RETURN TO GOD

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Key Verse

  • Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord … Acts 3:19 NASB
Other versions

  • 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] … Acts 3:19 AMP

We are advised to return to GOD

  • Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 1:3 NKJV
  • For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel has said this, “In returning [to Me] and rest you shall be saved, In quietness and confident trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 AMP
  • I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned1 to Me, strengthen your brethren.” Luke 22:32 NKJV
  • “Return2, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings.” “Indeed we do come to You, For You are the LORD our God. Jeremiah 3:22 NKJV

When not walking with God, our tendency may be to keep away from the things of God. God encourages us to return to Him. Returning to God could be through Quiet Time, Worship, Bible, Fellowship etc

Examples of those who returned to GOD

1. "Prodigal" Son

  • But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired laborers have more than enough bread, but I am dying here from hunger! I will set out and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired laborers.”’  So he set out and came to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and rana and embraced him and kissed him. Luke 15:17-20 NASB

The Prodigal son is symbolic of a sinner returning to GOD as is indicated several places in the same chapter. See below

  • I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. Luke 15:7 NASB
  •  In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10 NASB
aThe rate at which GOD welcomes us back may be totally disproportionate to the speed with which we return to Him. It is likely that the prodigal son was walking back hesitantly but we see the father running to meet him. 
 

2. Naomi

  • Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the land of Moab, because she had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them food. So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. Ruth 1:6-7 NASB
When dry and barren spiritually, go to where GOD is visiting e.g. Where Revival is happening. This could simply be through Media.

Media

Footnotes

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  1. 1994 ἐπιστρέφω [E)PISTRE/FW] {epistréphō} \ep-ee-stref'-o\ from 1909 and 4762; to revert (literally, figuratively or morally):--come (go) again, convert, (re-)turn (about, again).
  2. 7725 שׁוּב [shûb] \shoob\ A primitive root; to turn back ({hence} away) transitively or {intransitively} literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbially again: - ({[break} {build} {circumcise} {dig} do {anything} do {evil} {feed} lay {down} lie {down} {lodge} {make} {rejoice} {send} {take} weep]) X {again} (cause to) answer (+ {again}) X in any case ({wise}) X at {all} {averse} bring ({again} {back} home {again}) call [to {mind]} carry again ({back}) {cease} X {certainly} come again (back) X {consider} + {continually} {convert} deliver ({again}) + {deny} draw {back} fetch home {again} X {fro} get [oneself] (back) {again} X give ({again}) go again ({back} {home}) [go] {out} {hinder} {let} [see] {more} X {needs} be {past} X {pay} {pervert} pull in {again} put ({again} up {again}) {recall} {recompense} {recover} {refresh} {relieve} render ({again}) X {repent} {requite} {rescue} {restore} {retrieve} (cause {to} make to) {return} {reverse} {reward} + say {nay} send {back} set {again} slide {back} {still} X {surely} take back ({off}) (cause {to} make to) turn ({again} self {again} {away} {back} back {again} {backward} {from} {off}) withdraw.