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Real Dudes,
My last blog ended with asking God to restore a renewed spirit within me. On Sunday, October 5th of 2025, just a few weeks ago, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship (OCBF) held a restoration service. It was an amazing celebration service as we witnessed a christian brother being restored back into ministry. Below is the link to Brother Tony Evans’ Restoration Service – evidence of a renewed spirit. Begin at the 43:40 and go to the 1:30:00 mark. Jonathan Evans reminds us that historically the church has been quick to judgment and condemnation. But from biblical teaching this is the path OCBF exemplifies for us.
What about you? Do you have sin in your life that needs to be brought before leadership in the Church? Are you afraid they might judge and condemn you? Pray that God will give you courage and humility to bring it to light. Pray for a people who will choose to help walk you through a restoration process no matter how difficult it may seem and be. Pray for those you love and care about who may be affected by your decision to seek restoration. Trust God will reward you for it and that the Church will celebrate with everyone directly involved by it. I highly encourage you to watch this service when you get an opportunity to…praying it will change you, your family, and your church, and that God will receive all the glory for His will being done. Practicing His Presence, Nate https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=1e7dfcb5e01aab5a&sxsrf=AE3TifML6O0ZdURDLWSaZ3Co4ryppTpJCA:1759955916957&udm=7&fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZud1z6kQpMfoEdCJxnpm_3b1rh8tmijoxabUcIQACXBPGOgTvdOTZ7-BDqvnYatn3cacfzOMvLC5Iw0Vn5YH1dpv-hqvDY9sWUm2NyVNLouF9agAWn9XdvAeipruS0VttgaDZSa22o3Jwi78MLTv-8rSOKINvaMKTtuOLrIekGYOr-6p6XCmhS6dRN53oaex-FQXJjw&q=tony+evans+restored+to+ministry&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiVsIDaupWQAxWQ4MkDHeOHIiAQtKgLegQIExAB&biw=1440&bih=678&dpr=2#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6769abc4,vid:pCQYOXPqFo4,st:0 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NLT) That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.
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Psalm 51:10b
New International Version Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. New Living Translation Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. English Standard Version Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Real Dudes, Recently I’ve been thinking about a portion of David’s prayer to the Lord in Psalm 51. This prayer comes shortly after his sin with Bathsheba. The portion that has stood out to me is the second part of verse 10. Specifically, what does it mean to “renew a right/steadfast spirit within me”? The answer to this is a great follow-up from the previous two blogs Object Constancy vs. Jumping Ship, and then A spirit of Peace or Division? If unwilling to retain a bond with another person…If having developed a divisive spirit…THEN please Lord, renew a right spirit within me. What does a renewal of a right spirit within me – within each of us – look like? Below are some quotes I found in my study that help answer this question for us. Hope something stands out to you that’ll help you navigate your dependency on God renewing a right spirit within you. What is it that needs addressed in your life? Overcoming a bitter spirit? A jealous spirit? A lustful spirit? A prideful spirit? A distracted spirit? An unfocused spirit? A divisive spirit? Etc. Praying for you as you and the Lord work through this together. Desire it men…desire a renewed spirit within you that only God can help you renew and restore. Practicing His Presence, Pastor Nate When it comes to Psalm 51:10…David “wants a willing spirit, a spirit that is devoted only to that which pleases God.” https://www.gty.org/sermons/80-353/the-believers-confession-of-sin The “right spirit” here is the established, firm, unwavering spirit. He wants to be done with the kind of instability that he has just experienced. https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/a-broken-and-contrite-heart-god-will-not-despise “‘To make new’...means to restore the altar/temple to their previous state and purpose, to dedicate them anew to the service of the Lord. The newness of a steadfast spirit…is a synonymous parallelism to the creation of a pure heart (...Matt 5:8; Acts 15:9).” VanGemeren 2:31 “‘New spirit/heart.’...As part of the promised return of Israel (Ezek 11:16-25), God will give them an undivided heart (lit. ‘one heart’) and will put in them a ‘new spirit’ (v. 19). The initiative is clearly God’s. He will ‘give’...it to them, lest they should claim to themselves the praise given them in v. 18. It will be a free gift of his Spirit. ‘One heart’ is paralleled in 36:26 with a ‘new heart,’ being a synonym of a ‘new spirit,’ but with the additional emphasis on the oneness of heart in every member of God’s people, in order that they would seek God unanimously. The ‘new spirit’ (cf. Ps 51:10, 12; Jer 31:33), which will be fully realized in the ‘new creation’ of the NT (2 Cor 5:17; cf. also Rom 6:4; 7:6; Eph 2:15; 4:24), has new motives, new rules, and new aims, contrary to their hearts of stone (v. 19b).” VanGemeren 2:35-36 “Stand firm, stand fast, be stable, secure, be reestablished, be lasting, durable, be ready…The petition to God, when offered by an individual, is for God…to set a right spirit within…” VanGemeren 2:615-617 Romans 12:2 New International Version Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. New Living Translation Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Real Dudes,
In Romans 12:18 (CSB) The Apostle Paul encourages us with these words, “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” One author states that the phrase If possible, as far as it depends on you, “acknowledges the reality that peace is not always achievable due to circumstances beyond one's control. It emphasizes personal responsibility in the pursuit of peace, suggesting that believers should do everything within their power to foster harmony. This aligns with the broader biblical teaching that while God desires peace, human free will and sin can create obstacles.” It doesn't take long to either see or hear about a constant lack of peace in our world today. What role are you playing in all of this? What are you contributing to? As much as it depends on you, are you striving to live at peace with others, or have you gradually developed a divisive spirit without realizing it. After looking in the mirror, which side would you say that you find yourself on? What needs to change? Take some time to pray about this today and see what the Holy Spirit brings to surface that needs to be adjusted/corrected in your life. Practicing His Presence, Nate Titus 3:10-11 (CSB) 10 Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning. 11 For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned. |
AuthorNate Smith is a husband, a father of 6 girls, grandpa to 3 granddaughters and one grandson, a police and fire chaplain, a pastor, and has a passion to see men grow in Christ. 
#girldad including granddaughter
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