To better understand the real meaning of the term RESTORATION, it is necessary to have an understanding of what it means to restore.
When we analyze the word restoration we have the following definitions:
- Set of activities aimed at restoring damage resulting from time in a real estate or personal property.
- Action or effect of restoring; restoration.
- Action of recovering and/or repairing; repair or recovery.
- The work that, carried out in a work of art or construction, causes its deteriorated parts to be restored.
- Action of restoring or instituting again a political regime or a historical situation that has already occurred.
- Action of making something return to its previous state; reconstruction.
In order for a restoration to be done, it is necessary to know the original work. For example, if we are to restore an old painting, we must know what it looked like, its details, to make it return to its original form. Now, bringing this to the Church, and to the times of restoration we live in today, we need to be aware of our responsibility, and in order to be part of this work, this move of God, in order to achieve the objectives, it is important to know the original work, that is, how the PRIMITIVE CHURCH lived, what were the doctrines preached by it, what was the basis of its growth, in short to know a little of the history of the Church.
Although, when we speak of restoration we focus on the doctrinal field, restoration goes beyond, because the mark of the Church is also in power, in love, in anointing, in authority, in prayer, in unity, etc.
We will see some details of this Work described in Acts 2:42 to 47:
- They persevered in the doctrine of the apostles
- They persevered in fellowship
- They persevered in breaking of bread
- They persevered in prayers
- In all souls there was fear
- Many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
- They praised God, and fell in the grace of all people.
- And every day the Lord added to the church those who were to be saved.
When we analyze the history of the Church, we see that over time this Work suffered many deteriorations, because after the period of persecution, which made the Church grow and spread, after the death of the apostles, we had a malicious tactic that made the Church wither. The malicious action was in the sense of making an agreement with the Church, and saying he was a friend of the Church infiltrated heresies and made the original message be set aside. Having begun with some things that seemed insignificant, such as the bishop (a term from Latin that is used for the function of pastor in Portuguese) being called pope in the year 304 A.D. It seemed like just a matter of title, but which opened loopholes for malicious action. And after that we can see so many changes, where the doctrines preached and lived by the apostles and prophets were being abandoned, and heresies infiltrated.
In this time, the Lord Jesus has raised up a people to live the restoration of the Church, and satan has used the same tactic to try to prevent it. Therefore, when we talk about zeal and sanctification we hear the following phrases: “This is exaggeration, you don't need this, this was left in the past, it doesn't matter, it doesn't hurt, it has nothing to do with it”, etc. But the question is whether you are part of this restoration project that God has raised. If you are, answer: Have you persevered in apostolic doctrines, in fellowship (Remembering that fellowship is participation in common), in breaking of bread, in prayer, have you had fear in your soul, have signs and wonders happened, have you praised God (it does not refer only to singing but also to praise), have you been known and fallen in grace with the people? What is missing for the restoration to be completed?
Catch us the FOXES, THE LITTLE FOXES, that do harm to the vineyards, because our vineyards are in bloom. Song of Songs 2:15 Let us be careful so that neither little foxes, or things that seem small to our eyes, lack of zeal in doctrine, lack of unity or love, come to harm the vineyard that is flourishing, causing the identity of the Church to be damaged and the necessary power to be lacking among the people, so that the restoration may be complete.
Guarulhos – SP
Pr. Wilson de Lima Salustiano
Master in Pastoral Psychology