12 ‘Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be REFRESHED OR RESTORED. Exodus 23
God built cycles of rest into the lives of His people Israel, because He cared for them and the Jews still keep Shabbat to this day, in fact today is the eve of Shabbat. The previous verse also speaks of a cycle of rest or refreshing for the land of Israel.
11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unploughed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. (Built in welfare system for people and animals) Exodus 23
This world system wants to abolish the Sabbath, the Day of rest from work. They don’t want people to have time to rest and be restored and most of all to give thought to the things of God, but God never intended for us to work incessantly. It’s very debilitating to work for prolonged periods without any rest. The words of Ana Werner return again, ‘GOD DOESN’T WANT SLAVES, BUT LOVERS!’
19 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
There have been many occasions in Church history when God has poured out His Spirit on the Body of Believers to bring refreshing and restoration. Sovereign moves of God to bless and help His people, however those outside of the Lord may never experience these blessings, how sad to miss out on all this.
32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and IN YOUR COMPANY BE REFRESHED. Romans 15
18 FOR THEY REFRESHED MY SPIRIT AND YOURS ALSO. Such men deserve recognition. 1 Corinthians 16 (There are people in the Body who are Refreshing to be around, Barnabas was the Son of Encouragement. Unfortunately not everyone does.)
16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because HE OFTEN REFRESHED ME and was not ashamed of my chains. 2 Timothy 1
Paul was quick to note and commend those who Refreshed him and others. Their names are recorded for us in God’s word, a lasting memorial to their building up of the Body, which is also a mark of the prophetic ministry. 1 Corinthians 14:3
I believe that times of Refreshing are coming again to God’s people, may we all drink deeply when the Spirit of God is poured out in power on the earth.
24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.