RELEASE & RESTITUTION

STEPS 8 & 9 — RELEASE & RESTITUTION

GOOD EVENING, RP FAMILY!

How are you doing with these Steps you are learning and living?

I pray you are not simply memorizing these Steps, but allowing God to use them to transform the way you live every single day.

Tonight, we are going to bring two powerful Steps together: RELEASE and RESTITUTION.

They belong together because:

RELEASE deals with what has been done to us.

RESTITUTION deals with what we have done to others.

One says:

“I release the debt.”

The other says:

“I will take responsibility for my debt.”

That is where real restoration begins!

“RELEASE THE DEBT — THEN MAKE IT RIGHT”

STEP 8 — RELEASE

We forgive those who have harmed us and become willing to make amends to those we have harmed.

EPHESIANS 4:32

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

As we look at our first word tonight—RELEASE—I want you to think about that word for a moment.

RELEASE. (PAUSE)

Does that word bring you any peace?

Does it give you any comfort knowing that through Jesus Christ we no longer have to spend our lives carrying everything that has been done to us or everything that has been done by us?

Some of us have been carrying things for years that God has been asking us to put down.

Pain.

Resentment.

Anger.

Regret.

Shame.

Bitterness.

Offenses.

And sometimes even hatred.

But whenever we hold tightly to the emotions produced by past wounds, eventually those emotions begin holding tightly to us.

That is why healing and forgiveness are critical to restoration and recovery.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO RELEASE?

To release means to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude.

Think about that!

When I refuse to release an offense, I may believe I am keeping the other person imprisoned.

But eventually I discover:

I built the prison—and then moved into it myself.

Forgiveness opens the door.

Release allows me to walk through it.

The Old Testament gives us a powerful picture of this.

DEUTERONOMY 15:1–2

At the end of seven years, God's people were commanded to grant a release of debts.

The creditor was no longer to demand payment because it was called:

“The LORD'S RELEASE.”

What a picture of forgiveness!

Someone owes a debt—and the debt is released.

That does not mean the debt never existed.

It means I have decided I am no longer going to spend my life collecting it.

That is forgiveness.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE REFUSE TO RELEASE?

Let me remind you of something we have already studied.

GALATIANS 5:16–25 (LOOK THIS UP AND READ IT ALL FOR YOUR SELVES)

Paul gives us two completely different pictures of life.

First, there are the works of the flesh:

Hatred.

Contentions.

Jealousies.

Outbursts of wrath.

Selfish ambitions.

Dissensions.

Envy.

Drunkenness.

And other destructive behaviors.

Then Paul shows us another way of living—the fruit of the Spirit:

Love.

Joy.

Peace.

Patience.

Kindness.

Goodness.

Faithfulness.

Gentleness.

Self-control.

Here is A recovery question (FOR YOU TO ANSWER SILENTLY) :

Which list is growing in me?

Because whatever I refuse to release, I continue to feed.

Feed bitterness long enough, and bitterness grows.

Feed anger long enough, and anger grows.

But surrender those things to Christ and begin walking in the Spirit, and something different begins growing:

LOVE.

JOY.

PEACE.

SELF-CONTROL.

RP FAMILY—

WE CANNOT KEEP FEEDING YESTERDAY'S WOUNDS AND EXPECT TOMORROW'S FRUIT!

(PAUSE)

Have you ever met someone who said:

“I'm really glad I stayed bitter for twenty years!”

Me neither!

“Release what they did to you. Take responsibility for what you did to them. Then let Jesus lead you forward.” — Jerry Jensen

RELEASE DOES NOT MEAN DENIAL

Now, understand something very important.

Forgiveness does not mean pretending something didn't happen.

Release does not mean returning to an abusive or destructive situation.

Forgiveness does not automatically mean restored access.

I can forgive someone without giving them permission to continue hurting me.

That is where biblical boundaries become important.

Forgiveness releases revenge.

Wisdom establishes boundaries.

And grace teaches us how to do both.

NOW RELEASE LEADS US TO RESTITUTION

Here is where these two Steps connect.

After I have dealt with what others have done to me, the Holy Spirit may begin showing me what I have done to others.

And suddenly the question changes.

Step 8 asks:

“Who do I need to forgive?”

Step 9 asks:

“Where do I need to make something right?”

That brings us to:

STEP 9 — RESTITUTION

We make direct restitution whenever possible, submitting to God, His Word, and biblical counsel.

