The Personal restoration

Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer PhDFamily Worship Center

Joel 2:23-27 23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you— The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month.

Joel 2:23-27 24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.25 “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,…

Part One: The personal restoration

project

RESTORE- verb“Restore” is a verb that means to return something to a previous usable state or condition, to reestablish, to return what was lost or stolen or to make something like new again. When something is restored it brings back the value and beauty to it.

We also need personal

restoration in life

Part Two: The God of restoration

God loves to restore!

Rev. 21:5 “5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.””

The God of Restoration• In the meantime God wants

to restore YOU.•He wants to bring back value

and beauty.•He wants to defeat and

reverse the destruction.

Deuteronomy 6:10-12 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you – a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant – then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."

Deuteronomy 6:10-12 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you – a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant – then when you eat

and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."

Book of Joel…They had turned to alcohol and partying instead of truly serving God. Joel 1:5 5 Awake, you drunkards, and weep; And wail, all you drinkers of wine, Because of the new wine, For it has been cut off from your mouth.

Book of Joel…•Eroding their lives and

sabotaging their success.•Wine vs. New wine is

alcohol vs. the Spirit of God.

Ephesians 5:18

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit”

Ephesians 5:18• Alcohol leads to many destructive

behaviors• Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker and beer

a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

• God wants us to be filled with the Spirit INSTEAD (Greek ἀλλὰ (alla) vs. de (de))

• “Debauchery” is unsaved or unchristian behavior. (from ἀσωτία (asōtía) “a” & sotia – salvation.)

God wanted them and wants you

to find your satisfaction in His Spirit

and not bottled spirits or illicit drugs

Joel 2:12-1312 “Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments;Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.

God Restores When Man Repents

• “Restore to you the years…” •God makes it so good, it

seems like it never was bad.• Joel 2:23-27.•Restoration of relationships,

business, possessions, positions (coming in 2 weeks)

Part Three: The work

of restoration

The Work of Restoration

•Repentance.•Faithfulness / Holiness.•Don’t Sabotage your success.

Joel 2:28-2928 “And it shall come to pass afterwardThat I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,Your old men shall dream dreams,Your young men shall see visions.29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

The restoration starts now!