Introduction: Which is it going to be? Are you going to be REFRESHED or controlled by the FLESH? It is definitely a constant battle! As a Christian, we are either walking in the Spirit or fulfilling the desires of the flesh, according to Paul’s inspired letter to the Galatian believers.
Revival brings times of REFRESHING! Sins are confessed; grudges are forgotten; love is restored; Satan is exposed; joy is discovered; peace is imparted; faith is reestablished; prayers are offered; cleansing is found; vision is reclaimed; missions are planned; testimonies are purified; families are united; relationships are rebuilt; sicknesses are cured; Jesus is enthroned; the Church is empowered; and God is glorified!
1. When We Are Revived, We Are Refreshed by the Spirit! (Acts 3:19) – “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”
Without repentance, there will be no revival. Repentance is a change of mind and heart that results in turning from sin and turning to God—a complete U-TURN. Do you need to make a U-TURN?
Has something—a secret sin—crept into your life? Unknowingly, it will destroy you. Whether intentional or not, things that displease our Lord must be dealt with. Revival for the Christian means dealing with unconfessed sin. Are you willing to ask God to search your heart? That is the first step toward being revived.
Remember: LITTLE COMPROMISES lead to BIG CONSEQUENCES!
Have you compromised your convictions? Is the Holy Spirit nudging you to forgive? To reconcile? To stop excusing? To stop blaming? To stop justifying? To stop giving ground to the devil? To start being humble? To start being loving instead of critical? To start being compassionate toward others? To start sharing your faith in Jesus?
2. When We Are Not Revived, We Are Controlled by the Flesh! (Acts 3:19) – “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”
A lame man had been healed. The religious crowd ridiculed Peter and the disciples. So he stood and called the men of Israel to repent. Then and only then would there be times of refreshing in the presence of the Lord.
Even after conversion, our hearts need reviving. Why? Because of the war between the flesh and the Spirit! Satan is constantly shooting his fiery darts, attempting to ruin our testimony and make us ineffective in witnessing to others about God’s love and grace.
Are you feeling the pull of the world, the flesh, and the devil? Are you going to trust Jesus Christ to revive and refresh your heart?
Conclusion: While this message was technically directed at Israel, the same call is for the Church today. This does not mean being saved again—which cannot happen—but instead being refreshed and revived after salvation.
Will you let God refresh your heart today?
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese
