fourth, God tests His people
Fourth, God tests His people
7 “Awake, sword, against My Shepherd, And against the Man, My Associate,” Declares the Lord of armies. “Strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered; And I will turn My hand against the little ones.
8 “And it will come about in all the land,” Declares the Lord, “That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; But the third will be left in it.
9 “And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”
Before Israel enjoys full restoration in the Millennial kingdom, she goes through the Great Tribulation to be purified!
Just as those who continue in the faith experience trials and testings, so the backslider who returns to God will experience trials and testings that MAY SHAKE their faith and commitment.
not everyone who returns pass the test
those who will pass the test will know the secret to abiding -
“they will call on me and I will answer them!”
Conclusion
Conclusion
If you have been away from Christian service for a long time, consider these things -
Is it God who is at work in your desire to live the Christian faith once again?
Do you feel the Spirit of God convicting you of your sins, your departure from God, the years that you spent living like the sinners live, and the wicked and evil things you have done all those times?
Do you feel sorry for those things that you have done that were against God? that you have offended God and gave reproach to His name and to the faith?
Are you willing to be tried and tested again like all your brothers and sisters, and still continue to abide in Christ?
Song
Here I Am and I long to do Your will
Be Magnified
