Acts 3:19-20 (ESV)
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,
The Antioch Church was a power house yet down to earth. Their quest – live simply, give generously. Focused in the vision. Forceful in the mission. As MCO advances into CMCO and soon a whole reentry of society, what are people – ordinary people grappling with? Future.
The future for God’s people is unchanged. Granted we need to adapt to the unforeseen, but we were not uninformed. The signs and symptoms of the last days were revealed long ago and have been passed from one generation to another. Since the early church the warning was issued. We must not be disillusioned like the world. Neither be in denial of what is to come. Afterall, the Bible is not a book of fantasy. Be expectant of the grand ending. Look to the apostles how they lived. Simply and generously. Focused and forceful.
Times of refreshing are promised. “Times” refers to seasons. Not just one single time. Refreshing indeed for me to read this phrase knowing this is a promise. And everyone needs it. No one toils on earth without refreshment. Prerequisite is repentance. This is a grace period to be spiritually refreshed. Perhaps many do not experience spiritual refreshment because there was not a true repentance to begin with. Without spiritual refreshment, we cannot be fully restored. One is trapped in a vicious cycle of being spent in the spirit trying to barely survive above the drowning waves. An incomplete restoration lacks the stamina to toil the race. Being stuck forever nursing and restraining a gaped wound, attempting to endure excruciating pain with grit teeth. The gnawing pain consumes every bit of energy before one can replenish it. Exhaustion and stings fare too strenuous for one to keep up.
The surgeon walks in. Diagnosed it. Hands over the consent form for the individual to sign. To grant the full permission for him to perform the procedure of operating, deep cleansing and binding up the wound. To be administered the right dose of anaesthesia – general, localised or nil. Entirely up to his discretion. That signed consent is the understood agreement. For whatever reasons the patient refuses to sign, the surgeon no matter how credible and reputable will not be able to do anything to help solve that problem. Even if that surgical intervention is successfully performed, one must remember the post-operative follow-up plan. Complete recovery is only achieved when the diagnosis is accurate, the prescribed treatment is
appropriate and not forgetting the patient must cooperate.
First, the patient must sign off his rights to interfere with the process and lay still with or without anaesthesia to allow the whole process by the surgeon. Yes, every surgical intervention carries a risk. Thus, the needful of a consent.
The Great Surgeon walks in our life… have we done a full hand over? Or we hold a list of terms and conditions for him? Unlike the human surgeon, this One never makes errors in diagnosis nor treatment. The only risk on our part is having no say to the nature and duration of the procedure. Trust is abandoned in his supreme regimen.
Malignant tumour we may have none. Not even any benign lump or bump. A glance over the body, we see no scratch, cut or bruises. Fit as a fiddle, so we think. How about the unseen blood profile, hormonal imbalance, muscular tension, pinched nerves which affect our function without us realizing? Have we any deficiency of the micronutrients which disturbs the equilibrium, and interrupts the optimum functions of our health? All these in the reference of our spiritual health. We need the constant regimen check by the Great Surgeon who is also our Great Physician. He specialises in all faculties.
“Times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” but the prerequisite is repentance. True repentance.
True Repentance => Times of Refreshing => Total Restoration => Toil The Race
Times of refreshing begins with true repentance.
© Pr Selina Khoo Lim, Gateway City Church, Penang. 18 May 2020