ROMANS 12:17–18

“Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”

Notice what Scripture says:

“Do all that YOU can.”

It does not say you can control what everyone else does.

You cannot force reconciliation.

You cannot force forgiveness.

You cannot force another person to respond correctly.

But you can take responsibility for your part.

WHAT IS RESTITUTION?

Restitution means restoring something lost or stolen to its proper owner.

It can also mean repaying someone for an injury, damage, or loss.

Biblically, restitution says:

“I am no longer going to justify what I did. I am going to take responsibility for it.”

That may mean:

“I lied to you.”

“I stole from you.”

“I manipulated you.”

“I damaged something.”

“I broke my word.”

“I hurt you.”

“I was wrong.”

And sometimes three of the hardest words in recovery are:

“I WAS WRONG.”

Funny how we can learn entire recovery Steps, memorize Scriptures, and explain everybody else's problems—

but those three words can still get stuck right about here!

(POINT TO THROAT)

But grace helps us say them.

RELEASE AND RESTITUTION WORK IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS

Here is the heart of tonight's teaching:

RELEASE says:

“I will stop demanding payment for what you did to me.”

RESTITUTION says:

“I will take responsibility for what I did to you.”

That is powerful!

One removes revenge.

The other removes excuses.

One says:

“I forgive.”

The other says:

“I was wrong.”

And BOTH require humility.

BUT RESTITUTION REQUIRES WISDOM

Restitution does not mean recklessly contacting everyone from your past.

Some situations require prayer, counsel, and wisdom before contact is made.

An attempted amends should not create additional harm.

That is why our Step says:

“Whenever possible, submitting to God, His Word, and biblical counsel.”

Talk with your sponsor.

Talk with your mentor.

Talk with YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER.

Pray.

Search Scripture.

Then move obediently.

Sometimes restitution requires a conversation.

Sometimes it requires repayment.

Sometimes it requires returning something.

Sometimes it requires changed behavior.

And sometimes the greatest evidence of your apology is:

YOU DON'T DO IT AGAIN!

RESTITUTION DOES NOT REQUIRE UNLIMITED RELATIONSHIPS

Romans tells us:

“As much as possible, live at peace with everyone.”

That phrase matters.

Because Scripture also teaches us how to respond to people who continually create division.(REMEMBER LAST WEEKS TEACHING ON HEALTHY BOUNDARIES)

TITUS 3:10–10 If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. 11 For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them THAT MEANS 2 STRIKES AND YOUR OUT-NOT 3 STRIKES

After warning a divisive person appropriately, Scripture teaches that there comes a point when we must disengage.

In other words:

Biblical forgiveness does not require unlimited access.

You can forgive someone.

You can make restitution.

You can wish them well.

You can pray for them.

And you can still recognize:

“This relationship is not healthy for my recovery.”

Sometimes restoration means rebuilding a relationship.

Sometimes restoration means establishing a boundary.

We need the Holy Spirit and biblical wisdom to know the difference.

THREE PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS (you need to write these down)

1. FAMILY CONFLICT

Maybe unresolved hurt keeps appearing in your marriage or family.

Instead of allowing bitterness to grow, initiate an honest conversation.

Listen without immediately defending yourself.

Own what belongs to you.

Forgive what belongs to them.

Release the debt.

Make restitution where needed.

Then allow God's grace to begin healing what resentment could never repair.

2. NEGATIVITY AND YOUR MIND

Maybe constant negativity from social media, news, or other people has filled your heart with anger and judgment.

Sometimes release means:

DISENGAGE.

Put the phone down.

Turn off the television.

Open your Bible.

Pray.

Let God's Word cleanse your thinking.

You don't have to attend every argument you're invited to!

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do on social media is keep scrolling!

3. SECRET SIN

Maybe there is something you have been hiding.

Sin grows in darkness.

Recovery requires bringing things into the light.

Find a trustworthy sponsor, mentor, accountability partner, or mature believer.

Confess the struggle.

Pray together.

Establish accountability.

Because secrecy says:

“Hide.”

Grace says:

“Come into the light.”

WHAT IS THE REAL OBJECTIVE?

The objective of RELEASE is:

To stop carrying burdens we were never created to carry.

The objective of RESTITUTION is:

To take responsibility for burdens that actually belong to us.

Did you catch the difference?

Recovery teaches me:

STOP CARRYING WHAT ISN'T MINE—

AND START OWNING WHAT IS!

Release what they did.

Own what you did.

Forgive what needs forgiving.

