One of the mandates of a prophet is restoration. I believe this aspect of the prophetic calling has largely been misunderstood in recent days.
There is much teaching on the gift of prophecy being for edification, encouragement, and comfort for the upbuilding of the saints from 1 Corinthians 14:3. This is absolutely wonderful and needed. I am not minimizing the importance of this function of the gift.
However, from my understanding of Scripture, there is another aspect of prophecy that is not taught on as often. I believe it comes primarily with the station of the prophet. It is the Restoration Mandate.
RESTORATION DEMYSTIFIED
When prophets decree "restore", they are standing in the gap for the people to TURN THEM BACK from captivity. This is done by uncovering & calling out iniquity in order to turn the people from their sin and back into right relationship with God.
"Restore" comes from the Hebrew word (sub or shuwb*) which means: to turn back, return, repair, to bring back, to reverse, to revoke.
We see an example of this clearly in Lamentations 2:14, "The visions of your prophets were FALSE and worthless; they did NOT EXPOSE your sin to ward off your captivity. The prophecies they gave you were false and misleading."
The Amplified version says, "...and they have not exposed your wickedness to RESTORE you from captivity [by teaching you to repent]."
You see, in the days of Jeremiah the prophet, the "other prophets" were painting false pictures that filled the people of Israel with false hope. So instead of pointing out sin and uncovering the iniquity of the people, these so called prophet's words were lulling the people into a false sense of security and peace.
We see again in Isaiah 58:1 that God tells the prophet to CALL OUT the sins of his people. "Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins."
This exposure of sin is NOT to come from a critical or judgmental spirit but from the very heart of the Father. Father God doesn't want anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance.
So the God of compassion sends His messengers, the prophets, to expose the sin of His people in order to TURN them from iniquity so that God may RESTORE them so that they are not led into captivity.
"But this is a people plundered and looted; they are all of them trapped in holes and hidden in prisons; they have become plunder with none to rescue, spoil with none to say, 'Restore!'" -Isaiah 42:22 ESV
There was NONE to say "RESTORE."
RISING PROPHETS OF RESTORATION
Father God is seeking those prophetic voices who will RISE UP to stand in the gap and decree "Restore" to those who are being led astray. I believe that we are going to see an increase in prophets and prophetic voices who carry this restoration mandate. Like Ezekiel, who was shown supernaturally the idolatry and detestable things God's people were doing in his temple, these prophets will particularly be able to see what is taking place undercover behind closed doors. Remember, it is God's love that shines a light on sin that has been covered up.
The measuring line of righteousness and justice is found in the inerrant Word of God. This plumb line reveals where people's lives do not line up with God's righteous standard. It shines a light on the error of people's ways exposing sin and deception.
Prophets of Restoration will be men and women of the Word. They will carry the critical balance of truth and love, justice and mercy, grace and holiness.
God's heart for restoration is revealed in Jeremiah 26:3, "Perhaps they will LISTEN and each will TURN from their evil ways. Then I will RELENT and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done."
FALSE PROPHECY CODDLES INSTEAD OF CALLING OUT
The grievous problem with false prophecy according to Lamentations 2:14, is that it paints a false picture filling the people with false hope. So instead of the exposure of sin leading to repentance, the people are mislead and continue as they did before in their sin and the error of their ways. Thus, they continue unaware on a path that leads to destruction.
Speaking to believers, James exhorts, "My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever TURNS a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins."*
RESTORATION WITH ABBA'S HEART
It is imperative that when prophets deliver a message meant to restore, that is does NOT come from a place of wounding, rejection, or a religious spirit. The message will then come out with mixture and can cause hurt and damage to those who hear. The messenger MUST be Spirit led in the delivery of what Holy Spirit is revealing to them.
How important it is that we who carry the voice of the Father also carry His heart and speak from His perspective. How critical that we as a prophetic people first examine our own heart motives and have ourselves walked through deliverance. How necessary is it that we welcome His purifying fire and His healing balm into our souls so that we are able to release a pure message saturated in His love and compassion.
Paul exhorts the Galatian church, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should RESTORE him with a SPIRIT OF GENTLENESS."*
In short, one of the less understood mandates of a prophet is Restoration. This often comes in the form of exposing and calling out sin in order to ward off captivity and disaster. Ultimately, the purpose of this mandate is to restore a people back into intimacy with God and in turn restore marriages, family, inheritance, and destiny. God is raising up prophets and prophetic voices who will carry the restoration mandate with pure motives, in a spirit of gentleness, with the love and heart of the Father.
"Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent." -Revelation 3:19
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* See Blue Letter Bible, Ezekiel 8, James 5:20, Galatians 6:1a
I love this Debbie! ❤️