Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

12.15- How Jesus treated women. There were people in the culture of Jesus who used and abused women.  Others patronized them and discounted them.  Many who claimed to be religious just wanted them to "keep their place". John 4. 27  Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Jesus loved all people and wanted them to God to know His Father in heaven.  Therefore, He reached out to them beyond the norms of His day. She was shocked that He spoke to her,  She became a great witness and effective worker for Jesus. John 4. 4  Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2  although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3  So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4  Now he had to go through Samaria. 5  So he came to a tow...

12.14- Do you know God? Acts 17. 24  “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25  And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. Does God know you? Genesis 3.7b so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Matthew 7. 21  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’   He stands at the door and knocks. Revelation 3. 14  “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the ...

12.13- Receive the living waters of God's refreshing grace and mercy. John 4. 10  Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” God rescues the poor when no one else will help.  He is good news for the poor. Psalm 140. Psalm 140 [ a ] For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1  Rescue me, Lord , from evildoers;      protect me from the violent, 2  who devise evil plans in their hearts      and stir up war every day. 3  They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s;      the poison of vipers is on their lips. [ b ] 4  Keep me safe, Lord , from the hands of the wicked;      protect me from the violent,      who devise ways to trip my feet. 5  The arrogant have hidden a snare for me;      they have s...

12.12- Walking with God is not perfection but direction.  Luke 18. 9  To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10  “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13  “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14  “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Romans 3. 9  What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge ...

12.11- The importance of keeping your joyful song. An 18 year old singer started to loose some of her normal zest in life and her parents took her to the doctor.  It was found she had a brain tumor that had to be removed.  The key thing was that the tumor had to be removed while not destroying her favorite activity in life.  Singing. During her brain surgery they kept her singing so they could remove the tumor and not take away her ability to sing.  It succeeded because she kept singing during the surgery.  She has complete memory of the surgery and experienced it as her brain surgeon was singing the same song she was singing. You may have had a "tumor" of some sort that is making your life miserable right now.  Get help from doctor Jesus.  Face the pain of getting rid of the "tumor".  "Sin". "Guilt". "Shame."  Face your come to Jesus moment with bravery.  Face and embrace the truth. Bring the matters from darkness to light....

12.10 Former President, George H. W. Bush was asked by his grandaughter, Gena, what was his most important life principle. His slow, thought about answer was, "To thine own self be true." Shakespeare: “This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.” 13 Matthew 12 35  A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36  But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Proverbs 3. 5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart      and lean not on your own understanding; 6  in all your ways submit to him,      and he will make your paths straight. [ a ] 7  Do not be wise in your own...

12.9- Redeem suffering by helping others to get to paradise. Luke 23.43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”