RESTITUTION

KINGDOM BUILDERS

“BUILDING THE KINGDOM THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD”

PIERCING THE VEIL

World Wide Restitution

Almost daily, folks are talking about having an old time revival. Revivals were good. In fact, they were really good. But, notice I used the past tense “were”. All the former days were awesome. We saw tremendous signs and wonders, healings, prophetic utterances, and most of all, many salvations. Not to make those days small at all, however, they are in the past. We do not need to visit there again. I see the church struggling to keep its membership, its relevancy, and its place on the map, but God has made a paradigmn shift. No longer is the word of God preached with the anointing. It has been replaced with all the flesh programs, entertainment, religious ceremony and liturgies, fine music, dance, flag waving, skits, and all manner of spine tingling emotionalism to stir the saints up like a good football game. The only problem is, church ain’t football. We don’t need cheerleaders, bands, expensive sound equipment, books, tapes, beautifully padded pews, or an ornate church. We need a move of God in our very being. Go to any church, big or small, and you will find one of the first things they will talk about is money and how much they need to pay for the preachers, the music, and the electricity for all the strobe lights. Money, money, money! That is the name of the game, and if you can be well entertained, and have a pseudo religious experience, they believe you will pay for all the “goings on”. Here is another problem. The saints may get their flesh charged and electrified, and they may feel different for a few days, but inwardly, they have not been changed, challenged, transformed, or more Christlike.

REVIVAL

A Revival (Michyah) by definition is an improvement in the condition or strength of something, a preservation of life, sustenance, a reviving, and the quickening of the flesh. It is also an improvement in the condition or strength of something, a recovery, rallying, upturn, upswing, resurgence, comeback, reestablishment, restoration, reappearance, resurrection, regeneration. Ezra 9:8 says,“And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.

So, a Revival strengthens the flesh and quickens it. And, for a little while, God gives us some Grace to enlighten us and he gives us a measure of revival in our bondage. Hmmm. Sounds like God must know what the partriarchs went through. Their religion had become synchronized and predictable. They knew exactly what was going to happen for the next hour after first meeting together in one place. They would have some announcements, a quick prayer, some worship music, 2 fast and 2 slow songs that most can’t sing to, a 30 minute sermon, an altar call, and dismissal. Is that about right? You don’t even need a program for that. You have it memorized. Everything has become rote. No wonder God can’t move. He has not been allotted any space or time on the calendar.

I once saw a video about the underground Church in China. What was impressive is that it had no order. If folks came to the meetings, it was because the Holy Spirit told them where and when it was. If they tried to publicize it, they would all be arrested by the communist government as soon as they arrived for it was illegal for them to meet. Nevertheless, when they came together, the spirit of God began to move immediately. Wave after wave of the Holy Spirit moved over the masses of people healing the sick, delivering the oppressed, and saving the lost. A man I called the pastor was not chosen by the group nor elected. Out of a worshipful heart, he would begin to sing about Jesus. He had no music nor a choir, but all the people would join in, young, old, male, female, rich and poor, lost and saved, and they would worship and adore the Lord with all their heart singing to the tops of their voices in thanksgiving and praise. When he preached, it was straight out of the Word with something very meaningful and pertinent to the people that were there. The only other place I have seen that was in Mexico where Mexicans and Indians would come together and adore their savior with a whole heart. There was no one that had to cheer them on or incite them to worship. And, as they worshipped, the Lord would move amongst them with mighty signs and wonders.

The reason I mentioned these moves of God in China and Mexico is that these folks showed up to meet God. In our churches today, folks show up to get their toes curled. I’m not demeaning the church, but if you see clearly that God is doing something different, and you continue to do the same old thing, it is kind of like singing the song of Moses when we need to be singing the song of the Lamb. Revivals are short lived, and don’t make lasting changes in folks.

REFORMATION

But, how about a Reformation? A Reformation - Gr. Diortosis) in a physical sense is a making straight, restoring to its natural and normal condition, something which in some way protrudes or has got out of line, as broken or misshapen limbs. Hebrews 9:8-10 says, “The Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.”

Once again, a Reformation is concerned with the physical much like the Revival. Whereas the Revival stirred the flesh up, a Reformation restores in the flesh something that is broken. A religious movement in the sixteenth century that began as an attempted reformation of the Roman Catholic Church but resulted in the founding of Protestant church yet separate from it. Some of the leaders of the Reformation were Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox. The Reformation was established in England after King Henry VIII declared himself head of the Christian Church in that country.

