Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 11.1  Persecution is harder than we might think.  The rejection.  The pain and suffering.  We may think we are up for it when really we are not as strong as we think.  We need grace and mercy and acceptance in spite of our weakness. Matthew 26. 31  Then Jesus *said to them, “You will all [ i ] fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered .’ 32  But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33  But Peter said to Him, “ Even though all may [ j ] fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” 34  Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35  Peter *said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.     69  Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 

 10.31-  Jesus intended for His disciples to be a loving family.  Families eat together.  Jesus connected the Passover bread to His own body given for others. The cup connected to giving His blood, the lamb of God, for the sins of the world. When we live in the presence of God His joy fills our hearts at meal times and all times. The early disciples gatherings were meetings of joy and food and fellowship The church at Corinth got into some problems when they were selfish with their food and the rich separated themselves from the poor and didn't have common meals together.  They were divided and God didn't want them to be divided. When we eat with God's children we need to examine our hearts to make sure we are aligned with love for God and for them as we fellowship around food.  Food is a hospitality event, but it is also a spiritual event of deep bonding. Food eaten in a good context is good for the heart, soul and body.  Food eaten in selfishness and toxic attitude is not

 10.30-  Never betray you family and friends.  These are people who depend upon you to be trust worthy.  When you betray the for money it fills your heart with regret.  The reason God teaches us to avoid certain things like betrayal because it bears such bitter fruits in our hearts.  Don't do it.   Matthew 26. 14  Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15  and said, “What are you willing to give me [ a ] to [ b ] betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty [ c ] pieces of silver to him. 16  From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to [ d ] betray [ e ] Jesus.  

 10.29- Jesus you are blessed by the gifts I give to you of my best, my very best.  There are people that believe that giving God your best is a waste because God is a spirit who is invisible.  The disciples thought the best was a waste when Jesus was present with them visibly.  Jesus told them not to bother this woman because she wanted to gift Jesus with her best.  He saw her good deed to him as a blessing to Him and the whole world because it would be retold over and over and indeed it has been. Matthew 26. 6  Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, 7  a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table . 8  But the disciples were indignant when they saw this , and said, “Why this waste? 9  For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” 10  But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good d

 10.28-   Light is key to being in a relationship with Jesus.   I’m guessing you have heard the phrase that people are not interested in religion, but they are interested in a relationship with God.   When we live as people of light it is possible for us to have this intimate relationship with God.   God will stand with us when no one else may be willing or able to stand with us.   Jesus teaches us that God is generous and so we can take reasonable risks and invest our resources and grow them.   Ten can gain ten more.   Five can gain five more.   These people believe in God’s love and power to help things work out well.   There are people who do not believe in God’s love and power for the good.   They refuse to risk and refuse to work because they are lazy.   Jesus calls these people lazy and wicked who do not invest because of seeing the Master as hard and harsh and unfair.   They isolate themselves and their resources.   People that have resources and use them to help peopl

 10.27-   Thankfulness is the soil in which joy thrives. Our hope and peace are found in Jesus. Training leads to transformation. Prayer is the bridge between panic and peace.   1 Thessalonians 5. 16  Rejoice always and delight in your faith; 17  be unceasing and persistent in prayer; 18  in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God ; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.