With Bishop David Muriithi.
Joel 2:25-27 NIV[25] “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm— my great army that I sent among you. [26] You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. [27] Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed. https://bible.com/bible/111/jol.2.25-27.NIV.
- Life is full of losses, betrayals, disappointments, and so on.
- The locusts God is talking about are still there- they HAVE eaten, not they HAD eaten.
- Now, God restores the YEARS they ate, not the things they ate in those years.
- Job lost everything until his friends judged him (Job Chapter 2).
- The prodigal son also lost everything.
- If restoration has to happen, we have a part to play.
How Do You Get Restored?
- Forgive. Matthew 6:14-15 NIV. [14] For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.6.14-15.NIV. You can’t enjoy the healing/restoration of health if you’re holding grudges.There’s also a community of helpers in restoration. Galatians 6:2 NIV [2] Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. https://bible.com/bible/111/gal.6.2.NIV.
- Renew. There’s the promise of renewal. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! https://bible.com/bible/111/2co.5.17.NIV. The redemption lift is the name. God restores you by changing ALL things when you get saved, everything that’s not just your soul, including relationships, finances, circumstances and situations.
- When God restores, it is not to the former condition, but to a much better position. And Job got a double portion of what he initially had.
- Acknowledge your brokenness. Psalm 51. Habakkuk 2:3.
