Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

4.25- We know Scripture and therefore the power of God. Matthew 22.23-29 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, hav...

4.24- Did you know that one of the books in the Bible was written by a man whom God had told to go and marry a prostitute? Did you know that Jesus told some religious people that prostitutes would get into the kingdom of God before them? Did you know that a physical connection with a prostitute changes not only your body, but also you heart, mind and soul and self-image? Did you know that Jesus said at the day of judgment it would be tolerable for some than others? Did you know that choices here in this life have consequences for us in the next life? Luke 7. 36  Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to [ aa ] dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table . 37  And there was a woman in the city who was a [ ab ] sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38  and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to ...

4.23- I feel love and appreciation for the close friends God has given to me in this stage of my life. They are a treasure. In order to keep these relationships strong a need that I have is that I steer clear of arguments and quarrels, but I also must avoid impatience with people who have a different idea on things than I have. To accomplish this requires deep love and excellent conversations. Ephesians 4. 25  Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor , for we are members of one another. 26  Be angry, and yet do not sin ; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27  and do not give the devil [ s ] an opportunity. 28  He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with [ t ] one who has need. 29  Let no [ u ] unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification [ v ]...

4.22- "At the end of your life you will not regret a low test grade or court case verdict or missed deal but you will regret time not spent with husband, wife or parent." Barbara Bush Matthew 15. 3  And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4  For God said, ‘ Honor your father and mother ,’ and, ‘ He who speaks evil of father or mother is to [ a ] be put to death .’ 5  But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been [ b ] given to God ,” 6  he is not to honor his father or his mother [ c ] .’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7  You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 8  ‘ This people honors Me with their lips , But their heart is far away from Me . 9  ‘ But in vain do they worship Me , Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men .’”

4.21- "You can like what you do or dislike what you do. I have chosen to like what I do." Barbara Bush Our family has always chosen to like what we do. This been a gift from God to have joy in our work. Ecclesiastes 6. There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.

4.20- "Wherever you are God can be glorified there." Curt Parsons John 9. 9  As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2  And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3  Jesus answered, “ It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4  We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5  While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” 6  When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, 7  and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. 8  Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?” 9  Others were saying, “...

4.19- 1 Corinthians 13. 4  Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5  does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered , 6  does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7  [ b ] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8  Love never fails;

4.18- 1 Thessalonians 5. 12  But we request of you, brethren, that you [ i ] appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you [ j ] instruction, 13  and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14  We urge you, brethren, admonish the [ k ] unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15  See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 16  Rejoice always; 17  pray without ceasing; 18  in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19  Do not quench the Spirit; 20  do not despise prophetic [ l ] utterances. 21  But examine everything carefully ; hold fast to that which is good; 22  abstain from every [ m ] form of evil.

4.17- As I meditated on Matthew 15 this morning and prayed for my family of six I wrote some intentions I hoped for our family from my point of view. We go to the wise for guidance and for warning. We are a joyful people who seek to improve our intelligence by seeking knowledge. We don’t play religious word games.  Religious arrogance and conceit are not proper for us. We honor all the members of our family.  We honor the mother and the father.  We honor the grandfather and the grandmother.  How?  By praying for them.  By thinking, “What do they possibly need?”   Can I provide something they want or need.  Then do it. We know that things that are not rooted in God’s wisdom, but that are evil are going to be torn up someday.  It could be on earth in our lifetime, but it might be after our life.  Things that are against God’s plan will be destroyed eventually. Matthew 15. 12  Then the disciples *came and *s...