Miracle ministries that do healings is a good example of a Reformation. The body can be healed, but what about the inward man. Jesus went to the 10 lepers, and healed them all. They all left, but one came back to worship him. Jesus then uttered these words. Where are the other nine? The one that came back obviously had no clue, but he was thankful that he had gotten healed. To this Jesus replied, “Thy faith has made you whole.” Though I see several spiritual messages here, I want to address one. The leper that came back to worship the Lord after his healing was touched not only outwardly, but also inwardly because of worship of the Lord for the great gift he had received. Christ responded in kind by making him whole, spirit, soul, and body. Paul, the apostle also said, I would that you all remain whole, spirit, soul, and body unto the coming of Jesus. It is not enough to be restored or reformed physically, but God wants us to be whole in our entire triune being.

After the 16th century movement of the reform of the abuses in the Roman Catholic Church ended in the establishment of the Reformed and Protestant Churches, one of the major points of Reformation was “the just shall live by faith”. But, for the most part, they changed only one wine skin for another. Inwardly, they still embraced the liturgies and religious trappings of the very thing they so zealously fought to leave behind. It was still just religion.

A Reformation purports to clean house or to purge an organization of corruption and inefficiency, something frequently used of government agencies. This expression and its noun form “housecleaning” have been used figuratively since the early part of this century.

In Greek mythology, to cleanse the Augean stables means to wipe out a massive accumulation of corruption, to clean house, to perform any seemingly impossible, arduous, and extremely unpleasant task. According to classical mythology, Augeas, king of Elis, kept three thousand oxen in stables which had not been cleaned for thirty years. As one of the twelve labors for which he was to be granted immortality, Hercules was assigned the task of cleaning them in a single day. This he accomplished by diverting the river Alpheus through the stables. A variant of this expression appeared as early as 1599.

A reformation also means to clean up one’s act or to make one’s actions or outward behavior more presentable or acceptable to others, or to shape up. Although the exact origin of this recent American slang expression is unknown, it may derive from the theater. An entertainer is sometimes told to delete offensive or obscene material from his performance. Similar recent American slang expressions are to get one’s act together and the abbreviated “get it together“.

By analogy, a reformation means to turn over a new leaf, to change one’s ways for the better, to become a new and better person, to start fresh, to wipe the slate clean and begin anew. I will turn over a new leaf, and write to you. Literally, this phrase means to turn to a clean, fresh page in a book. Since an open book is often figuratively used to represent a person’s life, turning to a blank page in this book of life symbolizes the start of a new and better chapter in one’s personal history. Use of this expression dates from the 16th century.

So, we can see from the various uses of the word Reformation, that a cleansing must take place. In one case, the water of the Holy Spirit can sweep through it, in another one can turn over a new leaf as in a book. The old life is left behind and a new life begins with the first word of the next chapter. Churches would have altar calls to have the saints come rededicate their lives. They would have a temporary reformation alright, but there was no lasting change. The next time they had a meeting, they would go to the altar and do it all over again. A Reformation then is a continuation of the old life in a better way, but once again, it is not life changing.

GREAT AWAKENINGS

There were four Great Awakenings. An Awakening means, (Heb. Uwr) awake from sleep, arouse oneself, stir up. The idea of an "awakening" implies a slumber or passivity during secular or less religious times. Awakening is a term which originates from and is embraced often and primarily by evangelical Christians.

The term Great Awakening can refer to several periods of religious revival in American religious history. Historians and theologians identify three or four waves of increased religious enthusiasm occurring between the early 18th century and the late 19th century. Each of these "Great Awakenings" was characterized by widespread revivals led by evangelical Protestant ministers, a sharp increase of interest in religion, a profound sense of conviction and redemption on the part of those affected, an increase in evangelical church membership, and the formation of new religious movements and denominations.

The Awakenings all resulted from powerful preaching that gave listeners a sense of personal guilt and of their need of salvation by Christ. Pulling away from ritual and ceremony, the Great Awakening made religion intensely personal to the average person by fostering a deep sense of spiritual guilt and redemption, and by encouraging introspection and a commitment to a new standard of personal morality. It incited rancor and division between old traditionalists who insisted on the continuing importance of ritual and doctrine, and the new revivalists, who encouraged emotional involvement and personal commitment. Unlike the Second Great Awakening, which began about 1800 and reached out to the unchurched, the First Great Awakening focused on people who were already church members. It changed their rituals, their piety, and their self-awareness. (Wikepedia).

