06 Jan Preparation for time of refreshing

I. New Year’s Resolutions

At the start of each new year, we hear a lot about so-called New Year’s “resolutions,” in which people decide to abandon bad habits, adopt new practices, or reform their approach to life. Unfortunately, these personal pledges do not tend to last for long, and failure on this front can lead to discouragement. 

This year, in the year 2025 instead of making a short-lived pact, it is more useful to focus on the biblical promises of God’s reappearance and continued presence with each passing year, 

ISAIAH 40:3-5:

[3] A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 

[4] Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 

[5] And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

God wants us to not staying in the past, weather it was successful, wonderful or even the bad, ugly and hurtful experiences; instead God wants us to left everything behind and walking together with Him to looking forward a new things. 

II. Does God Count Time?

In Genesis, the Lord meets with Abraham and says, 

GENESIS 18:10:

[10] The LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.

Later, God asks, “Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you”

GENESIS 18:14:

[14] Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Then God said,

“I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time in the next year (בשנה האחרת; ba’shanah ha’aheret)” 

GENESIS 17:21:

[21] But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”

The Hebrew word for “time” in these verses is מועד (moed)—which has a range of meanings including “set time,” “season,” or “festival”—and is the same term that Genesis had used to describe the reason for God’s appointment of the sun and moon: “Let them be for signs, and for seasons (ולמועדים; u’lemoadim), and for days and years” (Gen 1:14). 

GENESIS 1:14:

[14] And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,

The echo of creation in God’s words to Abraham and Sarah underscores that the divine promise and presence is as reliable as the cycle of days, months, and years.  

III. God Faithfulness Every Year

From a Jewish perspective, part of the reason for knowing the “seasons” or “times” that God established at creation was for the sake of following the festival calendar, which marked the sureness of God’s providence over Israel throughout each year. 

Leviticus, for instance, introduces the “feasts” (the same word that means “times” or “seasons”; מועדים [moadim]) by linking them to specific annual periods: 

“These are the feasts of the Lord (מועדי יהוה)—holy convocations—which you shall proclaim at their times (במועדם)” (Lev 23:4). 

LEVITICUS 23:4:

“These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them.

For the ancient Israelites (as much as for practicing Jews today), these calendrical reminders of God’s presence and promises are renewed at the same appointed times each year. 

Israel’s Scriptures attest to the ongoing reestablishment of divine blessings, not only “in the next year,” but in the year after next, and the year after that. 

Thus, rather than focusing on human resolutions in this new year, Bible readers can MAKE PREPARATION to trust in God’s sure pledge of continued covenant faithfulness this year and in all the years to come. 

ACTS 3:17-21:

[17] “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 

[18] But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 

[19] Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 

[20] that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 

[21] 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.

Time OF REFRESHING = Kairos = an occasion, i.e. set or proper time: time of opportunity, (convenient, due) season for  fulfilment the promised of God. 

IV. PREPARATION FOR TIME OF REFRESHING:

1. FORGET THE FORMER THINGS

ISAIAH 43:18-20:

[18] “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 

[19] Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 

[20] The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people,

God says :

“ If you’re dwelling on the past, you won’t see the new thing”

“If you’re focused on who hurt you and what wasn’t fair, you’ll miss your destiny”

“Living in regrets for former things will keep you from new opportunities that lies ahead before you”

“Reliving your mistakes will stop the new favor from springing up”

“If you’re looking back at the old, you won’t see the new”. 

When you drive your car, there’s a big windshield in front of you and a very small rearview mirror. 

The reason it’s so small is because what’s behind you is not nearly as important as what’s in front of you. 

Where you’re going is what matters, not where you’ve been. 

Is there something you need to forget, so you can see the new thing?

1. TIME OF REFRESHING IS NOW, IN FAITH 

Hebrews 11:1:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith’s dimention is always at the present time (NOW), not yesrterday {past way), not tomorrow (HOPE).

Apostle Paul reaffirmed that time of refreshing is now,

2 Corinthians 6:2:

[2] For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 

The first public miracle performed by Jesus was to change water into the best wine (much better than the past wine) in the wedding in Cana,

JOHN 2:9-11 (ESV):

[9] When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom

[10] and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 

[11] This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

JOHN 2:10 (NIV):

and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

In Jesus’ first public miracle when He turned water into wine at the wedding in John 2, it would have been a great miracle if He had given them the same wine that had run out. 

“We would be telling the story that God can restore, that when you run out, He can give you more”

That’s good, 

“but God is so loving that He doesn’t bring you out the same. He gives you the best wine. The best is simply something that you’ve never seen—favor, health, opportunity, finances, influence”

“The best is in front of you. After you see that best, then God will give you something better, a new best. 

That’s what it means when the Scripture says He’s taking you from glory to glory. In between those glories, there may be seasons when you feel as though you have nothing more to give—no more creativity, no more resources, no more options. 

It had to run out so you can see your next best. It’s all a part of God’s plan”. 

1. TIME OF REFRESHING WILL COME TO PASS IN GOD’S TIME

ISAIAH 60:21-22:

[21] Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified.  

[22] The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the LORD; in its time I will hasten it.

WHATEVER GOD HAD BEEN BLESS, WILL NEVER FAIL, CHANGE OR TAKE IT BY OTHERS. 

God speak to prophet Balaam :

NUMBERS 23:19-20:

[19] God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? 

[20] Behold, I received command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.

In New Testament, Apostle Paul said:

1 CORINTHIANS 15:57-58:

[57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[58] Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6:

[6] And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 6:9:

[9] And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

WHEN YOU SEEK REVIVAL, 

YOU WILL GET PERFORMANCE, WHEN YOU SEEK GOD, 

YOU WILL GET REVIVAL AND TIME OF REFRESHING!

ISAIAH 60:21-22:

[21] Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified.  

[22] The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the LORD; in its time I will hasten it.

Happy New year of 2025, we call it, “THE YEAR OF PREPARATION, so, let us prepare for God to pour out the TIME of REFRESHING to every aspect of our life”. Amin