THE SECRET OF COMPLETE RESTORATION: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 15TH JULY 2018

MEMORISE:

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11

READ:     Luke 17:11-19

11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

MESSAGE

Restoration is the process of returning something or someone back to a state that had previously existed, through the power of God and through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. Restoration is said to be complete when the subject of restoration is returned to a pristine state, such as the healing of a wound without leaving a physical scar.

Many children of God may think that faith or prayer is the secret of complete restoration, but based on God’s word, this may not be entirely correct. There is no doubt that faith, prayers and others factors may lead to restoration; however, thanksgiving is the secret of complete restoration.

Sharing your testimony of what God has done for you and witnessing about Jesus Christ are powerful ways to appreciate God and give Him thanks.

The power of thanksgiving to bring about complete restoration is evident in the story of the ten lepers in our Bible text today. When one of the lepers noticed that he was healed, he returned to Jesus, glorifying God with a loud voice in the presence of everyone around.

In appreciation, he offered Jesus the highest worship y falling down on his face before Jesus’ feet, thanking Him for doing something wonderful in his life. Note that when lepers are healed, leprosy immediately stops its destructive work on the body, but those body parts already affected continue to bear the scars of the damage already done by this destructive disease.

However, for this grateful man, what followed in Luke 17:19 was complete restoration. This means that the damaged skin, fingers and toes of this leper were restored to their pristine state, so that it would be impossible to identify him as a former leper. I pray that God will grant you complete restoration that will return everything concerning your life and destiny to their original state in Jesus’ Name.

Testifying to God’s goodness involves telling others of what God has done and bearing witness to His might acts, both in your life and in the Bible. We are encouraged to give testimonies as a way of bringing glory to God, perfecting our victory over the devil, receiving complete restoration and building up the faith of others.

The power and benefits of testimonies cannot be overemphasized. It was after Nebuchadnezzar blessed the most high God, praised Him as the God who lives forever and testified about His mighty acts that his sanity and kingdom were completely restored to him (Daniel 4:34-36).

As you testify t God’s goodness today, you also will experience complete restoration in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please give me a grateful heart and a testifying mouth in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicle 26-28

Acts 28:11-31

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 1: NOW THANK WE OUR GOD

1. Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

2. Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And guard us through all ills in this world, till the next!

3. All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son, and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven—
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.