Times of Refreshing

1 John 1:9 says that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, if we CONFESS them to Him.

God is ready and willing to cleanse us, because He loves us and wants us to walk in close, right relationship with him.

And let’s face it...SIN greatly effects our ability to do that.

When we have unconfessed sin, our hearts are burdened with the guilt and shame of our actions. As much as we may want to come close to God, those feelings hinder us, don’t they? We can even try to read the Word or worship or fellowship, but it is all surface, because we are choosing to carry the sin, instead of confess it.

You try to pray, and all you can do is think about the sin, You try to read the Bible and you’re sure your Bible has been replaced with one written in hieroglyphics. You don’t even want to go to church. You may even find yourself avoiding Christian friends on the street or screening all your calls...it’s ugly!

WHY do we do this? On one hand we know full well that Jesus came intently to die on the cross so that we could be free from that bondage. What keeps us from running to the Cross when we sin? Whatever it is, we need to look honestly at that and ask God to remove it and be willing to do our part in that process. Amen?!

Not anyone of us enjoy those feelings of shame. We certainly do not like to feel distant from the Lord. I can’t think of a more lonely place that I’ve ever walked in, how about you? And as hard as I’ve tried to distract myself with other things, there is still an ache in my gut that reminds me that I have unfinished business with God. And then when I do finally come to Him and repent and ask for forgiveness and spend time letting him speak to me, I have no idea why I waited.

Acts 3:19,20 says, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.”

Today, God is calling His people to a lifestyle of humbling ourselves and repentance and confession to Him first, and then to each other.

Repentance is easily described in one phrase - 180° - Acknowledging the sin, asking for forgiveness and then committing to a lifestyle that is in the opposite direction of that sin.

Now, God’s wisdom dictates to us that to truly walk in victory over that sin, we need each other. Not everybody you know...but a selected individual or individuals that you can trust and walk in accountability with. James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins one to another, and pray for each other that you may be healed.”

So Peter says, Repent and then TURN, or RETURN, this word in the Greek is the word, epistrepho, which means return to the worship of God, come back to a life of obedience to God and love for His children. Return to a love for God’s wisdom and righteousness.

And He says, God will WIPE away your sin. Which is the word, exaleipho, which means to wash and then anoint every part.

And then he says that times of REFRESHING will come. Cool water, to recover one’s breath, to revive something that was dead. A state of joy and cheer...Restore unto me the JOY of my salvation.

The Message reads Acts 3:19,20 like this...“Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus.”
The refreshing of the Lord, is like a drink of water to a thirsty, dying man in the desert, Like that first deep breathe coming up from deep waters. It brings life, hope, joy, anointing, and a renewed love for God and for people. You and I make the choice to stay in the desert, when we choose to hide our sins. We choose to remain isolated, at vulnerable to the further attack of the enemy.

The Lord is calling us to himself, saying…”Come repent, I want to forgive you, and cleanse you, and lead you in “Times of Refreshing”.