Month: January 2025

Two Year Gospel Study Week 57

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Scripture – Luke 24:13-25  “Surprise Encounter”. 
Other scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:20, Romans 10:17, Hebrews 13:20-21

The first day of Jesus’ Resurrection was a day of surprises!  

Today’s story is one of the most incredible stories in the Bible. It is one of the most incredible acts of historical reporting found anywhere in all of literature and all of history!  It is the story of two disciples on the road to Emmaus and their surprise encounter with the One who is risen from the dead!

The last day of the week is the Jewish day of the Sabbath Day which is a Saturday. Today’s story takes place on Sunday, the first day of the week. But this was a special “first day of the week” because this particular Sunday was the first day after the Sabbath of Passover and thus a festival day: The Festival of First Fruits. Why is this significant? The Bible tells us Jesus is the First Fruits of those who rise from the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:20). So there’s nothing accidental about God the Father choosing this particular day for Jesus’ Resurrection!

The story tells of two disciples walking and talking about all that had happened in the last week. They had heard bits and pieces. Their hopes were dashed at the brutal crucifixion of Jesus and the tragic reality seemed to be that everything they had pinned their hopes and lives upon was gone and dead with Jesus’ death.  As they talked Jesus Himself came up and walked with them, but they were kept from recognizing Him.

Why was God so intentional for them to have this conversation without realizing who they were talking to? We will find out….

Pastor brings in some holy speculation about who one of the disciples, Cleopas, may have been. He shares that Cleopas may be none other that Jesus’ step uncle (His step father, Joseph’s, brother.)

As Jesus joins them He asks what they are discussing.  Incredulously they can’t believe He doesn’t know and they share what had happened in the previous days, ending with all they knew that had happened that morning with the women finding the empty tomb, Peter and John verifying the tomb really was empty, other women seeing and speaking with angels, Mary Magdalene encountering Jesus, Himself. And how they don’t even know what to think about it all.

Then Jesus says, ” ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And then beginning with Moses, Jesus explained to them what was said in the Scriptures about Himself.”  What an amazing conversation this had to have been! Here they are hearing Jesus share about Himself, all while having no idea that it’s actually Him with them!

Pastor walks through Scriptures pointing out several possible sections of the Old Testament that Jesus may have shared that day with them as they walked. Whatever Jesus shared, it must have been a fascinating conversation because the Bible is a story that proclaims the goodness and faithfulness of God to an unfaithful creation.  It is the story that reminds us that the Living God will keep His Word even though we human beings so often fail. It is a story that tells there is One to come who will redeem and deliver and rule forever. How many times were these two disciples stopped in their tracks as they listened to Jesus explain the scriptures to them that day. 

As they arrived at one of their houses, they invited Jesus to stay with them saying, “Please stay with us!”  What a great request…. Have you asked Jesus that? “Please stay with me.”  Have you invited Him by saying “I want to know You more and more!”  Jesus answered their request by staying with them and He will answer your request the same way!

When Jesus was at the table in their home, He took the bread, gave thanks, broke it and passed it out and as He did so, their eyes were opened and they recognized who He was, and then Jesus disappeared.

Back to our question: Why was God so intentional for them to have this conversation without realizing who they were talking to? We were able to see how they had accepted what they had heard on that walk – before they even realized who they had been walking with! The Bible says in Romans 10:17, “Faith come from hearing and hearing comes through the Word of the God.” Their faith blossomed as they heard Jesus speak the Words of God in the Old Testament, shared through Moses and the other prophets. When we hear the Word (the Bible) today – it is still a Word that comes from the very lips of God and that Word: transforms, renews, gives hope, gives peace, brings power, and it changes everything!

After Jesus disappeared from their sight, they asked each other, “were not our hearts burning within as He talked with us and opened the scripture to us!” This is still true today – the Holy Spirit opens our minds to see the truth of the Living God.
This is not religion – this is real life
This is not a matter of ritual, this is a matter of living in a relationship with the Living God who loves us all and gave His Son for us all.

After Jesus disappeared they returned at once to Jerusalem and found the eleven Disciples, telling them it was true the Lord had indeed risen!  They shared all they had experienced that day.

