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Spiritual Strengthening



Restoration Ministries was founded in March, 1933 as the Royal Oak Michigan Bible Society and has enjoyed many decades of service and worship to the community since that time. Today as we look to the future, we turn our attention to the many individuals in our midst who are suffering not only from the effects of recession and job losses, but have lost a positive outlook for the future. All too often we forget to look to our Heavenly Father for strength, guidance, and direction in our lives and families. We are developing programs to address these needs in our midst.


Spiritual Pointers

"Proper apologies have three parts: 1. What I did was wrong. 2. I feel badly that I hurt you. 3. How can I make it better?"

"I showed you the world through my eyes. Now show it to me to through yours. And so we learn." P. Brown

"Not every day is a sunny day. Some days you're the pigeon. Some days you're the statue."

"An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision." James Whistler


An encouraging audio message for you from Pastor Brian!




Worship Invitation


Join us for worship Saturdays at 2:00 PM! You will be very welcome.

This website is currently under construction, but we hope to have more information posted here very soon! Thank you for your interest and may God bless you mightily!

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Religion Compared To Salvation


Many people get the terms "religion" and "salvation" confused. It's easy to understand why--one looks so much like the other on the surface. May I share just four differences between the two? I hope and pray you will take a serious inventory of yourself because it can make all the difference in the world.

Religion emphasizes "DO" while salvation emphasizes "DONE."  You can find many good churches and denominations that emphasize good works, moral living, rituals, etc. There is nothing inherently wrong with these things--God knows we could use a lot more moral people. But such outward deeds are man's futile efforts to make himself acceptable to God. The Bible tells us that even our righteousness looks like a filthy rag in His sight, so NO ONE can make himself acceptable to God through his/her own efforts. It is only when we realize that Christ already DID what was required for us so that we can be saved. He lived the perfect life we cannot possibly live. He fulfilled God's requirements. When He said, "It is finished" on the cross, He spoke of the fact that all that was needed for our salvation was DONE. Nothing else we can do is needed, indeed it is not even acceptable. Once a person chooses to accept what Christ has DONE, changes towards such qualities as goodness, humility, patience, love will be evident in their life. But it is not these qualities that will cause the person to be saved, it is what Christ has DONE.

Religion emphasizes "BE" while salvation emphasizes "BEEN." Be a good person, be a church member, be confirmed, be baptized. What matters most to God is what we have BEEN, not what we are trying to BE. Without Christ, we have already BEEN condemned (John 3:18). It is not that we will be condemned some day if we end up being more bad than good. The Bible tells us we have BEEN justified when Christ died for our sins. The relationship with Christ is a done deal. It cannot be reneged, undone, or improved upon by anything we try to be or do.

Religion speaks of GETTING. Salvation speaks of RECEIVING. Some well-meaning people think a person has to GET a certain feeling or emotion inside before he/she is saved. Though emotions may play a role in our relationship with God, they do not determine whether or not we have that relationship. John 1:12 tells us that salvation is RECEIVING. Man can produce emotional responses, but he cannot generate salvation of his soul through any emotion or feeling. Feelings and emotions are fickle. Salvation is firm and forever.

Religion puts emphasis on EXPERIENCE. Salvation is based on a RELATIONSHIP External EXPERIENCES--whether a vision, dream, or some other ecstatic event--do not necessarily prove a RELATIONSHIP exists between us and God. The fact that you belong to a particular earthly family is not based on any experience you have in that family. Your membership in your family is based on your birth into that family. It is exactly the same spiritually. "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God," Jesus said. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the power [authority] to be the children of God."

When we, by faith, realize Jesus has already DONE everything required for our salvation, when we RECEIVE that salvation and have thus BEEN justified, we have a RELATIONSHIP with Him. That is salvation. Anything short of this is just "religion." Whatever religious tag or denomination you claim, have you realized what Jesus has DONE for you? Have you RECEIVED Him by faith and BEEN placed into His family? Do you have a personal RELATIONSHIP with Him today?

 

Looking For An Escape?


"And I said, 'Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off and remain in the wilderness. Selah. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest. (Psalm 55, 6 - 8)

Winter can be rough in Michigan. Many of us wish we could travel south to get away from the snow, ice and brutal wind chills. Whenever our life gets rough or overwhelming, we may feel like David in this psalm, "If only I could fly away."

Wings and flight can look inviting after hours of haggling with family or when work conditions deteriorate or plain disappear. Similarly, we might think about leaving the church we attend if our spiritual needs aren't being met. Face it. Sometimes we just get worn out, weary and need a break. A change of scenery can make us feel better. But if we can't "fly away", are we to end up feeling stuck? Must we just hang in there?

Here's another alternative. Seek the Lord's guidance to know where He wants you and what He wants you to be doing. When you make a change in your life it should be because you see a greater opportunity to serve Him, not because you want to run away. Jesus tells us, "Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11, 28 – 30)

Do you want to rest, be refreshed and be rejuvenated? Take every concern to the Lord in prayer. Don't try to understand your circumstances, make decisions or try to solve problems yourself. When we fly away we tend to take our baggage with us. So leave the flying to God. Ask Him for help.


The Virtue Of Patience

 

"And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him."(Luke 2, 40)

This Scripture verse reminds us to be patient. After all the exciting events around Christ's conception, birth and presentation, He goes home to grow up. The shepherds, the wise men from the east, the choirs of angels all must sit back and wait for Him to become an adult and accept His mission.

In our current culture with cell phones, internet service, voicemail, text messaging and emails, many can't wait even a half-hour for anything. Yet God waited thirty years for Jesus to personally announce the Gospel of His Kingdom. This was during a time when men became adults at twenty years of age, yet Jesus' ministry service waited for an additional ten years.

Growth takes time. Much of our spiritual journey waits on growth. Everyone wants to rush into spiritual maturity. It's hard to practice the patience this takes. When we're frustrated at seeming to make no progress in compassion or forgiveness after decades of prayer and meditation, think about God waiting thirty years for His son to grow up. Perhaps that thought will give you the patience to continue with your prayers.

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Jesus Christ." (Romans 15, 4 – 5)