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Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the LORD...- Acts 3:19 This may very well be the most important message I have ever relayed. In recent weeks I have been contemplating and studying the literal meaning of Biblical repentance. It is not simply mouthing the words ‘I’m sorry’ from a callous heart. It is, in fact, a gracious gift that continues to be extended to you and me. And without this gift, we are truly a hopeless, wandering, and dehydrated people. It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4) exhorts Paul. And that refreshing (korat-ruach) that our spirits yearn for is directly linked to our receiving what He is giving...will we shema (hear and obey) and drink of it? 2 Timothy 2:25-26 says: 'And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.' Did you catch that? There are some who have been taken captive by the enemy to do his will. Can you make the deceived to see? Emphatically, NO! Should you condemn them for something they cannot see? Again, no...you don’t slap a blind man for walking into a wall. This is why we are instructed to fervently and specifically pray for one another that God would grant His gift of a penitent heart. And this is why He made His Body as it is - connected with purpose! Without HIM first granting our repentance, we could never gain a better view! We could never know the Truth. It is all contingent upon HIS granting repentance. Only then are we able to shuwb - return - to the One Who is calling. Only then do we cease grieving the Spirit of God as HE eagerly awaits our returning so that He may pour ‘times of refreshing’ upon our drought-stricken spirits. Plainly Sisters, Korat-ruach (Hb. meaning cooling of the spirit; ‘times of refreshing’; or contentment) is tied into our shuwb (returning or ‘a putting it in reverse’). And our shuwb is wholly dependent upon His premier and providential granting to us nocham (repentance or godly sorrow). Take a look at 2 Corinthians 7:9-10! Read it, meditate upon it and then ask yourself, ‘Am I asking my Heavenly Father daily for this gift of repentance for me, for the Body of Christ? Church, what would happen if we prayed this way? Metanohsate oun kai epistreyate! Translation: Repent (due to your new understanding He has given) therefore and be converted (come back)! He promises refreshments for those who return! Father God bring korat-ruach upon Your people that we may proclaim in the power of Your Spirit as Zechariah prophesied, ‘deliverance (a cool drink) comes through the forgiveness of sins!’ (Luke 1:67-79). Thank You for Your long-suffering kindness toward us. May You give us a new understanding and may we drink deeply in Jesus’ Name, praying fervently, patiently and continuously for one another. Amen. Wise Words: "The Christian is a holy rebel loose in the world with access to the throne of God. Satan never knows from what direction the danger will come." - A.W. Tozer

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

The In-Between-Times

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