Hi Brian!
The word for this week is "refreshed". We'll be looking at these four portions of Scripture in the New Testament:
1 Corinthians 16:17 I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. 18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such. KJV
2 Corinthians 7:13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. KJV
Philemon 7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. KJV
Romans 15:32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
KJV
The first three are the Greek word "anapano". Strong's Concordance says: to repose. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor in order to recover and collect his strength to give rest, to give oneself rest, to take rest. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to give intermission from labor, to give rest. The fourth one is the Greek word "sunanapauomai". It is a compound word that means: to refresh one's spirit with one. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to lie down, to rest with, to be refreshed in spirit with others. We know that as born again believers we have spirits recreated in the image of God with Holy Spirit Himself living IN us! 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 tells us this;
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. KJV
The TREASURE of HIS SPIRIT still lives inside of our earthen vessels! Our human bodies, which are not yet resurrection bodies, still need taking care of. We need food for fuel, water for survival, sleep for restoration and rejuvenation. In other words, we NEED this refreshing! We NEED to take this time to pull away from the work and responsibilities to allow our bodies to recover and our hearts (spirit/soul combination) to be renewed and restored! My prayer for both you and Kristine is that you will continue to be led by Holy Spirit, as you have been, to know when to pull back and "refresh"! To help with that, here is Hillsong with "None But Jesus":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
