Memorise: And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you” Joel 2:25
Devotional Reading: Joel 2:18-32
The hand of God is strong and mighty to restore whatever we have lost or was stolen from us. There are occassions in life when we lose valuables either carelessly, accidentally or forcefully, regardless of how you have lost it, in this season, God will fully restore whatever you have lost back to you in the mighty name of Jesus.
One of the major conditions for God to restore is that we must be holy, God cannot bless or restore in an atmosphere that is unholy. 1 Peter 1:16; Be ye holy; for i am holy.
A respected Cleric in a message titled “A Call to National Rebirth through Righteousness,” said: “We cannot continue to give national awards and chieftaincy titles to treasury looters and expect prayer alone to change our nation without repentance. The church in any society, ought to be its moral bastion and church leaders its ethical conscience as they add prophetic voice to matters of State. They commend what is acceptable and condemn what is objectionable. Unfortunately, there is so much moral decay within the body of Christ today as seen in the overemphasis on wealth without wisdom, popularity without piety and health without holiness. The gospel has been turned into a means of making money and the church has been so commercialized that sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between a preacher and a businessman.” Holiness is no longer preached in some churches, it is now all about fame, fashion, fake miracles and comedy to pull crowd.
Israel, in our text was going through a pathetic situation; hence, Prophet Joel called for the congregation to be sanctified. The priests were to maintain a sober mood while asking God to spare the nation and not to give His people (His Heritage) unto reproach. It is after the repentance, the solemn assembly and sanctification of the people that the Lord will then be jealous for His land, pity His people, end the oppression of their imperial masters, revive the nation’s agrarian economy, and restore peace and prosperity.
The condition for national rebirth is holiness and righteousness which exalts a nation and not prayer and fasting without repentance 2 Chronicles 7:14. Under the current global economic uncertainty which is affecting many nations with decline in food production, dwindling resources especially in the African continent, unconcluded Brexit in United Kingdom, uncertainty in the Middle East, it is time to seek the Lord. To enjoy full restoration, confess your sins to the Lord, ask Him for forgiveness, live a life of holiness and exercise faith in Christ’s substitutionary atonement.
I pray that God will restore you fully and resettle you into the fulness of his abundance and Grace in Jesus name.
Prayer point: O God of restoration, please visit me today.
Key Dose: God is able to restore to you fully regardless of what you have lost.
Pastor James Ademuyiwa
Senior Pastor (IHPCT)
