I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

Joel 2:25-26 ESV

Discipleship Class xxxx

8 quick things to know as we progress further into this season of restoration.

  1. GOD is the Great Restorer!
    Depending on your theological stance on the gap theory, it could be reasonably argued that the 2nd chronologically recorded act of God in the scriptures began the act of restoration.Gen 1:2-3 which carries through till verse 24.
    [berea reading: Isa 14:12-14. Isaiah 45:18. Rev 12:7-9. Deut 30:3-13]
  2. Restoration involves re-aligning / ‘putting back in order’ a person/people/place/thing to where it ought to be according to “the divine template/schematic” [sometimes referred to as “The Volume of Book” Heb 10:7] as authored by God from eternity. It factor into its core: location, timing & relationships within the context of God’s ultimate purpose for the one being restored.
  3. The scope of restoration is defined by the one doing the restoring. Yahweh.
    Biblical examples have shown it to cover Personal – Familial – Communal – National.
    Also Spiritual – Economic – Social – Physical. God decides based on His infinite wisdom. However broad it becomes, God’s work is always generational!
    [Berea Reading: Isa 49:17-26 Ezra 3:8-13]
  4. Restoration is most often initiated by God out of the abundance of His loving kindness and mercies, and also to advance His kingdom agenda at set times and seasons. There are also instances where man or a group of people have provoked restoration by their actions.
    [Berea Reading: 1 Peter 5:10. Daniel 9:3-19 Nehemiah 4]
  5. Restoration can be instant. Restoration can also be gradual (progressive and conditional).
    There is NOTHING difficult in the slightest for God. The differences between why one is instant and another gradual is often down to (i) The wisdom of God (ii) The degree of co-operation of the person/people being restored. Nothing can stop God when He moves to restore, not even death!. But as so often can be the case with man, we may put the process on ‘hold’ when we backslide into rebellion or are sluggish in obedience.
    [Berea Reading: 1 Samuel 30:18-19 Luke 8:43-48 2 Chron 30;8-9]
  6. Christ has already done the greatest work of restoration. Restoring all who believe in and accept Him into relationship with God. Also true is that all Christians from season to season need varying degrees of restoration back to God’s template for our lives much as a car needs periodic alignment of its tyres and chassis. As long as we are in a fallen world and in an imperfect body it will be the case.
    [Berea Reading: 2 Cor 5:18 Romans 5:1]
  7. God’s move to restore almost always exclusively involves His Word AND His Spirit. God releases His Holy Spirit and also sends His Word. It is advisable we give place to His revealed word and make room for the free flow of His Spirit! Be wary of False Prophets who promise you restoration and give you recommendations that do not agree with God’s word nor witnessed by His Holy Spirit in you. In fact flee from them! You might be about to go into deeper bondage!
    [Berea Reading: Psalm 107:20] [Ref reading: Familiar Spirits understanding its operations]
  8. GOD Is eager to restore you! God is willing to restore you! GOD has the power to restore to the uttermost! You’re not too far gone! But if He will initiate restoration over you/your family/your marriage/your generations: He will 1st test for (i) A broken heart (repentance) and (ii) A contrite Spirit.
    [Berea Reading: Isaiah 30:18]

Let us press into this year with full expectation that the Lord shall be gracious unto us and have mercy on us. Psalm 126:1 shall be a major part of our testimony this year for we shall be like them that dream as we watch the unstoppable mercy of God restore us in those places for which we have long waited on Him.

Shallom brethren.

1 Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Hosea 6:1-2