Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

Mark 2. 2  1-5  After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that he was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When they weren’t able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.” 6-7  Some religion scholars sitting there started whispering among themselves, “He can’t talk that way! That’s blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins.” 8-12  Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, “Why are you so skeptical? Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or say, ‘Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both . . .” (he...

Matthew 4. 4  1-3  Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.” 4  Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.” This spring it’s been raining cats and dogs in the DFW area.   Yesterday morning I went to my meeting with the 6am Thursday guys at a fast food resturant.   It was showering as I drove   glancing down at my gas gauge it was below below 1/8 th , but I never run out of gas .   I thought, “I will do it right after my breakfast meeting if the rain has stopped.” I ordered my breakfast and senior coffee and moved back to ...

Mark 1. 29-31  Directly on leaving the meeting place, they came to Simon and Andrew’s house, accompanied by James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed, burning up with fever. They told Jesus. He went to her, took her hand, and raised her up. No sooner had the fever left than she was up fixing dinner for them. 32-34  That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to him, the whole city lined up at his door! He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew his true identity, he didn’t let them say a word. The Leper 35-37  While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with him went looking for him. They found him and said, “Everybody’s looking for you.” 38-39  Jesus said, “Let’s go to the rest of the villages so I can preach there also. This is why I’ve come.” He went to their meeting places all through Galilee...

Mark 1. 14  Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom [ e ] of God, 15  and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Four Fishermen Called as Disciples 16  And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17  Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18  They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 19  When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20  And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. Jesus Casts Out an Unclean Spirit 21  Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue a...

Mark 1. 9  It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10  And immediately, coming up from [ d ] the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11  Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Satan Tempts Jesus 12  Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13  And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. Psalm 79. 79  O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance; Your holy temple they have defiled; They have laid Jerusalem in heaps. 2  The dead bodies of Your servants They have given as food for the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth. 3  Their blood they have shed like water all around Jerusalem, And there was no one to bury them. 4  We have b...

Mark 1. 1  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2  As it is written in the Prophets: [ a ] “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.” [ b ] 3  “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the L ord ; Make His paths straight.’” [ c ] 4  John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5  Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6  Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7  And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8  I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Psalm 78. 50  He made a...

Matthew 28. 16  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19  Go therefore [ c ] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. [ d ] Psalm 78 30  They were not deprived of their craving; But while their food was still in their mouths, 31  The wrath of God came against them, And slew the stoutest of them, And struck down the choice men of Israel. 32  In spite of this they still sinned, And did not believe in His wondrous works. 33  Therefore their days He consumed in futility, And their years in fear...

On Forgiveness You may have some sweet memories of times with children. A week ago I went to a birthday party with my six year old great nephew, Jackson. He got two gifts that were duplicates. His father wisely asked him what we should do about this. Keep it or take it back. More on this later. God’s destiny for His children is grace and mercy rather than hate and division. Heaven’s wisdom is great and will stand in the final stage of our lives. We must keep forgiving each other. Unlimited forgiveness is what God has given to all of us and this is what we must extend to others as our gift from Him. I heard this week of a corrupt policeman who had framed a man for drugs. This man went to prison for four years. Later the policeman was caught and sent to prison and the man convicted for drugs was released. Later their paths crossed in the small town where they were both from. They both were assisted in a recovery ministry called Mosaic Café. They the man...

Matthew 28. 28  After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2  There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4  The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5  The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8  So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9  Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They c...