Matthew 16:13-19 – “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”  14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”  15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.  19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  NKJV

I realize that some might disagree that there is a need for Restoration today but I believe that is biblically verifiable and applicable for today’s Church.  But, what is Restoration?  To “restore” is to bring back to the original condition. 

I fully believe that God is moving on hearts today to bring us back to and into the condition and function He purposed in the beginning and is required for the Last Days Harvest.  I believe God is moving to bring us back to our “biblical roots”.  He is not bringing us back to some point or place in man’s tradition, structure, or governmental form but is bringing us back to HIM and Fullness in Him. 

I fear that we have, at times, attempted to take the New Wine of God and put it in Old Wineskins of tradition.  There comes a time when an overhaul is no longer acceptable and replacement is required.  Sadly, we keep trying to remodel the church rather than returning to His order, structure, function, and purpose.

Challenging traditions is a difficult and often dangerous endeavor.  We can and sometimes do the same as the Pharisees and make commandments of God out of doctrines of men and that is not what God desires.  One question I have asked and been asked is, “How far are you willing to go to follow the cloud spiritually?”  If we are going to be what God has intended us to be as the Church ACTION IS REQUIRED!  Throughout history, we can understand that much was lost and is being restored.  Let’s back up and walk forward a bit and see if we can see this as reality.

The church lost the truth of Justification by Faith and God used Martin Luther to restore it to the Church.  The truth of Sanctification was lost and God used Wesley to bring it back.  The infilling of the Holy Spirit was lost and God used the men like W.J. Seymour to bring it back.  Davidic Worship and Praise was lost and God used the Charismatic movement to bring it back.  Those are only a few examples of some things that God has and is bringing back to the Church.  But the bottom line is we must return to being a people who “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.”  God is moving to bring to fullness the ministry and purpose of Jesus to the Church of today.  [Note:  Isaiah 61; Mark 16; John 14:12; Ephesians 4].

At some point, each of us has to determine which is more important, our traditions, place, rights, or perceived rights or God being manifested in fullness.  When we have truly and fully died to self the only thing that matters is God, His will, and purpose in our lives and world.  I am convinced as we see the Church become more aligned to the biblical pattern and purpose we will see a greater and greater release of ministries and functions than we have in the past.  God is moving in today’s world and His purpose is that each of us is available and involved in His Harvest.

God bless you as you take another step in your journey!