7 day plan

Times of Refreshing

Day 1 of 7

NIV

Acts 3:19-21

After Peter and John had witnessed the miraculous healing of the lame man at the gate in Jerusalem, Peter stood up to preach. In his sermon, he used the phrase “times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19). The word ‘times’ can refer to seasons or opportunities. Peter is talking about a God-given season in which each of us has an opportunity to respond to God’s grace. Many people think that this is also the best Biblical definition of a revival. It is certainly a beautiful description of the divinely inspired seasons of spiritual revitalisation which have graced church history. They are days from the Lord which ready us for the Day of the Lord. They are times of refreshing which prepare us for the time of restoration, when God will restore everything. They are vital times of awakening which we all so desperately need. Australia needs a revival. Let’s see what else we can learn from Acts chapter 3. “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 Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets” Acts 3:19-21, NIV. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” 2 Corinthians 5:17-19, NIV.

Series Introduction

I believe we need a God-given revival in Australia. But what are the ingredients of a revival and how should we prepare for one? Revivals have taken place throughout church history. They are characterised by a renewed awareness of the Presence of God which results in both a spiritual and a social transformation within a community. The impact of these revivals, such as the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, are still being felt today. These divine and extraordinary events are difficult to describe or define. However, there is a passage in the Bible that many people think not only serves as a definition of revival but also gives us some clues about our necessary preparation for such an event. The passage is found in the story of Peter and John and the healing of the man at the temple gate (Acts 3).

Reflection:

The apostles, Peter and John, didn’t always see eye to eye. After Peter’s denial of Christ, we find John at the cross, but Peter is nowhere to be seen. Yet, after the day of Pentecost, they are both involved at the miracle at the Beautiful gate and were both together when Peter preached about “times of refreshing” (Acts 3:19).

Whatever differences they had before the cross were reconciled after the cross. Whatever disagreements they had before Pentecost were resolved after the Spirit was poured out. Reconciliation is at the heart of Christianity. Unity was one of the characteristics of the early church. All the disciples were together with one mind and one mission.

This unity also characterises historical revivals. In the 1857 revival in New York, for instance, all the churches gathered as one around a common passion for prayer, which then spread throughout the United States. If we are going to see revival in Australia, we must do everything in our power to reconcile our differences and work together for a common cause. Revivals require reconciliation.

Prayer:

Father God, I praise your holy Name. Thank you that I have been reconciled to you through the death of your Son. Please give me the grace to be reconciled to those with whom I need to be reconciled, and to share this ministry of reconciliation with others. I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Days

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