This story isn’t just an amazing story – this story is a clear testimony about God’s desire for us and about His claim on our lives because the One who created us also bought us back, redeeming us with the blood of His Son.

Our God comes looking for us. He comes seeking to walk with us, just as he sought to walk with these two. And He offers to us just what He offered them:

Healing
Hope
Forgiveness
Life
Assurance
Peace
Power
Joy

He is the Risen One! And He is coming back! And so we say, “Amen, Come, Lord Jesus!

Pastor ends with a reading of Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Our website –  https://www.awakeusnow.com

Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper

Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01

St. Luke’s Account is part three of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. This book written by Luke, a non-Jew, offers a unique perspective into the story of Jesus’ life.

This study is great for large group, small group or home group study.

Check out this episode!

Ten Words – Week 4: God’s Name

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Scripture: Exodus 20:7, Exodus 3:14, John 8:58, Matthew 15:8-9, Psalm 40:3, Psalm 50:15, Psalm 145:18, Leviticus 19:31, Romans 10:13, John 17:6, Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:14

Exodus 20:7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”

This means we are to understand that God’s Name is powerful, God’s Name is Holy. This is the only one of God’s Ten Words/Commandments with a threat and no promise.

God’s Name is a 4 letter tetragrammaton and we aren’t even sure how to pronounce His Name because by 200 BC the Jewish people no longer spoke God’s Name for fear of misusing it. The Jewish people still today will not speak His name and simply refer to God’s Name as “Ha-shem” – “The Name,” though others pronounce it in several different ways: Yahweh and Jehovah are a couple.

God takes His Name seriously – it is not a swear word – His Name is the revelation of Himself. In His Name God reveals His identity and character to us. His Name speaks of His goodness, mercy, love and His awesome and profound holiness.

We dare not treat Hm or His Name lightly,  In Exodus 3:14 God says to Moses, “I am who I am.” Deliver. Guide.

In John 8:58 Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!” Jesus is the Living God who has taken on human flesh to deliver us all. We are all sinners and sin, deserving the punishment Jesus took for us on the cross.

In John 17:6 Jesus is praying to God the Father saying, “I have revealed You to those whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your word.” In these words, Jesus is the revelation of the character and identity of God. If you want to know what the invisible God is like you look at the visible Son of the Living God – The One through whom all things were created. God’s character is summed up in His Name. His Name is wonderful, holy and worthy of praise.

What is the misuse of God’s Name?
    1.    By cursing, speaking threats, judgements and swearing.  Romans 12:14  tells us that we are to “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
    2.    Through the occult – horoscopes, ouija boards, séances, eastern mysticism that open a destructive door in one’s life.  Leviticus 19:31 tells us “‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.” 
    3.    By deception – professing to be godly but in reality living a double life having a veneer of religion but having lives that deny it.  Matthew 15:8-9 says, “‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.'” We should not use His Name to deceive others or to try to deceive God.  We are to use God’s Name to give Him honor and to express understanding of His character.

What are some proper uses of God’s Name?
    1.    Receiving Him – Romans 10:13 tells us, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” God offers forgiveness, restoration, redemption, hope, peace and joy to all who repent and call on Him saying, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner, I receive what You offer to me through Jesus, my Savior.”
    2.    Relying on Him – Psalm 50:15 says, “Call on Me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” Psalm 145:18 tells us that “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” When we go through difficult times we are to call on His Name – to rely on Him – because He is near, He is not distant.
    3.    Rejoicing in Him – In Psalm 40:3 we read, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him.”  We properly use His Name when we use it to give Him honor and praise and thanks. God’s Name deserves our praise and rejoicing. As we live a joyful life, especially in a world that is often falling apart – it causes others to be drawn to Him as well!  THAT is an excellent way to use His Name – in sharing it with others!

Now What? Learn about God at  https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out the video from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/ten-words

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Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Check out this episode!

