God’s Promise to Restore
SERMON STARTER
God is in the restoration business. One of my friends who did a few years of hard time related that he knew from first hand experience the power of Christ’s restoration. “The parole authorities ridicule of what they call, “Jailhouse Religion.” He was warned not to speak of his Christ Encounter to any of his interviewers for they would accuse them of trying to “con” them for special favors or early release.
“Honest, pastor, when I would attend church meetings the power of Christ would be so present that tears were irresistible! I know He was present because He changed my heart!” Looking into the man’s clear and open face, anyone could see the transforming power of Christ’s love. It is the power of Christ’s restoration: turning a derelict alcoholic into a devoted follower of Jesus.
Today you can see the result. He’s at the top of his profession with men who answer to him. His children look healthy and are emotionally and spiritually well. We used to sing the Gospel chorus, “Jesus is the answer, for the world today. Beside Him there’s no other. Jesus is the way!” This sermon explores the power of Christ’s ability to restore through relationship and love.
A-Men!
Pastor Phil <><<
February 3, 2008 - Sheepfold Ministries
Pastor Phil Roland
God’s Promise to Restore
Isaiah 61:1-7
“The Lord has promised restoration to those who love, obey and follow Him. The Sheepfold has been birthed with this vision and calling.” Pastor Phil
“RESTORE” = Hebrew = nIL = “SA-LAM” = Peace in all you do
“I will restore. . .” Joel 2:25
”You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
GOD’S SEVEN ENAblements TO RESTORE:
I. WE HAVE BEEN BIRTHED BY HIS SPIRIT – v.1a
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me. . .”
A. His Spirit has come to CONVICT
B. His Spirit has come to TRANSFORM
C. His Spirit has come to FILL AND EMPOWER
D. His Spirit has come to COMFORT
II. WE HAVE BEEN ANOINTED TO PREACH GOOD NEWS – v.1b
A. Hebrew Root = MA-SHACH = gLn = To Smear / ANOINT
B. Greek Root = CHREE-O = crio = “To Rub” / “A Rubbing In”
C. Preach the Pure Gospel Message – Acts 10:38-43
“"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who
went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God
was with Him. "And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land
of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. "Him God
raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, "not to all the people, but to
witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after
He arose from the dead. "And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to
testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the
dead. "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes
in Him will receive remission of sins."
1. Did good and healed those oppressed by the devil
2. Killed by His brothers and hung on a tree
3. Raised by God on the Third Day
4. Seen by many witnesses
5. His witnesses preach faith and forgiveness of sins
III. WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO THE POOR - v.1c
A. Jesus operated under God’s power and anointing - Matt. 11:4-6
“Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear
and see: "The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf
hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
"And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
B. Jesus is close to the poor - Matt 25:40 ". . .these brothers of mine. . ."
C. The Poor inherit His Kingdom – Matt. 5:3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
IV. WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO THE BROKEN-HEARTED
“He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,”
A. God heals and binds up the broken-hearted – Psalm 147:3
“He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.”
B. God is near the Broken-in-Heart – v. 2b
“To comfort all who mourn,”
C. Man’s Extremity is God’s Opportunity
V. WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO
CAPTIVES - v.1e
“To proclaim liberty to the captives,”
A. Captive to Sin and the Devil
B. Captive to Consequences of Poor Choices
C. Captive to the World’s Siren Call
VI. WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO OPEN PRISONS
A. Prison of Selfishness
B. Prison of Family and Culture
C. Prison of Recidivism
VII. GOD’S TIME IS NOW - v. 2a
“To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,”
A. The Day of Salvation is now – 2 Cor. 6:2
”Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
B. When you choose Christ, your and God’s time are one – Acts 1:7
1. Chronos – “Heart-Beat Time”
2. Kairos – “Eternity’s Time”
God’s Promise to Restore, Text:
Isaiah 61:1-7
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,
3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.
5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
6 But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast.
7 Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs.
God’s Promise to Restore Illustrations:
Eg. Restoration from Willful Sin
A few years ago, an angry man rushed through the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam until he reached Rembrandt's famous painting "Nightwatch." Then he took out a knife and slashed it repeatedly before he could be stopped. A short time later, a distraught, hostile man slipped into St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome with a hammer and began to smash Michelangelo's beautiful sculpture The Pieta. Two cherished works of art were severely damaged. But what did officials do? Throw them out and forget about them? Absolutely not! Using the best experts, who worked with the utmost care and precision, they made every effort to restore the treasures.
By His sovereign grace, God can bring good out of our failures, and even out of our sins.
Eg. . .Restoration from Tragedy
J. Stuart Holden tells of an old Scottish mansion close to where he had his little summer home. The walls of one room were filled with sketches made by distinguished artists. The practice began after a pitcher of soda water was accidentally spilled on a freshly decorated wall and left an unsightly stain. At the time, a noted artist, Lord Landseer, was a guest in the house. One day when the family went out to the moors, he stayed behind. With a few masterful strokes of a piece of charcoal, that ugly spot became the outline of a beautiful waterfall, bordered by trees and wildlife. He turned that disfigured wall into one of his most successful depictions of Scottish Highland life.