How Does Restoration Ministries Fit In?

Jesus came to seek and save(restore) that which was lost!!

Three main areas were lost in the fall, which in Christ, the provision of restoration is provided:

• Restored intimate love relationship with God
• Restored love relationship with others
• Restored authority, power and dominion to change our environment

We, the church as a whole, have a considerable way to go toward experiencing and walking in the power, authority and presence of God that was experienced before the fall or in the early church. It is our hope and purpose to help the body of Christ understand the truths of restoration at deeper experiential level.

1. Prophetic Voice to the Church

One area that is needed in a great way is proper, accurate, and honest assessment of the state of affairs within the local church. Many times the eldership, by being so familiar with the surroundings, needs an outside discerning prophetic voice to clearly identify the dynamics in the spirit realm that are operating in the local assemble. A supportive prophetic voice can not only bring edification and exhortation, but can speak into the direction and vision of the local church, or help leadership introduce various changes into the church. In order for an effective voice to bring consistent profitable support, there needs to be a long term cohesive relationship established between those operating in this gifting and the Pastoral leadership of the church, which we desire and believe in.

One of the primary gifts that Daniel Baker (founder of Restoration Ministries) has, being lead by Holy Spirit, is the ability to clearly identify (spiritual map) strong holds, unresolved issues, sins of the past within churches. Then through intercessory prayer and identification repentance, the ground rights or other rights that the enemy has stolen from the church assemble are removed along with associated curses or strongholds. Then the Godly foundation is restored in the house and God's blessing or presence is enhanced or restored.

Prophetically, spiritual eyes are opened to see the true spiritual condition of the church or leadership, so that issues can be honestly dealt with. We believe this is what Jesus is asking in Rev.3, so that a foundation of holiness and purity will be established, which will lay the groundwork to having a strong visitation or move of God come. In some churches there are very few if any underlying issues to be dealt with, but a clear prophetic voice is needed for confirmation and support, to bring the level of faith to a higher level to expedite a break through in certain areas.

2. Bring Emotional Healing and Deliverance to the Body

Secondly, we believe that the prayer ministry principles or model of prayer for emotional healing and deliverance, that the Holy Spirit has brought to us, is biblically sound and foundational to bring healing and freedom to the body of Christ. The fruit of this ministry, we believe, is helping individuals and church assemblies move forward in the things of God by restoring the level of wholeness (holiness) in the body. Consequently a deeper level of commitment and a more intimate relationship with Jesus personally and corporately is happening within the body. Further to this, by helping leadership pray through personal issues and repent for numerous sins of past generations etc., and removing demonic strongholds, by the power of the Spirit, new freedoms of the Holy Spirit are ushered in. People experience a stronger presence of God in their lives and families which extends into the ministries of the church (relational restoration).

3. Train and Equip Others to Minister in Healing/Deliverance

Thirdly, we feel that God has chosen us as a ministry to help restore the ministry of healing/deliverance as an effective main stream ministry within the local church. All over the world the Lord is moving by His Spirit in miraculous ways with signs following as told by the gospel of Mark as Jesus described the great commission of the church (Mark 16:14-18). Quite simply the full commission involves: a. preaching the full gospel to the ends of the earth, which produces fruit (signs following), b. salvation (sozo)-1.spirit filled new birth, 2.deliverance, 3.healing.

So far, in most churches in North America, we are satisfied with a little real fruit and generally try to exaggerate this into much fruit. We need desperately to hunger and thirst for gospel evidenced by much fruit. Most churches have no problem believing for salvation, even to the point of evidenced by speaking in tongues. They can also believe in and practice the laying on of hands to heal the sick. What most are either ignorant about or do not want to deal with is the demonic. Yes, Jesus has defeated the enemy at Calvary, but he instructed His disciples (the church) about the enemy, and the authority we have in Jesus name, for a reason-we still have to implement this victory. He didn't say "ignore him", which unfortunately, the church in many cases have done. He said "I give you all authority, power over him-and he will by no means harm you" (Luke 10:19) The church in North America as a whole is suffering the consequences of defeat, powerlessness and compromise with the world because it is failing to rise up and walk in their authority they have in and through Christ.

It is the work of the Holy Spirit in these days to equip the church in deliverance. God has been equipping us with the tools and understanding in deliverance/healing that bears good fruit, with signs following. We realize that we have still more to learn, but it is happening in a very fruitful way. Praise God!! It is our desire and God given mandate to help teach and equip church leadership in the ways to effectively minister in this dimension of the gospel.

4. Apostolic Oversight and Follow Up

Those of us operating and teaching the principles of deliverance/healing realize the potential of misunderstandings, misuse, or imbalances that can happen within local churches if not properly introduced or pastored. Therefore it is our desire and obligation to properly follow up, or link arms with pastoral leadership to see this ministry flourish and be part of the ministry of the church. This is one of the powerful keys of the Kingdom that God is restoring to the church all over the world, but requires proper training and oversight. It does not need to be feared.

One of the most talked, preached and written about subjects within church circles currently is the restoration of the five fold ministry offices, as the governing authority of the church, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry. Along with the five fold offices spoken of in Eph.4:11 there are special ministries (1 Cor.12:4-7), and the individual ministry gifts of Holy Spirit, for the purpose to bring effective ministry within the body, so that proper growth and maturity will be the result. (Eph. 4:11-16).

It is the belief of those of us that are involved in Restoration Ministries that we are operating under the anointing of a special ministry to the body of Christ at this time. Specifically we are called and anointed to help bring an understanding and impartation of the truths of prayer as it pertains to:

• Setting people free from curses, bondages and strongholds
• Helping people hear the intimate voice of their God
• Helping people to more fully understand how to personally use the Holy Spirit to find the bases or roots to personal strongholds
• Bring people to an awareness of the schemes and devises of the enemy, so they can safeguard and maintain their freedom
• Bring people who have or are suffering from various phobias, OCD, past hurts and wounds of sexual or emotional abuse to Jesus, who brings healing, wholeness and freedom to them
• Bring people through deliverance from demonic activity and show them the authority they possess in Christ, but do not know or understand how to effectively use their authority