Maranatha Refresh – Matthew 11 – Maranatha Vision Project
- Joel Widman
- Jul 21, 2019
- 5 min read
Maranatha Refresh
“Refresh” means to give new strength or energy to someone, renew fading hope and heal exhaustion, stoke embers into flames and replenish whatever has been poured out.
Refreshing Renewal > Jesus said, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)
Saving Power > See, I was born in sin and was in sin from my very beginning. See, you want truth deep within my heart. And you will make me know wisdom in the hidden part. Take away my sin, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and happiness. Let the bones that you have broken be full of joy. Hide your face from my sins. And take away all my wrong-doing. Make a clean heart in me, O God. Give me a new spirit that will not be moved. Do not throw me away from where you are. And do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Let the joy of your saving power return to me. And give me a willing spirit to obey you. Then I will teach wrong-doers your ways. And sinners will turn to you. (Psalm 51:5-13 NLV)
Make Disciples
Recovery – Following Jesus and making disciples invites spiritual warfare. One reason we are still here is because there is so much intense distraction around fulfilling the Great Commission. When we participate in Jesus’ mission, we share in his suffering.
Master – Jesus invites us to learn from him, to watch how he faces spiritual attacks in the Gospels, to watch the early missionaries in Acts. As lifelong apprentice disciples, we will always be learning how to facilitate Jesus’ kingdom coming within all peoples.
Trust – Trust means to lay down my rights to be in control, and to give my life over to follow the leadership of another. Trust means I don’t need all the answers. Trust means I don’t have to understand. Trust leads me to rest and refresh in the Spirit.
Holy Spirit Prayer
Jesus wants to give rest to his disciples, but we have to value and desire his rest.
Every disciple gets exhausted and worn down. Jesus heals and refreshes our spirits.
Jesus is our Great Shepherd and Wise Teacher; he patiently guides us with love.
We will struggle against sin across our lifetime; we must keep asking forgiveness.
We need new wineskin hearts. We depend on the Holy Spirit to keep us humble.
Jesus saves! We can trust him and surrender. We can model peace for others.
Personal Reflections > How am I weary and heavy burdened today? What influences in my life cause me to struggle or burn out? When is sometime soon that I will rest and refresh in the Spirit? Who do I know right now that needs some guidance to enter into Jesus’ rest?
Refreshing Renewal Scriptures
Living Water Rivers > On the most important day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus stood and shouted out to the crowds – “All you thirsty ones, come to me! Come to me and drink! Believe in me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!” Jesus was prophesying about the Holy Spirit that believers were being prepared to receive. But the Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out upon them, because Jesus had not yet been unveiled in his full splendor. (John 7:37-39 TPT)
New Self > But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, because the truth is in Jesus. You took off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires; you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; you put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of truth. (Ephesians 4:20-24 HCSB)
Recovery Refuge > Jesus said, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)
Saving Power > See, I was born in sin and was in sin from my very beginning. See, you want truth deep within my heart. And you will make me know wisdom in the hidden part. Take away my sin, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and happiness. Let the bones that you have broken be full of joy. Hide your face from my sins. And take away all my wrong-doing. Make a clean heart in me, O God. Give me a new spirit that will not be moved. Do not throw me away from where you are. And do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Let the joy of your saving power return to me. And give me a willing spirit to obey you. Then I will teach wrong-doers your ways. And sinners will turn to you. (Psalm 51:5-13 NLV)
Trustworthy Comfort > On that day you will say, “Praise the Lord! He was angry with me, but now he comforts me. See, God has come to save me! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord is my strength and song; he is my salvation. Oh, the joy of drinking deeply from the Fountain of Salvation!” In that wonderful day you will say, “Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the world about his wondrous love. How mighty he is!” Sing to the Lord, for hehas done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world. Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy. For great and mighty is the Holy One of Israel, who lives among you. (Isaiah 12 TLB)
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