Restoration presupposes the loss of something good and valuable.
When a people are carried away into a strange land as captives, there is the tendency for them to lose their identity and character has their virtues get influenced by the environment they find themselves in.
The Israelites experience this. After God caused the king of Persia to permit the restoration of God’s worship in Jerusalem through the hand of Ezra, it was discovered that the Priests and Levites who were supposed to lead the people in worship could not minister because they had corrupted themselves by marrying Idol worshippers.
Ezra realized that God’s people needed a spiritual restoration first, before they could experience any other form of restoration. He went before God in penitence and humility to seek for His forgiveness and restoration. This example shows that spiritual restoration is obtained only when we are repentant and humble before God.
To ignite the fire revival and initiate the restoration of God’s people to His worship, Ezra 9:5-6 lists some key things Ezra did which cannot be overlooked by anyone seeking restoration.
A remorseful heart is the foundation of genuine repentance, and through genuine repentance, spiritual restoration is received.
Repentance means making a U-turn away from one’s trespasses.
Those who repented of their sins in Ezra’s time did not continue in them; they completely relinquished their former lifestyles.
What type of loss have you suffered – spiritual, physical or otherwise? You can be restored if only you genuinely repent of your sins and come back to your first love for God.