Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

11.3- John Adams wrote, “ The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our people, in a greater measure than they have it now, they may exchange their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty.”  He believed that – “Liberty can no more exist without virtue … than the body can live and move without a soul.”

11.3- G. K. Chesterton ‏ If you will not have rules, you will have rulers. Great citizens of great countries have some people who search Scriptures for guidance.  This is not a bad thing, but a good thing.  Those who see the central figure of the Bible is Jesus Christ.  Follow Him and you and those in your family will have a life of love. But it is important that the Bible readers see that all the Bible is pointing to Jesus as our Savior by His grace and mercy. John 5. 39  [ i ] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40  and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41  I do not receive glory from men; 42  but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43  I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44  How can you believe, when you receive [

11.2- Thomas Jefferson said – “No government can continue for long without being under the control of the people; and … the minds of the people must be informed by an education in what is right and what wrong; to be encouraged in habits of virtue and to be deterred from those of vice… These are the teachings necessary to provide the people with a sure basis for the structure and order of government.”

11.2- In some countries those who believe in life after death are considered "mad"  We believe that Jesus rose from the grave.  To a world that is driven by the dollar and political power we are considered "mad".   What about their madness?  The madness of people that don't believe in life after death.  The madness of people who think that money and power is more important than your integrity with your beloved family and friends.  They are mad and foolish who refuse to believe that Jesus did not rise from the grave 2,000 years ago. Acts 26. 24  While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! [ p ] Your great learning is [ q ] driving you mad.” 25  But Paul *said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words [ r ] of sober truth. 26  For the king [ s ] knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape

11.1- James Madison  “ Republican government presupposes the existence of Civic Virtue in a higher degree than any other form.”

11.1- Courts can be places where the good news can be told. Acts 23. 23  Paul, looking intently at the [ a ] Council, said, “Brethren, I have [ b ] lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.” 2  The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. 3  Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?” 4  But the bystanders said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” 5  And Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘ You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people .’” 6  But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the [ c ] Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7  As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisee

10.31- Benjamin Franklin observed – “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.”

10.31- God is generous.  Humans can be envious Our master in heaven knows the difference between those that won't work and those that can't work. Matthew 20. 20  “For the kingdom of heaven is like [ a ] a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2  When he had agreed with the laborers for a [ b ] denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3  And he went out about the [ c ] third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4  and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went. 5  Again he went out about the [ d ] sixth and the ninth hour, and did [ e ] the same thing. 6  And about the [ f ] eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around ; and he *said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ 7  They *said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He *said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8  “When evening came,

10.30- Greed is not good. Luke 16. 19  “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. 20  And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21  and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. 22  Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. 23  In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. 24  And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ 25  But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 2

10.29- Good citizens have compassion on the needy and Jesus notices. Matthew 25. 31  “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32  All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33  and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34  “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35  For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36  naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37  Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38  And when did we see

10.28- We are not perfect citizens of a perfect country.  Be forgiving. Matthew 18. 21  Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22  Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23  “For this reason the kingdom of heaven [ v ] may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24  When he had begun to settle them , one who owed him [ w ] ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25  But since he [ x ] did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26  So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 27  And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the [ y ] debt. 28  But that slave went out and found one of