THE MESSAGE OF RESTORATION

 What happens when carelessness set in and grace is lost?

Can God restore lost glory?

I want my businesses and marriage restored!

Can I walk with God, just like Abraham and the prophets?



II Chronicles 7:12–14 NKJV

"[12] Then the Lord appeared... and said... 'I have heard your prayer, and have

 chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. [13] When I shut up

 heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or

 send pestilence among My people, [14] if My people who are called by My

 name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from

 their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin

 and heal their land.'"



To restore is to recover all that was lost and return it to its intended state.

 Remember no more the former things. All things beautiful, all things special,

 all things made new.



Restoration is an act of mercy. It is an expression of love.



What are the things you've lost? Open your eyes and see! All things are yours!

 This is your season of restoration. Your barns shall be filled with abundant

 provision and every good resource.



If Adam had asked, and done so rightly, he could have been restored. But he

 had not learned to seek God's mercy.


God is a God of restoration.

Many individuals live on yesterday's glory. They say, "When I was a little girl,"

 or, "When I was a little boy, I heard the voice of the Lord." But what about

 now?



People walk out of God's divine presence when they follow after the lusts of

 their hearts. They suddenly realize that all things are vanity outside of God,

 but their pride prevents them from admitting that they no longer enjoy

 divine favor. So they lift their heads high and continue wallowing in the

 shadow of disobedience.



Now God is calling to you. He says, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall

 be as white as snow."


Remember your first love. Remember how you walked with God... how He

 stirred the reins of your heart. Do not feel that you have become old and

 rusty. Do not feel that you have made too many mistakes.


No one knows the day appointed for him except God. It is by God's mercy that

 we are not consumed.

The Bride and the Spirit say, "Come."



Far away is never too far for the outstretched arms of God. As a father

 stretches out his arms to his toddler, so the mighty hands of God are

 stretched out toward you.



Thus says the Spirit of God:

"My child, whom I have begotten, no matter what you do or how far you go, I

 am the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. I was there at your first

 step, and I am with you still. I have not left you for a moment, and I am here

 to order your steps.


Do not wander any longer. Call upon Me, and I will restore your wasted years.

 I will restore you as a young virgin before her wedding day. I will bestow My

 blessings upon you, and My favor shall rest upon you once again, because I

 chose you and separated you unto Myself."




Jeremiah 29:10–14 NIV

"[10] This is what the Lord says: 'When seventy years are completed for

 Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill My good promise to bring you back to

 this place.

[11] For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper

 you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

[12] Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to

 you. [13] You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.

 [14] I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back from

 captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have

 banished you,' declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back to the place from

 which I carried you into exile."









Joel 2:20-21, 23 (KJV)

"[20] But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him

 into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his

 hinder part toward the utmost sea; and his stink shall come up, and his ill

 savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

[21] Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

[23] Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for He

 hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for

 you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month."



"You are not alone. Do not carry the weight all by yourself. Cast your cares upon Me,

 because I care for you," says the Lord.

"I will restore you and bless your name exceedingly. I will give you the desires of your

 heart and clothe you with righteousness, because you are My very own. As the child

 of a father's old age, so are you unto Me." 



Disobedience drags people out of divine protection and provision, but the

 mercy of God brings them back.

Forget about the ropes that seem to keep you in captivity. God is there with

 you in the midst of the fire. He is rejoicing over you, and He has put new

 songs of praise on your lips.



When God made a promise to Abraham, Abraham died without seeing the full

 multiplication of his seed.

The sons of Abraham began to fulfill the prophecy in Egypt.

And the Egyptians said,

"These people are so great, and they may overwhelm us."

So they began to maltreat them.


People can become hostile toward you because of your radiance and growth.


However, the children of Israel only grew stronger. The more they were

 oppressed, the stronger they became.


The Lord restored the children of Israel again and again. When they were

 dispersed to different lands, He gathered them from the ends of the earth 

and restored them to their land.





Call upon the Lord now.

Say this with all honesty:

"God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; God of my Chief High Priest, my Father

 and Guide, have mercy on me and forgive my secret faults. I repent of my

 ungodliness. Restore me, Lord, and help me walk with You in greater glory

 than I have ever experienced. Let Your light and life be made manifest in me

 again according to Your purpose and calling. For I am made in Your image

 and likeness, called to manifest Your glory, excellence, and virtue."

 Hallelujah.




May God restore you. May His mercy renew you. May His grace enlarge your

 steps and make you exceedingly great now and forevermore.

Amen.




NEXT PAGE...


Comments