Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Leaders

a) They are a part of God’s Plan

b) They need to be found

c) They play a significant role

2. The Congregation of God

a) As a flock of God

b) As His people

c) As His own special people

A SPECIAL WORK OF RESTORATION

1. The Ministry of Moses

a) Deliverance was only a part of God’s Plan

b) Restoration was an even bigger part

i) Restoration of faith in God

ii) Restoration of a broken relationship with God   (Exodus 32-34)

2. The Ministry of David

a) Restoration of a broken nation under Saul’s rule

b) Restoration of a Worship system

i) Priests

ii) Levites   (1 Chronicles 23-26)

3. The Ministry of the Lord Jesus and the Apostles

a) Ministry of Reconciliation   (2 Corinthians 5)

b) Restoration and Reinvigoration

A PRAYER FOR RESTORATION

(Psalm 80)

1. A Prayer to God as Shepherd

a) “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel”   (Psalm 80:1a)

b) “You who lead Joseph like a flock”   (Psalm 80:1b)

2. A Prayer for Strong salvation

a) “Stir up Your strength”   (Psalm 80:2a)

b) “And come and save us”   (Psalm 80:2b)

3. Restoration I

a) “Restore us, O God”   (Psalm 80:3a)

b) “Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!”   (Psalm 80:3b)

c) Resolving the problems

i) Anger of God

“O LORD God of hosts,
How long will You be angry
Against the prayer of Your people?”   Psalm 80:4

ii) Tears

“You have fed them with the bread of tears,
And given them tears to drink
In great measure”   Psalm 80:5

iii) Enemies

“You have made us a strife to our neighbours,
And our enemies laugh among themselves”   Psalm 80:6

4. Restoration II

a) “Restore us, O God”   (Psalm 80:7a)

b) “Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!”   (Psalm 80:7b)

c) God’s original plan and blessing   (Psalm 80:8-11)

d) Resolving the problem

i) Hedges broken down

“Why have You broken down her hedges,
So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?”   Psalm 80:12

ii) Boars and wild beasts

“The boar out of the woods uproots it,
And the wild beast of the field devours it”   Psalm 80:13

5. Return of God

a) Beseeching God

“Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts”   Psalm 80:14a

b) Looking and Visiting

“Look down from heaven and see
And visit this vine”   Psalm 80:14b

c) Sad state of the vineyard

“And the vineyard which Your right hand has planted,
And the branch that You made strong for Yourself”   Psalm 80:15

d) Perishing

“It is burned with fire, it is cut down;
They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance”   Psalm 80:16

6. Restoration III

a) “Restore us, O LORD God of hosts”   (Psalm 80:19a)

b) “Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!”   (Psalm 80:19b)

c) Resolving the Problem

i) The man of Your right hand

“Let Your hand be upon the man
Of Your right hand”   Psalm 80:17a

ii) Made strong

“Upon the son of man whom
You made strong for Yourself”   Psalm 80:17b

d) Results

i) No turning back

“Then we will not turn back from You”   Psalm 80:18a

ii) Revival

“Revive us, and we will call upon Your name”   Psalm 80:18b

CONCLUSION

1. A man over the congregation

a) A needed prayer

b) A wise prayer

2. Features of this man of God

a) Anointed and set apart

b) Spirit-filled and led

c) A humble man

d) A man of faith

e) A man of courage

f) A man of prayer

g) A man of wisdom

3. Ordination

a) Man’s anointing on behalf of God

b) Spirit-anointing to continue

c) A great challenge

i) To be the man of God’s right hand

ii) To seek to be filled with spiritual strength

iii) To walk worthy of God’s calling

16 “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.” Numbers 27:16-17