This teaching is from Matthew 19:13-30 and Matthew 20:1-16.

This teaching starts with a focus on children. The disciples didn’t like that people were bringing little children to Jesus, these children were babies, infants, toddlers, and the disciples were thinking Jesus is trying to talk to the adults and they’re bringing kids to him, taking time away from Jesus speaking, that they were noisy and disruptive and that it just wasn’t appropriate.

But Jesus says, “Let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” What’s Jesus saying? He’s saying kids matter to Him, They are part of His kingdom!

The question is how does a child believe? But then, how does an adult believe? The answer is in 1 Corinthians 12 where Paul says that no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. It’s only when the Holy Spirit moves in a person’s life (adult or child) that they can believe.

Many times we act like the disciples, looking at things from a human standpoint and personal prejudice instead of the vantage point of heaven. Jesus is saying kids matter and after correcting the disciples He blesses the kids.

Then the text moves into the topic of wealth and Jesus answers the question of a man asking Him how to be saved. Meaning the man is asking what he can do, this man has it wrong – we are saved by grace, not works. But Jesus patiently continues with the man and He mentions to keep the commandments to which the man replies that he’s done that. Jesus sees into the man’s heart and understands that he is proud of his accomplishments, wealth and focused on earning eternal life.

This is when Jesus invites the man to be one of his disciples and to sell his possessions and give to the poor. But as Jesus knew he would, the man goes away sad because the reality was his wealth was his god.

Jesus continues that it’s hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. But what is Jesus really saying? He’s using hyperbole. So the question then is: if you have to go through the eye of a needle to be saved, who then can be saved? Jesus replies that with man that’s impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Meaning that it’s not by wealth or what we’ve accumulated, or earned or done or accomplished that we are saved, we are saved by grace alone and THAT is only possible with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus is showing us that God is over all and He is to be our treasure and number one priority in our lives. He’s to be the heart of our lives. Jesus says what matters most is our relationship with Him.

We don’t buy our way into eternal life, but we are called to use the gifts God has given us to His glory and for His good. So we to make sure that God is heart and center in our lives.

Pastor continues with chapter 20 where Jesus tells the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. The owner hired workers at sunrise, then 3 hours later hired more workers and then even more workers at noon, 3pm and 5pm. When evening came the owner paid ALL workers with a denarius (a day’s wage). And those that worked the least amount of hours got the same pay as those that worked the most hours. Those that worked the most hours complained to the owner and his response was, “Are you envious because I’m generous?”

So we ask: is this just? Here’s a quote that helps us understand what Jesus is teaching: “We are fools if we appeal to God for justice rather than grace!”

If God were completely just we would all be in hell, but He is merciful and Jesus is trying to bring home that truth.

Only the grace of God saves.
Only the mercy of Christ offers life.
Only the blood of Jesus covers our sin.
Only a relationship with God through faith in Jesus delivers us.

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This account takes place on Paul’s second missionary trip, on his trip to the city of Athens, A city that prided itself on knowledge and education, learning, culture and the arts. It was also a city filled with idols.

As Paul looked around and saw all the idolatry it just really riled him up and he began passionately sharing the gospel message in the synagogues and even in the market places. He worked to draw people to Jesus and not to idols. His impassioned message caused much interest, but also much controversy.

Paul teaches us to not give up – when we are confronted with issues or by people who reject what we believe we don’t give up – we are kind, gracious, we are generous and merciful, but we can be encouraged by Paul’s example. In this story we learn that we do not need to hesitate to say what we believe and why.

Paul’s persistence cases those listening to become curious. They ask questions and want to know more and more. While they were curious, they were still not wanting to believe. So Paul says that he noticed how “religious” they are, but what they took as a compliment Paul meant as a warning because what is necessary is a relationship with the Living God and not mere religious behavior.

But stating he noticed their “religiosity” was a great starting point for keeping them listening. He tells about all the idols he’s seen and points out an altar they have with the world, “to an Unknown God” on it. He points out to this group of people (who despised ignorance and prided themselves on wisdom) and goes on to say that he will tell them about the Unknown God. Paul will make the Unknowns KNOWN!

Today many are influenced by an Unknown God:
1. Never heard of Him
2. Never understood anything about Him
3. Never cared to know about Him
4. Never believe in Him

These were the issues Paul was facing – the same issues we face today.

Paul goes on to say that the God who made the world is not a statue and is not confined to a building. He’s not served by human hands (like their idols are) and it is God that gives everything life and breath. God, from one man, made all nations, thus showing His concern for all nations and that God has mapped out each nation’s appointed time in history. Nothing that happens on earth happens without God’s foreknowledge and without His plan coming to fruition.

Paul’s life had been transformed when he came to know Christ, and it is Paul’s desire that these people experience that same thing.

1. Talks about the natural knowledge of God which all have instinctively – that we innately know there must be a divine being.
2. Talks about the revealed knowledge of God, that He has revealed Himself as Creator of all and loves us and desires we know Him.
3. Tells them that having natural knowledge and revealed knowledge requires a response, that human ignorance is not overlooked by God.

God calls us to repentance, making a U-turn in our lives and having a changed mind and attitude – re-directed lives. If God truly is God — He cannot be manipulated through statues. We are called to yield to Him.

Paul ends with the story of Jesus Deity, Death, resurrection and Return. Without Jesus and a relationship of faith we are lost.

God is God!

Many listening to Paul repented and received relationship with the Living God through Jesus Christ – the Savior or ALL nations.