Two Year Gospel Study Week 56

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Scripture – Luke 19:28-44 Triumph and Tragedy

Today’s teaching on Jesus crying is found only in the book of Luke. It takes place on the Tenth Day of Nissan – a day we call Palm Sunday. We will explore the triumph and the tragedy of that day and what it says about the heart of God, along with what it says to us about our need for Jesus.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the Tenth Day of Nissan – a significant day – the day the Jewish people choose and set aside the lambs in preparation for their slaughter later in the week. It’s on this very day that Jesus, our Passover Lamb was being “set aside,” designated, as the sacrifice for the sins of not only the Jews but the entire world. As He rides into Jerusalem He is announcing and presenting Himself as the Lamb of God who offers Himself for us for the sins of the world as our Passover Lamb.  Truly a day of triumph and tragedy.  Triumph because God wins! Tragedy because of the incredible price Jesus would pay.

500 years earlier the prophet Zechariah announced, “See Jerusalem, your King comes to you riding on a donkey’s colt.” This is just how this triumphal entry happens – it’s Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey as King. Why say king? In the ancient world if a king came in warfare he rode into town on a horse.  But when a king came in peace he rode in on a donkey.  And so, Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, as King of Israel, just as Zechariah had said.

There’s something fascinating about donkeys.  Every donkey has on it’s back the shape of a cross – a stripe of dark hair running down its spine and another across its shoulders making a cross upon its back.  As Jesus rode into Jerusalem He rode on a cross….

As Jesus overlooks Jerusalem His eyes fill with tears, the word in the greek has the connotation of sobbing. Jesus was sobbing with overwhelm at what he knew lay ahead, by what He knew of the Father’s love, by what he knew of the cost of human rebellion that lay ahead.

Jesus wept over Jerusalem knowing that although crowds acclaimed him there were many that hated Him and who were plotting His death. So many had rejected Him and Jesus knew the judgement that lay ahead for Jerusalem. He saw the consequences of their rebellion and He sobbed, “If only you had recognized what would bring you peace.”  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Verse 44 tells of the judgement that awaits Jerusalem. This is just what happened within a generation of Jesus speaking these words. Ancient historical writings on the destruction of Israel in 70AD tell of the horrors of Jerusalem’s complete destruction and of the deaths of a million Jewish people. And Jesus wept with the knowledge of what was to come.

Looking at the past and looking at the present, we can see and understand: Jesus is who He claimed to be, He is the Messiah and Savior. He desires that no one perishes and that all come to the knowledge of the truth. God’s purpose in judgement is to draw us back to Himself.

For all people, this scripture today reminds us how serious it is to turn one’s back on the Living God. The story of the Tenth Day of Nissan shows both Triumph and Tragedy.
    Tragedy – of all Jesus would endure over the next 6 days, the tragedy of what awaited Jerusalem.
    Triumph – of an empty tomb, the triumph of a returning Savior.

The Son of God endured tragedy for us that we might triumph forever! And even in the tragedies of life God points us to Jesus who brings eternal victory and triumph! 

Our website –  https://www.awakeusnow.com

Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper

Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01

St. Luke’s Account is part three of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. This book written by Luke, a non-Jew, offers a unique perspective into the story of Jesus’ life.

This study is great for large group, small group or home group study.

Check out this episode!

Ten Words – Week 3: No Idols!

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Scripture: Exodus 20:4-6, Psalm 115:4-8, Matthew 6:24, Exodus 18:20, Deuteronomy 24:16, Colossians 3:5

Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.” 
We are to worship God.

Pastor begins today’s teaching by talking about the different numbering of the commandments and how it does’t matter how we number them, what matters is whether we listen to them and apply them to our lives.

Exodus 20:4-5 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.”

So is this saying we have to take down pictures on our walls, or throw out figurines?  This is not what God is saying. Pastor shares biblical examples supporting that God is not talking about banning all artwork. What God’s talking about is idolatry – something that’s become more important to us than He is.

What does it mean  –  God is a “jealous God?”  Pastor explains that this doesn’t mean God is sinfully jealous. God means that His desire, as our Creator, is that we know Him, worship Him and do not worship other objects or things.  He wants us to worship Him alone and to place nothing else in front of our devotion to Him. 

The verse speaks of the “third and fourth generations…” and the consequences of individuals and especially parents, on how setting an example to the children ends up getting passed down to the next generation and the next. This is why it’s important to teach them about God and show them by how you live.  Exodus 18:20 says, “Teach them His decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave.” 

But if individuals and parents choose not to live in faith to God and instead live as being part of the world, with all its idols, the next generation is taught idolatry and that gets passed down. God says this in Deuteronomy 24:16 says, “Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.”  A child will not be condemned as an idolator if they come to know Jesus as their Savior. God’s desire is that all people turn to Him and belong to Him. Idolatry and the consequences of it are important to understand because when we worship God and follow Him, there is an amazing blessing.

Exodus 20:6 “but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” What a powerful promise from our God who is merciful and gracious and who desires to bring blessings upon individuals, families, and generation after generation.

IDOLATRY

Psalm 115:4-8 summary: Idols are lifeless and they make their worshiper as dead as they are.  

We can look at these verses and say as a believer, “I don’t have an idol set up in my household. No statues, I don’t offer incense before a statue and I don’t bow down to poles or chant incantations.”  But…

Is there more depth that needs to be understood around the meaning of idolatry? John Calvin’s quote: “The human heart is an idol factory.” As part of our fallen nature we worship things over God. There are many contemporary idols. Here’s a sampling of six:

APPEARANCE – becomes an idol when we’re more concerned about how we look, how people perceive us, and how we appear before others, than how we appear before God. There’s nothing wrong with looking nice – it’s good to take care of ourselves, but appearance can become an idol when its one of the most important things in one’s life, outstripping the concern of what God thinks of us.

EDUCATION – is a good thing but it can easily become a god in our lives where it becomes the most important thing, where we boast about our educational achievements, or put education above the what and who of God in our lives. 

ENTERTAINMENT (sports, music, TV, movies) – can become the most important thing in our lives when we worship what’s on the TV screen, worship the latest pop star, when icons are who we dream of or dream of becoming, when we try to look like, talk like, act like them….  Entertainment can become an abject of worship that crowds God out of our lives or reduces Him to an after thought.

MONEY – can become a dominant force in our lives.  Matthew 6:24 says we cannot serve both God and money. The love of money – greed – can become our motivating source for our actions, desires, our future, our work and God ends up being left behind.

POWER – is the desire for influence, to be recognized by others, to be in control, but God is the One who is in control. We are to serve and respond to Him through faith in Him, not faith in ourselves.

SEX – It’s morally neutral but can become an idol, especially in our sexually crazed environment today: wide spread pornography, sexual immorality not just winked at but encouraged. However, sex is a gift from God for procreation, intimacy and joy. 

The Scriptures say we are not to worship an idol – instead we are to worship God alone as it says in Colossians 3:5 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” 

Martin Luther says, “We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.” God is good and because He is, let us respond in repentance and believe in Jesus whose death covers our sin and who we know is coming back so that we will live forever with Him. Therefore my desire is to fear, love and trust in Him above ALL things!

Now What? Learn about God at  https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out the video from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/ten-words

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Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

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Two Year Gospel Study Week 55

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Scripture – Luke 19:1-10, Romans 6:23, Romans 12:2, Titus 2:13-14
“Inner Healing” 

Today’s teaching is on the familiar story of Zacchaeus, but come along with us as we discover some new insights.

Zacchaeus was a very wealthy chief tax collector. Tax collectors were despised by people for their greed, for cheating people out of more than what was owed and they were considered to be traitors. Matthew, one of Jesus’ disciples, had also been a tax collector. This makes one wonder if Matthew and Zacchaeus had known each other professionally… Was Zacchaeus curious about Jesus because Matthew had talked about Him? Was Zacchaeus curious to learn more about this Jesus person who had changed Matthew’s life?

Zacchaeus was a short man and was unable to see over the crowd gathered around Jesus, so he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore fig tree and from there he could see Jesus coming.

Zaccheaus wanted to see Jesus, BUT what he didn’t realize is that Jesus wanted to see him! Our Lord is one who seeks people out. That day He wanted to show Zacchaeus His incredible love, His great mercy and His life-changing power.  And still today, Jesus desires to seek us out too and show us all that He showed Zacchaeus that day. 

Jesus calls Zacchaeus down from the tree and tells him He’s staying at his house.  Zacchaeus comes down from the tree and gladly welcomes Jesus to his home.

What was going through Zacchaeus’ mind?
    How did He know my name?
    Did Matthew tip Him off?
    Was he feeling shock that Jesus was speaking directly to him?
    Was he wondering why he was singled out?

We aren’t told about the conversation Jesus and Zacchaeus had, we don’t know how long Jesus stayed, what they eat, or how many others were there. All that Luke shares is this, the part that really matters: 

“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.'” Luke 19:8-10

Jesus came to seek and to save the lost….Such beautiful and powerful words! He came to save us from our sin. Through belief in Him, we receive life forever with Him. 

Jesus came to:
    1.    Save us from sin’s punishment (sin brings death – sin must be paid for – “for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23). The blood of Jesus pays for our sin.
    2.    Save us from sin’s grip – Just what we see with Zacchaeus – a man in the grip of greed – and Jesus broke that grip.

Jesus can and will brake whatever has a grip on our lives.  Zacchaeus’ story assures us of Jesus’ desire to give us inner healing. Jesus frees us from sin’s punishment, but also has the power to free us from sin’s grip.  

We will never be perfect, the only Perfect One is Jesus, but there is to be progress in our lives because through Christ we are no longer under the control of sin.

Biblical Truths found in this story:

AGREEMENT – Zacchaeus agreed with what Jesus told him. Zacchaeus agreed Jesus came to seek and to save him.  When we receive Jesus by faith we are changed people, just like Zacchaeus. We have passed from death to life and are no longer controlled by the flesh. Instead we are living by the Spirit.  He gives us the power to be changed by Him.  Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” There is a battle raging in us between the Spirit of God and the old nature, but there is power that we can find when in AGREEMENT with who Jesus is and what He says.

ACTIVITY – Zacchaeus engaged in godly activity – he acted immediately after hearing Jesus – not after thinking about it for a while – but immediately! He gave 1/2 of all he had to the poor and for those he cheated he said he’d restore them four-fold. God calls us to godly activity when we believe in Jesus as our Savior. And our faith calls forth action. Examples:
    ⁃    Rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4)
    ⁃    Let love be genuine (Romans 12:9)
    ⁃    Don’t let the sun go down on your anger (Ephesians 4:26)
    ⁃    Be kind and considerate (Philippians 2:3-4)
    ⁃    Be gentle (Philippians 4:5)
Real faith acts!  We are not saved because of our actions, but because we are saved, our actions change.

ATTITUDE – Zacchaeus has a great attitude and is zealous to do what is right. He was eager to do what is good. Titus 2:13-14 “while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”  This needs to be our attitude – “eager to do what is good.” We are to have an attitude that says “Lord, here am I, use me, send me. I gladly and eagerly will do what you’ve called me to do.”

The Bible does not tell us the rest of the story…. But what we DO know is that Jesus came to seek out Zacchaeus that day. We know that Zacchaeus was a changed man that day. And we know that Jesus seeks us out too and His desire is to change us, and to do a work in us. May we agree and act and have the right attitude!Our website –  https://www.awakeusnow.com

Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper

Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01

St. Luke’s Account is part three of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. This book written by Luke, a non-Jew, offers a unique perspective into the story of Jesus’ life.

This study is great for large group, small group or home group study.

Check out this episode!

Ten Words – Week 2: God Alone!

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Scripture: Exodus 20:1-3, Psalm 19:1, Psalm 14:1, Psalm 33:8, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Matthew 22:36-38, Proverbs 3:5-6. 

It’s God alone that we are to worship, honor and follow.
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.”

The 10 Commandments have shaped so much of Western civilization and culture. Yet these ten words/commandments are often ignored  – And what we see as people’s god is the god of chance.

Our culture, and much of the time our educational system, teach us that all that exists is the result of a gigantic cosmic accident.  That chance is the author of life. This is seen in our media, our movies, and every direction we turn. A view that is accepted even though the science goes against it. 

In the last 50 years we’ve learned much about the complexity of life and that it points to a Designer – not to a chance explosion. Our culture has not caught up to some of the remarkable discoveries in recent history.

In the 1980’s MIT discovered that the likelihood of self replicating DNA is 1 chance in 10 to the 65th power – that’s 10 with 65 zeroes behind it showing us creation didn’t start by “chance,” it started with a Designer, a Creator. 

Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Not only do the heavens declare the glory of God, even at the microscopic and sub-atomic levels the complexity of creation screams that there is a Creator! Psalm 14:1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” 

Not chance, but Creator… and it is because of the profound truth of a Designer, a Creator, that the Ten Commandments need to be re-examined in our day by believers and non-believers.

God broke into human history on Mt. Sinai, proclaiming His goodness and power and delivering the Ten Commandments. God also stepped into history through Christ’s resurrection. The Living God took on human flesh and lived among us, lived a servant life, willingly went to the cross, shed His blood for all, and is risen from the grave, ascended to the Father’s right hand and He IS returning!

God breaking into history changes how we look at our lives and it changes how we look at the Ten Commandments.  

How do we see the Ten Commandments?
    ⁃    As Painful Demands that God says we better do?
    ⁃    As a Joyful Response to the move of God in history and in our hearts and lives?

God has intervened in our history and intervened in our lives and He is good. He is asking us to listen to His voice. He is telling us He is our Designer and he knows what is best for us, to what will bring the greatest blessing in our lives. And that starts with the commandment that says, “You shall have no other God’s before me.” It’s God and God alone! He says YOU – in Greek this is singular – making this command personal. He is speaking individually to each of us. He’s speaking to me.

What does it mean for me to have no other gods?
    ⁃    I am to revere Him alone
He is to be the object of reverence in my life and my source of our awe. Psalm 33:8 says, “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.” Fear God – is to be in awe of Him, fear God means I am accountable to Him.

    ⁃    I am to love Him above all 
Because He is my Creator, because He is good, because He sent Jesus my response to Him is to love Him. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” And in Matthew 22:36-38 Jesus is asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” And Jesus replies: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” 

    ⁃    I am to commit my life to Him and to trust Him with all my heart.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says,  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight” He will guide and lead me. When I commit to Him I’m desiring to allow His Holy Spirit and His Truth to guide me, and to allow Jesus to reign as Lord in my life.

Who is “The Lord?” In Deuteronomy 6:4 we read that He is ONE, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” One God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. One God but yet three unique persons and He is telling us in the first of His Words from Mt. Sinai to follow, trust, revere, love, worship and honor Him. 

He offers us Salvation when we admit we need a Savior. “Lord, I need you, I am a sinner, and I desire to receive all that You have for me through my faith in Jesus, my Savior. Thank You.”

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Two Year Gospel Study Week 54

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Scripture – Luke 18:1-8; “The Widow’s Plea” 

The Parable: “The Widow’s Plea” is an earthly narrative with a heavenly meaning – We should always pray and not give up!

This is a story that lets us know that there will be challenges and difficulties that we all will face. But in this parable Jesus is teaching us to endure – to not give up and to do so through prayer – leaning into Him and trusting Him.

The parable begins be telling of a judge that didn’t know God and didn’t care at all about people – and there’s a widow that continues to go to the judge for justice against her adversary. Over and over again and again she goes to him and each time he refuses to help her until he gets so tired of her continually pursuing him for justice that he finally gives in so she would leave him alone.

Jesus goes on, “and will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off?”

Many interpret this to mean we need to be relentless in pounding on God’s door for what is just and what is right and what we need. But what Jesus is actually doing is challenging us to compare what we know of the unjust judge to what we know about him, the righteous judge,The Living God, who cares for us all.

The unjust judge doesn’t care about this widow, he only care about himself. God is NOT like that!  GOD CARES!

Jesus is saying that if even an unjust judge responds to pleas, don’t you know God who sees His children as precious will care so much more and will respond to His children. God is good and gracious and nothing like this unjust judge.

When things are rough and it seems that God is not listening, that is NOT the case! For our God is a righteous and caring judge!

Let’s compare the two:

The Judge
    ⁃    Unjust
    ⁃    Unloving
    ⁃    Uncaring
    ⁃    Merciless
    ⁃    Evil
    ⁃    Rude

God
    ⁃    Just
    ⁃    Loving
    ⁃    Caring
    ⁃    Merciful
    ⁃    Good
    ⁃    Gracious

God wants us to always pray and not give up. The Lord wants us to bring our needs to Him, our concerns and worries to Him, our struggles, our cries and our pleas and to understand how good He is.

PRAYER MAKES GOD REAL!

When we talk to God and bring to Him the cares and concerns of our lives – His presence becomes real – in that circumstance we are living by faith! We’re not giving up hope – We’re praying by faith to the Living God.

Jesus finishes with, “I tell you, He (The Father) will see that they (His children) get justice, and suddenly. However, when the Son of Man (Jesus) comes, will He find faith on earth?”

Jesus is saying here for us not to give up hope.  Don’t allow the threats of opposition and attacks of the enemy to drive us away from Him, Living God who alone delivers us.

Don’t allow the opposition of others to take our eyes off the goodness of God and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hang on to your faith!!! Hang on to your faith as never before!

How?
    1.    Pray to God – because prayer makes Him real!
    2.    Listen to and meditate on His Word
    3.    Be encouraged by fellow believers, those who have faith to live for God.

Pastor shares a powerful story of God’s victory in pain from the book “Walk On” by Ben Malcolmson.

In Summary, hang onto the Lord!! It’s a battle out there, but our God has won the victory. We will win because Jesus has already won!!

Our website –  https://www.awakeusnow.com

Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper

Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01

St. Luke’s Account is part three of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. This book written by Luke, a non-Jew, offers a unique perspective into the story of Jesus’ life.

This study is great for large group, small group or home group study.

Check out this episode!

Ten Words – And God Spoke

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Scripture: Exodus 20:1-2

What are the Ten Words? We read in Exodus 20:1, “And God spoke all these words.” “Words is referring to the Ten Commandments God spoke on Mount Sinai to Moses. God’s Ten Commandments are found in the rest of Exodus 20 and also in Deuteronomy 5.

Because these commandments are unnumbered in the Bible, there have been several ways these 10 Words have been numbered, but it doesn’t matter how you number them – what matters is whether you listen to them or not.

Exodus 20:2 God continues, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”  He is saying He’s the Israelite’s Deliverer from bondage in Eqypt.  We can also see this truth throughout Scripture as well when God promised to send a Savior and then sent the Messiah, Jesus Christ to Deliver His people from the bondage of sin.
 
Deliverance – God is the One who saves and all commandments flow from this statement of God’s deliverance for His children.

It’s not that we are saved by obeying the commands. It is God who saves us.  He is the Deliverer but in response to His work we desire to do what His 10 Words teach.

We cannot earn His favor, rather it’s God that has shown us His favor by being our Deliverer.  Deliverance is at the heart of all 10 Words.

Two dangers around the Ten Words:
    ⁃    Pride.  Thinking we have been good, or at least better than others. Or that we can earn God’s favor, but we ALL have sinned which means we all need to be rescued. We need a Savior because we cannot measure up to a holy God. (We are not measured against others, the measure is against a perfect, holy God and we all have failed) Only Jesus has obeyed the Father fully. Only Jesus lived the perfect life we could not. Only Jesus the perfect Lamb could shed His blood for our sin and save us.

    ⁃    Rebellion. Some of us refuse to believe there is a god. Others do what they think is “good.” Others may even question is there really good and bad and choose to ignore anything or anyone that says differently. The religious also rebel in thinking that “if God loves me and Jesus came to die for me, than I’m saved by His grace through faith so sin is not that big of a thing – I can do what I please, it doesn’t really matter because I’m saved.” But this too is deception and it is rebelling against the plan and purpose of God.

What is the purpose of the Ten Commandments for those who know God and trust in Jesus?  What about the unbeliever, how do these commandments speak into their lives.

