MY FRIENDS, A COMPLETE RESTORATION, IS IT POSSIBLE?

Nov. 23, 2020

MY FRIENDS, A COMPLETE RESTORATION, IS IT POSSIBLE?

The greatest victories to the church of Christ or to the individual Christian are not those that are gained by talent or education, by wealth or the favor of men. They are those victories that are gained in the audience chamber with God, when earnest, agonizing faith lays hold upon the mighty arm of power. Those who are unwilling to forsake every sin and to seek earnestly for God’s blessing, will not obtain it. But all who will lay hold of God’s promises as did Jacob, and be as earnest and persevering as he was, will succeed as he succeeded.” (E.G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets p 203)

My friends, “we must count our life of no value to our-self, so that we may finish our course and the ministry we received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24 (NKJV) In addition, the battle will be fought and won through our death to self and resurrection of a new life in Jesus Christ as we carry our own cross as a disciple and follower of God’s will for our life that will one day lead to life eternal.

Therefore, we must never be complacent about Satan’s power and begin to “conform to our surroundings” here on earth. A London businessman Lindsay Clegg tells the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior.

As he showed a prospective buyer the property. Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage. “Forget about the repairs,” the buyer said. “When I buy this place, I’m going to build something completely different.

I don’t want the building; I want the site.” And friends, that is the restoration and renewal God has planned for our lives for that is what Calvary was all about, our efforts to improve our own lives are insignificant, because everything must go. A complete restoration must take place and restored into the image of who God is and where He is leading us.

In Jer. 29:11 (KJV) God states, “I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, [and through My word and Spirit give you] an expected end, [in My pure and holy kingdom.]” My friends, the good news is God loves each of us supremely and wants the very best for us. Remember, after Adam and his wife sinned against God, “hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” Gen. 3:8-9 (KJV) Oh, what a God, no matter how far we have moved away from His presence, His response is, “Where art thou”? The bad news is we all have a natural propensity to ignore God’s voice because restoration requires self to die daily as we begin to live our life in the image of Christ and His will to make the necessary changes for a commitment.

Therefore, restoration requires “we count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord: for whom we [must] suffer the loss of all things, counting them but dung, that we may [be restored into the image of Christ].” Phil. 3:8 (KJV)