The Second Great Awakening was a religious revival that occurred in the United States beginning in the late eighteenth century and lasting until the middle of the nineteenth century. While it occurred in all parts of the United States, it was especially strong in the Northeast and the Midwest. This awakening was unique in that it moved beyond the educated elite of New England to those who were less wealthy and less educated. The center of revivalism was the so-called Burned-over district in western New York. Named for its overabundance of hellfire-and-damnation preaching, the region produced dozens of new denominations, communal societies, and reform. Closely related to the Second Great Awakening were other reform movements such as temperance, abolition, and women's rights. The temperance movement encouraged people to abstain from consuming alcoholic drinks in order to preserve family order.

The Third Great Awakening in the 1850’s–1900’s was characterized by new denominations, active missionary work, Chautauquas, and the Social Gospel approach to social issues. The Y.M.C.A. (founded in 1844) played a major role in fostering revivals in the cities in the 1858 Awakening and after. These new denominations simply provided a new door to enter for the already saved saints. They just changed religions, and still do.

The Fourth Great Awakening is a debated concept that has not received the acceptance of the first three. Advocates such as economist Robert Fogel say it happened in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Mainline Protestant denominations weakened sharply in both membership and influence while the most conservative religious denominations (such as the Southern Baptists and Missouri Synod Lutherans) grew rapidly in numbers, spread across the United States, had grave internal theological battles and schisms, and became politically powerful. (Wikepedia). But, is that what we really want in a church, to be politically powerful? Or, do we want a church that is a wellspring of life to all who enter with a great anointing changing lives for the sick and lost?

A Great Awakening is like one who is roused out of his slumber, but it is the same person becoming awakened to new realities of the day. They changed the outward appearance with a little success to the changing of the inner man.

RESTITUTION

Restitution is (Heb. Shalam) the restoration of something lost or stolen to its proper owner. It also means pay, peace, recompense, reward, render, restore, repay, perform, requite, restitution, amends, full, (Gr. apokatastasis) the restoration of a true theocracy, or of the perfect state before the fall. The great Apostle Luke wrote in Acts 3:11, Whom (Christ) the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. So, what was that state before the fall? Adam and Eve lived a Utopic life. They had been given the supreme authority on planet Earth. The winds and the seas obeyed them, the animals obeyed them, and all of mankind was subject to the supreme authority of God himself. There was no forced labor there. The garden was there to tend and to eat thereof. They lived in harmony with all of God’s creatures. There was no war, no death, no crying, and no tears. There was no sickness, no disease, no maladies, and no outbreaks of health epidemics. The whole world was at peace. They required no police, no law, no local or regional or national governments. Every man lived safely under his own fig tree, and they all did what was right according to the righteousness of God in their own heart. Not one crossed or overstepped their brother or their neighbor. The whole world was at peace. But, suddenly sin enters, and the whole world changes. Men’s hearts are set in themselves to do evil all the days of their lives. A law is given to control the passions of men. It is weak because of sin in the flesh, and it fails.

Enter Jesus. He lives perfect under the law, went to the cross, redeems us from the curse of the law, and grants us total Restitution in all things. It pleased God to give us the Kingdom. Restitution has been made, but it has not been appropriated. Why? Because the church is still playing religion rather than taking dominion in the earth. With all of its activities, liturgies, foot washings, communions, tithe takings, programs, sideshows, religious proclivites, observance of holy days, and reverence of old religions now dead, the church has rendered itself sterile. They look for revivals, but they only last a few days. They look for reformation, but the changes are temporal, they look for awakenings, but the people go right back to sleep. Nothing is changed in the inner man.

