Times Of Refreshing 1 Series

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INTRODUCTION

THEME FOR THE YEAR – TIMES OF REFRESHING

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

Refresh means Revive, Revitalize, Restoring, Freshening.

1. MEANING OF BIBLICAL REFRESHING – TIMES OF REFRESHING

The Biblical theme of refreshing has a variety of physical and spiritual meanings. So, let’s see how to have the times of refreshing in a biblical way.

A. TIMES OF REFRESHING IN REST

In the Scripture, we read of refreshment by resting on the Sabbath.

Exodus 23:12

Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, maybe refreshed.

B. TIMES OFF REFRESHING OF COOL DRINK

With cool water after physical activity.

Judges 15:18-19

18 Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the Lord, “You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” 19 Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned, and he revived. When I was a small boy, I used to walk 3 km from school to my home. My school leaves at 3 pm and by then I would have exhausted my water. I had to take a 40-minute walk to my house. Sometimes I would be exhausted finding it difficult to keep even a step. I remember, there used to be a public tap somewhere in the middle of the route. I would wait to get there. There in the shade of the tree, I drank enough water, filled my bottle, and then continued refreshed to my home. It was a place where my thirst was quenched, a place where my tiredness was replaced with refreshing.

C. TIMES OF REFRESHING IN MUSIC

Heavenly, godly music or worship can revive us.

1 Samuel 16:23

Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

D. TIMES OF REFRESHING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

In the NT we find refreshing given by the Holy Spirit. Also, Times of refreshing were promised by the prophets.

Jeremiah 31:25

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. I do not know if, at the end of this year, you are weary and faint. You have struggled enough. You have wandered enough, you have gone through some dry patches, you have been waiting enough, I know you have gone through a tough time, hold on times of refreshing are coming.” If you believe that should be a Hallelujah!

Today I want to concentrate on the Holy Spirit. As we know the book of Acts starts with Jesus’ resurrection, appearance to his disciples, and ascension to heaven, all of a sudden, they were left alone in the dark and they did not know what to do. Then Jesus asked them to stay in Jerusalem. And then in Acts 2, we see that they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and a new season of refreshing started in their lives. Furthermore, Peter preached and 3000 were saved in one message.

So, when the refreshing of the Holy Spirit came, there was power, joy, and growth. God is setting you up for his power, growth, and joy in 2016. Then we find healing because of the refreshing.

In Acts 3, Peter and John saw a lame man begging at the gate of the temple. They healed him in the name of Jesus Christ and then the healed man went into the temple walking and leaping and praising God. Therefore, the crowd was filled with wonder and amazement. So, Peter seizes the opportunity to preach his second message. Hence, he told them about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. He also accused them of putting Jesus to death. Then he said:

Acts 3:19-20

19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you-even Jesus.

The times of refreshing started when Jesus Christ came into this world, The time He was moved by the Holy Spirit, He brought refreshing to the ones who were with him. Now that Jesus has ascended to the Father, He has sent His Holy Spirit to send us the refreshing. This is exactly the refreshing Peter preached in:

Acts 2:37-38

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.