Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

2.8- Do not do things that are foolish thinking and then expect God to have to come to the rescue of your life because you got yourself into a jam.  He might rescue you quickly.  He might leave you in the situation for a time to teach and train you to not do foolish things. Deuteronomy 6. 16  “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah. 17  You should diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you. 18  You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord , that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which the Lord swore to give your fathers, 19  by driving out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has spoken. Matthew 4. 5  Then the devil *took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6  and *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself...

2.7- There is something more necessary than food.  It is God and His provision of food for us.  We worship God, but not food.  We can use self control and even go for 40 days without food with God's help. Under God's guidance we don't live to eat, but eat to live. The Holy Spirit gives God's children self control in all areas if we ask for and receive His help. Deuteronomy 8.3 3  He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you [ a ] understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord . 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  ...

2.6- Those who follow Jesus will find themselves close to those who are unpopular. About seven centuries before Jesus there was a prophet of God who said Jesus would be numbered with transgressors in His death. Sure enough this prophecy became true in Jesus' life.  He was crucified between two thieves. Isaiah 53.12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out [ r ] Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors. Luke 22. 36  And He said to them, “But now, [ e ] whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and [ f ] whoever has no sword is to sell his [ g ] coat and buy one. 37  For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘ And He was numbered with transgressors ’; for that which refers to Me has its [ h ] fulfillment.”  

2.5-Wow!  We are so pleased. Have you had a time when your mother or dad saw something you did and were as proud of you as you can possibly imagine and they told you so.   What a blessing that is when that kind of thing happens. Mark 1. 9  In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10  Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens [ g ] opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11  and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” The best times happen when we can genuinely say to someone we love and who loves us that we are well pleased with our relationship and with the accomplishment of living the way we have been created by God to live. Imagine hearing from God when we get to Paradise and have finished our work that God could say, “Well done.   With your work I am well pleased.” Matthew 25. 31  “But when the...

2.4- Confession is a matter of agreeing with God. Mark 1. 5  And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins To be healed by God’s grace and mercy it is necessary to admit our need for God’s help. Psalm 25. 20  Guard my soul and deliver me; Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You. 21  Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.

2.3- Good news.   Change is possible.   Big changes of heart and soul and life.   180 degree turns. But also regular, steady, day by day changes and improvement are possible. Self control is a gift from God to His Children. Heavenly lifestyle can be brought to the people on earth. Mark 1. 1  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2  As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “ Behold , I send My messenger [ a ] ahead of You , Who will prepare Your way ; 3  The voice of one crying in the wilderness , ‘ Make ready the way of the Lord , Make His paths straight .’” 4  John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness [ b ] preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5  And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. Romans 6. 6  What shall we say then? Are w...