REWARDS OF RESTORATION
By Rev. Samuel Arimoro
Main Text: Joel 2:25-26
Key Verse: “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.” (Joel 2:25–26)
Supporting Texts: Job 42:10, Jeremiah 30:17, Isaiah 61:7, Zechariah 9:12, Psalm 126:1-3
INTRODUCTION:
The God we serve is not only a Restorer, but He is also a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. When God restores, He does not merely return things to their former state; He makes them better, greater, and richer than they were before. Restoration is God’s way of showing His people that He has the final say over their lives, no matter the extent of their losses or the depth of their pain.
In Scripture, restoration is often followed by multiplied blessings. Job, who lost everything in one day, later received twice as much as he had before because the God of restoration intervened (Job 42:10). The children of Israel, who had been captives for seventy years, were brought back to their land with rejoicing, laughter, and testimonies, because restoration always comes with rewards (Psalm 126:1-3).
This study will help us understand that God’s restoration is never empty; it carries rewards of abundance, joy, healing, deliverance, honour, and generational blessings. Let us look closely at the rewards that follow divine restoration.
1. RESTORATION BRINGS ABUNDANCE
When God restores, He replaces lack with overflowing provision and plenty.
a) Restoration leads to satisfaction (Joel 2:26): God promises that His people shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, showing that restoration removes every trace of scarcity.
b) Abundance is a sign of God’s favour (Psalm 23:5): When God restores, He prepares a table of abundance before His children, even in the presence of enemies.
c) God restores wasted opportunities with greater blessings (Amos 9:13): Seasons of fruitfulness and harvest are released after restoration.
d) Divine restoration guarantees no more shame (Isaiah 61:7): Where shame existed, God replaces it with double honour and abundance.
Biblical Example: The prodigal son returned home empty, but his father restored him with a feast, a robe, and abundance (Luke 15:22-23).
2. RESTORATION BRINGS HEALING AND DELIVERANCE
God’s restoration heals wounds, repairs brokenness, and delivers His people from oppression.
a) God heals the brokenhearted (Psalm 147:3): Restoration touches the emotional, physical, and spiritual dimensions of life.
b) Deliverance is part of restoration (Jeremiah 30:17): God promises to restore health and heal wounds, signifying freedom from past afflictions.
c) Restoration breaks captivity (Zechariah 9:12): Prisoners of hope are released and restored double blessings.
d) Restoration brings peace and wholeness (John 14:27): What the enemy damaged, God restores with His peace and healing.
Biblical Example: Naaman, though a leper, received total healing and restoration of flesh like that of a child (2 Kings 5:14).
3. RESTORATION BRINGS JOY AND CELEBRATION
After seasons of pain and loss, God’s restoration ushers His children into testimonies of joy and gladness.
a) Joy is restored after captivity (Psalm 126:1-3): When God turned the captivity of Zion, their mouths were filled with laughter and songs of joy.
b) God turns mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11): Restoration changes sorrow into celebration.
c) Joy is a mark of God’s presence in restoration (John 16:22): The joy He gives cannot be taken away.
d) Thanksgiving follows restoration (Colossians 3:17): The restored heart overflows with gratitude to God.
Biblical Example: Hannah, who wept in barrenness, received Samuel as a reward of restoration and sang a joyful song of praise (1 Samuel 2:1-2).
4. RESTORATION BRINGS HONOUR AND GLORY
Restoration replaces shame with honour and establishes a new level of glory in the life of a believer.
a) Double honour for past shame (Isaiah 61:7): God promises to give His people a double portion of honour in place of reproach.
b) Restoration brings recognition (Genesis 41:40-41): God can lift His children from obscurity to positions of honour.
c) Restoration is proof of God’s faithfulness (1 Peter 5:10): After suffering, God restores, strengthens, and establishes His children.
d) Glory follows restoration (Haggai 2:9): The glory of the latter house shall be greater than the former.
Biblical Example: Joseph, once a prisoner, was restored and promoted to become ruler in Egypt, honoured above all (Genesis 41:38-41).
5. RESTORATION BRINGS SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
Restoration is not only physical or material—it also revives spiritual life and intimacy with God.
a) God restores souls (Psalm 23:3): The Shepherd refreshes the inner man through restoration.
b) Restoration rekindles fellowship (James 4:8): When God restores, closeness with Him is renewed.
c) Spiritual strength is renewed (Isaiah 40:31): The restored believer mounts up with wings as eagles.
d) Restoration opens doors to fresh revelation (Joel 2:28): Spiritual outpouring follows restoration.
Biblical Example: Peter, who denied Christ, was restored and renewed, later becoming a bold leader in the early church (John 21:15-17; Acts 2:14).
CONCLUSION:
The rewards of restoration are far-reaching. They go beyond material blessings to touch every aspect of life: physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational. God does not just restore; He multiplies, heals, renews, and establishes His people in joy, honour, and glory.
Every believer must therefore approach God with expectation, knowing that when He restores, the result will be abundance, peace, joy, honour, and spiritual renewal. As you align with His promises, you will not only recover what was lost but also step into a higher dimension of blessings that surpasses your past.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, I thank You for being the God of restoration and rewards.
2. Father, restore every wasted year of my life and crown me with abundance.
3. Lord, heal every wound and affliction in my life and family.
4. Father, turn my sorrow into joy and fill my mouth with laughter.
5. Lord, replace every shame in my life with double honour.
6. Father, revive my spiritual life and restore me to deeper intimacy with You.
7. Lord, let my restoration be complete and lacking nothing.
8. Father, let my testimony of restoration bring glory to Your name.
9. Lord, establish me in Your blessings and make them permanent.
10. Father, let my restoration be a blessing to generations after me.
