The Principles Of Restoration (1 Samuel 30:8) by Apostle Joshua Selman: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The Four Levels of Restoration

There are four levels of restoration found in Scripture:

1. Restoration of time or years — "I will restore to you the years"
2. Restoration of things — "Alas, master, for it was borrowed" — and the ax head was returned
3. Restoration of opportunities — by this time tomorrow, Samaria would experience an opportunity never known before
4. Restoration of people — God restored Job back to his former status

Key Scriptures on Restoration

1 Samuel 30:8 — And David inquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

Without fail — recover all.

2 Kings 8:1–6 — Elisha said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, Arise and go, thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst, for the Lord hath called for a famine, and it shall come upon the land seven years. The woman arose and did according to the saying of the man of God. At the seven years' end she returned and went to cry unto the king for her house and for her land. And the king appointed her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day she left the land, even until now.

Amos 9:14 — And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards and drink the wine thereof; and they shall also make gardens and eat the fruit of them.

The Foundation: Outcomes Are Knowledge-Dependent

Every spiritual outcome captured as a benefit in this Kingdom has a body of spiritual truth that controls the result. Every outcome in the Kingdom is knowledge-dependent.

• Knowledge — a constructive coalation of truth; useful information
• Understanding — a comprehension of those truths and their working dynamics
• Wisdom — a strategic application of those truths so that they deliver profit

Wisdom is knowledge-dependent. You cannot have wisdom until you first have knowledge.

The Bible says the things that are written are for our learning — as stories, as parables, as events — within which are mysteries. This is the assignment of Revelation: to draw truth out of stories, to draw truth out of mysteries.

The Keys to Restoration

Key #1 — The Power of Self-Examination

Self-examination is the first key that controls restoration. You will never experience restoration until you take the time to ponder carefully: where did I miss this?

Luke 15:17–20 — And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father.

The Bible never said the Holy Ghost spoke to him. The Bible never said an advisor came. Men can come to themselves. That is the power of self-examination.

Proverbs 18:1 — Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

There are many people who cannot receive restoration because they have not taken the time to sit down and honestly assess, critique, and appraise their life and their current conditions. The factors responsible for loss include:

• Lack of discernment
• Carelessness and negligence
• Trusting people too quickly

2 Corinthians 13:5 — Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.

Key #2 — Brokenness

Brokenness is the second key that controls restoration. When a person is in trouble and still walks in pride, they remain there. God's mercy is lavish — but it is never wasted. The mercy of God only comes toward a life that is broken and contrite.

Psalm 51:17 — The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Brokenness demands taking responsibility. You must see how you contributed to your trouble. As long as you keep pointing fingers — blaming a boss, a spouse, a nation, a family member — you will not access the mercy of God. Your belief system is your contribution to your failure or your success.

The prodigal son said to himself, "I will arise and go to my father — not as a son, but as a servant." In that state of brokenness, when he met the father, the father never asked where he had been. The brokenness was already enough.

There were two thieves on the cross. One bragged and spoke foolishly. The other was broken and said, "We are here for something we did wrong — this man was innocent." Even while Jesus was in pain, he turned to the broken one and said:

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Apostle Joshua Selman

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"Today you will be with me in Paradise."

God will never turn away from a broken person. There is a place God meets men — the mercy seat — and it is the place of brokenness.

Lord, I come before you broken. I confess that prayerlessness was part of the reason demons had access to attack me. I confess that I was careless. I confess that I entered relationships that misled me and I broke the hedge. I take responsibility. I do not give excuses. I open my heart to you now.

This is a prophetic word for someone: all that God is waiting for is brokenness. Return, get on your knees, and he will meet you there.

One secret that brings longevity of impact in life and ministry: remain broken. If God still has plan B options in your life, he will be patient and allow you to exhaust them. The earlier you are broken, the quicker your miracle.

Key #3 — Contend for Higher Levels of Knowledge

The third key is the commitment to contend for a higher level of knowledge. Losses are sometimes letters from your future, saying: I am here — but this version of you cannot reach me. When a current level of knowledge has been exhausted, it cannot take you further. You will need a higher level to continue.

Proverbs 11:9 (latter part) — Through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

It does not say through assumption. It says through knowledge.

1 Corinthians 8:2 — And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

There is a standard of knowledge that connects to every dimension of results. You cannot have a thousand naira worth of knowledge and expect a million naira worth of results.

The currencies used to buy the truth:

1. Hunger — desire is a currency that purchases truth
2. Humility and meekness — receive with meekness the engrafted word
3. Patience — you cannot want truth on your own terms; adaptation is proof of honor

Buy the truth and sell it not.

Three areas where believers are most in need of higher knowledge:

• Finances — most believers are struggling here; a balanced understanding of kingdom economics is essential

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• Health — the body God has given you is the only one you receive per lifetime; if you allow it to deteriorate, the enemy will exploit it with mysterious ailments
• Establishing victory over demonic forces — any believer who does not address this will live a defeated life

Knowing what your problem is, is half the problem solved. You cannot solve a problem you have not diagnosed.

If there is any pattern in your life that is inconsistent with the promises of God — I declare that it comes to an end now, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Key #4 — Pray the Prayers of Restoration

The fourth key is to pray the prayers of restoration. It is not enough to pray generally — you must pray the prayer of restoration specifically.

Psalm 34:17 — The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Blind Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing and said, "Thou son of David, have mercy on me." When the people told him to be quiet, he shouted the more. And Jesus stood still and said, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? He said:

"That I may receive my sight."

Job 42:10 — After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.

God restored Job. The season is not over. God is able to arise and take away shame, take away reproach.

Father, restore. I name the areas of my life that need restoration. Restore my finances. Restore lost opportunities. Restore relationships. Restore the grace to fast, to study, to pray. Everything that was lost — restore. Everything that was stolen — restore.

Everything that was lost shall be returned unto you. Everything that was stolen shall be restored unto you, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Key #5 — Engage the Prophetic

The fifth and final key is engaging the prophetic.

Isaiah 42:22 — But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses; they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

When you are in a prison, you are sometimes not the one who can say "restore." It takes someone outside the prison to advocate your restoration. The person who brought Joseph out of prison was not in prison. A deliverer is only a deliverer when they are delivered.

Ezra 6:14 — And they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel.

God gave the command — and yet nothing happened. But the day the two prophets showed up, the building was completed. They prospered through the prophesying.

When a prophetic word is released — if that word is inspired of God — the Spirit of wisdom moves across the defined territory and begins to source for human vessels who must partner with that word. It happens through events that appear coincidental, but there is divine intelligence at work.

• The prophet said "by this time tomorrow" — and God used lepers no one expected
• God came to Mary with a prophetic word — and she received it with childlike faith: "Be it unto me according to thy word"
• A prophetic word, like rain, keeps going around — whoever brings a bucket can receive it

Despise not prophesying.

Nehemiah 5:11 — Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, and also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

By the power of the Holy Ghost, I challenge every force of darkness, every orchestration of disfavor. Restore my children. Restore the joy of salvation. Restore my influence. Restore my finances. Restore this day all that has been withheld.

Closing Prophetic Declaration

Ezekiel 37:7 — So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking.

In John 11, Martha said to Jesus, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died — but even now, I know that whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." God does not wait for seasons. When he comes, he defines the season.

Samson gave himself cheaply and lost his consecration. But while the enemy was distracted in pride, his hair was growing. He stood at the pillar and said, "God, I am broken — I know I wasted my opportunity. But this one time…" And he pushed. What was accomplished in that one push was worth years of destiny.