May 14, 2021 CAC Living Water Devotional : Topic – AGENTS OF RESTORATION.
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CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE.
Friday, May 14, 2021
AGENTS OF RESTORATION.
Read Isaiah 45:1-6
MEMORISE: Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai (Haggai 1:3)
EXPOSITION
To restore something in a spiritual sense is to return it to the state God intended for it. God has strategicaly and provldentially arranged some people, things, or even events to be the one to return people to their original and intended place in life.
The major agent of restoration is God Himself through His son Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit. In the Garden of Eden, man lost his original place and position as an heir apparent to His estate but God through His unfailing love seek for ways to restore him (man) to Himself. This happened through Jesus Christ – Love in action. Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory” Through Jesus Christ, God redeemed and restored mankind to Himself (Jn 3:16). There is always a prepared vessel either in human agent or inanimate object to restore one to his original position. The Holy Spirit is our inner witness and He teaches us all things, convicts us of our wayward and crooked life style and empowers as to come back to God. One cannot have a good relationship with God if the Holy Spirit is not within us. He is the singular agent who brings us to right relationship with the Father and the Son, without Him, we would never be restored to salvation.
No wonder, the Psalmist cried out in Ps. 51:11 that God will not withdraw His spirit from him. The lsraelites were wayward in their dealings with their creator, benefactor, conqueror, rescuer and in fact their all-ln-all. God punished them severely as they forsook His ways and abandoned His work. He sent prophet Haggai (an agent) to correct and make them heed to His warnings (Hag. 1:2-11) God used Joshua and Zerubbabel as agents to facilitate the completion of the assignment given. He used King Cyrus (a gentile king) as an agent to announce the return and rebuilt of the temple. He was called God’s anointed because he was designed for this great service; it was that the Israel of God might be released, so as to rebuild the temple of God. He owned God’s goodness to him, and in consideration of that, released the captives.
You can become an agent of restoration regardless of your age or title. All you need is the Holy Spirit. Be God’s mouth piece by spreading the love of God made available through Jesus Christ to the sinners. Rescue the perishing in your place of work, school, office, even as you journey together in public transport, care for their souls, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave. God depends on you.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Father, here I am, use me for the purpose You created and saved me.
2. Father, restore as many as have fallen out of grace by Your saving power.
3. Restore Your Church, O Lord make Your face shine on us, that we may be saved – Ps. 80:19
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: 2 Samuel 19:1 – 20:21; John 1:27 – 1:48.