Restoration

Restoration is to be brought back to our position and condition before the foundation of the world when we were chosen. At our spiritual birth into the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ, we were immediately made the righteousness of God in Christ. We were justified, cleansed and redeemed from the curse of the Law of sin and death. We were purchased with the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, made His Own and adopted into His family. We are given the mind of Christ as we were reconciled to God and given the Ministry of Reconciliation as ambassadors of the Kingdom of God. We have been by grace justified and made whole.

We were restored to that place in God, before the fall, in which Adam fell from dominion into sin consciousness (where Adam saw his own nakedness before God). This means there was a point in time however before Adam had "fallen" into sin consciousness. At this point before Adam's fall mankind did not need restoration back to God. The time I am referring to, even before Adam, was the laying of the foundation of the world. Even before that scripture states that BEFORE the foundation of the world the Lord knew us (meaning we had an interactive relationship with Him, He knew us and we knew Him). In restoration, we are brought back into that vital relationship of knowing Him again. This is the place the Lord wants us to realize that in Christ, we are, in Him.

It is all about Him, God, Jesus. It is all about knowing Him Face to Face, knowing Him and His Ways. The Word says Moses knew His Ways, and the children of Israel knew His "acts". God's "acts" are great and wonderful but not as near as He is!

We are seated in the Heavenly Places with the Lord, BE STILL, and know that He is God, He is in control. Do not fret, nor squirm, do not get up out of your protected Heavenly position and get back into the "Adam" mind set trying to figure things out, that is Adam thinking. We are to possess and have the mind of Christ! The devil is defeated! LET GOD! Let God arise and defeat your enemies and heal you. The Word of the Lord says to Call Upon the Lord. Let God be God, so you are healed, made whole, and restored in all areas. What ever ailes you take it to God in prayer, confessing God's Word believing! Stop that mind set! (Gal. 5:1) That is why Jesus shed His Blood for you in the first place, RESTORATION to the Heavenly Father! That is whole, that is complete in : spirit, soul, and body!

Be restored and don't let anyone rob you of your inheritance! Know Whose you are, Who you are, where you came from, where you are (seated in the Heavenly Places with your Lord!) and where He is leading you (speaking to you now!) Just BE, learn to Be content IN Him(!) as you were before the foundation of this world were formed, in Him! (!!)

We are to become Ambassadors of Christ and His Kingdom reconciling men and women to Christ. We are also called by the Lord to be Restorers of the Breach between mankind (others) and God. God through the Holy Spirit desires to restore other's spirit, mind, desires, will, emotions, and body in to that divine creature we are to be.

Walking in the Mind of Christ - Restored and Walking in the Light with Our Lord

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." Phil 3:7-11

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the first-fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine." Prov 3:5-10

Recommended reading: "Chosen For Greatness" by Kelley Varner

Why Pray?

Praying to our Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ, using God's Holy Word (scripture) in prayer is the most powerful thing we can do for ourselves and others. The heart of prayer is the will of our Heavenly Father. Part of that will is simply coming to Him. He desires us, as His dear children to know Him. He desires your love, your attention, your fellowship (more than just being related to Him through Jesus), He also desires a time of communion, an intimate time of personal exchange and involvement, and finally a release of His will and manifest Presence in the earth through prayer.

As you pray for your needs and the needs of others, you are actually becoming a prayer warrior, an intercessor, just as Jesus was and is today for each of us. Jesus is constantly interceding for us to our Heavenly Father. It is written that Jesus was sent to destroy the works of the devil, 1 John 3:8. We are to do the same. We have the power and authority through Jesus Christ. All we have to do is live in the promise of the Word of God and to use His precious Name.

The most powerful weapons we have are the Name of Jesus Christ and God's Holy Word against satan and his foul wicked demons. No power of darkness can stand against the Word of God in the Name of Jesus Christ, and through the Blood of Jesus Christ.

The importance of confessing our sins and worshipping God, according to the Word of God: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Psalms 66:18. "We know that God does not listen to sinners: but if anyone is God-fearing and a worshipper of Him and does His will, He listens to him." John 9:31.

Prayerlessness is a sin according to 1 Sam. 12:23.

The Lord’s Principle of Prayer

I suppose all new Christians begin their walk with many questions, and of course a lot of advice from those who might have prayed with them when they received Jesus as Savior. Several pieces of advice that are always given, and of course, good advice it is, starts with; "Be sure to read your Bible and of course don't forget to pray". The first of these is not so hard if you can read, but the second can most often lead to the hard question, how do I pray? I think, as I look back, that was one of my questions when I was saved some 34 years ago now, and I did not have a clue, but I learned a real good way to start was reading the Bible daily, and also truly learning the word of God. Now turn to Matthew 6;

Here we find Jesus, with His disciples on the mount, just after He taught them the beatitudes, speaking to them concerning prayer and in verse 7 through 13:

"And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking.

