God of Restoration

It is not what we do, but by the fact that it is a season that God will restore His people, that He will restore us. When God's time for restoration comes, it is time to be in line with God.

What exactly does the word "restore" mean? It means to bring back to the former state; to bring back what was decaying; to reestablish; to renew. To restore means to revive above the former level, on a spiritual definition. God's restoration takes you to a level greater than the former.

We may not see what God is doing, but when His timing for restoration comes, you will see what He has been doing. It is time for restoration for Kenya. Even now, God is restoring Kenya. God is also restoring the church, to a level of maturity. The Word has to get in our spirits and stir us up, thus producing results and fruits.

Signs and wonders will follow them that believe; our assignment as individuals and as a church is to believe. God is showing up and off on our behalves. People will stand and say "this must be God." The church is receiving back its honor. They will know what God can do. Restoration time has nothing to do with us and man, but with what God can do.

God brings restoration to strengthen His people, according to Daniel 11:32:

Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

The Lord is unfolding us, and manifesting us to the nations. When we have faith in what God is saying, about restoration, the Lord will step in and restore you.

Time comes for God to stir up the hearts of men to restoration, when they have strayed and gone far from Him. Sin leaves you empty and in a vacuum; only God can restore us. Only restoration can bring back an empty heart. God restores people so that the world can see and say that we are God's people; as we are washed and cleansed by the blood of His Son.

Psalm 51:12
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

We are going to be so restored that it will be so evident to all. We will see a manifestation of God's power in our lives, so that people will see and turn back to God. 

God is about to give you a better deal. He restores in a better measure. 

Mark 10:29-30

So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

God restores 100 fold. He restores beyond the ordinary (Exodus 22:1). 

Haggai 2:9

‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

Joel 2:12-17

“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. 14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him— a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room. 17 Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

Restoration is not for everybody; it is for a people who will return to God. We must all take our hearts back to God. It may go to the extent of fasting and seeking God, for you to give all to God; then wait for the power of God to manifest. We need to go on prayer and fasting, to go back to God. 

God is full of mercies, and won't let people wonder where our God is, after we are gone back to God and given Him our all. 

Joel 2:12-17

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, my great army which I sent among you.

26 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 be put to shame. 27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.

We have been restored by the blood of Jesus to claim a position in the Kingdom of God. Restoration comes with peace, not confusion. It is time to enjoy God's peace. Whatever got lost, God wants to restore (talents, order, prayerfulness, beauty, glory). May God restore us to His purpose. It is restoration time. 

John 10:10

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

When God starts restoring us, He does it physically too. Restoration even opens our eyes to see greater things. I pray that none of us misses out on restoration as He does so to His church, and Kenya at large. 

Here are 7 instances in the story of Elijah and Elisha, when God manifested His power of restoration:

1st Lesson: 1 Kings 17:8-16

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”

12 So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’”

15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.

God restored the widow from little to abundance. The widow had prepared her heart and had connected with God, that's how she knew a servant of God had visited her. This is God commanding her. The test of faith came when she was asked for bread. The Lord is not looking for what you do not have; He is looking for the little. As long as you be an instrument He can use, He will use the little you have. 

The widow was in the field collecting sticks when God used her. The anointing of restoration was provoked in Elijah to operate, by God, when the woman obeyed. The vessel God used to manifest His power of restoration was ready to be used. 

We reason too much, so much that we miss out on God. We should be very connected with God, having returned to Him, that we discern who is of God. When you obey God's word through His servant, you become sure of what God is speaking. The widow was restored from little to abundance. The Lord wants to restore you, but you have to let go what you hold closely and dearly; let the Spirit lead you through. 

Elijah told the woman not to fear; fear may hinder you from being restored. By believing in God and in His prophets, you will be established and prosper. 

Next week we will continue from here, looking at the 6 other instances of restoration by God, in the stories of Elijah and Elijah. 

Amen. 

-- Pastor Mary Mugo

(24/3/13 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. At Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor)

Pastor Mary Mugo is a Pastor at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.