10-01-2025 PART 3: Brand New Day: Repentance, Forgiveness, and Refreshing

Section 1
The teaching continues on the kingdom of God, highlighting that it is both present and future. When someone is saved, when sin is overcome, or when healing takes place, that is the kingdom breaking through now. Yet we also look forward to the kingdom fully revealed when Jesus returns. While we wait, God’s glory breaks into our world, displaying His love, grace, and mercy. The entry point to experiencing this kingdom is consistent across Scripture: repentance. John the Baptist, Jesus, and Peter all began their ministries with the same call—repent, for the kingdom is near. Repentance is the doorway through which the believer steps into God’s reign.

Section 2
Repentance carries two primary aspects. The first is godly sorrow over sin, the anguish that recognizes offense against God, as seen in Psalm 69 and confirmed in 2 Corinthians 7:10. The second is the act of changing one’s mind and direction, conforming to God’s way of thinking. True repentance involves both a heart of sorrow and a decisive reorientation toward God’s truth. It is not about running from Him in shame but running to Him in humility. The promise tied to repentance is profound: when we turn, God forgives and refreshes. Peter declared in Acts 3:19 that sins are blotted out and “times of refreshing” come from the presence of the Lord.

Section 3
Repentance, then, is not merely about guilt—it leads to transformation. God’s forgiveness washes us like a cleansing bath when life’s “mud” clings to us, even though we are already clean in Christ. The refreshing presence of the Lord restores joy, strength, and perspective, renewing the believer’s heart and mind. This reality cannot be understood by the natural mind, but for those who yield, it is life-changing. To repent is to live bold, unashamed, and fully surrendered to God. Far from being weakness, repentance takes courage—it is the brave act of aligning with the Creator, walking in fellowship with Him, and experiencing the joy and refreshing of His presence.