Christian Life Church
December 3, 2023 at 8:30am & 10:00am
THIS PRESENT TIME #34 THE RESTORATION
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
THIS PRESENT TIME #34
The Restoration 12.3.23
Matthew 20:1-16 NASB “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4 and to those he said, ‘You go into the vineyard also, and whatever is right, I will give you.’ And so they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 “Now when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, starting with the last group to the first.’ 9 When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. 10 And so when those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day’s work and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go; but I want to give to this last person the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I want with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’ 16 So the last shall be first, and the first, last.”
Introduction
1. The Bible is above all else a Book of Restoration. It is the Story of Redemption. I suppose some things can be redeemed without being restored, but God’s plan is to achieve both Redemption and Restoration.
2. The Redemption of Mephibosheth enabled him to sit at the Table of the King — but David could not restore what had been lost. That was a matter for another time and another King.
3. Some things are restored, at least partially, in this life. Other things may be restored fully in Eternity.
4. Heaven is a place of Restoration, Justice, Fullness, and Unending Increase.
5. We looked last week at the culmination of our walk with God. Let’s dig a bit deeper today as we deal with thoughts about restoring what was lost.
I. When what we lose seems irreplaceable…
A. Some loss is a result of our stepping out of God’s covering. Naomi is an example. “I went away full, but The Lord has brought me home empty.” Ruth 1:21
B. Like storms, some loss is because we are out of the will of God (Jonah).
C. Some loss is because someone near us is out of the will of God (Paul’s voyage to Rome).
D. Some loss occurs even when we are eagerly doing our best to obey Jesus (the Disciples).
II. When what we lose seems irretrievable…
A. A day’s wage was lost forever.
B. Two sons, her husband, and hope for blessed generations was lost to this life.
III. When God begins to work for us…
A. He is the Great Finder: The Lost Sheep; The Lost Silver; The Lost Son (Luke 15).
B. He is our Hiding Place who surrounds us with Songs of Deliverance (Psalm 32:7).
Christian Life Lessons
1. Heaven is the place of full redemption and restoration. Our faith and joy must not be centered on what occurs on this side.
2. Wisdom from Ruth:
a. If you are in God’s Will, don’t go looking for “greener grass” when trouble comes.
b. If you are out of God’s will, do everything you can to get back to the place of blessing (Ruth).
3. Wisdom from the workers:
a. Stay in the place where Provision seems to come.
b. STAND!
c. When a second chance comes, stop complaining and get busy!
The Restoration 12.3.23
Matthew 20:1-16 NASB “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4 and to those he said, ‘You go into the vineyard also, and whatever is right, I will give you.’ And so they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 “Now when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, starting with the last group to the first.’ 9 When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. 10 And so when those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day’s work and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go; but I want to give to this last person the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I want with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’ 16 So the last shall be first, and the first, last.”
Introduction
1. The Bible is above all else a Book of Restoration. It is the Story of Redemption. I suppose some things can be redeemed without being restored, but God’s plan is to achieve both Redemption and Restoration.
2. The Redemption of Mephibosheth enabled him to sit at the Table of the King — but David could not restore what had been lost. That was a matter for another time and another King.
3. Some things are restored, at least partially, in this life. Other things may be restored fully in Eternity.
4. Heaven is a place of Restoration, Justice, Fullness, and Unending Increase.
5. We looked last week at the culmination of our walk with God. Let’s dig a bit deeper today as we deal with thoughts about restoring what was lost.
I. When what we lose seems irreplaceable…
A. Some loss is a result of our stepping out of God’s covering. Naomi is an example. “I went away full, but The Lord has brought me home empty.” Ruth 1:21
B. Like storms, some loss is because we are out of the will of God (Jonah).
C. Some loss is because someone near us is out of the will of God (Paul’s voyage to Rome).
D. Some loss occurs even when we are eagerly doing our best to obey Jesus (the Disciples).
II. When what we lose seems irretrievable…
A. A day’s wage was lost forever.
B. Two sons, her husband, and hope for blessed generations was lost to this life.
III. When God begins to work for us…
A. He is the Great Finder: The Lost Sheep; The Lost Silver; The Lost Son (Luke 15).
B. He is our Hiding Place who surrounds us with Songs of Deliverance (Psalm 32:7).
Christian Life Lessons
1. Heaven is the place of full redemption and restoration. Our faith and joy must not be centered on what occurs on this side.
2. Wisdom from Ruth:
a. If you are in God’s Will, don’t go looking for “greener grass” when trouble comes.
b. If you are out of God’s will, do everything you can to get back to the place of blessing (Ruth).
3. Wisdom from the workers:
a. Stay in the place where Provision seems to come.
b. STAND!
c. When a second chance comes, stop complaining and get busy!