Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

5.16- I like what Dan Bouchelle posted · May 4 If you want to be an agent of God’s peace, start by expanding who counts as “we.” Mark 9. 38  Then John said to him, “Master, we saw somebody driving out evil spirits in your name, and we stopped him, for he is not one who follows us.” 39-41  But Jesus replied, “You must not stop him. No one who exerts such power in my name would readily say anything against me. For the man who is not against us is on our side. In fact, I assure you that the man who gives you a mere drink of water in my name, because you are followers of mine, will most certainly be rewarded.” 42  “And I tell you too, that the man who disturbs the faith of one of the humblest of those who believe in me would be better off if he were thrown into the sea with a great mill-stone hung round his neck!” Stop thinking in “Us” versus “Them” terms.   Division causes many young people to fall away from the faith as they mature in age.

5.15- Old people suffer as their body breaks down, but Satan uses suffering to be a trail to some of God’s servants. Prophets such and Jesus and others have suffering as a part of their calling in life. God’s people are tempted to want the things the worldly centered people have without realizing what it will cost them. 1 Samuel 8. 8 In his old age, Samuel retired and appointed his sons as judges in his place. 2  Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba; 3  but they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and were very corrupt in the administration of justice. 4  Finally the leaders of Israel met in Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5  They told him that since his retirement things hadn’t been the same, for his sons were not good men. “Give us a king like all the other nations have,” they pleaded. 6  Samuel was terribly upset and went to the Lord for advice. 7  “Do as they say,” the Lord replied, “for

5.14- We have some faith, but our faith is also mixed with some unbelief.   This limits what we can accomplish.   We need help from Jesus.   He comes into lives and helps us to grow in our faith.   He teaches us that with God all things are possible.  Mark 9.24 23  “If you can do anything!” retorted Jesus. “Everything is possible to the man who believes.” 24  “I do believe,” the boy’s father burst out. “Help me to believe more!” Acts 9. 32  Peter traveled from place to place to visit them, [ a ] and in his travels came to the believers in the town of Lydda. 33  There he met a man named Aeneas, paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. 34  Peter said to him, “Aeneas! Jesus Christ has healed you! Get up and make your bed.” And he was healed instantly. 35  Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord when they saw Aeneas walking around. 36  In the city of Joppa there was a woman named Dorcas (“Gazelle”), a believer who was always doing kind t