TUESDAY 20 April 2021 “Refresh”

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Hello my “Walking with Jesus” friends,

When you hear the word “REFRESH” what comes to your mind? A tall cold drink when you are desperately thirsty? Or maybe a waterfall of cool water spilling down over you after you’ve worked hard in the hot sun for a long time? Or maybe a phone call from a distant friend, or sweet worship music when your heart is heavy?

For the past few days we’ve been looking at a very interesting experience in the life of two disciples of Jesus, Peter and John, AFTER Jesus had returned back to heaven and they were beginning to lead a “Jesus movement”. This was a spontaneous spiritual movement of thousands of people in and around Jerusalem, who were experiencing their lives changed by Jesus! In Acts 3 a crippled beggar had been healed by the power of Jesus as Peter had said to him “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you, in the name of Jesus stand and walk.” (Acts 3:6) And taking Peter’s hand, this cripple stood for the first time in his life and walked. Then he started jumping, leaping and shouting in his exhilaration. It took only seconds for a crowd to form and Acts 3:10 says “They recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate…and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

When was the last time you were filled with wonder and amazement at the radical change you see in a person’s life, resulting from a miraculous work of Jesus in them? For this cripple it was a miraculous, physical. medical healing. Perhaps you’ve seen people freed by Jesus from addictions, or broken relationships healed and restored, or despair and hopelessness replaced with joy and fulfillment in life? When a crowd gathered in amazement at this miracle, Peter took advantage of the opportunity to explain to the crowd what had happened. “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Jesus that has given this man complete healing, as you can all see.” (Acts 3:16) Now what does that mean to you? How much faith is required for a crippled man to walk and jump on healed feet and legs? What is this power in the name of Jesus?

A few years later another man had a traumatic, life changing encounter with Jesus. This man was Saul the Pharisee on his way to Damascus. He was going there to arrest and persecute any followers of Jesus. But Saul was blinded by a light brighter than the sun and confronted by the voice of Jesus. In the 3 days of blindness which followed, Saul’s heart was changed as he contemplated what he knew of Jesus. In the months and years which followed Saul’s mind was changed as Jesus taught him all that Saul then took to the Roman world as the Apostle Paul. Acts 9 and Galatians 1,2 give us the accounts of this remarkable life transformation, which in turn through his preaching and his writing, has brought the life changing Gospel to millions all around the world. Paul often spoke and wrote about the power available in the name of Jesus. (Philippians 2)

Peter went on to accuse the people of Jerusalem with having a major role in the death of Jesus. Peter said “You handed Jesus over to be killed and you disowned Him before Pilate. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murder be released to you. You killed the author of life, Jesus, but God raised Him from the dead.” (Acts 3:14,15) Peter didn’t mince words or hold back. The people were stunned, but they knew Peter spoke truth. Many of them had likely been in the crowd that day when Pilate said he found no wrongdoing in Jesus and offered to release Him, but they shouted for Barrabas the criminal to be released and Jesus to be crucified! (Matt. 27:11-26) But I imagine most in the crowd were shocked to hear Peter claim this Jesus was “the Holy and Righteous One…the author of life.” Yet the events of His resurrection, His several appearances after His resurrection, and His ascension, when added to all the miracles Jesus had performed, and the truths He had spoken, did in fact point to the truth of what Peter claimed.

As a result a profound sense of conviction and responsibility swept through the crowd that day. Peter then made a profound statement: “Repent and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord Jesus…” (Acts 3:19) Repent, as we know, means ‘stop… stop doing that which is wrong, stop making excuses, stop pretending you don’t know better and admit your wrong. Take responsibility for your wrong and turn to God and start doing those things God leads you to do, which honor Him.” Then and now most everyone in the world understands the significance of “REPENT“. It’s a change of heart, mind and will. It’s a courageous admission of wrongdoing and assuming responsibility for sinful attitudes and behavior. True repentance turns my heart and mind to GOD, seeking that HE would change my life!

But did you notice Peter said two major things would happen IF these people REPENTED. First… “…so that your sins may be wiped out.” (Acts 3:19) Wow, what a radical statement! For the Jews, who were there that day, they knew their annual day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) was very significant in that God would consider their sins taken away from them as the sacrifices were made, the High Priest went into the Most Holy Place with the blood, and finally a goat was sent out into the desert bearing the repented of sins of the people. But here Peter is declaring GOD would ‘wipe out their sins’ right then and there, in response to their repentance to God. No High Priest, no animal sacrifice, no goat going out into the desert!!

This was a radical new concept. Sin forgiveness by holy God without animal sacrifice? Without a High Priest going into the Most Holy place with blood? Peter was showing them this was possible only because JESUS had become their sin atonement! Jesus had taken their sin upon Himself when He shed His blood and died on the cross, and therefore God could ‘wipe out their sins’, because their death price had been paid by Jesus! Do you know the same offer is extended to you and me and every living person in the world, right now, and every moment of every day? Hebrews 7:25 says “Jesus is able to save completely those who come to God [in repentance] because He always lives to intercede for them.” Do you see the glorious assurance of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus in this verse? Jesus is alive (resurrected from the dead) and He is in heaven (ascended) making intercession for all who repent (Romans 8:34)! That is a glorious and life saving truth my friends and I hope you have claimed it for yourself!

I wonder if John, who was standing there with Peter in this moment, was thinking about this speech of Peter’s when years later wrote to followers of Jesus everywhere… “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make God out to be a liar, and His word has no place in our lives… But if anyone does sin, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is our atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 1:8-2:2) Now those are some of the most powerful words ever spoken or written, so don’t rush by them, my friends…own them for yourself. In fact I challenge you to MEMORIZE them!

And then do you see Peter promised, that for the repentant person, in addition to their sins being wiped out by God, they would then receive something almost indescribable... “…times of refreshing may come from the Lord [Jesus Christ].” (Acts 3:19) This refreshing is an almost unexplainable, a work of the Holy Spirit which fills your heart and mind as you are confident that Jesus has heard your words of repentance. That Jesus has interceded for you with God the Father, perhaps showing the Father His nail scarred hands. That God the Father has then extended His forgiveness to you for those sins, and the Holy Spirit has begun His cleansing work in your life. Oh my what spiritual refreshment then fills your soul! Am I right? Have you experienced it? It’s one of the greatest experiences in life isn’t it? And it happens EVERYTIME authentic repentance with God takes place!

Now in closing watch this my friends. The healed cripple, standing, walking, leaping, jumping next to Peter and John, was a living, tangible evidence of the power of faith in Jesus. He was also a visible picture of what happens when REPENT turns to REFRESH as Jesus, God the Son, intercedes. God the Father forgives, and God the Holy Spirit fills the repentant person anew in a spiritual REFRESH!

Oh my, I think that calls for celebration, what do you think? So here’s a great celebration song!

Today’s Scripture is Acts 3:10-19.

Choose below to read or listen.

Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.

Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.

Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)

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