Times of Refreshing Part 3 (Freedom) 05/05/2024

Times of Refreshing Part 3 (Freedom) R - rest ✅ E - elevation ✅ F - freedom ✅ R - restoration  E - establishment  S - strength  H - humility  Text: ”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, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.“ Acts 3:19-21 NKJV Introduction  The world we leave in has always been striving for freedom  No one want to leave under oppression and slavery  Our country South Africa 🇿🇦 is a great example of continuous fight against oppression  When we are set free on one side there is another aspect screaming for freedom  From oppression of apartheid to strive for equality and economic freedom  The scale is always of balance in one way or other until you invite the Devine  Born Free ”And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”“ Genesis 2:16-17 NKJV Human race was born free and true freedom came with boundaries  We were created free and in a relationship with God  The first family were in communion with God on daily basis  In 2024 we are encouraged to follow our heart in every decision we make  We don’t consult God on how we should live our lives and we call it freedom True Freedom Is Christ  ”Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.“ John 8:31-36 NKJV We call our country free and democratic but are we really free  The Pharisees were so convinced that they are free because of being born Israelites 🇮🇱 sons of Abraham  Jesus see beyond what we see and perceive  He is challenging them about true freedom which is spiritual freedom and eternal freedom in heaven  Abraham Conversation: continued from verse 37 until verse 59 ”Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”“ Jesus confirmed with His own word that He is more supreme than Abraham The Pharisees insulted Jesus, called Him names and didn’t realized the savior in their midst Closure ”“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”“ Luke 4:18-19 NKJV Jesus came to set us free The very first sermon He preached was about our freedom  Are you really free today, be honest with yourself  If you aren’t it’s not all lost, Jesus is setting you free today  ”Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.“ II Corinthians 3:17 NKJV