Refreshing

In talking with a member of our faith family last night a word came to mind to describe our WOW Wednesday service last evening – REFRESHING. I know I was refreshed in four ways.

1.     I was refreshed by other people. Paul in writing to the church at Corinth said, “I rejoice at the soming of Stephanas and Forunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours.” It is amazing how people can refresh us. (Also see 2 Cor 7:13; Phm 7,20)

2.     I was refreshed by praise. When I can sing unabandoned in praise to God it refreshes my spirit. As the word refresh goes back to fresh. Fresh is when something has its original qualities unimpaired (M-W.com). Praise takes me to the place of my salvation.

3.     I was refreshed by the Word. I love God’s Word. “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103, ESV)

4.     I was refreshed through fasting, prayer and communion. When I take a time to spend fasting, praying and focusing on Christ it refreshes my spirit. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” (Isaiah 26:3–4, ESV).

Fast With Me

I want to ask everyone (unless you have medical reasons) to join me in a Wednesday fast. Fasting is to be part of the Christian life. I am not asking you to what some call a sissy fast of soft drinks, candy, etc. I am calling you to do without food until WOW Wednesday @ Harvest Church. In the Bible there were times of individual and corporate fasting. We know Jesus fasted during His time in the wilderness. In Acts the first century church fasted (Acts 13:2-3). Paul fasted (2Cor 6:5). It appears from the Scriptures that Jesus assumed that Christians/Disciples would fast.

 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ¹⁷ But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:16–18 (ESV)

Here is how it works. Eat supper Tuesday night (don’t pig out). Pray that could would strengthen you to make it for the next 24 hours as you seek His face and wisdom for Harvest Church. Don’t ask for anything specific at this time. If you will, pray that we are releasing His Church HC into His wisdom. Every time you think of food pray. Every time you feel hunger pains pray. The time you would spend eating spend in prayer and Bible study. A good scripture to start with is Psalm 92. We will break the fast at our WOW Wednesday service with the Lord’s Supper.