Look unto God for restoration (II)

(Continued from last week)

Ezra 1:1-11

The Book of Ezra is a very fascinating book giving an account of the return and restoration of Israel from exile in Babylon. Here is the story of the restoration of a collapsed nation.

10 Lessons From The Restoration Account

6. God has power over those keeping your goods. Everything of yours in satanic warehouses will be returned to you. Israel did not come out of Egypt empty handed. You are not coming out empty handed! Someone might say, ‘How is that going to happen?’ Well, leave that to God!
7. If God cannot have you, you cannot have His things. God is more interested in people than in things. As beautiful as the temple was, He allowed it to be ransacked and destroyed. But when the people repented and turned their hearts to Him, their ‘things’ were restored. When the peoples’ attitudes and desires changed, God ended their punishment and gave them an opportunity for restoration and He gave them protection, money and the temple articles taken by Nebuchadnezzar. Get rid of sin and disobedience. Get rid of anger, guilt and unforgiveness. Get rid of every form of immorality.
8. God’s power is not limited to your resources. When you face difficult situations and feel surrounded, outnumbered, overpowered or outclassed, remember that God’s power is not limited to your resources. He is able to use anyone to carry out His plans. God will raise help beyond your resources. God’s power is not limited to your resources. Cyrus was not a Jew, but God worked through him to return the exiled Jews to their Homeland. Cyrus gave the proclamation allowing the return. Zechariah’s prophecy encouraged the people. He said, “It is not by might nor by power but by My Spirit saith the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6)
9. If God can fix a collapsed nation, He can fix a collapsed family, an individual, business, marriage or body. God did not programme them to fail but He allowed them to fail when they made wrong decisions.
10. God blesses us to fulfil His purpose. Individual promises are fulfilled as they relate to God’s Master Plan. Align yourself with His overall plan for your life and for the church – join others in building the church. Fulfil His specific role for your life.

What Do You Need To Do To Be Restored? Luke 15:11-32

Luke 15:14-20, “But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. [15] Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. [16] And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. [17] But when he came to himself, he said, ˜How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! [18] I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, [19] and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” [20] And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”

1. He knew what he lost: productive relationship with his father, and the privileges of that relationship. Know what you’ve lost and what needs to be restored. Is it your relationship with God that positions you to enjoy the resources of the Kingdom.
2. He made a decision to return. Restoration begins in the mind. If I can return in my mind, I can return in life. Humble yourself and admit your fault or mistakes. Make up your mind to be restored. Retrace your steps.
3. He acted on his decision. The Bible says he arose and came to his father. He confessed his faults to his father. Confess your sins and receive forgiveness by faith. Make a U turn. Don’t delay.
4. Here is the key: he humbled himself and returned ready to contribute to the building of his father’s empire. He left as a proud boy not ready to serve. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Obedience to God is a sign of humility. God will do anything for the humble. Confused priorities could be dangerous. What is most important to you? Where is God on your list of priorities? We must make His house and Kingdom our priority if we want Him to bless us in all things.

According to Haggai 1:9, because the people had not given God first place in their lives, their work was not fruitful or productive, and their material possessions did not satisfy.

5. He received and enjoyed restoration. Look at how his father threw a party for him! He dried up because he was too proud to serve. But as soon as he made up his mind to serve, he was fully restored to a life of abundance once again. He did not create his restoration, he couldn’t have. It was his father that did it. Your restoration is not going to be your making, it will be an act of God. It will be supernatural, and it doesn’t matter who thinks you shouldn’t have it, but God is going to give it to you!

In summary, to have restoration you must return to keeping the Covenant. They were not keeping the Covenant. Let me tell you something about the Covenant. Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” That means the Covenant is given to prosper you. Your prosperity proves the authenticity of the Covenant. It proves that you are walking according to the covenant. The covenant is an umbrella. It provides a cover for you to protect and prosper you. The umbrella doesn’t prevent it from raining, it prevents it from raining on you. But here is the problem, you can have an umbrella and you do not open it. You could leave it closed. The covenant is the umbrella. You can be a Covenant child and still not be prospering because you are not keeping the covenant. So, you are not covered. If you don’t keep the Covenant, you will go through the wilderness until you learn that you own nothing and that you are just a steward of God’s resources.

God is about to restore you fully. Pharaoh’s chief butler was restored. Many blind people had their sight restored. Deaf people had their hearing restored. Others had their dead raised. A widow had her hope restored when she succeeded in paying off her late husband’s debt.

BUT the greatest story of restoration is the restoration of mankind to the place of dominion through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Now we can have it all. We can be head and not the tail. Jesus has restored us to the place of pride.

Jesus has restored us to the place of authority, wealth and wholeness.

Jesus has restored us to the place of mental and financial dignity!

God is going to bring you level. God is getting ready to give you a full restoration of everything you have lost. You will recover from economic effects of the Virus Pandemic!

Kings will nurture you. Nations will feed you.

Fresh doors will open for you. New ideas will flood your mind. Get ready to receive back everything you have lost in the name of Jesus!! It may have been long but you’re coming back!! You are coming back strong! You are coming back big!

Bishop Dr. Charles Olowojoba is the General Overseer of Dayspring Bible Church Worldwide with HQ in Abuja, Nigeria & President, Dayspring Christian Ministries Int’l. Website: www.dayspringcmi.org e-mail: [email protected] Help line: 08035150515