4 Steps to Spiritual Restoration

 Read 2 Chronicles 29. 

The ungodly Ahaz died and his son, Hezekiah, became the next king of Judah.  The royal lineage of David and the Messiah continued.  Though he was raised by a father who did not obey the LORD, Hezekiah did.  His father had stopped all worship of God and substituted it with objects of his own making.  The new king loved the LORD and used his position to restore the spiritual life of the nation. 

The Temple had been misused and, evidently, boarded up for years.  The sacrifices, worship and celebrations prescribed by God were no longer practiced.  The Levites had been marginalized and had not been able to fulfill their responsibilities.  There was much work to be done. 

How does one restore a spiritual life that has been corrupted by sin?

1. Internal Consecrating.

There was an intentional work of separating themselves from sin and giving themselves wholly to God.  Purifying their lives and work before the LORD was a sacred responsibility that must come first before they may effectively serve and please God.

2. External Cleansing.

This required the distasteful tasks of cleaning out the filth that lurked behind closed doors.  Ungodly and impure things had been allowed in the Temple and stored there.

3. Sacrificial Giving.

Sacrifices were made as sin offerings for atonement of what had taken place in the past.  Burnt offerings wafted sweet smelling aromas up to God.  Thank offerings were made to celebrate that God had given them a new beginning.  Peace offerings symbolized that reconciliation with God had taken place.

4. Joyful Singing.  

With instruments and voices, the songs of David and Asaph (The Psalms) resounded loudly in praise and worship to the God of heaven. 

"Thus the service of the house of the LORD was restored." (v.35b) 

For the believer in Jesus, our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  "Since we have these promises beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of the body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1)