Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

4.15- Revelation 3. 14  “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15  I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16  So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17  You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19  Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20  Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 21  To the one who is victorious, I will gi

4.14- Jesus calls His disciples out into impossible circumstances. He tells us to not be afraid.   He invites us to come to Him under impossible circumstances.   Walk with faith in Jesus and you will move into a narrow path that few are willing to walk.     Do something that looks impossible and you will have some amazing experiences. Matthew 14. 22  Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23  After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24  and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25  Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26  When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27  But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be a

4,13-   I remember meeting in a parking lot when a couple of parents were broken hearted over their fourteen year old daughter who was pregnant.   They were angry about the choices this beautiful brilliant young woman had made but how would they respond.   I remember praying in that parking lot with trust in an our amazing God. God desires mercy not sacrifice.   It is wrong to use religious rules in some way that violates the needs of human beings.   Rules must flexible to benefit people, not hurt people.   Compassion is the very nature of God.   God is aware of the life of a small sparrow and He is aware of how people treat their pets and He is aware of how we treat each other. We must especially be careful with the bruised.   When there is a unplanned pregnancy of a fourteen year old is such an occasion. Sexual surprises are an opportunity for division. God desires unity.   When we team up we can accomplish great things. We can gather people together and accomplish more

4.12- People in the world are not happy with Jesus. 4.12- Matthew 11 New International Version (NIV) Jesus and John the Baptist 11 16  “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17  “‘We played the pipe for you,      and you did not dance; we sang a dirge,      and you did not mourn.’ 18  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

4.11 God's son, the Messiah is to be known by how He cares for people. Matthew 11. 4  Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5  The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy [ b ] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6  Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

4.10- Luke 2. 51  Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52  And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. John 13. 34  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 1 Timothy 4. 11  Command and teach these things. 12  Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13  Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14  Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15  Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16  Watch your life and doctrine closely. Pers

4.9- Jesus does not want His followers to carry around in their hearts and minds a feeling of sin, guilt and shame.  He wants them to be free. Freedom leads to joy in the praise to God for all He has done for us. His disciples want to invite others to come and join them in good things.  There is a learning and growing experience in the path of the good life and we offer this life to others.  It doesn't matter if you are a person focused on money and power, Jesus wants you in His group.  You might be the most poor person who has compassion on everyone and gives away everything you have and so are continually poor.  He wants you to be with Him.  You could be a very religious person who tries to do everything perfectly to meet the highest standards of approval in your community.  He wants you to turn away from your pride and arrogance and follow Him.  You could be the most rebellious, prodigal person in the world.  He wants you to become a follower of His. He desires mercy.  He