Restoration

           Apostle Peter spoke to an assembled crowd of Jewish people in Jerusalem shortly after the day of Pentecost.  “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.”  Notice that we have times, “times of refreshing.”  And then  it continues, “That He may send Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who was before appointed for you whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all thing which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the began.” (Act 3:19).

            Notice, “the times of restoration of all things.”  Peter outlines, very simply, God’s program for closing this age.  I believe that this is something of real and practical concern for all of us.  Note that this restoration must be initiated by a response by the people of God.  Peter says, “repent therefore,” turn back to God.  Then Peter declares that God will set in motion the process that will bring the Messiah back again.

            He goes on to say, “be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”  So, we see that repentance leads to refreshing.  This is a principle that always works for God’s people.  If we are in need of times of refreshing, it will be set in motion by times of repentance.  To try and seek God’s refreshing without repentance is a waste of effort. ~~ Derek Prince, Israel and the Church:  Parallel Restoration