Restore week 4

“Forward Restoration”

Opening:

Often when we think about restoration, we think in terms of restoring something to a past condition.

We can restore a piece of furniture, or a failing business, or even the restoration of health all have their reference point associated with a past state.

What if God’s restoration is pointed forward instead of backward?

Is God’s plan to take us back or continue moving us forward?

Is the restoration of God more about returning to a prior state or growing into a more Christ-like state?

Forward restoration requires necessary endings.

A necessary ending precedes a new beginning.

A necessary ending brings a past season to closure.

A necessary ending can involve methodology, measurements, and mindsets.

As we approach an understanding of God’s restoration, we must consider the desired results from a forward position.

As a church, we understand that God is not restoring us to a previous time, place, or condition.

As families, we see how God is restoring His plans and purposes in our relationships.

As individuals, we understand that God is restoring us for the sake of forming us into the image of Christ.

Each time God restores, the intent is to bring us forward into a greater level of Kingdom-living.

[Act 1:6-11 ESV] 6 “So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

Opening Observations:

The disciples ask Jesus a question about restoration.

Their question is focused backward to a previous state of Israel.

Jesus responds with a forward focus of the Father’s times and season.

Then Jesus extends to them the promise of the Holy Spirit who will give them “power to be witnesses.”

Angels appear as they are watching Christ’s ascension.

The angels ask them a question; “why do you look at what has already happened?”

“This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.”

“Look forward to the promise of Christ’s return!”

Comments . . .

Too often, we can pray with a hope and anticipation to return to “the good-old-days.”

The Father’s heart is always to exalt and glorify Jesus through an anticipation of His earthly reign.

We become caught in the trials of the moment, but God looks forward to the accomplishment of His original plan.

To be fixed in a “rear view mirror” perspective will limit our ability to receive the intended restoration God has in mind.

How does the anticipation of Christ’s return lead us to God’s restoration?

[Rev 21:1-5 ESV] 1 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

John’s revelation of a restored earth . . .

“I saw a new heaven and a new earth”

“The first heaven and the first earth had passed away”

“Prepared”

“The dwelling place of God is with man”

“He will wipe away every tear”

“Behold, I Am making all things new”

Our ultimate restoration will be experienced throughout eternity as we live and reign with Christ on the new earth.

This anticipation provides ongoing hope for us today.

[2Co 4:17-18 ESV] 17 “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

The key for our restoration is; “looking not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.”

Developing eyes to see the unseen:

“You have eyes to see, but you cannot see.”

See the “preparation” in the moment.

See the “glory beyond all comparison.”

Stop looking at the “things that are seen.”

Set your focus on the things that “are eternal.”

Preparation in the moment . . .

Every act of God on our behalf is for the purpose of preparation.

Once again, this is not a preparation to return back but a preparation for God’s eternal kingdom.

Learning to see our current situations as preparation enables us to persevere.

The opposite is equally true. Seeing our current situations as permanent entraps us in the moment.

“Glory beyond all comparison” . . .

Our current vision is limited to our ability in recognizing the Father’s intended purpose.

Many view heaven as only a ethereal place where they will float on clouds.

God’s purpose for restoration is a kingdom reign with Christ over His new earth.

How we respond to our temporary situations today will determine our level of reign throughout eternity.

There is no comparison between what we experience today and what we will receive in our eternal restoration with Christ.

“Things that are seen” . . .

What are you seeing today?

Everything we see today will pass away.

It is the promise and assurance of the Father that He will do away with what we are seeing today.

To place our hope in the temporary is to settle for the things that are seen.

To place our hope in the eternal is to receive God’s promise of restoration.

“Focus on things that are eternal”

To focus requires intentionality

The greatest risk for our focus is distraction

Momentary pain and discomfort serve to distract us from an eternal focus.

Once distracted, we become suspect to the pull of the temporary over the promise of eternity.

Illustration: breaking a board

Take away . . .

“Look to the other side”