What GOD Can Restore!
Rev. John W. Gerald
I. HE RESTORES THE JOY ONCE KNOWN
Psalms 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
David once knew the joy of Salvation. Sin had separated him from his God. Guilt for this sin had taken away his joy. Satan promises adventure, excitement, entertainment and pleasure with sin, but he never can offer JOY! Only God can give you real JOY!
II. HE WILL RESTORE SALVATION
Psalms 80:3 Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
Psalms 85:4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
The inclination toward repentance comes from God. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin! We need this conviction to have a change of heart. Will we turn back to God? Not unless he draws us! It is proper to ask God to do this for us. I knew a man once, who said: "I know how to be saved, and before I die, I’m going to get saved, but not today." I do not know whether he ever got saved or not, but I know that no one can be saved unless the Holy Spirit draws him, and we can grieve the Spirit away.
III. HE RESTORES THE HOMELAND
Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
The ransomed of the LORD are all who come under the blood of Christ, whether of Jew or gentile. The hope of coming to Zion especially appeals to the Jew, but all will come to the holy city to worship the King in the Millennial era. I, personally, would love to go up to Zion to worship my King!
IV. HE RESTORES AND REDEEMS THE TRANSGRESSOR
Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
This message is intended especially for the Jew, but we may take comfort in its message as the Children of God. Redemption depends upon our return to God. While we are estranged from Him by sin, His salvation is still being offered, but we must receive it to enjoy its benefits. We can not enjoy these benefits while we are still in sin.
Jeremiah 3:1 They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.
The Jews knew well the law of divorce and separation, but God had offered to take His people back many a time, even though they had committed spiritual adultery with many lovers (gods). We are like them in that we have strayed away so many times, yet he holds out the offer of pardon and forgiveness continually. It is not his will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Jeremiah 3:12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the
LORD, and I will not keep anger
for ever.
God’s mercy is extended to His people. He does not hold forth anger, but mercy toward His people. Mercy is offered to those who return unto Him.
Jeremiah 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
How is it that we are called the bride of Christ, and God says that he is married to Israel? It is to show his great love for his people, and the grief their turning away causes Him. His plea for them to return is plaintive and appealing!
Jeremiah 3:22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.
God wants to put an end to our backsliding! He wants to secure our place beside Him. Jeremiah says that "we come unto thee." If the LORD is our God, we gladly come unto Him.
V. HE RESTORES SECURITY
Jeremiah 4:1 If thou wilt return,
O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.
As long as our sins are before the face of the Father, he can not bless us. If we will return, then we must do it. Our intentions must result in actions. There is an old saying that "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." If we intend to get saved, then we must do it now! We can put it off too long!
VI. HE RESTORES THEIR WORSHIP
Jeremiah 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
Elsewhere in scripture, we are told that Israel will return to God when they see "Him whom they have pierced." They will repent as a nation in one day. But, how do we know when it is our day to repent? He said that "Today, if ye will hear my voice..." Today is the day of salvation. We are not promised tomorrow.
VII. HE RESTORES LOVE
Hosea 14:4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
VIII. HE RESTORES HIS FAVOR
Malachi 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
Man has had a long history of rebellion against God. We have had a bad precedent set before us by our fathers from the beginning. But God is offering us mercy and grace today. We can not see how we have offended God, we do not acknowledge our sins therefore we can not be saved. When we acknowledge that we are sinners, in rebellion against God, and repent, we can be saved. If we return unto Him, He will return to us!
IX. HE WILL RESTORE THE WAYWARD BROTHER
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
We should never consider ourselves better than others. When someone fails, by falling into sin, or turning away from God, we should seek to bring them back. We should do this in meekness and love. We should do it as we would have someone else do it unto us, in gentleness and love.
Are you willing to return unto the God who loved you so much that He gave His only begotten son to die for your salvation? Would you stop your rebellion and turn back to Him?
Admit that you have sinned against Him, and ask for His pardon and forgiveness, today!
If you will do this, please sign here:
Name: ____________________
Date: _________
