Times of refreshing and the presence of God.
Main Scripture for this study:
Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19
Preface: According to what I know:
1. In the 60s a black boy took one look on a white girl, he was killed in Tex.
2. In the 70s Chinese in America were still object of being looked down on.
3. 1974 when I arrived in Flushing, I found a few Chinese families living in this area.
One had a 28 years old daughter afraid to go out of house!
The Parents ran a cleaning store they had two big dogs.
One for walking to the store, one for guarding the house!
4. But for me, by the grace of God, I have a Bible in my hand, I knock on doors looking for Chinese
to come follow Jesus with me! I am a preacher of the Bible!
They all respected me a lot!
5. One out standing event, on a very nice day, a crew of Italian workers doing road repair!
I walked up to them and say, congratulation, you all have a good job, got to exercise and get pay!
They said, how about trade for your restaurant, I said, I do not have one!
How about cleaning store, I said I don’t have that either!
They said what do you do!
I said, I am a preacher of the church of Christ!
Suddenly they all stand up and gave me a salute!
This is a real time and real life example about times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord!
6. Think about at the time Chinese were being look down upon!
Chinese were known only to cook and wash clothes!
A Chinese preacher for the American church of Christ!? It was so amazing to them!
7. As I recently kept saying, if this is not a time for you to come follow Jesus with me!
There will be no better time for you! Please take hold of this present opportunity!
A. Human realities:
1. The presence of God keeps people from doing evil!
2. The presence of God helps people to respect each other and live together in peace!
3. The present of God helps you to make less mistakes!
4. All the above, in turn make you fearless than others!
5. And this in turn makes you look like fearless!
6. If you establish this feeling in your life, you would be a fearless person too!
7. In reality, except Jesus who has all authority in heaven and on earth, no one can be fearless!
In fact it is the presence of God that helps you to have less fear than your opponents!
In turn this make you look fearless, because others have more to fear!
B. Today’s main scripture makes it clear!1. Those people had committed grievous sins!
1. They had a lot to fear! They lost times of refreshing in their lives!
2. The remedy to have times of refreshing for them was to repent and turn to God!
3. They had to wash away their sins and turn to God!
4. It is then, times of refreshing may come from the presence of God!
C. One wonderful story in chapter 26 for our example to follow!
1. Gen 26:19 Isaac's servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there.
2. Gen 26:20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen and said,
"The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him.
3. Gen 26:21 Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; …
4. Gen 26:22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it.
He named it Rehoboth, saying: Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land.
5. Gen 26:23-24 From there he went up to Beersheba.
That night the LORD appeared to him and said:
I am the God of your father Abraham.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."
6. Gen 26:25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD.
There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.
7. Isaac lived in the presence of God. And he made sure he will continue to do so by building an altar!
8. You can do the same by becoming a member of the church of Christ!May the Lord bless you and keep you always!
Preach this March 27, 2016.
Video: English Cantonese – Recorded 3/27/16
Part 1