The Joy of Restoration - Part 2 of 2

The Baptist Bible Hour now comes to you under the direction of Elder Lacerre Bradley Jr. O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise! The glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace!

This is Lacerre Bradley Jr. inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace. My span of life wills to be done, the passing moments say, As lengthy shadows o'er the week proclaim the close of day. O that my heart might dwell aloof from the created things, And learn that wisdom from above lends true contentment dreams. Courage my soul, the bitter cross in every trial here, Shall point thee to thy hand above, but shall not enter there. The sighing ones that humbly seek, in sorrowing paths below, Shall in eternity rejoice wherein miscomforts flow. At first I drew this vital breath from nature's prison free, Crosses in numbered measure weight were written, Lord, for me. But thou, my shepherd, friend and guide, hast led me, guide me on, Taught me to rest my fainting head on Christ the Cornerstone. So comforted and so sustained with dark events I stole, And found them rightly understood, all messengers of love. With silent hands of merciful, adored of chastening God, Within the terrors of His law and the meek is of God. I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, we'll certainly be thankful for that.

Our address is Baptist Bible Hour, Box 17037, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217. I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, and if you can help us with the expense of the program to keep it on the air, I hope you'll take time to write to us this week and let us know that you've listened, whether it's just one of those difficult trials that we're having trouble coping with, or if it's sin itself, that we have to come understanding that God is pleased to look upon a broken spirit and a contrite heart. As William Cooper so beautifully expressed the struggle we have when we feel to be apart from the Lord, the hymn goes on to say when it speaks of a desire for restoration, return, O dove, return, sweet messenger of rest. I hate the sins that made me mourn and drove thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known, whate'er that idol be, help me to tear it from thy throne and worship only thee. So shall my walk be close with God, calm and serene my frame, so pure light shall mark the road that leads me to the Lamb. So then we come to consider the joy of restoration, the blessings in that day of the prophet are described in Joel chapter two, verse 18. Then will the Lord be jealous for his land and pity his people. That's a wonderful thing, even though judgment had come upon them because of their sin, but now because the Lord pities his people, it's going to be another day. Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, behold, I will send you corn and wine and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith, and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen.

You've been devastated, your crops are destroyed, but I'm going to send you corn and wine and oil and you'll be satisfied therewith. Isn't it good to know that when the Lord restores us from a time of deep darkness and trouble that we are then satisfied. So many today find little satisfaction in life because they're looking for it in the wrong places, but there is satisfaction with him. Now there are a number of references in this prophecy that are looking forward to the time of the Messiah and possibly even to a future date beyond it. And Jesus Christ, the Messiah came, he certainly brought satisfaction to those that came to believe on him. Then verse 21, Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice, for the Lord will do great things.

That's good news, isn't it? When there has been trouble, when there has been an attack by these vicious insects, but now the Lord will do great things. Be not afraid, ye beast of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness do spring. For the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine, do yield their strength.

Here's just a complete turnaround from what's described in the first part of the book. Verse 23, Be glad then, ye children of Zion. I remember we read earlier that their joy was withered.

There was no joy. But now he says, Be glad. Rejoice in the Lord, your God, for he hath given you the former rain moderately and he will cause to come down for you the former rain and the latter rain in the first month. You're going to get the rain necessary to have a harvest, to have a successful crop. And the floors shall be full of wheat and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

And then the words of our text in verse 25. And I will restore to you the years that the locusts have eaten, the canker worm and the caterpillar and the parlor worm, my great army, which I set upon you. I'm going to restore to you what you lost. Certainly not to bring back the years, but restore what you lost in those years where you have been devastated.

I am now going to supply what you need. And then we see the same joy on the part of David as he acknowledges sin, praying for restoration. It then said in Psalm 51 13, Then when I teach transgressors thy ways and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Not only is he desiring restoration, but he desires to be restored that he might serve God. So because of my testimony, because of what I'm going to say about your goodness, grace and mercy, there will be sinners converted unto thee. I've often been encouraged when I was counseling somebody who had been struggling with a great problem.

And I knew they were making progress. And it got to the point that they would say, Do you think that once I really got my feet on the ground and God, I believe he's already working. But when he's brought me to a stronger place, do you think I'll be able to help other people who might struggle with the same problem?

I said, I certainly believe you can. And so part of our desire should be when we've gone through dark and difficult times that when we come into the light and our joy is restored that we can minister to others, comfort others with the same comfort wherewith we ourselves have been comforted of God. Said in verse 15, O Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

So that's another thing. When God delivers us, when God restores our joy, be sure our mouth is open and we're praising him and acknowledging his goodness and greatness, telling others about his love and mercy. And then the deliverance of one sinking in the wire. Psalm 40, verse one, I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of a horrible pit.

