Joel 1:3-4
Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten, and that which the locust had left had the cankerworm eaten: and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten.
Does life ever seem to continue to take from you? Just when you think you have something left, whether it is in the area of finances, peace, hope, joy, faith, or friends, a situation, circumstance, or event comes along and begins to eat at what you have left. Just when you think, "Ok I survived that, and I've got just a little left, but if one more thing happens..that's gonna be it." And then another thing happens, and another, and you wonder if there is anything of worth left. Well God has an answer...yes there is something of value left!
In 2010 let's stop looking at what 2009 has taken away from us, and let's start looking at what we have left. What you have left is sufficient for God to move you from promise to purpose!
We are going to look at seven words that God gave me that are critical to possessing the promise.
Notice the pre-fix ( beginning) of each word!
REMAIN: to stay (verb).
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which
remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thy hast received and heard, and hold fast, and
repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Revelation 3:2-3.
Being watchful signifies an alertness to danger, and one's surroundings. It also suggests an investigative nature. What remains in your life? What is the one constant? What is left that is dying? Notice he says that there are things that are ready to die...but they are not they are not dead yet! What is God saying? Simple. If we remain (stay) where we are planted, and are watchful, and taking care to strengthen, and build up - nourish the things (gifts, talents) that are ready to die, and don't forget to repent for our imperfect works, there is hope for what remains.
REMNANT: something left over (noun).
Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small
remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. Isaiah 1:9
And I will gather the
remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their fold; and they shall be fruitful and increase. Jeremiah 23:3.
Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a
remnant shall be saved. Romans 9:27.
The leftovers! We have all eaten leftovers at one point or another. Many times the leftovers are better than the original meal. Consider that the seasonings had more time to ingratiate themselves into the final product, and therefore the flavor has matured. Isn't that what we do with wine, cheese, etc. allow them to mature and age? That is also what God does with our "leftovers". There is a blessing in the leftover. The widow had only had enough meal to make one cake, the woman who only had the cruise of oil, the 12 baskets that were 'left over" after feeding the 5,000 men (not to mention women and children). What leftovers do you have in your house? Perhaps you're looking for something from the outside to bless you, but your blessing and increase is not from without, but from within. God uses the leftovers to bless and increase us.
RETURN: noun 1)to go to a place and come back from it ), 2)the income from an investment, 3)a response, in kind (verb),4) to give or put something back, 5)to go back to the same place, 6)to reply.
And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then she shall say, I will go and
return to my first husband; for then it was better with me than now. Hosea 2:7.
Our Father has always promised that he would never leave or forsake us. Yet many times we leave and forsake him. How? By following after other lovers. Pursuing our selfish wants and desires, trying to 'fix' everything, rather than submitting our will to his. What are you seeking, while putting the will of God on the back burner? Are the things that you are pursuing in line with God's plan for your life? Are you on your own agenda or his? Thankfully his call is that we return. in other words --repent -which simply means to turn. We can all use a turn from doing things our way and return to doing things God's way. After all, his way is best.
REVIVE: to bring back to life or to regain strength (verb).
Wilt thou not
revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Psalms 85:6
The things that are ready to die can be revived! They can be brought back to life! The same God that caused Jeremiah to prophesy to the dry bones in the valley, is yet speaking and prophesying to the things in your life that are ready to die, and he is saying; "LIVE"! The things that remain can be raised up to the predestined greatness they were created to be, if you like Jeremiah would hear the word of the Lord, and begin to prophesy (which means to say what God is saying..call those things that be not as though they were...)to what remains.
RENEW: (verb) 1) to bring up to date, 2) to start again.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and
renew a right spirit within me. Psalms 51:10.
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is
renewed like the eagle's. Psalms 103:5
How many times have you wished you could turn back the hands of time? Or if you could go back in time with the wisdom and knowledge that you have now, how much more would you have accomplished for the kingdom? Or if you're like me, each new year and approaching birthday is a time of reflection and refocus, when I look at where I have progressed and ascertain how much further I have to go and do.
Thankfully God has a plan to bring us up to date. Regardless of our past mistakes and failures, and the instructions we neglected to follow, God has a way to accomplish his good will in us, by giving us the zeal to begin again.
RESTORE: verb 1) to revive, 2) to bring back to a former condition, to reinstate, 3) to give back, to return.
And I will
restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, and my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealth wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. Joel 2: 25-26
There's a song that says everything that the devil stole I want it back...I don't! Devil you can have it! He only took what God allowed and it is working out for my good! I don't want it back...I want a double portion, a Joseph blessing, a Job return on my investment. How about you? Restore also suggest re-stocking as one would a store, and the shelves in it, or re-filling a container. What I do want is a restoration (restock, refill) of joy, peace, hope, anointing...but double for my trouble! Actually, I'll take more than double---there are no limits on God's return and restoration policy ( ok..I'm a little greedy..but HE promises to satisfy the hungry soul...).
REWARD: noun 1) something given to praise good work, kindness or bravery, (verb) 2) to give a prize in appreciation of good work.
Moreover by them (the law, fear of the Lord, statues of the Lord) is thy servant warned, and in keeping of them there is great
reward. Psalms 19:11.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6.
There is a reward! God is the one who rewards! I don't know about you, but that gives me comfort. There is a reward for keeping his statues and law and walking in the fear of the Lord - no matter what others around us are doing, and God gives good gifts to his children, if they diligently, and consistently seek him. I like getting gifts, especially when its purchased with me in mind (takes into consideration my likes, and desires). However, God wants us to seek HIM, and not the gift/s. That means, seek his FACE, and not his Hands. Remember, you can easily get what he has in his hands if you're always in his face!
To wrap-up:
The pre-fix RE- means to do over, God specializes in the Do-over!
Examine what remains, don't be discouraged by the remnant, return to your first works, then He will revive, renew ,and restore you to your rightful place, and you will walk in your reward!
Thank God for the Do-Over, and Walk it out Sisters!
