Hit Refresh in 2022Sample

In this plan, we are using “Hit refresh” as a modern-day computer-based analogy that refers to “tidying up all things that have been scrambled and that are having a detrimental effect on the proper functionality of the individual and or the organisation.”

Without a doubt, 2021 was a year that scrambled everything, much of which needs to be unscrambled now at the beginning of 2022!

Throughout this study, I will refer to Acts 3:19-20 in the Amplified Version. The bracketed comments are embedded by Amplified in the text to bring an ancient scripture into the modern understanding and context:

So repent [change your inner self - your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God - seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day]; and that He may send [to you] Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you.

These two verses are part of a bigger story whereby Peter had just healed a man who had been lame from birth. The onlookers were surprised at what Peter did, so he told them he healed the cripple in the name of Jesus, whom they (the Jews) had rejected and crucified.

A few verses earlier in Acts 3:17, Peter says something very interesting:

Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance [not fully aware of what you were doing], just as your rulers did also.

This verse is referring to them rejecting and crucifying Jesus. Keep in mind this context when reading verse 19. Here it is again:

So repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

Peter is talking to fellow Jews, his brothers, the people of God, whose ideas, doctrines, theology, thoughts, and understandings had been so scrambled by their corrupt Jewish leaders that they completely missed the visitation of the living God in the form of Jesus and treated Him as lower than a murderer.

Remember, Pontius Pilot offered them a choice on whom to release and they chose to release Barabbas (a murderer) and crucify Jesus. It is that specifically, which Peter wanted them to “hit refresh” from.

Peter wanted them to stop, take a break, repent (change their thoughts and actions), and come back refreshed with the right thinking and completely aligned with Jesus!

I think the events of the last two years, especially 2021, have challenged the thoughts, beliefs, and actions of millions of Christians around the world. As a result, I think verse 17 applies to many people today – “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance [not fully aware of what you were doing], just as your rulers did also.”

I know from running a large international marketplace ministry that we are currently facing corrupt world leaders, a distortion of the truth by the media, and overt hostility towards Christians. All of which has worn many of us down, burnt us out, and as a result some of our decision-making is all over the show.

Hence, there is a worldwide need for many of us to hit refresh and get back to the truth of whom Jesus is and what God’s greater vision for mankind is.

Hitting refresh is quite akin to a military period of REST, RECUPERATION, AND RETRAINING (the 3R’s).

Note, this is different than what you may know as traditional R&R which stems from US and British troops being granted short periods of leave from tours of duty overseas. That was all about rest and recuperation which gave rise to a lot of prostitution and no retraining.

Instead, the 3R’s is an internal expression used by certain special forces that most people would have never heard of, and it is quite distinct from the R&R that most military service people would understand.

Tomorrow I will discuss why the 3R’s were so important for the Rhodesian SAS and how this resulted in these soldiers being considered the most “professional and battleworthy in the world”.