Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

7.2 Saturday Luke 4. 31  And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbath; 32  and they were amazed at His teaching, for His [ m ] message was with authority. 33  In the synagogue there was a man [ n ] possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34  “Let us alone! [ o ] What business do we have with each other, Jesus [ p ] of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 35  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people , he came out of him without doing him any harm. 36  And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, “What is [ q ] this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.” 37  And the report about Him was spreading into every locality in the surrounding district...

Happy July 4th Weekend. The founding fathers of America are celebrated at this time of the year. Abraham Lincoln was one of our most pressured Presidents. I remember reading that after the defeat of Robert G. Lee and his troops there was a moment where President Lincoln could give respect and honor to his opponent. He chose grace over disgrace. Sebastian Junger, a war corespondent has recently written a book, On Homecoming and Belonging, where he challenges the notion that our soldiers coming home from war are mentally off. He says that our culture is mentally off and some of them are the ones who are strong. His belief is that we are Americans. Even though our country is having a passionate discussion this election year we are all American. The United States of America. Our discussion partners are not our enemies. They are of our own tribe called the "United States of American". He believes that we need something traumatic to cause us to pul...

7.1- Friday Luke 4. 22  And all were [ i ] speaking well of Him, and wondering at the [ j ] gracious words which [ k ] were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” 23  And He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” 24  And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. 25  But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; 26  and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to [ l ] Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27  And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28  And all the people in the synagogue were filled with r...

6.30- Thursday Luke 4. 14  And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15  And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. 16  And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17  And the [ e ] book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the [ f ] book and found the place where it was written, 18  “ The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me , Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor . He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives , And recovery of sight to the blind , To set free those who are oppressed , 19  To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord .” 20  And He closed the [ g ] book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21  And He began to say to them...

6.29 Wednesday Luke 4. 4  Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around [ a ] by the Spirit in the wilderness 2  for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. 3  And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4  And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘ Man shall not live on bread alone .’” 5  And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of [ b ] the world in a moment of time. 6  And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and [ c ] its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7  Therefore if You [ d ] worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” 8  Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘ You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only .’” 9  And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and...

6.28, Tuesday Matthew 4. 8  Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9  and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and [ c ] worship me.” 10  Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘ You shall worship the Lord your God, and [ d ] serve Him only .’” 11  Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. Psalm 19 17  Hear a just cause, O Lord , give heed to my cry; Give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips. 2  Let my [ a ] judgment come forth from Your presence; Let Your eyes look with equity. 3  You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have tested me and You find [ b ] nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. 4  As for the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips I have kept from the paths of the violent. 5  My steps have held...

6.27 Monday Matthew 4. 18  Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19  And He *said to them, “ [ h ] Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 21  Going on from there He saw two other brothers, [ i ] James the son of Zebedee, and [ j ] John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. 22  Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. Psalm 22 22  My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? [ b ] Far from my deliverance are the words of my [ c ] groaning. 2  O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but [ d ] I have no rest. 3  Yet You are holy, O You who [ e ] are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. 4  In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You d...

6.26-Sunday Matthew 4. 4  Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2  And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He [ a ] then became hungry. 3  And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4  But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘ Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God .’” Psalm 15 15  O Lord , who may [ a ] abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? 2  He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. 3  He does not slander [ b ] with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4  In [ c ] whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But [ d ] who honors those who fear the Lord ; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5  He does not put out his money [ e ] at int...