Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

Matthew 10. 16  “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17  Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18  On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19  But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20  for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21  “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22  You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23  When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. Psalm...

Matthew 10. 10  Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2  These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3  Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4  Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5  These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6  Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7  As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, [ a ] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. 9  “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10  no bag for the j...

Matthew 9. 18  While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19  Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. 20  Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21  She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22  Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. 23  When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24  he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25  After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26  News of this spread through all that region. Jesus Heals the Blind and the Mut...

Matthew 9. 9  As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. 10  While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11  When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12  On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13  But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ [ a ] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Jesus Questioned About Fasting 14  Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” 15  Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; ...

Matthew 9. 9  Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2  Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3  At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 4  Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5  Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6  But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7  Then the man got up and went home. 8  When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. Psalm 21. Psalm 21 [ a ] For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1  The king rejoices in your strength, Lord .  ...

Matthew 8. 28  When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, [ c ] two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29  “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 30  Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31  The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32  He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33  Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34  Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. Psalm 20 Psalm 20 [ a ] For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1  May t...

Matthew 8. 18  When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19  Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20  Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 21  Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22  But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Jesus Calms the Storm 23  Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24  Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25  The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26  He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27  The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of ...