RESTORING ALL THINGS
RESTORE – God has the power to do it in all types of things
THE PROBLEM WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM TODAY IS THAT GENERALLY, PEOPLE ARE NOT MADE TO RESTORE WHAT THEY HAVE STOLEN OR BROKEN IN A CRIMINAL ACT.
1. RESTORING THE MATERIAL THINGS.
A. GOD’S LAW REQUIRES THAT THINGS INJURED OR TAKEN SHOULD BE RESTORED.
Exodus 22:1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
Exodus 22:4 If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
Leviticus 6:4-5 Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.
2. RESTORING PHYSICAL HEALTH.
This comes at God’s discretion. Not everyone gets healed. Even those with faith, such as Paul and others did not get healed. If everyone got healed, no one would be in Heaven except God and His angels ! But, there are times when God desires to show His might and do things which man cannot do, a miracle ! These are things which must point to the power, wisdom, and grace of our Lord Jesus.
A. PHYSICAL RESTORATION IS A TEMPORARY THING.
There are miracles where Jesus restored sight or physical health. Yet, those people eventually died. Restoring does not mean it was permanent.
YET, THIS IS THE MOST COMMONLY REQUESTED ACT OF RESTORING.
–RESTORING THE KING’S HAND.
1 Kings 13:6 And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
–RESTORING A MAN’S HAND.
Mark 3:5 And when He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
–RESTORING SIGHT.
Mark 8:25 After that He put His hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
B. RESTORING THE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
–JESUS CAME TO RESTORE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THE FATHER WHICH WAS REMOVED WHEN WE SINNED.
–RESTORING THE SOUL. WHEN A PERSON SINS, THEY NEED TO HAVE THEIR FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS–WHICH HAD BEEN BROKEN–RESTORED.
Psalms 23:3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
WHY DOES GOD RESTORE OUR SOUL ? FOR HIS OWN NAME’S SAKE. NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE BECOME SO GOOD, BUT BECAUSE HE DESERVED TO BE EXALTED AND PRAISED.
–RESTORING A LOST JOY. Some people lose the joy they had when they first trusted Christ as their savior.
Psalms 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit.
3. RESTORING THINGS BY GRACE.
THIS IS THE HARDEST PART OF ALL FOR US TO DO. WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE OWE GOD. WE RECOGNIZE OUR NEED FOR RESTORATION PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. BUT, DO WE EXTEND THIS GRACE TO OTHERS ?
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
–RESTORING THAT WHICH IS NOT OWED. [remember what GRACE is=”giving something good when a person does not deserve it.”] NOT REPLACING SOMETHING THAT YOU OWED, BUT TO KEEP PEACE, GIVING SOMETHING THAT YOU DIDN’T OWE. THIS RESTORED A PEACE WHIC H EXISTED BEFORE THE ENEMY CREATED A DIVISION BETWEEN YOU.
Psalms 69:4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
4. RESTORING WHATEVER WE OWE TO ANOTHER.
A. OUR GREATEST DEBT IS TO GOD.
Ezekiel 18:5-7, 9 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; . . . Hath walked in My statutes, and hath kept My judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
B. WHAT DO WE OWE TO OTHERS ? JUST DEBTS ON PAPER ?
Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
WHY do we owe each other love ? Because we have not done it before we were saved with the fullness of God’s love, and therefore we shortchanged each other before we got saved.
After salvation, we should have a different, more powerful love for spouse, children, relatives,. friends, the church.
C. RESTORING TO GOD THE THINGS WHICH ARE HIS.
Ezra 6:5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.
NOT JUST MATERIAL THINGS, BUT SPIRITUAL THINGS, AS WELL. He gave us our very life. We owe that to Him. What did you do with the life God gave you ? What do you have to show for it ? God will require it one day. We need to restore our faith and obedience to Him. We don’t deserve salvation, but He offers it to us. You can have your relationship with God restored today !
YOU OWE GOD YOUR LIFE. YOU OWE IT TO HIM TO LIVE FOR HIM. IF YOU DON’T, YOU FAIL TO FULFILL YOUR PURPOSE.
YOU SHOULD PAY YOUR DEBT TO GOD AND GIVE HIM YOUR FAITH AND TRUST FOR SALVATION TODAY.
”Restoring All Things”
A Bible Study with Dr. Ed J. MacWilliams
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