Ready to be Refreshed?

Acts 3:19–21 NKJV

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

Many are dry and thirsty

Psalm 43:1–2 NKJV

Vindicate me, O God, And plead my cause against an ungodly nation; Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! For You are the God of my strength; Why do You cast me off? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

Psalm 63:1 NKJV

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

God desires to send refreshing

Isaiah 43:3 NKJV

For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

Isaiah 55:1 NKJV

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.

John 7:37–39 NKJV

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Getting Ready

Repentance

Why repentance?

Because sin separates us from the presence and favor of God.

Isaiah 59:1–2 NKJV

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

Repentance means to turn, to agree with God and turn from sin.

Charles H. Spurgeon: “Sin and hell are married unless repentance proclaims the divorce.”

Charles G. Finney: Revival is a “renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one's will to God in deep humility.”

Conversion

The Greek word translated as “conversion” means to turn again to God.

Together, repentance and conversion are complete in turning from sin and turning again to God.

Times of Refreshing

a. Refreshing is the result of the return of God’s presence.

b. Refreshing is drinking from the living water given by Christ.

c. Refreshing is a renewed appetite for God’s living Word.

Response to the Word

Are you thirsty?

Do you long for God’s presence once again in your life?

Believe that God wants to satisfy your thirst for His presence in your life.

Repent of the sin that separates you from God.

What is separating you from God right now?

Turn again in full devotion to God with all your heart.

Come to Him by faith and receive the refreshing that you need.