REVIEW:

Mark 12:30 (NIV) – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Romans 12:1&2 (NIV) – 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The pattern of God is one of relationship, not isolation; one of rest, not rush; one of remembering God’s truth, not justifying our own; one that calls us to be faithfully resilient, not immediately gratified; and one that invites us into continual restoration, not finalized condemnation.

PREVIEW: RESTORATION

God has initiated a restoration project from the beginning of creation. The transformation (restoration) of our lives happens as our minds are renewed.

Renew – (v) – to make like new: to restore to freshness, vigor, or perfection.

Restore – (v) – 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, etc.) so as to return it to its original condition.

To renew is to restore. To restore is to return to, through a process of renovation. God is a God that renews and restores us

WHAT DOES GOD RESTORE?

1. All things… eventually.

Revelation 21:1-5 (NIV) – 1Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”5He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

2. He can restore hearts, spirit and joy

Psalm 51:10-12 (NIV) – 10Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

3. He can give rest to our soul

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

4. He can restore minds – Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

5. He can restore strength

Psalm 23 (NIV) – 1The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 4Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

6. He can restore US

2 Corinthians 2:17-20 (NIV) – 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

HOW DOES GOD RESTORE?

• Through renovation we get restoration. Restoration requires…
• Trust – Belief that it can be better
• Truth – What is good and what is not
• Testing – Let’s see what’s in there
• Turmoil – Realization
• Trashing – Gotta get rid of that garbage!
• Time – From Egypt to the Promised Land
• Transformation – From old to new (2 Cor. 5)
• Restoration doesn’t mean we become perfect, but it does mean we become different
• Restoration doesn’t guarantee us the renewing of our finances, materials, or physical bodies, but of our hearts, souls, minds and strength in the Lord

PERSONAL AND SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:

• What stands out to you most about this message? Why?
• Have you experienced restoration in your life? How did God work in that process?
• Restoration requires renovation. What parts of the renovation process are easiest for you to go through? Which ones are the hardest?
• What needs to be renovated in your life right now? What is a next step you can take and who can you ask to help you in taking that step?