Grace And Peace Family,

“Times of refreshing” is a phrase that appears in the Bible. It is mentioned in Acts 3:19-21, 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]; and that He may send [to you] Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you. (AMP) and refers to the time when Jesus will return and rule in righteousness. The ultimate times of refreshing will be fulfilled when Jesus Christ returns in glory. In a lesser (though glorious) sense, God sends times of refreshing to His people today.

The times of refreshing Peter spoke of in Acts 3:19 come directly from the words of the Master he loved so much. It is the Holy Spirit indwelling our own spirit that overflows into every area of our lives. He brings refreshing, restoration, and renewal—like a mighty, surging river full of living water. A person can’t get more refreshed than that! Also, God speaks of “Times of Refreshing,” seasons when we sense a greater awareness of His presence and manifestation of His Kingdom here on earth. We see more people being saved, more healings, a spirit of repentance, etc. When we look at church history, we can see times of refreshing through awakenings, revivals, and various moves of God.

The Greek New Testament word for refreshing found in our verse above encourages our hearts: Anapsyxis Greek-Meaning: A cooling or refreshing, a recovery of breath, a revival. Oh, To catch our breath, to be revived in this hot and hectic world where the daily onslaught of news can be daunting, and everyday living can seem beyond challenging. Yet, in God’s refreshing presence is the fullness of joy King David wrote about, regardless of our circumstances Psalm 16:11.

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive…

Holy Spirit Overflow

God’s Word explains that the Holy Spirit indwells every person who receives Jesus by faith Rom. 8:9. That born-again moment when our once dead spirit—dead due to Adam’s and Eve’s fall and our own sin—is made alive by the very breath of the Holy Spirit. It is Divine CPR. However, all four gospel writers tell us it is the baptism of the Spirit that releases the overflow—the river of God’s power in our lives to satiate our thirsty souls and spill over to bring others into His Kingdom.

After all, who doesn’t want refreshment in their lives? Who doesn’t long to experience continual joy, hope, healing, strength, and purpose? Isn’t this the heart cry of humanity? What would it be like for your whole being–spirit, soul, and body–to rest securely and have a continual sense of God’s refreshing presence amid the hills and valleys of life? So, wherever you find yourself, let me encourage you to make plans to be a part of our Times of Refreshing (T.O.R) special meeting, filled with Spirit led worship, encouragement, exhortation, rest, laughter, and blessings. Be sure to save the date of Sunday, July 30th @ 6:30pm. So, we can get to share a timely word with you and your family, while we experience the presence and peace of God during these amazing Times of Refreshing!