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."

Pray then in this way:

"Our Father Who art in heaven,

Hallowed be Thy Name,

Thy Kingdom come,

Thy will be done.

On earth as it is in heaven,

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from evil,

For thine is the kingdom,

And the power, and the glory,

Forever, Amen"!

This is a truly beautiful teaching of the Lord, as of course all were and are, but it is not a prayer as we think of prayer. Jesus did not say, when you pray, pray this prayer, rather He said, "Pray then in this way". He gave them the principle, a pattern to follow as they went to the Lord with their petitions and requests. I, for one, still have many questions to ask, but I am also learning that the Holy Spirit is a most willing teacher and never fails to give the answer that I need, so I always go to Him first and wait.

The first word, "Our" reveals a new dimension in our lives. We are no longer a solo act, doing our own thing, but we are now in a community, a fellowship that includes many brothers and sisters in the Lord. We may not always be in their company, but we are always members of the same body and as such, no longer alone. We are addressing the Father of us all. Now we progress to the second word, "Father", which tells us that we are part of a very large family that is seeking to communicate with the One God and Father who is reaching out to us. He is the One you are opening your heart to; the One who has tender ears to hear His children calling out to Him.

"Who art in heaven" This is a given knowledge, of where your petition is being heard. He Who sits in the heavens [Ps. 2:4a], is He Who resides in His kingdom and sits upon His throne. He is also the One who has sent His Son to redeem us and we are now not our own, but we are His property (1st Corinthians 6:19-20). He rules and reigns over the universe from His eternally divine position.

"Hallowed be Thy Name", now you are really at the part that could be labeled worship, which we all should move into as we go into prayer, We are calling on the Almighty God and we are first acknowledging His holiness (‘hallowed'); What an awesome thought. When Moses met Him at the burning bush (the hallowed ground), he asked Him, Who should I tell them is sending me? God spoke and said that he should tell them that I AM is sending you. Paul wrote of Jesus in Philippians that God had highly exalted Him and had given Him a Name that is higher than any other, that at the Name of Jesus every knee must bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God. As we go back into the Old Testament we find many of the compound Names of God: Jehovah Nissi – Strength – Jehovah Rohi – Shepherd – Jehovah Shalom – Peace – Jehovah Rapha – Healer – Jehovah Jireh – Provider – Jehovah Tsidkenu – Righteousness – Jehovah Makaddesh – Sanctification. There are many others that your study will reveal, but Names to the Hebrew man or woman of that day revealed the character of God. His character is much broader, but that is to be found in further study. But in Jesus, all these character virtues are present, because He was born the Godhead incarnate. In the Amplified Bible, in John 14, 15, and 16 you will find bracketed behind the phrase, "In My Name" the words [presenting all that I AM]. He is the fullness of the Godhead and so as you use His Name in prayer you are calling on and expressing all that God is. (Read Acts 4:12)

"Thy Kingdom come..." You have entered, through your born again experience, the kingdom of God. It is the dimension that embodies the way God does things. You are to call into this earth realm, by prayer to God, His kingdom answer to every need. Jesus said that it should be in the earth the same as it is in heaven. What you are in reality asking, is that the Father not only send the kingdom of God to the earth, but send the revelation into our hearts as well, so that we can alter our lives' thinking accordingly, now add the rest of the verse;

"Thy will be done ... in the earth as it is in heaven". How is it in heaven? It's liberty in Christ Jesus, free of illness and affliction, free of lack and poverty, and free of all oppression and the strength of the Almighty expressed through your weakness as was Paul's, in 2 Corinthians 12 where God said that His strength and power are made perfect and show themselves most effective in our weakness. The Supernatural expressing Himself in the natural. Remember, that His word is His will, so study to show yourselves approved

(2 Timothy 2:15), and your prayer life will take on the power of His answers. Find in the Word, scriptures that apply to your requests and pray those scriptures as prayer. There are several verses in the Old Testament that address this powerfully.

Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not my Word like fire that consumes all that cannot endure the test? Says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks in pieces the rock [of most stubborn resistance]?"

"Put Me in remembrance [remind Me of your merits]: let us plead and argue together. Set forth your case, that you may be justified (proved right)." [Your case in the courts of heaven is His word] Isaiah 43:26 -- Now read and add to this 1 John 5:14-15.

