Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

Matthew 22. 23  On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Jesus and questioned Him, 24  asking, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘ If a man dies having no children, his brother as next of kin shall marry his wife, and raise up children for his brother .’ 25  Now there were seven brothers with us; and the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother; 26  so also the second, and the third, down to the seventh. 27  Last of all, the woman died. 28  In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.” 29  But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not [ m ] understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30  For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31  But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: 32  ‘I am the God o...

Matthew 22. 15  Then the Pharisees went and [ g ] plotted together how they might trap Him [ h ] in what He said. 16  And they *sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and [ i ] defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. 17  Tell us then, what do You think? Is it [ j ] lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” 18  But Jesus perceived their [ k ] malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? 19  Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a [ l ] denarius. 20  And He *said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21  They *said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He *said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” 22  And hearing this , they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away. Psalm 64. 64  Hear my voice, O God, in my [ a ] co...

What To Do During Difficult Times God tells His children that there will be those who want to hate them and even to kill them. Remain on track to obey Jesus basic commands. Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself. Enjoy the Spirit of love, joy and peace that God has placed in your heart as His child. Allow your life to be guided by the example of good leaders you have known. Look at the outcome of their lives and notice how they lived. Imitate their faith. These memories and the spirit of love will guide you into a good way of life. Look at the consequences of hate and bitterness versus the results of unfailing love. The future is good for people who live a life of love. Bring glory to God who creates beautiful things. Keep your hope alive and see God turn sadness into joy. Transitions are hard. Change comes with discomfort. There is great travail and pain getting into this world and there is great travail and pain g...

Matthew 22. 22  Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, 2  “The kingdom of heaven [ a ] may be compared to [ b ] a king who [ c ] gave a wedding feast for his son. 3  And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. 4  Again he sent out other slaves saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.”’ 5  But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own [ d ] farm, another to his business, 6  and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. 7  But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. 8  Then he *said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9  Go therefore to the main highways, and as many a...

Matthew 21. 33  “Listen to another parable. There was a [ i ] landowner who planted a vineyard and put a wall around it and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower , and rented it out to [ j ] vine-growers and went on a journey. 34  When the [ k ] harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce. 35  The vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third. 36  Again he sent another group of slaves larger than the first; and they did the same thing to them. 37  But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38  But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39  They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40  Therefore when the [ l ] owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” 41  They *said to Him, “He ...

Matthew 21. 28  “But what do you think? A man had two [ f ] sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘ [ g ] Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ 29  And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went. 30  The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will , sir’; but he did not go. 31  Which of the two did the will of his father?” They *said, “The first.” Jesus *said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes [ h ] will get into the kingdom of God before you. 32  For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this , did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him. Psalm 62. 62  My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. 2  He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. 3  How long will you assa...

Matthew 21. 23  When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” 24  Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one [ d ] thing, which if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25  The baptism of John was from what source , from heaven or from men?” And they began reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 26  But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the [ e ] people; for they all regard John as a prophet.” 27  And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. Psalm 61. 61  Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. 2  From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is h...

Sunday, 3.22.13 I woke up on this Sunday morning three years ago thinking this would be a normal day in my life.  It was not to be. Things went normal for the first few hours.  I woke up about 4am.  Spent time in some prayer, meditation, writing and planning for my day of teaching about Jesus all day Sunday which I had been doing most all Sundays since April 1, 1969. I had enjoyed a long and healthy and busy life doing the job I wanted to do.  Preaching, teaching, writing and encouraging people to follow Jesus.  Who could be more blessed?  I was the luckiest man in the world on this day. The 8am meeting with the elders and staff was normal. The 9am worship prep time was normal. The 9.30 class time was normal. The 10.30 am worship service was normal. The 11.30am time frame was a bit unusual as someone had given some flowers to the church to pass along to people that might be encouraged with them.  I went downstairs and got to sets of flowers....

Matthew 21. 18  Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. 19  Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He *said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered. 20  Seeing this , the disciples were amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither all at once?” 21  And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. 22  And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Psalm 60. 8  “Moab is My washbowl; Over Edom I shall throw My shoe; Shout loud, O Philistia, because of Me!” 9  Who will bring me into the besieged city? Who [ m ] will lead me to Edom? 10  Have not You Yourself, O God, rejected us? And will...

Matthew 21. 12  And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 13  And He *said to them, “It is written, ‘ My house shall be called a house of prayer ’; but you are making it a robbers ’ [ c ] den .” 14  And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15  But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant 16  and said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus *said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘ Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself ’?” 17  And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there. Psalm 60 60  O God, You have rejecte...

Matthew 21. 21  Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, [ a ] at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2  saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3  And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 4  All [ b ] this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5  “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’” [ c ] 6  So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7  They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him [ d ] on them. 8  And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9  Then...

Matthew 20. 29  Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30  And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” 31  Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” 32  So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 33  They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34  So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. Psalm 58. 58  Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones? Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men? 2  No, in heart you work wickedness; You weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth. 3  The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, spe...

Matthew 20. 17  Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18  “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19  and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.” Psalm 57. 7  My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. 8  Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. 9  I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. 10  For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds. 11  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Matthew 20. 20  1-2  “God’s kingdom is like an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work. 3-5  “Later, about nine o’clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. They went. 5-6  “He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o’clock. At five o’clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, ‘Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?’ 7  “They said, ‘Because no one hired us.’ “He told them to go to work in his vineyard. 8  “When the day’s work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, ‘Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.’ 9-12  “Those hired at five o’clock came up and were each given a dollar. When those who were h...

Matthew 19. 27  Then Peter chimed in, “We left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?” 28-30  Jesus replied, “Yes, you have followed me. In the re-creation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting with the twelve tribes of Israel. And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life. This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.” Psalm 56. 56  1-4  Take my side, God—I’m getting kicked around,      stomped on every day. Not a day goes by      but somebody beats me up; They make it their duty      to beat me up. When I get really afraid      I come to you in trust. I’m proud to praise God;      fearless now, I t...

Matthew 19. 16  Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17  Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.” 18-19  The man asked, “What in particular?” Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.” 20  The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?” 21  “If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.” 22  That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go. 23-24  As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, “Do you have ...