RESTORATION

As Promised, I have a word and the word is restoration. I was up at o’dark thirty just sitting in my car. I drive when I can’t sleep (as I stated in my Facebook video) and in today’s episode of my can’t sleep, don’t sleep chronicles I came across the word RESTORATION.

I’m pretty sure that I have the rain to thank for today’s word because I began to think about all the stuff that is being washed away, cleansed, renewed and refreshed. I also began to juxtapose the same thought against the things that have us bound. You know we use phrases such as “cast in stone, word is bond. Etched in my memory” and we use these phrases to hold people captive. With this being said, I began to really appreciate the word restoration.

Check out Isaiah 61: 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

6 And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.

8 “For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.”

10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

This passage was at the time of Jubilee - jubilee in the Bible means it was the time for atonement and captives were set free. It was pretty much a time of consecration – giving back to God what is already His….

Can you really truly have restoration without consecration?

I tell people all the time – swinging a hammer and tearing down things takes no special skills but building require passion, knowledge and compassion (if you’re building you’re building with a purpose in mind, am I right?) Building also takes God…

Psalm 127:1 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.

Are you building? Can you appreciate the “jubilee” in every day?

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good you better get in on this meal!!!