Restoring Factory Settings: Sermon By Deacon David Oyuke
Restoring factory settings means going back to the maker to determine your God ordained purpose.
Human beings were ordained to be in the presence of God.
Humans will always encounter problems as we are to offer solutions and provide clarity.
The wilderness is a place to manifest the glory of God. When God takes you to a place of barrenness, it is for you to impact it and not it to impact you.
Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings.
Psalm 84:6 (AMP)
Often, fallen man runs away from problems however, the wilderness brings out your God given configuration by facing problems fair and square.
In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.
Genesis 1:1-3 (AMP)
God was present in the beginning. Solutions are offered by us being present in the context where the problems are present.
A problem was presented in the beginning but God spoke to provide a solution.
Great people suffer great adversity to attain to our God ordained purpose. We are called not to conform to patterns of this world.
The most successful people on earth are those that provide solutions.
God did not create us to be mediocre, scared or defeated. God’s purpose for us was not to fail.
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, Behold, you are barren and have no children, but you shall become pregnant and bear a son. Therefore beware and drink no wine or strong drink and eat nothing unclean. For behold, you shall become pregnant and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from birth, and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines.
Judges 13:3-5 (AMP)
In the story of Samson, God speaks intricately of his purpose.
Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison. However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven. Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice. And they said: “Our god has delivered into our hands Samson our enemy!”
When the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said: “Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy, the destroyer of our land, and the one who multiplied our dead.” So it happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, “Call for Samson, that he may perform for us.” So they called for Samson from the prison, and he performed for them. And they stationed him between the pillars. Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them.” Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there—about three thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed.
Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!” And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.
Judges 16: 21-30 (NKJV)
A situation is presented where Samson is shaved, blind and on display for humiliation. He cries out to God for a restoration to factory settings that he may attain God’s purpose for his life. He killed more Philistines in his death than he ever did before in his life. He invoked the call of God over his life at his sunset.
There is an entire landscape configured for everyone of us to manicure; keep and tend. This was the heavy duty assignment for the first Adam. How much more in the second Adam?
And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.
John 17:3 (AMP)
Eternal life is accessed in knowing Christ.
We do not derive identity from what we do but from whom God says we are. We need to go back and ask ourselves who we are and whose we are.
The word tells us to “Be still and know I am God”. Stillness is a place of no activity. God did not create man to be replaceable.
Sin is what makes people see each other as replaceable. This in and of itself diminishes the glory of God.
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
John 10:10 (AMP)
We multiply in Eden in a unique way as individuals. The issue is that the lies of the Enemy make us believe that there are only limited ways to do things.
For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), [a]recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
Ephesians 2:10 (AMP)
Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].
Ephesians 3:20 (AMP)
We cannot decree for revival in nations if we ourselves are not revived. We were created to be by God and not do. God created Adam to be like him and not to DO like Him.
God teaches us how to be. In God’s presence, we are able to leak His presence and we become.
At times men are afraid of looking into the mirror for they are afraid to confront who they might be.
Doing is not as good as we think it is especially if it sacrifices being at the altar of convenience.
The 5-fold ministry is to prepare us for the works of service.
He Who descended is the [very] same as He Who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things (the whole universe, from the lowest to the highest). And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.
Ephesians 4:10-11 (AMP)
The season of relationship fellowship and communion with God is to re-discover ourselves by interacting with the One that made us in His image.
The reason that the world is falling apart is because we are not being but Doing other things that would emanate from a being.
Limitation results from absolute imitation. Invention reinvents whereas absolute imitation stagnates and causes death.
Everything that stagnates, atrophies and dies.
We are not defined by what we do but what God tells us we are and our God ordained mandate.
Our biggest weakness is that we search for answers and not Christ.
We do not define ourselves by created things but by who God says we are.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
Colossians 1:15-17 (NKJV)
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.
Revelation 22:13 (NKJV)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 (NKJV)
These Scriptures point to Christ who is the beginning of all things. Christ has all the answers. He answers all questions about our identity and purpose, career, ministry, etc. All answers are in Him.
[Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation. For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him.
Colossians 1:15-16 (AMP)
The source of our answers does not change. In Christ are the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden.
Colossians 2:3 (AMP)
Why are we afraid for God to restore factory settings to the place of original purpose?
1. Lack Of Complete Surrender
We are afraid for God to restore us back to Him and His purpose because we fail to trust in Him to do so. We are not acquainted with the unknown – safety of the familiar – yet we are called to expand Eden…into new frontiers.
2. Inadequacy
Opposition is bound to rise when we are restored back to God. We wallow in a quagmire of negative thoughts and toxic self talk.
Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my exceeding joy; yes, with the lyre will I praise You, O God, my God! Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my [sad] countenance, and my God.
Psalm 43:4-5 (AMP)
Facts never overcome truth because the Spirit of truth existed before facts ever existed.
Greater is He that is in you that he who is in the world.
God’s restorative work is a permanent work and needs muscle.
Factual information doesn’t override the strength of God’s truth. Truth existed before facts about our situations and our current state.
The story of David captured in 1st Samuel 16 alludes to the placement of David in light of the obscurity He faced.
The place God has called you to go is a place of placement.
David was called as a musician but ended up being an armour bearer to the king.
When you get reconciled to your purpose; the destinies of those around you begin to change.
If we do not know God, we will hate Him for using us for His glory for we do not know His heart – intention and motive.
It is a time to be abandoned to God and His perfect will and cry out for its fulfillment.
Ex-nihilo: Creating out of nothing. God is a master of creating out of nothing. Out of a wilderness. Out of rocky places.
Restoring factory settings is the best thing that could happen in us especially when we feel that we are nothing and that God does not care.
It is often at a place of nothingness and extreme loss that God intervenes and shows up.
The widow was about to eat her last meal. God intervened. (Reference: 1 Kings 17:7-16)
Lazarus was actually dead and buried. The power of resurrection at work brought him back from the dead. (Reference: John 11:1-44)
Resurrection is nothing compared to life eternal. Resurrection was not His perfect will, life eternal was. Sin brought death.
We, as humans, forget about the fundamentals of process. For instance, before David sung before kings, he sung to sheep. We as humans are keen to see glory but we want to skip process.
God is looking for men who are faithful for Him to trust.
David’s preparation was in a place of obscurity when no one noticed him. In obscurity, God prepares one for greatness.
When Saul was overcome by an evil spirit, David played more than once which was God’s divine strategy. David consistently provided a solution and Saul begun to trust him.
God ensures that in every place we go, He provides a divine strategy.
God’s desire is that we have uninterrupted fellowship and communion with man.
3. Lack Of Trust In God
Trust is one of the things that makes us move away from God because of the past hurt and pain.
It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.
Frederick Douglas
When God restores us, we see God for who He really is and our perception of ourselves also is restored. It is the place of original intention; the place of divine ordination.
Turn to freedom our captivity and restore our fortunes, O Lord, as the streams in the South (the Negeb) [are restored by the torrents].
Psalm 126:4 (AMP)
At once the father of the boy gave [an eager, piercing, inarticulate] cry with tears, and he said, Lord, I believe! [Constantly] help my weakness of faith!
Mark 9:24-25 (AMP)
Being restored to who God says we are in Him will enable us to function in the Season of Service.
God understands our limitations and areas of weakness and He wants us to arise above hindrances to the original place of trust and surrender
Prayer: Teach me and show me who I am that I can function as you have ordained for me to be.
May God help any level of unbelief in you. May God intervene for you.
Infinite Fellowship Ministries 
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