Restoration

“Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is across from Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.””
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭34‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Restoration

Reading Deuteronomy chapter thirty four was bitter sweet, for I could see the momentary damage that our sin does to us, but I could also see the grace of our God. So many of us have sinned, done the thing or action that has served to discredit us, and make us seemingly unusable for the work of the Lord.

So many pastors have found themselves caught up in a sin and been removed from the pulpit as per church discipline. They have had their ministries destroyed, for they for a moment, let down their guard.

Through the process of restoration, many can be rehabilitated to be used once again to the glory of God.

In the moment depicted in the passage, Moses is taken up to Pisgah, atop Mount Nibo, where the Lord caused Moses to see the land that he would not be allowed to enter.

“Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.””
Numbers 20:11-12 NKJV

Supernaturally, he surveyed all the lands that the children of Israel would one day inherit. Some there after, he died.

“So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day. Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.”
Deuteronomy 34:5-7 NKJV

One could stop there and mourn over the loss of such a great saint, but we serve the God that can do the impossible. The Lord was not done with Moses, for he would once again appear on the scene.

On a day during the ministry of Jesus, during the Feast of Tabernacles, we see again the presence of Moses. This time atop another mount, this time transfigured.

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.””
Matthew 17:1-4 NKJV

Though cursed to not enter into the promised land, the Lord, who knows the end from the beginning, had a greater plan. In the great restoration only possible through the grace of God, Moses was now in the promised land, standing on holy ground in the presence of the Jesus, the anointed One. That moment was foretold long before.

“Then I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lampstand and at its left?” And I further answered and said to him, “What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?” Then he answered me and said, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my Lord.” So he said, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.””
Zechariah 4:11-14 NKJV

The Lord had a plan for Moses. A plan that would not be interrupted.

He has a plan for me, and each of you too.

Brothers and sisters, you might be sitting and reading this and thinking that you have sinned so much, stumbled so many times, that you are unusable for the work of spreading the Gospel. These are lies from the devil.

If you have struggled, repent to day, and pray for the Lord to renew your mind and heart. The Lord is faithful to restore those who come to Him with a broken and contrite heart. He desires that we admit that we are sinners, for such is what we are. Let us seek the Lord for restoration, for resisting Him only brings pain.

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah”
Psalms 32:1-4 NKJV

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalms 51:7-10 NKJV

In that newness of heart and steadfast spirit, we can begin to fulfill the purpose that the Lord saved us for. Moses had done all those things leading up to his mountain top experience with the Lord. When he stood at Pisguh, he was one who had repented.

He was not done. He will serve the Lord again. He be serving now.

“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.”
Revelation 11:3-6 NKJV

“and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.”

Moses struck the Egyptians with plagues, and turned their waters to blood.

There is much argument as to the identity of the two witness. I am one who believes that they are Moses and Elijah, and that the conversation at the Transfiguration was a planning meeting for times that we will soon enter, if not already.

In light of this, we see that it is the Lord who is the final arbiter of the beginning and end of your service. Seek the Lord today, for there the harvest is upon us, and the workers are few.

We are surrounded by people, trapped in sin, living lives where they feel as if they have no recourse but to continue sinning. But we know the God of the Gospel, who has the power to save the sinner, and transform them into saints. Let us be bold to go and do that work, as ones restored to holiness.

We bring the message that has the power to change the lives of desperate people.

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

But such WERE some of you.

Have a blessed Lord’s day!

#prayfortheharvest

#prayforthepersecuted

#prayforthepeaceofIsrael

#praythatthegospelspreadeverywhere

https://www.allaboutgod.com/the-roman-road.htm