"Give us this day our daily bread" Here you are addressing Jehovah Jireh, God our Provider, asking Him to provide your daily bread. Yesterday has passed and you have today to rejoice and be glad in and He will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He declared this in Philippians 4:19, and nothing escapes His sight and heart, for your ‘needs' can cover much ground, and not just your financial needs. Jehovah Jireh literally means, God Who sees ahead. He knew your daily needs ahead of all time, since before time was, and He made advance provision for all of them. In prayer, you are traveling a course that will cause you to intersect His supply for you. In the trek through the wilderness, when Manna fell from heaven, they were only allowed to take just what the day would demand for their well being. More taken would only spoil, except on the weekend when they could get an extra portion, to meet every need until the Sabbath passed. This is a marvelous avenue to build faith and trust on and God is faithful to the promises in His word. He is our provider and is to be trusted completely.

"Forgive us our debts as we have also forgiven our debtors" There is a great measure of God's will in this portion – ‘Forgiveness'. One of the most important words to be grasped in this is "as". When we have any unforgiveness in our hearts, then we are basically saying; judge me as I am judging the one that I have an aught against. We have amplified the "as". When you go just a little further in Mark 11:24-25, you will find Jesus, discussing this with His disciples, and relating it to prayer;
"For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you and you will get it.
And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop."

Here you can see how much emphasis the Father puts on our forgiving others in order to have our prayers be effective. Forgiveness is one of the conditions of answered, believing prayer and is an important condition that the Father places on receiving an answer. Forgiveness and answers are tied together. God's love is to be the radiant virtue of the righteous and His word in 1 Corinthians 13:7b declares that love believes the best in every person and as such forgiveness is the way of life for the Christian. There is a verse in James 5:16c that makes a tremendous statement;

"...The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in it's working]."

One of the key virtues displayed in the righteous man's life is walking in the attitude of forgiveness as His Father has forgiven him. God's love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:5)

"And lead us not into temptation" Here we need to see the word that the Greeks used for the word ‘temptation' properly translated makes this a more palatable request. The word is ‘peirasmos' and means trials with a beneficial purpose. The way this verse reads when this translation is used is, ‘lead us not into a hard trial or testing'. Again we look at the book of James and in Chapter 1:13 we read;

"Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one (with evil)."

Jesus was saying, don't pray yourself into a hard spot, your Father is loving and will not be a part of that. He wants only that which is beneficial for you and that might occur in testing and usually does, but not because you pray for it, it just comes as a part of life's journey and it comes daily, but the Holy Spirit is always there to strengthen you, for He is the strengthener. Spiritual testing is always a growing experience and mature growth is a most desperate need in the body of Christ. (John 14:26 Amp.) Just for the record, look at Psalms 119:67, 71 and 75: verse 75: "I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right and righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me." [Afflicted here is tried, proven]

"...but deliver us from the evil one" I won't go too far with this one except to say this; The Bible never gives any doubt that there is a power of evil in this world. Some translations have had this to read, ‘deliver us from evil' and that is not complete. It should always read, "deliver us from the evil one". The Bible does not teach that evil is some sort of principle that is an abstract, but rather it is a very active personal power, an enemy, an adversary called the devil who opposes God and all He stands for. It is from that power of destruction, that Jesus has us to pray for deliverance. We do know that in 1 John 4:4 there is a powerful statement in our behalf and it declares;

"Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have already defeated and overcome them [the agents of the anti-Christ], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world."

The agents of anti-christ here are the powers of evil and He has already disarmed them and triumphed over them and made a public display of them (Read Galatians 2:15)

"For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" All glory to God, Who is able to answer all prayer, prayed in the right manner and context. Prayer is to be a simple conversation with the God of all creation. He is your creator and the lover of your soul and He does not know how to hurt and He is more desirous and willing to answer than you are to pray. Look to Him, seek His face and not His hand and He will meet you at the intersection of any need you have and any desire your heart longs for. Sit down and talk to Him, He is so easy to know and He desires that you know Him well.

There is nothing on earth or in heaven, for time or eternity, that God's Son did not secure for us. By prayer God gives us the vast and matchless inheritance which is ours by virtue of His Son. God is glorified and Christ is honored by large asking. (E. M. Bounds)

Always remember, we are heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ Jesus.

Remember though, all we have been sharing is not a prayer, but rather it is the "Lord's Own Principle" for praying, it is a rich pattern to follow.

The scriptures that you have seen in this that are now written are those that you should look up, study, and get into your heart.

Invest in some good books on prayer and the following is just a few;

Destined for the Throne by Paul E. Billheimer

Prayer [Understanding the Purpose of...] by Myles Munroe

The Names of God by Nathan Stone

Prayer: Life's Limitless Reach by Jack Taylor

Beyond the Veil by Alice Smith

Prison To Praise by Merlin Carrothers