8th Jun 26 | 14:45
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03 Acts 14 21-28 RETURN TO THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH, SYRIA 30 Acts 14 28 Times of refreshing from the Lord
📖 Acts 14:21-28
3/30 – Tue, 20th Jan 2026 – *Times of refreshing from the Lord*- _Acts 14:21-28_ – RETURN TO THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH, SYRIA – _John 04:14_
_Acts 14:28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples._
The apostles spent a considerable time in Antioch. Bible scholars estimate that this time in Antioch would have been between one and two years.
This was a substantial opportunity for the apostles to share the details of their travel with the congregation, allowing them to ask all the questions and receive clarification. Paul and Barnabas needed this break to rest and be rejuvenated in body, mind and spirit. This was also a precious time to invest in the lives of the believers in Antioch.
Paul and Barnabas had completed a powerful missionary journey, but they were just like the others in the church in Antioch. They needed to be refreshed themselves, like anyone else. *As those in ministry, we need these times of rest, renewal and refreshing. These times are precious in the work of His kingdom.*
We need to wait on the Lord. We must sit quietly at His feet to listen to Him. He has much to speak with us. There are things in our lives which we assume and presume. God must bring these to our attention so that, as we wait in His presence, we understand His thoughts for us, we can repent, and be refreshed. Repenting and being refreshed have to be an ongoing spiritual discipline in our journey with Jesus.
Peter spoke the following words to those who heard the message of Jesus, but the principle applies to all of us, all along life’s journey. _Acts 3:19-20 *Repent* therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, *so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord*, (20) and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,_
We are generally running all the time. Even when we are physically in one place, we are not still within, but cluttered and tense. Several matters are weighing on us. The Lord is calling us to wait on Him. _Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. (30) Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, (31) But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint._
The Lord knew that His disciples needed to come aside and rest awhile. _Mark 6:30-32 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. (31) And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. (32) So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves._
The Lord Himself sought places of quietness and solitude to be in the presence of the Father and listen to Him. _Luke 5:15-16 However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. (16) So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed._
It is in that place of quietness that the Lord refreshes us. He restores our soul. It is at the soul that we must repeatedly be restored, or else we will be worn out and stressed. We see this often in those in ministry. *They have not taken the break in their lives to be in the presence of the Lord.* _Psalms 23:2-3 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. (3) *He restores my soul;* He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake._
Paul and Barnabas had a substantial time to rest in Antioch. In our ministry, we must work it into our schedule to go aside and rest in the presence of the Father. As we read the Gospels, we see that the Lord practised this discipline. We must learn from Him.
This was the promise that the prophet Jeremiah received from the Lord. _Jeremiah 31:25-26 For *I have satiated the weary soul*, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul." (26) After this I awoke and looked around, and my sleep was sweet to me._ What a privilege it is for us to be satiated by the Lord.
The precious invitation that we have received from the Lord is to come to Him and find rest for our souls. _Matthew 11:28-30 *Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.* (29) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and *you will find rest for your souls*. (30) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."_
The yoke of the Lord is easy, and His burden is light. This is because *it is the Lord who enables us to bear the burdens that He has entrusted to us*. When we are weak, then we are strong in Jesus.
When we come to the Lord and cast ourselves on Him, rivers of living water flow from within us. _John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But *the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life*."_
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