WHY
To answer the first question I want to use a real life example to point out why I feel this it is so important for this ministry to exist. The person I want to use messed up multiple times but God still kept in office and used him in governing the nation of Israel. Yes, I am talking about David.
Let's look at a couple of the times David messed up and see what God's reaction was.
1 Chronicles 21: 2 tells us David had a census taken, against God's wishes of how many fighting men he had before going into battle.
So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, "Take a census of all the people of Israel--from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north--and bring me a report so I may know how many there are."
David here is putting his trust in the numbers of his troops instead of God and this was in direct violation of what God had asked him to do.
In 2 Samuel 11 We find David staying in Jerusalem as his army went out to battle. He is up late one night and sees a beautiful woman bathing. Instead of turning away he lingers and then sends for the woman so that he can have sexual intercourse with her. She becomes pregnant and he tried to cover up the problem by sending for her husband but the husband has more honor than the king and refuses to sleep with her while his fellow soldiers are in battle. Then David tries to cover up that honor by sending the husband to the front of the battle and has the other men withdraw leaving him to die alone.
David here fails as leader and then falls to his lust.
Here we see that David failed God in two critical ways. He failed to lead and he failed to be in control of his response to lust. What I want us to notice is David had to pay the consequences of his actions but God did not remove him from his office. David responded with repentance and God responded with grace and mercy.
FOUNDATION
The foundation for Restoration Farm Ministry is found in Genesis. Genesis 2: 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Genesis 3: 21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
Ephesians 1: 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
When a person fails our rules we feel a need for punishment. There is a difference between consequences and punishment. Consequences is the natural result of our actions and punishment is the result of the actions of others to our action. Humans usually withhold love, honor and respect when rules are broken. God on the other hand looks for a way to restore love, honor and respect.
Genesis 3: 21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
Ephesians 1: 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
When a person fails our rules we feel a need for punishment. There is a difference between consequences and punishment. Consequences is the natural result of our actions and punishment is the result of the actions of others to our action. Humans usually withhold love, honor and respect when rules are broken. God on the other hand looks for a way to restore love, honor and respect.
Here at Restoration Farm Ministry we want to follow the example of our Creator. We hope that the Holy Spirit will make this farm a safe place for fallen or burned out pastors to come and find healing from Him.
The final part of the foundation is found in Romans 8: 1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Restoration Farm is located just outside of Stover, MO. In June we will be building a cabin which will be available to pastors free of charge. For more information or to schedule a visit you can contact us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/therestorationfarm, by email at lnclark1950@gmail.com or by phone at 573 789 1224.
