l The following post is based on our “Lord Help Me!” series across C3 Sydney’s 11 Locations l
“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)
God has a response for every cry of the heart. As Jesus says in John 14:16 (AMP), the Father will “give us another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor – Counsellor, Strengthener, Standby).”
By the time we’re thirsty we are already dehydrated. This also applies to our spiritual lives. But it is not difficult to find refreshment in Him; we just need to position ourselves to receive it.
The Holy Spirit Cleans
Our refreshment is directly proportional to the level of our repentance.
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19
In Judges 6:1 – 24 we read of the story of Gideon. In verse1 we are told the Israelites were evil in the sight of the Lord and so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Midianites for seven long years.
And in verse 6 they “cried out for help to the Lord.” God’s response was to send them a rescuer – Gideon.
Being refreshed by the Holy Spirit is like having a cleansing shower that washes away the dirt that has got stuck on us from doing life without God. It’s not just sin but might also be anxiety and stress or disappointment and sorrow from challenging circumstances.
To wipe things away we need to acknowledge God, like the Israelites did, and repent before God. Repentance means to turnaround, to start doing life God’s way rather than our own way.
The Holy Spirit Fills Us Up
Our refreshment is greater than our reality.
In verses 11-14 when the angel of the Lord comes to Gideon, his first reaction is to complain and tell him that God has forsaken the Israelites. However, Gideon presses the angel of the Lord to convince him that he is indeed the Lord. In verses14-24 we see how the Lord demonstrates His power and in so doing fills Gideon up with confidence that indeed he and his people have a future. Gideon was able to exchange his picture of forsakenness with the Lord’s future blessing.
Isaiah 44:3 (ESV) – God is the refresher and provides nourishment by pouring out His Spirit on us. The Holy Spirit is able to fill up our hungry and dry hearts. When our souls are refreshed it’s like water is being poured onto a thirsty land. Psalm 23 promises: “The Lord is my shepherd. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.”
The Holy Spirit Flows out of Us into Others
Our refreshment is to go out to bless others.
The Holy Spirit brings peace and a future. However, we are to bring that peace and blessing to others.
Proverbs 11:25 tells us that a “generous person will prosper and whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” It’s another example of the Biblical principle of sowing and reaping. When we refresh others, we too reap a blessing of refreshment.
Something to talk about:
- Discuss how you’ve experienced a time when the Holy Spirit blessed you by responding to a cry of your heart and filled you up.
- Share amongst each other how you’ve experienced being refreshed by sharing peace and blessing with another person.
- Use this time to pray with anyone in the group who is particularly feeling spiritually dehydrated and needs the refreshment of the Holy Spirit.
