Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 12.26- Scripture cannot be broken or set aside.  That which lasts through time is something that was given to us by the living God.  If humans try to break Scripture it will only cause them to be broken.  Every time I have decided to go the opposite of the commands of God in Scripture it doesn't turn out well. Great men and women have been people who searched the Scriptures daily to see if the things they were being taught down at church were aligned with God's will as seen in Scripture.  It doesn't matter so much what humans may think, but what does God say through inspired Scripture. John 10. 31  The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.   32  Jesus replied to them,  “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”   33  The Jews answered Him, “We are not stoning You for a good work, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself  out to be  God.” ...

 12.25- Christmas.   Today a Savior has been born. We know Him as the leader who does not run away when the wolf comes.  Hired shepherds who care more about themselves than the sheep will run away in times of danger.  Jesus is the courageous shepherd who says to His sheep fear not. In the storms of life He comes and tells us not to fear. In the encounters with God and angels we are reminded to not be afraid. The Christmas story is one which brings confidence to the children of God.  Jesus says that He is the shepherd who is so powerful that no one can snatch His sheep from Him.   We are His forever if we want to be with Him.  My Savior today and my Savior forever. John 10. 11  “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.   12  He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them an...

 12.24- Other religious leaders take away our freedom and our life.  A false religious leader or a cult leader will enslave people instead of free them. The thief of life, the evil one, will use fake and false religion to ensnare people so that they are worst off instead of better off.  The despair and frustration in life will cause some people to look for just any kind of leadership and this leads to death instead of life. Jesus gives us life.  Abundant life.  Overflowing life.  Life everlasting.  It is Eternal life in its never ending.  There is a peace and contentment in this life that cannot be matched by anything this world has to offer. John 10. 7  So Jesus said to them again,  “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.   8  All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.   9  I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will...

 12.23- Jesus calls us out. I have heard the phrase so often that a leader is someone who calls people out to be all they can be.  That is the kind of leader that Jesus is.  He calls out His sheep and they go into new places for new pasture and new growth. He doesn't leave them inside the stall or the fold, because nutrition and growth requires movement and leadership into new things. He goes before us. He is beside us and even sent His Spirit to live inside us.  A great leader always is doing or has done many times what He asks us to do.  He goes before us.  There is not a difficult thing that humans go through that He has not gone through. John 10. 3  To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.   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 ...

 12.22- Human beings were created with free will and the ability to choose.  This means that God who is righteous and just must have some system to evaluate what is right and wrong for humans to do.  He sent His Son Jesus to earth to be tempted in all points like we are without any sin.  He showed how to live and what humans can do.   Humans can choose to have self-control and do the right thing instead of the wrong thing.  What is the right thing and what is the wrong thing?  Jesus is the standard.  He is the ultimate human who ever walked on the planet.   He was born 2021 years ago and His body was laid in a manger and ever since we have seen in Him not only our shepherd and leader, but because we cannot measure up it is true that He also became the substitute for us.   When He was on the cross He exchanged His righteous for the wickedness of all humans.  As we believe in Him our life is exchanged with His life....

 12.21- God is the maker of heaven and earth.  God made all nations and Jesus intention was that all God's children would come together in the one flock led by Jesus who leads with love and mercy.  He is a shepherd who is open and upfront with us about the best life.  He does not bait and switch and present one thing and then change it.  He lays down His life for us and shows us the best kind of life.  As we follow His leadership we learn to do things His way and lay down our lives for others. 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 voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.   4  When he puts all his own  sheep  outside, he...

 12.20- Secret of Forgiveness                      Max Lucado      You will never forgive anyone more than God has already forgiven you. Is it still hard to consider the thought of forgiving the one who hurt you? If so, go one more time to the room. Watch Jesus as he goes from disciple to disciple. Can you see him? Can you hear the water splash? Can you hear him shuffle on the floor to the next person? Keep that image.     John 13:12 says, “When he had finished washing their feet. . .” Please note; Jesus  finished washing their feet. That means he left no one out. Why is that important? Because that means he washed the feet of Judas. Jesus washed the feet of his betrayer. That’s not to say it was easy for Jesus. That’s not to say it’s easy for you. But that is to say, God will never call...