Be Ye Restored
Prayer: Lord we thank You for your Grace and Mercy. We thank You for the restoration of Your Church/ Your People. Now Father, let this teaching we share be reflective and give us revelation of where we were, what You have brought us through, and where You will take us to, in Your name Jesus Christ. Amen
What does restore mean? If you look online for the definition, the first thing you will find is, restore is to bring back (a previous right, practice, custom, or situation); Some similar words are: reinstate, put back, recondition, repair or fix.
I was watching a teaching of Bishop G E Patterson, the title of the teaching was “The God of Forgiveness and Restoration”. It made me think about my Christian Journey. As I reflected on my life, I remember on Sunday morning, my mom would have to get her 4 children ready for what we then called Church (Knowing now that the Church is actually the people). I was about 7 or 8 years old, my brother next to me was about 5 or 6, the youngest brother 3 or 4, and my sister was 1 or 2 years old. I remember after our baths, the boys would have Jergen’s lotion on our body, Right Guard anti-perspiration under our arms, and Royal Crown hairdressing on our hair, all five of us walking to worship service. Later in my teen years, we were driven to worship service. Then I join the Army, as new soldiers we were glad to go to worship service because it gave us an opportunity to get out of the barracks and duty, plus it didn’t hurt that we would get donuts and juice after service.
Upon graduation from Basic training and Advance Individual Training, I was assigned to an overseas duty station. I attended the worship service on the Post and I joined the Choir. We travel to various locations throughout West Germany worshipping, singing, and fellowshipping with other believers. I was there for 2 years. I was then assigned back to Georgia, Fort Gordon in Augusta. I attended a local non-denominational ministry outside the Post. I was dating at this time. The person I was dating wasn’t as passionate about service to God as I was. So the Pastor asked the question, “Are you unequally Yoked together in your relationship?” I knew the answer was yes but my heart wanted the person I was dating, so eventually, I fell away from the faith, yet I still believed.
Well, I got married and was once again stationed back in Germany and once again I was back in fellowship with a believer, back in the Choir but this time I was in fellowship with my spouse. My next assignment was on to Japan, Texas, and Hawaii. My spiritual life was like a rollercoaster, up, down, and around. But thank God Almighty we serve a loving, forgiving, and a God of restoration.
You may ask what does my story have to do with you, it doesn’t. What I wish to convey is that you can reflect upon your own journey through life and know that if I can be restored then no matter what you have done or where you are in your spiritual walk you can be restored.
God created us, then we fell out of fellowship with Him in the Garden but through Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, and most importantly Jesus restoration came. If we go to the Book of Job, most of us know the story that Job lost health, possessions, and children, but because of God’s grace and mercy, Chapter 42:10 says And the Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Now you may think that was in the Old Testament, look in the Book of Luke Chapter 15. This parable is the story of the Prodigal son. Jesus discusses with His disciples of a father that has two sons. The youngest goes to his father and wants his inheritance. The father divides their portions and the youngest son goes away and squanders away his. He is now as a homeless, so much so that he was willing to feed on that which the swine ate because no man gave him.
He then thought of how many servants his father had and fed but he was without. He purposed that he would go to his father and confess his sin against Heaven and before his father. He would confess that he was longer worthy to be called his son but make him a hired servant. So he arose and came to his father and when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.
This is an example of every one of us. When we were out in our sin and came to confess our sin for forgiveness, Father God brought us back into our inheritance, back into fellowship with him. Jeremiah 17:14 says Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. Father God offers His Son Jesus for our sins. Jesus tells us Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.
Remember Jesus is the Bread of Life which is the Word of God. Because we are back into God’s Grace and Mercy, we can rejoice on earth and Luke 15:10 reads
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Psalm 100 King James Version (KJV)
100 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations.
1 Peter 5:10 King James Version (KJV)
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
So I say to you, no matter how your journey began, what’s most important is where your journey will take you. Although your sins were the color of crimson, God shall make you white as snow. When you repent of your sin or want to be back in the fellowship with God, you are reinstated, put back, you get your inheritance back.
Father God thanks you for your grace, mercy, and forgiveness that I was given time to come to or to come back to you before the enemy may have taken my life. You are the Holy One and let your Spirit dwell in me that will lead me and keep me into the path of righteousness. I love you but thank you for loving me first.
Ephesians 3:20-21King James Version (KJV)
20 Now unto him, that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
We don’t own the rights to this music:
This was a great read about restoration. It lets me know that it’s never to late to ask for forgiveness. Sometimes I feel I walk my journey alone, but then I remember the story of “Footprints” reminding me that at my lowest point is when God carries me. Thanks for helping me to remember no matter what my spiritual walk is, God can restore those things I feel I’ve lost.
Yes we can all be restored if we are willing to let Him into our lives. He is a Good Father. He will carry you through whatever you are going through. Thank you for your comment. Be Blessed