Times of Refreshment

Introduction

A 1992 devotion had this to say about the warring nature of humanity.

“A group of academics and historians has compiled this startling information: Since 3600 B.C., the world has known only 292 years of peace! During this period there have been 14,351 wars large and small, in which 3.64 billion people have been killed. The value of the property destroyed is equal to a golden belt around the world 97.2 miles wide and 33 feet thick. Since 650 B.C., there have also been 1,656 arms races, only 16 of which have not ended in war. The remainder ended in the economic collapse of the countries involved.”

That’s incredible isn’t it?

292 years of peace since 3600 B.C.

Seems about right.

It’s no secret that our nation joined a war with Iran last night. I know many join me in praying for peace; praying for everyone involved.

War is terrible. The Bible promises that one day, humnaity will beat their swords into plowshares and the spears into pruning hooks. I can’t wait for that day.

When the Bible speaks of ultimate peace...it is speaking of peace that only God can bring; it speaks about the peace that come with Jesus’ second coming...where he will rule and reign over all the earth.

This is the great hope of scripture...that we know...one day...war will come to an end forever. In the meantime we pray and work for peace; even as we know evil must be resisted.

Today

Today we continue our study of the book of Acts and how the early church came to be and how it understood its mission. In our reading this morning from Acts 3 we heard the response of the Jewish leaders to a miraculous healing that just took place. Peter and John were going to the temple to worship God and continue to proclaim the name of Jesus to all who would listen.

On their way they encounter a beggar who expected to recieve alms from them. But instead he was healed...

Acts 3:4–8 NLT

Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

Peter had not expected this encounter...but he used it to proclaim Jesus to the crowds.

v.11 says this healed man...continue to cling to Peter and as the people were amazed at what just happened...Peter gives a sermon about who was responsible for this healing.

It’s interesting...Peter and John could have claimed some credit here...as though they had done something or that they themselves were something special but they...knew...that they healing came from God.

How often do you and I experience healing of one kind or another and attribute that healing to something other than God?

Peter says specifically...Acts 3:12-16

Acts 3:12–16 NLT

Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact! “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.

This is what Peter has been preaching since Pentecost. Jesus...the crucified...resurrected...and ascended son of God has now been glorified...and that only through repentance and faith (those go hand-in-hand) we will be a part of God’s final outpouring of the Spirit and the culmination of God’s eternal plan of salvation.

Through faith in his name was this man healed.

Do you have faith in Jesus? That sounds like a simple question, but in this passage Peter equates faith in Jesus, with a miraculous healing! FAith in Jesus’ name can bring healing.

Closing

Peter continues by framing this faith in the last days understanding of real healing and redemption.

Acts 3:17–21 NLT

“Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away (literally “blotted out”; ancient washing Papyrus).

Acts 3:17–21 NLT

Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah; for he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.

What’s the promise Peter makes regarding their repentance and faith in Jesus?

It’s a three-part promise:

It is the promise of all our sins being blotted out...erased...forever forgotten.

Times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord (eg, the healing of the lame man)

Jesus will return to restore all things; fulfilling all the prophets foretold.

Are you in need of “time of refreshment”? Summer is often the time when people take vacations to “get away from it all” to refersh their body, mind, and souls. Peter here is saying that times of refreshment come from God...and can happen any time ...anywhere.

Through repentance and faith...(repentance is recognizing your need for forgiveness and forsaking sin; focused inward) and faith is focused outward (faith in Jesus to restore all things). It is through repentance and faith...that times of refreshment come.

Ultimately...the proclamation here is the promised return of the Jesus, “he will again send you Jesus”, and in that promise is tied up our own healing, and restoration with our relationship with God and one another.

Don’t focus outward on the world. We will almost always have wars. We will almost always have leaders we don’t like. We will always have enemies; the greatest being satan himself. When we focus outward...let us focus...not on the negative news headlines...but on the one promises to return and restore all things.

When we do that...we will find times of refreshment for our souls.

Thanks be to God...AMEN.