The Pilgrim Path---Acts 3: 11—26

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name---by faith in is name---has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also the rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God Spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

TIMES OF REFRESHING…

---Peter and John have a new friend clinging now (the beggar who was healed). The crowds run into Solomon’s Portico because of the miracle. Peter wastes no time: it has all happened in the Mighty Name of Jesus---the Author of Life---whom you killed---but God raised from the dead. “We know this,” Peter says, “We saw it with our own eyes.” This poor beggar is in excellent health through “faith” that is in Jesus Christ. What a testimony this was to all in attendance!

---Peter assures the crowd that the LORD understands they acted in ignorance. Peter also lets his hearers know that “all” that happened was not happenstance. All that occurred was in direct fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures!

---Peter’s message was very personal and to the point. This was the Apostolic Method: Repent---that your sins may vanish---AND that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the LORD. Not to turn---not to listen---would bring ultimate soul ruin before the Holy God of Heaven!

*** What a testimony in verse 26, “God having raised up his servant (Jesus), sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from wickedness.”

---Please do not miss the promise in verses 19 and 20---“Repentance” ---turning back to the LORD---brings back times of refreshing:

--a conscience set free from the guilt of sin

--comfort in the face of trial

--clarity in Scripture study (more than when you were wandering in sin)

--calmness becomes “the” tendency in times of testing

--conscious effort is made to forgive ---as God for Christ’s sake---has forgiven You

--church is a delight---not just a drag or a burden

--conveying blessings---because the LORD has So Blessed You

We pray for times of refreshing all around!

From James Montgomery Boice: …the “times of refreshing” probably refer to a future day of blessing when the Jewish people will turn to Christ in large numbers and a final age of national blessing will come. Paul talks about it in Romans 11. On the other hand, there are also “times of refreshing for all God’s people even now. Many of us go through life feeling pretty stale in what we do. We feel like the horse who eats hay and oats on Monday, oats and hay on Tuesday, hay, and oats on Wednesday, and so on throughout the week. Many people find, especially if they are in an unrewarding job, that life is often quite dreary. And sometimes even their Christianity becomes stale. They say, “I’ve been coming to church every week. But somehow it just is not what it used to be. I feel so flat when I come.” Well, that happens. We all go through dry spells. Times like that do not necessarily mean that we are far from God. They only mean that we feel far from God. Sometimes the cause is bad health. Sometimes the cause is the weather. A few days rain and cold sometimes plunge me into a dark night of the soul. What we are told here is that in Christ there will be times of refreshing. Haven’t you known times when Jesus became so real and the gospel so vivid that your whole spirit, soul, and body were revived? If you want times of refreshing, times that make life really worth living so you can say, “Oh, it is good to be a Christian,” turn from sin and follow close to Jesus.

From John Duncan: It is…not so much that man fell from holiness and happiness as that he fell from God; and it is not so much that he needs to return to holiness and happiness as that he needs to return to God.

HYMN

Have Thine own way, LORD! have Thine own way!

Search me and try me, Master, today!

Whiter than snow, LORD, wash me just now,

As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, LORD! have Thine own way!

Hold o’er my being absolute sway!

Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see

Christ only, always, living in me!

Adelaide Addison Pollard (1862-1934)

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason