Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

12.30-Don't overthink criticism. Those spiritually cured will be criticized by those who have not allowed themselves to be cured by God’s gracious touch.   We do excellent work regardless of who we are working for but we are especially strong with the brothers and sisters who are filled with the Spirit of Jesus.   Our salvation is being guided by God’s commandments. John 7. 7  After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. 2  Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. 3  Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4  For no one does anything in secret [ a ] when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5  For not even His brothers were believing in Him. 6  So Jesus *said to them, “My time is n...

12.29- It is difficult to help someone who doesn’t really want to be helped. Focus your energy and time on helping people who want to be helped or at least seem unhappy about their current situation.   This gives you margin and energy to be available to teach those wanting to learn.   It also makes us available to stop people who are treating others improperly.  Zechariah 7. 8  Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah saying, 9  “Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10  and do not oppress the widow or the [ i ] orphan, the [ j ] stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’ 11  But they refused to pay attention and [ k ] turned a stubborn shoulder and [ l ] stopped their ears from hearing. 12  They made their hearts like [ m ] flint [ n ] so that they could not hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts...

12.28- Merry Christmas. When Jesus came from heaven to earth He could have come into any kind of situation. It didn’t have to be a manger for the first bed as the sign of the Savior. This would communicate God’s love for those who are common, ordinary people. That "no room at the inn" comment fits any of us who have felt turned down for something we thought we needed. Jesus came to help all of us “no room” people. Whether you were hearing that from people at school that you didn’t fit in with the popular crowd. You might be turned down for a job. Maybe a friendship didn’t develop. There was “no room”. Jesus is your Savior. Merry Christmas. Luke 2. 41  Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42  And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; 43  and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents w...

12.28- We have not finished our work. Revelation 3  “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, [ a ] but you are dead. 2  Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3  So remember [ b ] what you have received and heard; and keep it , and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4  But you have a few [ c ] people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5  He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6  He who has an ear, let him hear what t...