Hindrance To Restoration Series

INTRODUCTION

Happy New Year. The year 2010 is the year of the Lord’s favor. God spoke to us on the 31st night that this year He is going to do some new beginnings in our lives. Do you know, there is a hindrance to restoration in your life? The devil is fighting hard to stop the restoration and new beginnings in our lives. He wants us to be defeated and not achieve what God has promised us. If you can understand his tactics you can be watchful and achieve what God wants you to this year. So, first, look at the hindrances to restoration.

2 Kings 12:1-18

This morning we are going to identify some hindrances to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

BACKGROUND OF THE PASSAGE

King Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah.

Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram married Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah.

Now wicked influences of Ahab came into JudAthaliahliah led Judah to idolatry.

After the death of her husband Jehoram and her son, Athaliah took the throne.

She killed all of her grandchildren because of her thirst for power.

One grandson, Joash saved from this massacre by her aunt and hid in the temple.

When Joash was 8 his uncle the high priest did a coo against Athaliah and made him the King of Judah.

REFORMS OF JOASH AS KING

Destroyed the idols of Baal and killed its priests.

Proper worship of the Almighty God was re-established.

It looked as if a revival was coming.

It looked as if was time for a new beginning.

But something went wrong and the entire process of reformation/restoration/new beginning/revival could not be achieved.

I think we are living in a time where it is very similar to King Joash’s reign. It looks as if we are on the brink of a new beginning/restoration in many of our lives and families. This year God has promised us new beginnings in the Holy Spirit but if we are not careful we may miss out and at the end of 2010 we may still be disappointed for not achieving what God has promised to you and me.

Let us read what happened to Joash.

2 Kings 12:2

2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

2 Chronicles 23:16

16 Jehoiada then made a covenant that he and the people and the king would be the LORD’s people.

2 Chronicles 24:17-18

17 After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. 18 They abandoned the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger came upon Judah and Jerusalem.

As long as the high priest, Jehodia was around Joash he did what was right. After the death of Jehoiada, King Joash was easily influenced by the officials of Judah and the entire country went back to idol worship. He was easily influenced by the world.

1. HAVE SPIRITUAL INFLUENCE – HINDRANCE TO RESTORATION

Joash had both spiritual and nonspiritual influences on his life. The moment his spiritual influence ceased he slipped out of godly ways. We live in this world and we have spiritual influence in the church, but outside there is a lot of worldly influence that we come across daily. Never be influenced by the world. Understand that worldly influences always work against Godly influence. Keep away from it.

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

To achieve God’s best in our lives we need spiritual influence. Associate with such people.

2. NEGLECTING THE STRONGHOLDS – HINDRANCE TO RESTORATION

1 Kings 12:3

‘The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.”

The high places were centers of idol worship on mountains and hilltops. Joash could have done something about them but he just did not make an effort. He ignored the strongholds.

Now you may say pastor I do not do idol worship what are my strongholds?

Stronghold means – A fortified city; a fortification; fortified place.

Strongholds are places in our lives where God is not supreme.

OUR STRONGHOLDS – HINDRANCE TO RESTORATION

Habits lead to addictions.

Inappropriate relationships.

Temptations we gave into.

Neglecting God’s will.

Our strongholds can stop us from restoration in 2010. Be careful to identify the strongholds and fight against them.

2 Corinthians 10:4

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have the divine power to demolish strongholds.

3. SURRENDER THE SACRED