Two thousand years ago, Christ came preaching the Kingdom of God is at hand. The message was changed to the Gospel, the Gospel of Christ, the Gospel of Jesus, the Gospel of the Church, the Gospel of Grace. Though these are similar, they are not the same. Basically, each and every one purport to win souls which is good. But, the church is now full of 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 year old babies still nursing on milk. It is time to eat meat. We must leave the elementary principles of the doctrines of Christ and go on to perfection. And, what are these? Repentance from dead works, faith toward God, the doctrine of baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgments. And this will we do, if God permit. (Hebrews 6:1-3). And, these and more like them are preached every Sunday. Now, the question remains, where do we go and what do we do? Why, that answer is simple. The Gospel of the Kingdom must be preached as in the beginning. The Gospel of the Everlasting Kingdom was the first thing on God’s agenda, and it is the last thing to usher in the Kingdom throughout the entire earth. It can’t happen with revivals, reformations, or awakenings. It must happen with RESTITUTION. The religion of the Jews, and the religion of our forefathers of Christianity, though good for a season is now no longer relevant. Knowing this, churches still strive to incorporate the law, feast days, and look to Jerusalem for the appearance of the Lord. The Gospel of the Kingdom brings restitution into every mountain of society, and every facet of life. The family, education, finances, government, religion, the arts and media are going to have to go through the fire. The mountain of the Lord will come down upon all these mountains and subdue them. The mountain of the Lord is a Stone Kingdom that cannot be moved or shaken. We are given the awesome task of subduing every mountain and taking dominion over them in the spirit and the power of the Lord. The baby Christians that have been drinking milk for 2,000 years now must rise up and eat meat. We must take on the adult responsibility of “life” changing.

So, how does this Kingdom look? It doesn’t take one long to realize every nook and cranny must be cleaned out and replaced with righteousness. With a 60 % divorce rate, we can see clearly that the family is under attack. In education in America, the National Education Association has adopted the Humanist Manifesto 1, 2, and 3 as their founding documents. The first premise is “There is no God”. Can you see we need to change? There is much greed in the financial world. There is much corruption in government. Religion is not the center of all the mountains, rather Christ is. Religious ceremonies must be replaced with a relationship with God. The arts and media have become perverse, and tell lies. It is time for change. Restitution. Thing must be put back into its original condition.

Give me an example of RESTITUTION you say. Ok! My father in law stayed angry with me for 20 years because I eloped with his prized daughter. I didn’t ask his permission or get his blessing. And, truthfully at that time, he probably would not have consented. One evening after 20 years, he visits with my mother in law. The Lord said, settle this now. I said to him, I need to talk to you. It had such a tone that the ladies left the room having no clue what was about to transpire. I then told him that I repent and was very sorry for running off with his daughter 20 years ago. No buts. Huge tears began to well up in him. I didn’t know, he said. I thought you were wrong for her and that it would not last, but yours has lasted and others haven’t. I said, it was only because of Jesus that changed me and saved my marriage. We hugged and he became more like a daddy for the rest of his years. There was no more animosity. You see, unforgiveness in the family can last for 20 years and longer. It must be dealt with. Restitution must be made. And, it was.

More recently, the good ole’ US of A has had a presidential election. The President going out was weak and ineffective. He was a Muslim and a socialist. Our new president brings in the promise of a new era of righteousness. He is not a pastor or a Sunday school teacher, and may not be sanctified in folks’ eyes, nor does he need to be. His plans to correct the wrongs of the last eight years are right. Government has a new leader. He subdued a political mountain that few could even think to attempt or have success. His detractors were many, but he has vowed to “drain the swamp”. Or, to put it more clearly, bring restitution to America. His promise to restore our values to those of our founding fathers was embraced by the multitudes. Time will now tell if what he promised becomes reality. This mountain may not be the final look of government that the Lord has in mind, but it is a start and a far cry from the last administration. A fresh wind of the Spirit is sweeping already across this nation because of this election.

For the New Year, many have new resolutions they want to make. They want to lose weight, get a new job, work out, do better, quit smoking, quit drinking, go to church more, study the bible more, and on and on and on. How about this year, you make a vow to make restitution in all your relationships and family, restitution in church by bringing in the anointing and a new relationship with Christ, restitution in your local government by offering solutions to problems instead of criticism, restitution in your finances by getting your own debt in control and living within your means, restitution in your children’s school by getting involved in his or her life and school activities, restitution in the arts by offering godly creations instead of perversion, and restitution in the media by finding the truth in journalism and not spreading false statements.

And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:20,21). It’s not about revivals, it’s not about reformations, and it’s not about awakenings. They are all well and good, but our focus should be on what his focus is: THE RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS.

I think you will find a whole new Earth realm as you right the wrongs as far as possible within you, and make all things new as in the beginning according to the power that works within you. I certainly believe there is a Utopic society on the horizon. There are now over 2 billion Christians in a world of over 7 billion inhabitants. Jesus started with 12 disciples. A New World Order is on the horizon. It is called the Kingdom of God. And the Kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. Hallelujah! Can you see it?

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Phillip S. Smith III

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