Restoration: Returning to God's Original Intention

The story of God’s people is a story of restoration. From the poetry of Isaiah to the songs of the Psalms, the imagery of vineyards and vines reminds us that God is both the planter and the restorer. In Isaiah, God’s disappointment with Israel’s “bad fruit” is not the end of the story, but the beginning of a longing for justice, righteousness, and restoration. This longing is echoed in Psalm 80, where the repeated chorus is a plea: “Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” Restoration is not about remodeling—making something entirely new or different—but about returning to the original intention, reclaiming the beauty and purpose God placed in us from the beginning.

We often want God to remodel our lives, to make us look and feel completely different, but the deeper work is restoration: bringing us back to the image of God in which we were created. This is not a quick fix. Just as restoring a piece of furniture takes time, skill, and patience, so does the process of spiritual restoration. Sometimes, things must be stripped down to their very core before they can be rebuilt as they were meant to be. In our lives, this can feel like brokenness, but it is often the necessary step for God to restore us to our true identity and purpose.

The concept of “original blessing” is crucial here. Before there was original sin, there was original blessing—God’s declaration that creation is good, and God’s desire for relationship with us. Sin distorts, but it does not erase the blessing or the image of God within us. Restoration is God’s ongoing work to reclaim that blessing in us, through the saving work of Jesus and the sanctifying presence of the Holy Spirit.

When we pray for God’s face to shine upon us, we are asking for more than favor; we are asking for God’s presence to transform us so that we reflect God’s love and glory to the world. Like Moses, whose face shone after being in God’s presence, we are called to be people who radiate God’s light. This is not just for our own sake, but so that others might see and experience the warmth, peace, and love of God through us. The journey of restoration is ongoing, and the invitation is to continually seek God’s renewing work in every area of our lives.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Restoration is about returning to God’s original intention for us, not simply changing our outward appearance or circumstances. God sees the potential in us, even when we feel worn out or broken, and desires to restore us to the fullness of our created purpose. This process often requires patience, honesty, and a willingness to let God work beneath the surface. [56:17]
• 2. The difference between remodeling and restoration is significant: remodeling changes something into a new form, but restoration brings it back to what it was meant to be. Spiritually, God’s work in us is restorative—reclaiming the image and blessing that sin has obscured, not erasing our identity but redeeming it. [59:29]
• 3. The idea of “original blessing” reminds us that God’s first word over creation was “good.” Sin is real and has consequences, but it does not have the final word. God’s faithfulness and desire for relationship persist, and restoration is about reclaiming that original blessing through Christ and the Spirit. [59:29]
• 4. The process of restoration often involves brokenness. Sometimes God allows us to be “taken down to the bones” so that the rebuilding can be true and lasting. In these seasons, our question may be “How long, O Lord?” but the answer is found in trusting God’s timing and process, knowing that true restoration takes time and surrender. [61:15]
• 5. When God’s face shines upon us, it is both a blessing and a calling. Experiencing God’s presence transforms us so that we reflect God’s love, peace, and glory to others. The more time we spend in God’s presence, the more we become conduits of that light, offering hope and warmth to a world in need. [63:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [21:48] - Isaiah’s Vineyard: Poetry and Prophecy
• [24:11] - Sharing Praises and Prayer Requests
• [25:12] - Community Prayers and Intercessions
• [26:34] - Opening Prayer and God’s Presence
• [35:18] - Ministry Spotlight: Snack Sack and Church Needs
• [46:22] - Favorite Songs and the Power of Music
• [47:02] - Psalms as Songs: Psalm 80’s Background
• [49:12] - Responsive Reading: Psalm 80
• [51:39] - Israel’s Crisis and the Question of Abandonment
• [53:01] - The Vineyard as God’s People
• [56:17] - Restoration vs. Remodeling: Spiritual Implications
• [59:29] - Original Sin and Original Blessing
• [61:15] - The Process and Pain of Restoration
• [63:12] - God’s Face Shining: Blessing and Transformation
• [66:42] - Reflecting God’s Light in the World
• [68:17] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Reading

Isaiah 5:1-7 (ESV) — > Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard:
> My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.
> He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines;
> he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it;
> and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.
> And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah,
> judge between me and my vineyard.
> What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it?
> When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?
> And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard.
> I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured;
> I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.
> I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed,
> and briers and thorns shall grow up;
> I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
> For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel,
> and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting;
> and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed;
> for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!

Psalm 80:1-3, 7, 14-19 (ESV) — > Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
> you who lead Joseph like a flock.
> You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
> Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
> stir up your might and come to save us!
> Restore us, O God;
> let your face shine, that we may be saved!
> ...
> Restore us, O God of hosts;
> let your face shine, that we may be saved!
> ...
> Turn again, O God of hosts!
> Look down from heaven, and see;
> have regard for this vine,
> the stock that your right hand planted,
> and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
> They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;
> may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
> But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
> the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
> Then we shall not turn back from you;
> give us life, and we will call upon your name!
> Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!
> Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Numbers 6:24-26 (ESV) — > The Lord bless you and keep you;
> the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
> the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Observation Questions

1. In Isaiah 5, what actions did God take to care for his vineyard, and what was the result?
2. In Psalm 80, what is the repeated request made by the people, and what does it reveal about their situation?
3. According to the sermon, what is the difference between “remodeling” and “restoration” when it comes to our spiritual lives?
4. What is the significance of the phrase “make your face shine upon us” in both Psalm 80 and Numbers 6?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God uses the imagery of a vineyard to describe his relationship with his people in Isaiah and Psalm 80? What does this say about God’s intentions and expectations?
2. The sermon talks about “original blessing” before “original sin.” How does remembering God’s original blessing change the way we see ourselves and others?
3. The process of restoration is described as sometimes involving brokenness or being “taken down to the bones.” Why might God allow us to experience this kind of brokenness before restoration?
4. When God’s face shines upon us, it is both a blessing and a calling. What does it mean for us to reflect God’s light to others, and how might that look in everyday life?

Application Questions

1. The sermon says restoration is about returning to God’s original intention for us, not just changing our outward appearance or circumstances. Is there an area in your life where you have been asking God to “remodel” instead of “restore”? What would it look like to invite God to restore you instead?
2. Sometimes restoration requires patience, honesty, and a willingness to let God work beneath the surface. Is there a part of your life where you feel God is “stripping things down to the bones”? How are you responding to that process?
3. The idea of “original blessing” means God’s first word over creation was “good.” How can you remind yourself this week that you are created in God’s image and blessed, even when you feel worn out or broken?
4. The people in Psalm 80 repeatedly ask, “How long, O Lord?” Have you ever found yourself asking God the same question? How did you handle the waiting, and what did you learn about God’s timing?
5. The sermon mentions that when we spend time in God’s presence, we begin to reflect God’s love and light to others. What is one practical way you can spend more intentional time in God’s presence this week?
6. Think of someone in your life who needs to experience the warmth, peace, or love of God. How can you be a “shining face” to them this week?
7. The process of restoration is ongoing. What is one area of your life or character where you want to see God’s renewing work continue? How can your small group support you in this?