The Longing for Restoration

Restoration Reorients Our Perspective

Acts 3:11–12 NASB95

While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?

Restoration Draws Our Attention

The people ran to see what was happening.

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There is a longing for restoration, because deep down we all sense that the world is disordered. We are disordered.

35m

Restoration Directs Our Attention

The physical ministry creates space for a spiritual ministry.

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 NASB95

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Churches can be like “Tanked” - starting with beauty and ending with death.

30m

Restoration Recalls Our Problem

Suffering is Not God’s Wrong

Acts 3:13–15 NASB95

“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.

Many people blame God for not “showing up” when something bad happened in their life in the past.

We should expect suffering to come when people reject God’s commands not because He delights in punishing them, but because His commands are for their good.

Israel asked to be “graced” with a taker of life (murderer) when God “graced” them with the Prince (Author) of Life.

Today you are being offered the same thing. You don’t have to walk out of this building into a life of misery and hopelessness. The offer of freedom, forgiveness, peace, joy, and a new life is yours in Christ if you will only come to Him.

20m

Blessing is Not Our Right

Acts 3:16–18 NASB95

“And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all. “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. “But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.

All of the statements regarding the name of Jesus here must be considered and not only one out of context.

We cannot use the name of Jesus as an incantation or a spell to get blessings from God.

We cannot declare, decree, speak, or command things authoritatively and invoke God’s power unless He has told us to do so in His Word.

10m

Restoration Reveals Our Potential

Acts 3:19–26 NASB95

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. “Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you. ‘And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ “And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. “It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ “For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

One Day God Will Restore Everything

Revelation 21:1–7 NASB95

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

Peter offers the Jews a second opportunity for salvation through Christ. Today is your opportunity. Will you reject Him and suffer, or will you trust Him today?