Times of Refreshing
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,”
Acts 3:19-20 ESV
This chapter in Acts begins with a lame man healed. Peter and John encountered a man who had been lame since birth. Peter commanded the lame man to rise and walk in the name of Jesus, and so he did. Now healed, he decides to follow Peter and John. The crowd takes notice and is so amazed that they decide to follow Peter and John too. Peter decides to address the crowd and points them to who they should truly follow. He explains to them that God is the one who has healed the man and then explains how Jesus is the Anointed One that was foretold by the prophets. He then tells the crowd the words in Acts 3:19-20.
Peter says two interesting words: repent and refreshing. I want to take a look at both of these words. For starters; let’s look at both words in Greek, beginning with repent. I found online that the Greek word for repent is either metanoia or metamelomai. It means to change one’s mind. I found online the Greek word for refreshing is either anapsuxis or anapsucho, meaning refreshing or cooling. Also, I want to note that a synonym for the word refreshing is reviving. Reviving means to be brought back to life.
Let’s now go back to what Peter said. He said to repent (change one’s mind) and then their sins would be blotted out and times of refreshing (cooling, reviving) would come. Sins would be wiped away and then cooling, refreshing, and reviving would happen.
It is repentance that opens yourself up or positions you to be revived and refreshed by God. The Spirit reveals to you the sin that is entangling you, the sin of idol worship, and the sin that distracts from hearing and discerning the voice of God and doing His will. The dryness and dead things of sin are exposed, and The Spirit leads us to empty ourselves of the sin and turn back to The Lord. The turning back positions us for The Lord to refresh us. Repentance leads to revival.
One can infer that the group of people that Peter was speaking to were probably weighed down by the heaviness of sin. They probably had thoughts, beliefs, and ways they needed to turn from so that they could get back to God.
We find out later in the chapter that people did respond and repent and were brought back to life. Five thousand were added to the church that day. They repented (turned from their thought, ways, and actions) and the times of refreshing came. And what God spoke through Peter to the audience back then are words that we can take hold of today. If we repent as the verses say, times of refreshing may come upon us too. Revival would take place in us.
Go back and reread Acts chapter 3, verses nineteen through twenty. As you read let the words Peter spoke stir up in you. Let us examine ourselves this week through prayer. Below is an example of a prayer to pray for those who do not know The Lord Jesus to come to know Him and a prayer to come back to The Lord.
Prayer for Those who don’t know The Lord:
Jesus, I come to you to ask for forgiveness of my sins; save me, and make me a new person. Today, I choose to turn away from a life of sin and choose to follow you. I declare, Jesus you are Lord of my life. I thank You, Lord, for dying on the cross for my sins and raising up from the dead to save me. I believe in You and what you have done for me. In Jesus name, amen.
Prayer to turn back to The Lord:
Jesus, I confess that I have not been close to you. Forgive me and draw me near to You. I repent and draw near to you. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from them. I turn away from my sins and idols, and ask that You would break any bondage or attachment I have to any sin or idol. And Lord, refresh, revive, and restore me. May a fresh anointing fall on me. In Jesus name, amen.
