Before restoration came to the children of Israel in the Old Testament there were conditions needed for His promise of prosperity and restoration. Those conditions were for them to be walking in obedience.
You see, God set before them a promise, but that promise had to be written on their hearts.
Hearing God is one thing but obeying Him is another level of being faithful.
Here’s an example of God’s conditions being spoken forth. He said, “...WHEN you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything, I command you today, THEN the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where He scattered you.” Deuteronomy 30: 2-3
God wants our obedience and our undivided love.
Knowing about God is quite different than knowing Him personally.
We can say we love someone, but if our actions prove differently, then what good is it?
Love is an action word. His Word says, “God IS love.”
He wants our hearts to be totally His. That’s why He says, “The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.” Deuteronomy 30: 6
Remember, in the Old Testament Law circumcision was part of the covenant between man and God. Man was required to obey that Law.
In the New Testament Jesus, who not only fulfilled the Law but is the Law, came to us so that we can be in covenant with God. This only occurs through a relationship with Jesus.
It’s really quite simple. God offers us life or death. In life we get restoration.
He said it this way to His people, “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.” Deuteronomy 30: 11
Moses was stating that understanding, believing, and obeying the covenant was not beyond them.
Then, here’s the next part that I love. He says, “It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” Deuteronomy 30: 12-14
WHEN we reach for Jesus who is in our hearts and walk in obedience to all that God asks of us, THEN we will be restored.
The word of faith we now proclaim is in our hearts.
Folks, walking in obedience will reward you. I’m not talking about the legalistic “do’s and don’ts” of life. I’m declaring that WHEN Jesus is in your heart, THEN we serve Him with all of our heart, restoration occurs because of who He is in and through us.
In Psalms, we find a prayer for restoration. Here, the Psalmist is crying out saying,
“Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negrev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” Psalm 126: 4-6
Those of you who have sowed in sorrow with many tears will rejoice when your harvest comes in.
KINGDOM ASSURANCE
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