40 Days of Teshuvah by Perry Stone; Bill Cloud

Author:Perry Stone; Bill Cloud
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Bible, Conduct of Life, Christian Life, Moon
ISBN: 9780978592004
Publisher: Voice of Evangelism
Published: 2006-02-09T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

Times of Refreshing and Restoration

"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom Heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." (Acts 3:19-21)

In the Hebrew Scriptures, when God's people repented, the typical result was the blessing of rain upon their fields, crops and vineyards. This fruitfulness led to further restoration and prosperity. In the New Testament when repentance was evident, prayers were answered and people were released from various bondages. This spiritual refreshing is likened to the rainy season of old—even as the rain refreshes, likewise, the rain of the Holy Spirit is intended to send refreshing to those whose hearts are intent on returning to the Lord. It seems then, that the season of repentance is the prelude to a season of refreshing.

In Acts 3, the word translated as "refreshing" is the Greek word anapsuxis and means literally, "a recovery of breath." It is intended to infer that someone who has lost his breath and has fainted from exhaustion is suddenly renewed and revived when the breath is recovered. Our modern word "revival" conveys the same idea. Thus, we are to understand that Peter spoke of a revival and refreshing that would come from the presence of the Lord, after people repented! Today, when there is true and heart-felt repentance, there indeed comes a time of refreshing and revival.

If repentance is the prelude to refreshing, then the refreshing comes as the introduction to complete restoration. In Acts 3, we are promised that "all things" will be restored. Of course, this is specifically dealing with the advent of the Messianic age when Jesus Christ rules and reigns from Jerusalem. Nevertheless, "all" means "all" and that has to imply that when God's people repent, they will be refreshed— rained upon—and will experience complete restoration, ultimately personified by the Messianic era. The epistle of James puts it this way:

"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." (James 5:7-8)

In the days of the Temple, the Feast of Tabernacles was also considered to be the Feast of the Ingathering. This was symbolized by the ingathering of the fruits of trees and the field which were brought up to Jerusalem. In fact, seven different fruits were gathered in a basket, the basket placed between the horns of an ox which was led into the Temple courtyards.

It is understood that these seven fruits were to symbolize fruit coming from all seven continents. In other words, this was to signify that, in the end, God would have worshippers coming up to Jerusalem to extol Him from every nation on earth.

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