Restitution

Dearly beloved, I am a student at YorkU learning how to share the Good News on campus.

Restitution is a vital step in the journey of repentance, especially when overcoming the strongholds of pornography and masturbation.

According to Proverbs 28:13 (KJV), “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

True repentance goes beyond confession; it requires forsaking sin and making amends where necessary. Just as Zacchaeus in Luke 19:8-9 (KJV) restored what he had taken unjustly, restitution demonstrates a genuine commitment to turning away from sinful habits and embracing a life of holiness.

“And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. Luke 19:8-9 (KJV)

I started sharing the gospel on campus, passionate about leading others to Christ, obeying Matthew 28:19 (KJV): “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

However, a weakness I allowed the devil to use against me was pornography and masturbation. The battle started long before I realized its grip upon my life. When I first came to Canada, I now understand that the enemy used a human agent to introduce me to sin, just as Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) warns.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.” Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

In primary school, a classmate named Ninab showed me an explicit website, and that moment planted a seed of addiction. I was hooked, just as James 1:14-15 (KJV) states: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

Even as I entered college, I fought hard, trying numerous content-blocking apps, some paid and some free, but I never found the freedom I desperately desired. This reflects the divine promise of God in John 8:36 (KJV), which says: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” I realized that true freedom does not come from human effort alone but through Christ’s deliverance.

My struggle continued until one day, I decided to open up to my parents. With fear and hesitation, I told them about my battle with pornography and masturbation. They were shocked—as strong, Bible-believing, Holy Spirit-filled Christians, they never expected this from me. But looking back, I now see it as a blessing and a privilege to have parents who love the Lord.

Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) reminds us: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Instead of condemning me, they made me kneel, laid their hands on me, and prayed fervently for my deliverance, just as James 5:16 (KJV) says: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” That moment planted a seed of hope.

Later, during a family prayer meeting, we had a visiting elder couple in our home. As we gathered to pray and talk about Christ, an opportunity came to confess struggles and request prayers, as encouraged in 1 John 1:9 (KJV): “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I knew this was my moment. I stepped forward and said, "I need to be free from this sin." Everyone in the room stretched their hands toward me, praying serious, powerful prayers.

But then… fear crept in.

You see, I had a personal blog/newsletter, where I shared my salvation testimony with just 61 friends subscribed to my newsletter. At first, it felt safe. But then, I noticed something unexpected—the post started to gain momentum, reaching over 1,000 reads. I was terrified. Scared of being judged, ridiculed, or misunderstood, forgetting that 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) says: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

So what did I do?

I took down the testimony.

And I now believe that in doing so, I gave the enemy a legal right to make a comeback into my life. The urges for pornography and masturbation doubled, just as Matthew 12:43-45 (KJV) warns that when an unclean spirit leaves a man and later returns, it comes back with seven more wicked spirits, making the condition worse. Instead of standing on Revelation 12:11 (KJV)—“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony”—I silenced the testimony that glorified God, that encouraged myself, and could have encouraged others. Hiding my deliverance weakened my authority over the enemy.

Recovering All: My Journey Back to Freedom

I found myself in a state of backsliding, rising and falling, failure at the edge of breakthrough, but I refuse to stay there. Joel 2:25 (KJV) gives me hope: “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm.”

Just as God told David in 1 Samuel 30:8 (KJV): “Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”

I believe that God wants me to recover all.

Starting with asking God for mercy and forgiveness, promising to forsake all evil, and doing restitution where necessary to strengthen my relationship with God and destroy any leverage the enemy has over me.

John 14:30 (KJV) – “…for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”

I am moving forward to recover all areas that the enemy has afflicted—whether it be academics, work, campus ministry, or family.

I also want to thank God for granting me the grace to open up to my parents, to share my restitution, to ask for prayers, and together, we created a structure to work towards total freedom—because faith without works is dead (James 2:26).

This is another reason why I thank God for raising me in a Christian family.

Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)– “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

It was actually my own mother who encouraged me to tell others so that my healing would be complete.

James 5:16 (KJV) – “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

And so that others, too, could know this truth and be delivered.

John 8:32 (KJV) – “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

I also want to thank God for my pastor, who conducted deliverance prayers for me. This is why I appreciate the Thursday Deliverance Service our church conducts.

I am thankful to my friends who are also praying for me and keeping me accountable.

To you, the reader of my salvation testimony, I wish you total freedom from any hidden sin.

Proverbs 28:13 (KJV) – “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

I also wish you discipline, strength, the people to keep you accountable, the fear of God to keep you away from evil, and most importantly, I wish you Heaven at Last.