Entering Times of Refreshing

Resurrection Day this year was very special to us as we experienced God’s amazing work one after the other. Through these, God has revealed to us that He is leading us into times of refreshing.

On March 26 (Thursday) morning devotion we read Chapter 11 of 1 Samuel, then I proclaimed in the Spirit, “Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have help.” (1 Sam 11:0) The very next day we heard the news from the government that religious activities would be included in the exemption from gathering restrictions. Then from April 2 (Friday) onsite services have been resumed which happened to be Good Friday, followed by Resurrection Day. Last time physical services were allowed over the Feast of Tabernacles when we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. Now, onsite services have been resumed since the Resurrection Day as we commemorated the resurrection of Jesus. We stand amazed at God’s work!

More amazingly, the life testimony of MG leader Alex Wan was retold in the drama last week, showing how he was changed from a beggar-like childhood to a mighty vessel of God. The bible passage God gave him was Psalm 113. At the same time, while C-Mo was preparing flower materials for church decoration, she found a single rose bush with 13 blooms in the garden. Right away, she cut it and brought it back to church, dedicating it to the Lord on the Resurrection Day, as He is the rose of Sharon. As a result, on the Resurrection Day service, Psalm 113 is met with a rose with 13 blooms!

“He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes—with the princes of His people.” (Psalm 113:7-8) It tells of the life of Alex Wan as well as mine. On this Resurrection Day, God gave me a message: Joshua, you are no longer a beggar. Let go of the past and rise again, live in the present.

I preached Acts 3:1-21 last Sunday services. “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… whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things…” (Acts 3:19-21) The seventh day is the climax of creation and it is the Sabbath Day. Gods connects with us on that day and brings us to the times of refreshing. “Refreshing” means God is with us. Jesus has blotted out all our sins and when we believe in Him, we enter the times of refreshing with Him. When I put together the times of refreshing and the times of restoration of all things in history, and adding 611 history to it, I realize that we are entering times of refreshing. God will restore all things and His promise will be actualized in the appointed day.

Looking back at our twenty years of following God, we are right at God’s “Kairos Moment”. In the Resurrection Day this year, our heavenly Father was in our midst, celebrating with us. Thank God that despite the turmoil of the world, whenever we get connected with Him, we have rest and the times of refreshing. Hallelujah.■[2021.04.11]