Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 6.19- Juneteenth. 6.19.1865 is the day when black slaves learned that they were free.  People who had been bought and sold and separated from their family at the will of their slave owners got the news that they were free.  Free to be treated as human beings instead of property.  What good news.  The great national sin of slavery was not over, but a big step was taken by our nation at the cost of 600,000 lives during the civil war to settle the matter that the slaves should be set free. The news didn't get to Texas slaves for two and a half more years.  What a day that was and now it is a national holiday.  This announcement of freedom reminds me of the reality of Jesus death on the cross setting people free from their slavery to debt of sin what was paid on the cross, yet many have yet to hear the good news of their freedom won for them by Jesus death in their place. When Jesus died He said, "It is finished."  He knew that His death would purcha...

 6.19- When Jesus came to this world and began making disciples at age 30 it is clear that He had learned enough to not trust a lifestyle of trying to please people. John 2. 23  Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name as they observed His signs which He was doing.   24  But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, because He knew all people,   25  and because He did not need anyone to testify about mankind, for He Himself knew what was in mankind. John 10.   4  When he puts all his own  sheep  outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.   5  However, a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”   His mother knew who He was and where He came from. He still had some independence from her.  She knew He could turn water...

 6.18- Most of us remember Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd. That is so personal. David had a personal relationship with the Lord God of Israel and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is so personal. Jesus said that He knew His sheep by name. He said that they knew His voice. That is so personal. He leads us out into an abundant life. He leads us to pasture and to quiet waters and to bread and wine. That is so personal. He knows what doors to open to me and what doors to close to me. That so personal. He said that no one could snatch me away from Him. That is so personal and so able to give each of us security in His love. That is so personal. John 10. 10  “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.   2  But the one who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.   3  To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voi...

 6,20- This pure religion is not wired through anyone to us.  It comes to us after observing nature or being taught by someone or through a chaos and crisis of some sort.  It is not dependent upon humans.  Humans at best have struggles staying aligned with God's love. It doesn't matter what institution is doing the teaching it is true that it will be limited by human weakness. Galations 5. 16  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.   17  For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want.   One of the issues with these intermediary agencies is that most of them depend upon money.  God is not limited to needing money to accomplish His work. There are people that have a great deal of money, but it doesn't actually give them the wisdom to even enjoy the mon...

 6.17- We must do the right thing even when its the hard thing. Galations 5. 16  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.   17  For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want.  

 6.16- What is your feeling when someone is in the news because they were caught doing something wrong? Glad they got caught. Glad they may get what they deserve. Hopeful that they face the truth. Find the mercy of God and change their life for the better. John 8. 8  1-2  Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. 3-6  The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. 6-8  Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw ...

6.15- When you believe in God and love people it sets up a flow of encouragement.

 6.14- Here are some things you can do to join God in doing some good work. Rescuing someone from a violent family situation. Show someone a financial trap they are about to step into. Correct false slander. Fight for justice for the poor. Psalm 140. 140  Rescue me,  Lord , from evil people; Protect me from violent men 2  Who devise evil things in  their  hearts; They continually stir up wars. 3  They sharpen their tongues like a snake; The venom of a viper is under their lips.  Selah 4  Keep me,  Lord , from the hands of the wicked; Protect me from violent men Who  [ a ] intend to  [ b ] trip up my feet. 5  The proud have hidden a trap for me, and snares; They have spread a net at the  [ c ] wayside; They have set snares for me.  Selah 6  I said to the  Lord , “You are my God; Listen,  Lord , to the sound of my pleadings. 7  [ d ] God  the...