God desires to call us ALL to the truth, to deliver us all from bondage to rebellion and foolishness and pride. His desire is to have us come face to face with Him and His love for each one of us.

Consider God’s commandments as an Owner’s Manual, like an owner’s manual for your car. The car’s maker tells the best ways to care for the vehicle. The Ten Commandments are God’s Owner’s Manual for His people. This “manual” shows us how to care for what our Maker made, how to live well, how to live as a thank You note to God.

Understanding God as our Deliverer, through faith in our Savior, changes how we look at the Commandments. Rather than a list of “dos” and “don’ts” we see them as God’s way of showing us how to have a meaningful life for all and to help us create a meaningful culture for all.

Our Maker knows what’s best for us.  His words give direction and purpose for our lives.

How does God use the Ten Commandments?
    1.    As a CURB – to keep us on the right path.
    2.    As a MIRROR – to show us our faults. As a mirror we see how we need a Savior, especially in a culture that is so far off the narrow path.
    3.    As a GUIDE – for Him to lovingly direct His will over our sinful nature.

The Ten Commandments are a response to God’s deliverance and we can look at them as the Owner’s Manual spoken by our Maker.

Will we use this Owner’s Manual and will we let it be our curb, mirror and guide that points us back to the truth of our need for a Savior?

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Check out the video from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/ten-words

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Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

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Two Year Gospel Study Week 53

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Luke 17:11-19; “Top 10%” 

Today’s teaching is a story from the last weeks of Jesus’ life before His arrest, crucifixion, death and resurrection.  This story speaks with immediacy, power and direction to us today.

Top 10% – what comes to mind is human achievement- we want to be at the top, but God sees things much differently.  When God speaks of the top 10% He’s talking about those who walk by faith in Him and who are filled with gratitude and thanksgiving.

So let’s explore today’s story in light of how God sees the top 10%.

The story is about 10 desperate individuals with a need that was met by Jesus and that will show us the importance of recognizing what God has done and giving Him the glory.

As Jesus is traveling towards Jerusalem 10 men with leprosy cry out to Him, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 

Jesus!  Have mercy on us! And Jesus has mercy – He is merciful and He simply responds in love and mercy to them with, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” (Because according to the Law – If you had leprosy and it went away – you had to go through an 8 day purification ritual in order to be called “clean.”)

Jesus’ command to go show the priests was a way of saying – even though you have leprosy – act like you are healed! Before healing began Jesus told them to act healed.

Jesus is saying act on what God has declared!

And then as they walked to Jerusalem they were healed!

The Lord Jesus has delivered us from our sins by His death and resurrection. He provides life forever and He calls us not to simply sit around and wait for God to do stuff in our lives, He calls us to act on what God has declared.  We are to learn from these 10 lepers that it is important to respond to what the Lord says!

Jesus speaks and He calls us to act!

As we read on with the story – 1 of the 10 when he saw he was healed – turned back and went to Jesus praising God in a loud voice and fell in thanks at Jesus’ feet.

10 were healed but only 1 truly understood that healing is more than just healing of the body. Healing is healing of the soul, and the spirit and the mind and that is what Jesus does.  He heals the ultimate need of every person – and that is healing of the disease of the soul that destroys us – and only Jesus brings this healing as the the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

This healed leper showed himself to be in the top 10 because he realized what mattered most was giving thanks and praise to God and coming to know Jesus.

God calls us to gratitude and thanksgiving. Our attitude affects the way we live.  He calls us to be people filled with gratitude because of Jesus Christ and what He’s done for us. Gratitude for the greatest gift of all.

Gratitude verses:
    ⁃    1 Corinthians 15:57
    ⁃    2 Corinthians 9:15
    ⁃    Colossians 3:17
Gratitude changes us!

Walk by faith practicing gratitude to God the Father through Jesus Christ.

Our website –  https://www.awakeusnow.com

Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper

Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01

St. Luke’s Account is part three of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. This book written by Luke, a non-Jew, offers a unique perspective into the story of Jesus’ life.

This study is great for large group, small group or home group study.

Check out this episode!