Repair what can be repaired.

Establish boundaries where boundaries are necessary.

Then move forward with Jesus.

“Forgiveness releases revenge. Restitution removes excuses. Both require humility.” — Jerry Jensen

5 BIBLICAL WEAPONS FOR RELEASE & RESTITUTION

1. THE WORD OF GOD

The Bible gives us the truth necessary to distinguish forgiveness from enabling, conviction from condemnation, and restitution from unhealthy guilt.

2. PRAYER

We cannot consistently release deep wounds through willpower alone.

Bring the person, the offense, the memory, and your own failures before God.

3. ACCOUNTABILITY

A sponsor, mentor, or accountability partner or a spiritually mature leader, helps us see what our emotions sometimes prevent us from seeing clearly.

4. FELLOWSHIP & DISCIPLESHIP

That is one reason this weekly recovery and discipleship meeting matters.

We were never designed to recover alone.

5. DISENGAGEMENT

Sometimes spiritual victory requires walking away from the very environment that keeps feeding the problem.

Disengage from relationships, environments, conversations, habits, and influences that continually sabotage your restoration.

VERIFICATION OF RELEASE & RESTITUTION

How do I know these Steps are becoming real in my life?

Not because everybody from my past suddenly likes me.

Not because every relationship is restored.

Not because everyone accepts my apology.

The verification comes when I can stand before God knowing:

I HAVE FORGIVEN WHAT NEEDED TO BE RELEASED.

I HAVE OWNED WHAT NEEDED TO BE OWNED.

I HAVE MADE RIGHT WHAT I CAN MAKE RIGHT.

AND I HAVE SURRENDERED WHAT I CANNOT CONTROL TO GOD.

That produces something money cannot buy:

PEACE.

The peace of knowing:

“I have done what God asked me to do.”

THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. RELEASE WHAT YOU CANNOT CHANGE.

Forgiveness does not change yesterday, but it prevents yesterday from controlling tomorrow.

2. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT BELONGS TO YOU.

Recovery requires us to stop blaming others for everything and honestly address the damage our own choices have caused.

3. MAKE IT RIGHT—THEN MOVE FORWARD.

Do what is biblically possible to make restitution. After you have obeyed God, refuse to spend the rest of your life imprisoned by shame.

Release it. Repair it. Learn from it. And keep walking with Jesus.

RP FAMILY — REMEMBER THIS

We cannot change yesterday.

But through Jesus Christ, yesterday does not have to control tomorrow.

There are some debts we need to RELEASE.

There are some wrongs we need to MAKE RIGHT.

And there are some things we simply need to place into the hands of God and say:

“GOD, I'VE DONE WHAT YOU ASKED ME TO DO. THE REST BELONGS TO YOU.”

That is RELEASE.

That is RESTITUTION.

And that is another powerful step toward RESTORATION!

“Recovery teaches me to stop carrying what isn't mine and start owning what is.”

Before we conclude today's teaching, we don't want to dismiss our online family just yet. We want to invite you to stay with us as we move into our discussion questions.

Thank you for being a part of our Nuts & Bolts Recovery teaching. We pray today's message has encouraged you, strengthened your faith, and equipped you with practical biblical tools for your recovery journey.

Now, let's take a look at today's discussion questions. After we've shared them, we'll dismiss our online family. God bless you, and thank you for joining us today.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. How has holding onto past hurts or offenses affected your recovery and your relationship with Jesus Christ?

2. What would biblical restitution look like in an area where your past actions have caused harm?

3.How can you practice forgiveness while maintaining healthy, biblical boundaries in your recovery?

THE END

SOCIAL MEDIA QUOTES

“Release what they did to you. Take responsibility for what you did to them. Then let Jesus lead you forward.” — Jerry Jensen

“Forgiveness releases revenge. Restitution removes excuses. Both require humility.” — Jerry Jensen

“Recovery teaches me to stop carrying what isn't mine and start owning what is.” — Jerry Jensen

SEO / SOCIAL MEDIA

Title: Release & Restitution: Letting Go of the Past and Making Things Right | Steps 8 & 9

Description: What do we do with the wounds others caused us—and what do we do about the wounds we caused others? Steps 8 and 9 bring two powerful biblical principles together: RELEASE and RESTITUTION. Through forgiveness, responsibility, biblical boundaries, accountability, and the grace of Jesus Christ, we can stop carrying yesterday into tomorrow and continue moving forward in restoration and recovery.

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