Refreshed Part 6 - A Time of Refreshing

God brings times of Refreshing on His people

Pentecost Sunday, which falls on June 5 this year, is rightly known as the “birthday” of the Church but it also serves as a reminder that Christians’ key mission is to reach the unreached with the Gospel.

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Pentecost Sunday commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit on the early followers of Jesus, as

Acts 2:1-4 records: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

Acts 2:1–4 NKJV

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

On the day of the Pentecost, Peter said, according to

Acts 2:38-39 , “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Acts 2:38–39 NKJV

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

It is through the Spirit that one can appropriate God’s promises in Jesus by accepting Him as the Lord and Savior.

And as

1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and mall were made to drink of one Spirit,”

1 Corinthians 12:13 NKJV

13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

God brings Refreshing Though His People

2 Timothy 1:16 NKJV

16 The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;

LEMMA

ἀναψύχω anapsychō

LSJ cool, refresh; were reviving; cool; in water; to be revived, refreshed

Refresh = cool, refresh, were reviving their spirit, cool the feet in water, to be revived, refreshed.

ROOT | NKJV

ψυχω

psychō

soul; life; spirit; breath

132

ψυχή

psychē

soul; life

104

ψυχικός

psychikos

natural; unspiritual

6

ψυχρός

psychros

cold

4

ἐκψύχω

ekpsychō

expire; breathe one's last

3

ψῦχος

psychos

cold

3

δίψυχος

dipsychos

double-minded; doubting

2

ἀνάψυξις

anapsyxis

relief; rest; refreshing

1

ἀναψύχω

anapsychō

refresh

1

ἀποψύχω

apopsychō

faint

1

ἄψυχος

apsychos

inanimate

1

εὐψυχέω

eupsycheō

have courage; be encouraged

1

ἰσόψυχος

isopsychos

like-minded

1

καταψύχω

katapsychō

cool

1

ὀλιγόψυχος

oligopsychos

discouraged

1

σύμψυχος

sympsychos

united in spirit

1

ψύχω

psychō

make cool; make cold

1

The Breath of God brings Refreshing (New Life)

Genesis 2:7 NKJV

7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

The meaning of the Hebrew word ruach is "breath," or "wind," or "spirit." In Scripture, the word is applied both to human beings and to God. Depending on the context, ruach can be talking about a person's emotional state of being, or their soul or spirit, and is sometimes used as an idiom, as in "a mere breath." When coupled with one of the names of God, ruach refers to the Holy Spirit. For example, Ruach Elohim is mentioned in the first few verses of Genesis to describe the Spirit of God hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2). In the Old Testament, the translated phrase is always "Spirit of the Lord" or "Spirit of God." In the New Testament, the Greek word pneuma is applied and translated "Holy Spirit."

The Ruach of God is the Creator of all other non-divine ruach. "God. . . gives breath [ruach] to all living things" (Numbers 27:16, NIV). When God created Adam, He breathed into Adam's nostrils and "man became a living creature" (Genesis 2:7). Job mentions the same breath of life as that which keeps him alive, saying "as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit [ruach] of God is in my nostrils" (Job 27:3). His friend Elihu affirmed the same: "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life" (Job 33:4). It was the same Spirit that came to rest on Jesus Christ in the form of a dove, empowering and anointing Him as the Messiah (Matthew 3:16). This event was prophesied by Isaiah, who said, "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:2). In both passages, the word for "Spirit" and "breath" is the Hebrew word ruach.

Ezekiel 37:1–6 NKJV

1 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

Ezekiel 37:13–14 NKJV

13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’ ”

Back to the Theme Scripture

Acts 3:19 NKJV

19 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,

Acts 3:19 AMP

19 So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord;

LEMMA

ἀνάψυξις anapsyxis

LSJ cooling; refreshment; exposure

PLGNT

LXGNTLEX relief; rest; refreshing

His Refreshing must take place in the mind (soul).

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Rest = make to cease, stop; hinder from; give; rest; to relieve

LEMMA

ἀναπαύω anapauō - anapauso

LSJ make to cease, stop; hinder from; give; rest; to relieve

PLGNT

LXGNTLEX revive; rest; remain quiet

Mark 4:39 NKJV

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.