PRÉCIS ON THE NEED FOR REFRESHMENT IN THE WILDERNESS OF THE LAST TIMES

SCRIPTURE. “For I have had great joy and comfort and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints (God’s people) have been refreshed through you, my brother.” – PHILEMON 1:7, AMP

KEY TERM: “REFRESHMENT.” ‘Anapauó’ [ἀνάπαυσόν]: “To repose, be exempt from [exhaustion or affliction]; to take ease or rest.” NOTE: “Strong’s Greek 373 traces a unified Scriptural motif of rest, refreshment, and relief. Whether the setting is bodily fatigue, strained emotions, spiritual weariness, or the hope of Final Glory, the verb gathers all of life’s burdens into the Promise that ‘God Himself brings true repose.’”

QUOTATION. “Fueled by Faith and Passion for our true priorities we’re going to drive against traffic in order to find rest, refreshment, and time for what matters most in life.” ― CRAIG GROESCHEL, Weird: Because Normal Isn’t Working, 2012; edited

• AUTHOR BOOK PROMO. “In our over busy, unprincipled, oversexed world; lust, debt, guilt, and shame are far more common than a healthy relationship to time, money, and relationships. Simply put, ‘Normal isn’t working’…If we follow Christ, we’re not supposed to be like everyone else. We’re supposed to be a little bit, well, ‘weird.’ The whole point of Christianity is to become more like Jesus and less of who we are when left to our own devices and desires—to become less like the rest of the world, less normal.”

COMMENTARY. “‘Faith in Christ, and Love to Him, should unite saints more closely than any outward relation can unite the people of the world.’ Paul in his private prayers was particular in remembering his friends. We must remember Christian friends much and often, as their cases may need, bearing them in our thoughts, and upon our hearts, before our God. Different sentiments and ways in what is not essential, must not make difference of affection, as to the Truth.

He inquired concerning his friends, as to the Truth, Growth, and Fruitfulness of their graces, their Faith in Christ, and Love to him, and to all the saints. The good which Philemon did, was matter of joy and comfort to him and others, who therefore desired that he would continue and abound in good fruits, more and more, to God’s Honour.” – MATTHEW HENRY, Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, 6 vols., 1708-1710; edited

What both the Apostle and Mr. Groetschel are together telling us, indeed, what the Lord Himself is instructing is this, in my view. Oftentimes our weariness is due to our ‘Working’ outside the Norms of Christian Faith and Duty.’ In spiritual vernacular, ‘Going it on our own strength,’ or in extreme cases, ‘Working in disobedience against Christ and Truth.’

And that inspires other, beloved.

When we are fully ‘In Christ,’ however, when we discover ‘His Lane,’ as it were, then our labors for His Kingdom become as natural as breathing and our Vigor of Spirit is supernaturally inspired. Our ‘Ordered Obedience’ brings its own Refreshment and Joy, as we feel, quite frankly, nearly ‘Invincible!’”