Fire & Wind: A Summer of Renewal // Times of Refreshing
Fire & Wind: A Summer of Renewal //
Times of Refreshing
Pastor Ryan Trawick
Acts 3:11-18 (AMP) 11 Now while he was still holding on to Peter and John, all the people, utterly amazed, ran together and crowded around them at the covered porch called Solomon’s portico. 12 And Peter, seeing this, said to the people, “You men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why are you staring at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Servant and Son Jesus [doing Him this honor], the One whom you handed over and disowned and rejected before Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14 But you disowned and denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for [the pardon of] a murderer to be granted to you. 15 But you killed the Prince (Author, Originator, Source) of life, whom God raised [bodily] from the dead. To this [fact] we are witnesses [for we have seen the risen Christ]. 16 And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health and complete wholeness in your presence. 17 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance [not fully aware of what you were doing], just as your rulers did also. 18 And so God has fulfilled what He foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ (Messiah, Anointed) would suffer.
Acts 3:19 (AMP) 19 So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Times of Refreshing might not change your circumstance but The Holy Spirit has the Power to use it to change you.
Three ways that The Holy Spirit uses Times of Refreshing in our lives to change us:
To REVIVE- Times of Refreshing serve to breathe life and hope back into us.
To RENOVATE- Times of Refreshing serve to freshen our focus on the purpose that God has for us to fulfill.
To REPLENISH- Times of Refreshing serve to restore a fresh supply of strength, peace, joy, confidence, and hope.
How do we experience Times of Refreshing?
• Make Room. Times of Refreshing come when we make room for the Holy Spirit to bring refreshing.
• Remove Distractions. In this life it’s easy to get distracted by our problems, stress and struggles, but we must put those things in their place and allow the Holy Spirit have free reign in our lives.
• Stay Available. Times of Refreshing aren’t limited to just Sundays. The Holy Spirit desires to refresh us continually.
How do we stay fresh?
• Personal Times of Worship.
• Prayer.
• Reading the Word of God.
• Surrounding ourselves with people that bring refreshing.
1 Corinthians 16:15-18 (NIV) 15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV) As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?