2 Cor.4:16-18 – Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Part of the message of 2 Corinthians is about living by the power of God in difficult times. In this passage Paul says that we need renewal day by day. That is quite different from what I used to think about the anointing, the power of God and all of that. I was prone to think the anointing was on special people and only for special meetings, now I would never have come out and said that, but if I was honest ,that was really how I viewed the moving of the Spirit. Apparently, Paul felt differently. He believed the anointing and renewal was essential for survival and would be needed on a day to day basis. The word used in this passage is anakaino, this is the definition from Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:
“Anakainō: a word peculiar to the apostle Paul; properly, to cause to grow up – new, to make new; passive, new strength and vigor is given to me, to be changed into a new kind of life, opposed to the former corrupt state…”
So Paul is describing renewal as being associated with a new kind of life. This was a word only used by Paul and was connected with the supernatural work of God in our lives by the Spirit of God. So I guess the question we need to answer is something like this, how can I experience the renewal of the Spirit in my life?
The answer for me is quite clear, you have to put yourself in an atmosphere where the Spirit can move in your life. The easiest way to facilitate this is to become part of a body of believers where the anointing is valued and welcome to move among the people. The ingredients are simple: extended worship, anointed preaching and teaching of the Word of God, and an opportunity for soaking prayer and waiting in God’s presence. There is no quick way to experience renewal, it has to become part of our day by day world.