Restoring The Years

Title: Restoring The Years

Scripture: Joel 2:25 KJV:

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.

Introduction: Have you ever had something stolen? Some of you can say that was a prize possession to you, a family heirloom, your anointing, your joy, your peace, your praise, and even your money. I came to tell you that the enemy has to let it go and give it back to you. I came to tell you that whatever that the enemy has taken whether physically, emotionally, financially, mentally, and spiritual, God will restore unto you. Restore is defined as 1) bring back (a previous right, practice, custom, or situation); reinstate. 2) Return (someone or something) to a former condition, place, or position. 3) Repair or renovate (a building, work of art, vehicle, and etc.) so as to return it to its original condition.

Application: The 1st point is The Locusts. What is locust? I'm glad you asked. Locusts are large and mainly tropical grasshoppers with strong powers of flight. It is usually solitary, but from time to time there is a population explosion, and it migrates in vast swarms that cause extensive damage to crops. There has to be locusts eating up your finances. Malachi 3:11 says, "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts." God is going to be the Orkin man and exterminate the locust from your finances.

The 2nd point is The Cankerworms. Cankerworms are caterpillars that move with a distinctive “looping” motion. Cankerworms can cause waste of a variety of fleeting trees. The caterpillars eat the young leaves at the tips of branches, giving them a brutal appearance, with leaves often having big holes in them. Older caterpillars eat all but the tougher veins of older, expanded leaves. Cankerworms have a distinctive appearance and movement, because they have 2 or 3 pairs of fleshy legs along the abdomen rather than the more numerous five pairs that many caterpillars have. The color and markings of these caterpillars varies, ranging from bright green to almost black, sometimes with pale stripes along the sides of the body (one for the spring cankerworm and three for the fall cankerworm). Is it like the devil, he can come different shapes, ways, colors, and fashions to take what you have. I have good news for you. Proverbs 6:30-31 says, "30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry. 31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house." Expect a big payment from the devil. Payday is here right in front of you.

The 3rd and final point is The Caterpillars. Caterpillars are babies both of a butterfly and a moth. They builds itself into a cocoon where it remains for 2 weeks. The caterpillar then emerges having grown wings and become a butterfly. Caterpillar are considered to be agricultural pests as they can munch their ways through fields of crops, often leaving enormous holes which result in unhealthy or inedible plants. Some species of caterpillar are also highly poisonous, particularly those species that live in the tropical rain forests. Caterpillars difference in size, color and appearance depending on their species. Some caterpillars are very brightly colored where other caterpillar species are quite dull-looking in comparison. Some species of caterpillars are very hairy, where others are very smooth. The main aim of the appearance of the caterpillar is to intimidate it's predators and to deter them from eating it. Has the devil left holes in your church, family, finances, health, job, life, mind and relationship (physical and spiritual)? I know that the Almighty God can mend the holes in your church, family, finances, health, job, life, mind and relationship (physical and spiritual). Psalms 147:3 says, "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."

Conclusion: In this year, God will restore to you everything and I mean everything that the devil has eaten and taken. Some of you, it may large that you are going to need a large dump truck to dump it at your front lawn and a bigger place to store it up at. Are you ready for your rapid restoring refund? It may come from a boyfriend, church member, co-worker, an enemy, family member, friend, girlfriend, hater, stranger, and your ex. If you are, be there to answer the door for your delivery.