GOD'S ESSENTIAL "R"s (5)
In my introduction to this series of “God’s essential “R”s I said I sincerely believed the Lord had led me to write this series. I also said the “R”s are used in many different contextS, the emphasis I have brought for example in the first 3 “R”s were primarily for the individual, the need to REPENT, to be RECONCILED to God, and to personally live in a place of continuous REVIVAL.
I changed the emphasis in the 4th “R” to RENEWAL in the Body of Christ around the world with the emphasis on that RENEWAL that commenced at the beginning of the 20th century with the Pentecostal move of God, that exploded in the 1960’s into the worldwide CHARISMATIC RENEWAL, that has changed the face of the Church forever.
Now we come to the final “R” in this series RESTORATION, again this R can be used in numerous contexts, for both the individual and in a corporate sense to the Church. My emphasis is what is now begun to be called RESTORATION THEOLOGY.
You can appreciate this area of Theology would fill a complete textbook or more, so I want to simply highlight some aspects, and trust that it will encourage you to do your own research in this exciting and liberating truth. Lets look at this verse from the mouth of the Apostle Peter in Acts 3:21, in a number of translations. This is Peter’s second Pentecostal sermon, where he tells the Jews they need to REPENT (V.19) that they would experience times of REFRESHING (REVIVAL) and that Jesus would return, but first.
Heaven must retain (Jesus) until the times of complete RESTORATION of all that God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets for ages past (from the most ancint time in the memory of man) AMP.
For He (Jesus) must remain in heaven until the time of the final RESTORATION of all things, as God promised long ago through His holy prophets. N.L.T.
For the time being He (Jesus) must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is RESTORED to order again just the way God, through the preaching of His holy prophets of old, said it would be. MESSAGE
Surely, we are living in these exciting times of restoration and Jesus will soon break through the clouds and we will meet Him in the air Hallelujah.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN AREAS OF RESTORATION?
1.TRUTH Heb. 6:1-3, Isaiah 58:12, 26:2, John 14:6
2. MINISTRIES Eph. 4:9-12,Isaiah 30:26, Jeremiah 33:12-13
3. PEOPLE Jeremiah 31:10,Psalm 23:3,Galatians 6:1
4. WORSHIP Jeremiah 31:12, 33:11,Psalm 22:3, 102:16-20, Hebrews 13:15-16
5. PATHS Isaiah 58:12, Job 24:2,13,Jeremiah 31:21, Isaiah 30:21
6. YEARS Joel 2:25, Haggai 2:9
7. KINGDOM Matthew 5:6-7, 6:33,Romans 14:17, 1 Corinthians 15:24,Psalm 145:10-13.
There has without a doubt been a partial restoration of all the above, but it hasn’t been complete or Jesus would have returned.
I have had the privilege of personally experiencing some of the areas that are being restored, I thank God for the TRUTHS He has wonderfully revealed to me in the last few years. Some I initially rejected, I am so glad “the Word of the Lord came a second (and third) time.
I thank God for the Spirit filled WORSHIP that we experienced back in the 1980’s and 1990’s but for so many it was a “passing phase” I long for that worship to be restored permanently to the Church.
There are no doubts that we are living in the last days, and I want to encourage you to prayerfully consider the above, and like the Bereans (Acts 17) search the Scriptures and see what the Holy Spirit will reveal to you.
I want to conclude this series of blogs, by giving thanks and honour to the Holy Spirit. The Bible says He does not speak of Himself, but always puts the spotlight on Jesus, yet each of God’s essential “R”s would not come to us and change our lives unless the Holy Spirit fulfilled His ministry to the Church.
We are not capable of REPENTANCE, unless the Holy Spirit convicts and draws us to God. it is the Holy Spirit that RECONCILES us to God, It is the work of the Holy Spirit to being to that place of personal REVIVAL, it has been a sovereign act of the Holy Spirit that brought to us the Charismatic RENEWAL, and it is the Holy Spirit that is bringing us to this time of RESTORATION.
I trust these series of 5 blogs have been a blessing to you, and encourages you to seek the Lord, and search the Word of God.
TO GOD WE GIVE ALL THE GLORY
