Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 2.24- Nations will have wars for that is what happens to them.  Followers of Jesus will find themselves at odds with their surrounding culture at times.  They will seize them and deliver them to the courts to get them to stop spreading the good news that God is King and the King is not the King for us.   This makes people uncomfortalbe.  Mark 13. 9  “But  [ e ] be on your guard; for they will deliver you to  the   [ f ] courts, and you will be flogged in  the  synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.   10  The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.   11  When they  [ g ] arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but  it is  the Holy Spirit.   12  Brother will betray brother to death, and a father  his  child; and children will rise up against parents and  [ h ] have them put to death.   13  You will be hated by

2.23- Do not get over committed to a human being.  It could be your favorite family member or it could be a sports figure or an entertainer or a political person.  Do not place your hope in them as your ultimate security.  They are human and therefore, broken.  They will mislead you.  Some of these leaders will deliberately mislead.  Some will mistakenly mislead.  Either way, Jesus is the truth, not anyone else.  In the USA we have had people in the last year saying the opposite things and claiming they are telling the truth and the other one is misleading you.  This has lead to hate, division and chaos.  The answer is to admit that both of these sides are wrong and God is right. Mark 13. 3  As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and  [ c ] James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately,   4  “Tell us, when will these things be, and what  will be  the  [ d ] sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?”   5  And Jesus began to say to them

 2.22- As you admire beautiful things keep in mind that they are temporary.  They are not a secure source of anchoring your soul.  That is a function of God and His promises.  Things come and go.  There is nothing wrong with enjoying the beauty or comfort of your home, but hold it loosely.  This is the teaching of Jesus. Mark 13. 13  As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples *said to Him, “Teacher, behold  [ a ] what wonderful stones and  [ b ] what wonderful buildings!”   2  And Jesus said to him,  “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.”