The doctrine of refreshment

1. Definition. While refreshment in the English language generally connotes food and beverage it has a much greater connotation in the Bible. It means to restore to strength of a soul, to revive the divine viewpoint in the function of a soul, and to do so apart from the pastor’s function of Bible teaching. In other words, to restore the soul of an individual, provide stimulation and blessing for the soul of the individual, without teaching them doctrine. It also means to supply what is necessary for spiritual blessing in time of adversity or disaster. Primarily there is one verb that brings out the subject, the Greek verb a)nayuxw [a)na means again and again; yuxw means the soul]. Put together it means to breathe again and again or to revive the soul. Your life should be a source of revival to individual souls in your periphery.

2. We see the ministry of refreshment in many areas. The alleviation of Saul’s psychosis. Saul apparently had a temporary psychotic condition which erupted from time to time in his life when there was any kind of pressure. 1 Samuel 16 23 — eventually someone came into his life who was able to be of some help. This, by the way, is permissive control of history allowing the function of demon influence in the life of reversionistic Saul. Saul became refreshed and well because the music that David played reached Saul’s soul and brought his soul back to reality, temporarily alleviating the psychotic condition that he had. Refreshment came to his soul which alleviated the suffering and caused him to calm down. Refreshment, then, is used for soul recovery from an adverse condition whether it is reversionism, psychosis, neurosis, the influence of evil, or some other form of apostasy. Always, refreshment connotes soul recovery and soul blessing.

3. In Proverbs we have a tristitch of doctrinal refreshment — Proverbs 25:13. Line one from the Hebrew gives us the illustration — “Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest.” The time of harvest is a time when the workers get very hot at their work. Water boys were often sent to some place where there was still snow. By the time it was down it had melted but was then cold water. The snow here is melted snow that is still cool and refreshing. They would bring it down in containers and the workmen would stop their work and take a drink of this refreshing water. Therefore this is to be the illustration for the next two lines.

The second line is “faithful messenger to those who send for him.” The pastor or any communicator of doctrine is regarded in this analogy as a water boy.

The final phrase says, “he refreshes the soul of his masters.” The water boy worked for everyone else. The principle is that the refreshment that comes to the believer comes from the one who is faithful in communication. The refreshment in the Bible, of course, is always connected with the soul. Hence, this is an analogy between a water boy during the harvest who brings the cold water down to the workers and the communicator of doctrine providing spiritual refreshment for the souls of the hearers. The teacher of doctrine is the key to the ministry of refreshment. And you ability to take in doctrine has everything to do as to whether you ever reach the point of refreshment. The point of total refreshment is a supergrace believer. This is a part of that paragraph, blessing by association.

4. The rejection of refreshment means national discipline — Isaiah 28:8-14. “Times of refreshing” are the only thing that can save a nation as far gone as the northern kingdom was in this passage — a revival of doctrine in the soul of believers.

5. Response to the Word of God is called refreshment — Romans 15:32. Paul wants to come and teach them doctrines they do not have. But he also says he wants to be refreshed by them. Paul is going to teach them but many of them are going to be a refreshment to Paul — because there is a rapport in category #3 love, their is a refreshment, many of his friends are there, people he truly loves, people who stimulate his soul. Cf. 2 Corinthians 7:13, the ministry of Titus to the Corinthians. A Bible conference can be a mutual refreshment if the communicator of doctrine teaches the Word and those who are his friends become a source of blessing while he is there.

6. The supergrace believer has a ministry of refreshment. This is a part of blessing by association. There are at least three illustrations of this in the New Testaments. a) Certain Corinthians believers — 1 Corinthians 16:17,18; b) The supergrace believer Philemon — Philemon 7, 20; c) 2 Timothy 1:16, the house of Onesiphorous.