We read about the psalmist who was in the pit, sinking in deep mire. But here he says, he brought me out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings. And he has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. Many shall see it and fear and trust in the Lord.

So here's the desired end. Being delivered, I'm going to praise his name. He's put a new song in my mouth, praise unto our God, and many will see it. They will observe what God has done. They'll hear my song of praise and gratitude and they shall fear and trust in the Lord.

Indeed, that is restoration. Think about the restoration of Job. Job lost everything that he had. Looked very dark and bleak. His wife said, why don't you give up, curse God and die?

It's all over. Job had his dark days, his unanswered questions. But ultimately, in Job 42, 10, it says, and the Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends. Also, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. I'm not saying that God is going to always do that, that every time there's a loss, God's going to give you twice as much at some future date.

But he did it for Job. Job had lost everything, but God gave him twice as much as before. Oh, the joy of restoration. And then we think about the restorations brought about by Jesus. He read in the temple one day from Luke, Luke Chapter 4, 18. He was reading from the book of Isaiah and the passage says, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because it anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and the recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. All of this talks about restoration, restoring the prisoner, restoring the brokenhearted. So that the first and primary meaning would be one that is brokenhearted with a sense of sin. One who might have been hardhearted, but as the gospel has been preached, the Holy Spirit has applied it. And that self-righteous individual has come to see I am a great sinner and I need a great savior. His heart is broken.

His contract. He came to bind up broken hearts. Not only that, but hearts that are broken because of the calamities of life. And one feels like I can never be restored.

I can never have joy again. He binds up broken hearts. God is called the God of all comfort.

And certainly Jesus comforted many while he was here on the earth. A man approached Jesus and said my son is possessed of an evil spirit. It throws him down. It tosses him in the fire.

I need help. And Jesus restored him. And that young man who had suffered much from an evil spirit was restored to a normal life. Jesus met with a man of an unclean spirit that was dwelling among the tombs.

They had tried to bind him without success. And Jesus cast out the evil spirit and restored him. Jesus the great restorer.

Mark chapter 5 verse 15 says, And they came to Jesus and see him that was possessed with the devil and had the legion, that is a legion of evil spirits. They saw him sitting and clothed and in his right mind. That's what happens when the Lord restores somebody. Restores them to their right mind. And they were afraid.

Isn't that strange? When they saw all this work of restoration, this miracle of grace, they were afraid. Well, how good it is to know that while we can't literally call back the years of the past and change things that we might like to change, that things that have been lost and scenes that seem hopeless can be rectified because he is the great restorer. I will restore to you the years that the locusts have eaten.

The cankerworm, the caterpillar, the pomberworm, my great army, which I sent among you. If you today have a broken heart, an aching spirit, feeling like joy is lost, things have changed so much different. How can I ever have real joy again? Turn to our God who is able to restore and give you the peace and joy and fellowship with him that you so much desire. Our most gracious Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the truths of Thy word. And as we read these words recorded by the Prophet so many years ago, that you were promising to restore what had been lost by your chosen people during a time of devastation, we know that you are still able to bring about restoration. You can restore broken hearts.

You can restore broken marriages. You can restore that sinner who is troubled even to the depth as was David. Oh, how we pray Thy blessings upon all today who may struggle, and may they find their strength and their hope in Jesus Christ, the great restorer. We pray in His name.

Amen. In the ridded rock I'm resting, safely sheltered I abide. There now falls, your songs will bless me, while within the cleft I hide. Now I'm resting, sweetly resting, in the cleft of His name for me.

Jesus, blessed mark of ages, I will hide myself in Thee. Well, I'm glad that you've been with us today and hope the message has been a help to you as we read the biblical descriptions of the day of trouble, and then to go on and talk about the need of seeking God, and finally we've concluded with the joy of restoration. If you'd like to get a copy of this message on CD, you can request it when writing us. I encourage you to go to our website at baptistbiblehour.org.

There are articles and other information there that I trust will be helpful to you, and if you'd like, you can make a donation there at the website. And until this same time, next week may the Lord richly bless you all. I will hide myself in Thee. The Baptist Bible Hour has come to you under the direction of Elder Lissaire Bradley, Jr. Address all mail to The Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217. That's The Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217. In the rift they rock behind me Till the storm of life is past All secure in this blessed wreckage In naught the fiercest blast Now I'm resting, sweetly resting In the path once made for me Jesus, blessed rock of ages I will hide myself in Thee