The Promise of God for Restoration!

The Promise of God for Restoration part 1 by LaKisha M. Johnson

Read Luke 15:11-32

The story of a prodigal son has been talked about again and again. People have identified with time son, but there is so much to this story. There is so much more in the relationship, the emphasis is easy to look at the son, because he left, he squandered this money, but there are significant roles as well with the father and with the other son that was just sitting and watching. We know that the younger son got his inheritance and took off, we don’t know if the father was supposed to get it to him, he may have been to young to receive that but we do know without a doubt that he took with it and went about it, we know he made a move that was reckless and cost him what “he thought” was everything.

Come out of that identity crisis. (1 Peter 2:9) The prodigal son had forgot who he was, he had forgot about home, about what he had going on, that he was heir to some property and some land, he had forgot exactly who he was, he began to associate himself with that of his surroundings. He was eating with the pigs, and at his house was a table, food and an entire opportunity to be who God called us to be. Sin or waywardness will do that for us, we forget who we are completely, it will distract us and we forget who we are. We walk in less than who we are, we receive a complete minds view that is that from the enemy, and if the enemy can have you in an identity crisis, he has you. You start acting like stuff around you that’s not you. I have seen it happen again, even in in my own life, when I am attached to the wrong thing, I begin to act like the thing I am attached to. But this is also two fold, perhaps you are the victim in all this perhaps, you really haven’t done anything wrong at all, and it seems like the enemy is just set out to destroy you, you still have identified with the wrong thing, you may have developed the mindset of that of the “victim”. Your speech lines up with too, saying things, “Like I ain’t gone never have nothing, satan is always attacking me, I can’t ever come up, that is the mentality of the victim”. And no matter what has come against you God didn’t create you to be a victim. 1 Peter 3:9 says, But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. God doesn’t desire for you to be anything “less” than what he created you to be, he isn’t interested in you experiencing anything less than what HE has for you, but you have to identify with that of the King, instead of that of the pauper.

2) Stop trying to resurrect dead things! (2 Corinthians 6:9-10) Let go of anything that’s not fruitful. Don’t hold on to anything that isn’t fruitful, past relationships, past situations, it doesn’t matter what, let go of everything that’s dead and won’t yield fruit. How to find out if it’s fruitful or not, is bury it and see if it will grow. Step away from it and see what happens. Give yourself 30 days away and see if that thing dies, or if it grows. We keep trying to resurrect dead things, or go back to those things that God has already delivered us from…. or hold on to the places and things that used to make us feel good, all associated with dead things!! God is saying I got better for you, what I am trying to restore unto you, is way bigger and better than what you are holding onto, I am trying to show you were your real inheritance is, where your real promises are, but I can’t because you still holding on to that dead thing, that dead sin, that dead relationship, that old job that appeared successful, so if we are going to receive and walk in restoration, we have to let go of that dead thing. 2 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. This is kingdom here on earth as well; being tied to these dead things will not allow you to receive the fullness of what God has for you here on earth. Let’s call a spade a spade, and a sinner a sinner, but let’s let go of dead things.

3) Keep your eyes off me. (Matthew 7:3) For some reason we have made ourselves spiritual police, we created an academy, some of us think we rank in that we are the chief of police. We are guardians for the kingdom. We are focused on making sure that you look right, that you act right, that you are doing right. We focus on your motives, your moves, where you go and who you are with. We pick your life a part, remind you of your sins, keep bringing you back to that time or place in your life, and you don’t even live or act like that anymore. I need you to keep your eyes off me and focus on you. The brother of the prodigal son was highly pissed off, because the Father restored his brother. He was so busy looking over his life, that he didn’t realize that he was slipping over into sin. He was so busy “working” that he forgot about the importance of the relationship. He got mad and upset at the fact that dad, would not only forgive the younger son, but he would also restore him better than what he was. That was not his business, as a matter of fact it was a set-up, instead of him focusing and getting pissed, and getting jealous and coveting he should have been rejoicing. He should have opened his brother back with open arms, why? Because you never know when you may become the younger brother. This is not about your works, this is not about how good you are, this is about your relationship with the FATHER! You could never work enough, be good enough, or church enough but what you can do is understand who and what you are to the father. Matthew 7:3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

Additional scriptures on protection: Jeremiah 30:17, Ruth 4:15, Psalms 51:12, Joel 2:5, Galatians 6:1, Isaiah 58:12

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that it is your desire to restore us, that you are concerned about that one lost sheep, that you are concerned with every areas of our lives. Please forgive us for any sin that we have committed against you or anyone else. Lord we ask that you would restore us, restore our broken places, restore our empty places, restore our desolate places. Fill us up with your presence and with your love. Lord we thank you for our

comeback, in Jesus Name. Amen

LaKisha M. Johnson is mom, author, motivational speaker, minister and teacher. She is the host of Coffee and Conversations on “facebook live” Monday-Friday at 5:00 am central standard time and Sundays at 7:00 am central standard time. She hosts a pajama party for women, “Pillow Talk” several times throughout the year, walking them through God inspired truths, while providing a place of vulnerability and transparency to talk. To find out more information on her log on to lakishamjohnson.com and follow her on social media @justbeinglmj