PATH TO DIVINE RESTORATION

For thus says the LORD, that after seventy years are accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my GOOD WORD toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the THOUGHTS that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope – Jeremiah 29:10-11 (NKJV)

The theme of Divine restoration can apply to the entire Body of Christ, a nation, a people-group, a local church, and to the lives of individual believers. We all need restoration in one aspect of life or the other. In our text, the children of Israel had consistently sinned against God. Consequently, they had broken the hedge around them and were carried captive into the land of Babylon. In the midst of all this, all kinds of diviners arose and began to prophesy false thoughts. Even God’s people began to drift into delusion; but God raised Jeremiah, who prophesied His good Word and thoughts – Prophetic Restoration.

Jeremiah prophesied that God’s people would be in a strange land as captives for 70 years; but hidden in this prophecy of captivity was the Hope of Restoration. Much later, Daniel was studying Jeremiah’s prophecy when he “understood by the books…” (Dan.9:2). If this Old Testament saint understood by the books, why are many New Testament saints wallowing in self-pity, “Pastor, pray for me; the Devil is after me.” Daniel’s understanding gained from the books brought about divine restoration. For us, the first Book is the Bible, the Word of God. It is our Source of Insight and Wisdom for Restoration. There are also divinely-inspired books authored by godly ministers for our enrichment and radical restoration.

So, the main path to restoration is to go back to the Book; to be a diligent, devoted, and obedient student of the Book and of books inspired by the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 2:15 says: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  Are there areas of your life that you are still ashamed about? It may be because you have not rightly divided, discerned, or understood the Book. When you rightly discern and decipher revelation concerning your redemption, healing, peace, and prosperity, you’ll access spiritual, physical, mental, and material restoration. You’ll be empowered to live above sin, sickness, anxiety, and lack, fulfilling the fullness of God’s purpose in life.

You cannot afford to live anyhow. You cannot afford to be ignorant, lest the Devil take advantage of you (2Cor.2:11). You must learn to go to the Book by yourself; not only read it, but study and meditate in it to the point of understanding: “Therefore do not be unwise, but UNDERSTAND what the will of the Lord is” (Eph.5:17). As exciting as Christianity is, it will be boring to those who do not take time to understand the multi-colours of God’s manifold wisdom (Eph.3:10). Restoration will come through wisdom and understanding of the Word, Will, and Ways of God – via the Book and the books!