Repentance Brings Refreshment Series

This makes me think of these words:

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow

No other fount I know.

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

2. Refreshment from the Spirit. We see this in verse 20: “That times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” The idea behind “refreshing” is “cooling, relief and rest from difficult, distressful or burdensome circumstances.” This term is used in the Old Testament to speak of the Exodus experience. It also refers to the outpouring of the Spirit before the second coming of Christ when Israel as a nation will turn to Christ. One commentator puts it precisely: “No repentance, no refreshing.” This makes me think of Isaiah 30:15: “In returning and rest you shall be saved.”

It’s the Lord alone who brings refreshment. The “presence of the Lord” literally means, “toward the face of the Lord” and implies intimacy and closeness. Some of you are searching for satisfaction in people, pleasure or your possessions. You’ll never find refreshing rest apart from a relationship with the Redeemer. Meditate on Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Whenever a sinner repents and the gospel is received, refreshing follows.

3. Restoration of sinners. After release and refreshment, God loves to restore sinners. Look at verse 21: “…whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things.” I was talking with someone this week about all the difficulties she has been through. She said she feels like her entire year was lost. The Lord brought Joel 2:25 to mind so I shared it with her and it gave her hope: “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.”

We must practice continual repentance as we call others to do the same.

Conclusion

It’s easy to think repentance is something only lost people must do in order to be saved. Actually, repentance is also a call to Christians who have drifted into disobedience or sinful selfishness.

A few weeks ago I met with an Edgewood member who needed to confess some secret sins [BTW, I have his permission to share this]. When I saw him a couple days ago, his eyes were bright and he had a huge smile on his face. He shared about the joy he has now since he repented. I asked him to write down what he’s been learning so I could share it.

“When we’re in a state of sin regardless of what it is, we tend to harbor that sin. It then becomes a burden in our heart. When we finally realize that sin is affecting our very being and has become a roadblock in our relationship with God we need to repent. Repenting is sometimes not easy to do…but once we do out of full sincerity God forgives us…relief comes over our souls, our eyes are opened. Repentance is so hard to do [but it] suddenly fills your heart with utter joy. What a privilege we have through Christ to be able to just admit and immediately have our baggage and burdens relieved. Repentance is not at all negative, it is joy…what a wonderful feeling that is to have all that weight immediately removed!”