The fruit of Paul’s efforts were many becoming believers and followers of Jesus because Paul had the courage to share Jesus with them and confront them with TRUE Wisdom.

Scripture for the message: Acts 17:16-34

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Scripture – Luke 16:19-31, Luke 16:14.

“The Rich Man and Lazarus” is a parable in which Jesus portrays two ways of living — and two destinies after death. What will your destiny be?

This is many times a misunderstood parable. Jesus told this parable in response to the laughter and scorn of the pharisees. Pastor sets the stage for this parable sharing that no one is saved by:

1. Right Doctrines – We are not saved by knowing the doctrines of the faith because it is not what you know, it’s WHO you know. You can have the right doctrine, but be absolutely messed up in your relationship with the Lord.

2. Right Actions – We are not saved by how good we are. All have sinned and none of us can stand before a holy God. We are saved only be the grace of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

In this parable, Jesus paints the picture of a very wealthy man living with his focus on possessions. Outside the gates lived a man with nothing, a poor man longing for scraps from the Rich Man’s table.

Both men die. Lazarus, the beggar, who trusted in the Living God goes to heaven and the Rich Man who trusted in his wealth and possessions, to Hades. The point Jesus makes with this teaching is that ultimately, every human being will face one of two destinies and the destinies can be summed up simply as reward (heaven) and punishment (Hades).

Jesus’ intent is to emphasize these two destinations. The most foolish thing we can do is to ignore the goodness, mercy and grace of God in Jesus Christ. Without Him we are lost and hell is our destination. Life with God is forever = heavenly reward. Life without God is forever = punishment and separation from Him and there’s no second chance. It’s just that simple. Jesus is saying this is serious stuff and our destiny is not to be taken lightly.

God’s word is available. Listen to what He says and we will know the truth. We are to follow Him, trust Him and in Him there is forgiveness and Life forever with Him. Reject Him and there is eternal judgement and punishment.

We must not ignore the voice of God. In this parable Jesus is trying to wake people up. He’s trying to show us just how important it is that we know Him. We can accumulate wealth, awards, position, title, honors, possessions but if we don’t know Jesus, we have nothing that endures.

Our Savior loves us enough that He was willing to die for us. When someone loves you that much you know that you can trust your life to Him. He loved us enough that He was willing to die for each one of us and he has triumphed over death for us too.

God is calling us to what really matters and what really matters is knowing Him, His love, His mercy, His forgiveness, His resurrection power and His promised return.

Our destiny is one or the other:
Life with God
Or
Life without God

Choose Life with God – it is in Him that Life forever – our reward – is found.

Recognize the reality of heaven and hell and choose life with Him, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT!

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The Parables of Jesus is part two of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Jesus is known for telling some of the greatest stories ever told. In telling these stories He uses the form of a parable which is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus’ parables resonate in every culture and in every generation around the world.

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

Check out this episode!

This teaching is from Matthew 18:21-35, the Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor, and Matthew 19:1-12 on the topic of Divorce.

Peter asks Jesus if he should forgive someone seven times. Jesus responds with seventy seven times. The meaning of Jesus saying seventy seven times is that forgiveness in the face of genuine repentance does not keep track of numbers and Jesus is calling us to forgive as we have been forgiven.

Then Jesus tells this “Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor,” a story where a servant of a king owes millions of dolors to the king. When the king call the debt to account and be paid, the servant begs the king to be patient with him and that he will repay it. The king has compassion and forgives the entire debt!

But then this servant of the king has a man that works for him and this man owed the king’s servant a few thousand dollars and the king’s servant calls this man debt to account. When the man pleads to the king’s servant for time to pay but the king’s servant has the man thrown into jail until he could get the debt paid.

When the king heard about the lack of compassion he confronted his servant saying he had shown compassion and forgiven the debt to him, and that he should have done the same thing to the man that owed him money. The king placed his servant in jail for his lack of compassion until he could pay it off.

The story highlights how God, who has forgiven us an immeasurable debt, desires that we show the same kind of mercy to others and if we don’t then Jesus says we really don’t appreciate what the Father has given us.

We are called to forgive as we’ve been forgiven, to treat others in the same way God treats us. We’re called to reflect the incredible goodness of God. And that is shown in the act of forgiveness.

God’s way is grace, mercy, forgiveness and love like He’s given us. The Gospel of Jesus frees us from bitterness that destroys.

If we harbor hatred and resentment it eats away at us and destroys faith. God’s call is to live life on His terms.

In the second half of today’s teaching, Jesus confronts a challenging issue, “Is Divorce Lawful?” He talks about how we are created male and female and that marriage is a covenant between them with God.

The follow up questions is “Why did Moses permit divorce?” It is because of hard hearts, but it is not God’s planned way. The Bible recognizes that divorce is a reality.

Today, we are living in a culture where divorce is widely practiced and what the New Testament calls us to is to recognize just as Jesus pointed out, it’s not the way the Father intended, and we are to bring hope and encouragement to those who are victimized by divorce. The Bible also calls us to lovingly let people know the truth of divorce.

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As the church began to grow with believers both Jew and Gentile, a division between the two started, especially as Jews began to be out numbered by gentile believers who brought in their customs.

Many gentile believers were God-fearers who believed in the Old Testament but weren’t circumcised and didn’t eat kosher, yet went to the synagogue to worship God. Other Gentiles were proselytes and were circumcised and ate kosher and followed rituals prescribed by the Hebrew Scriptures.

As a result of the growing number of God-fearers, a division between Jew and Gentile began to grow. One group of Jews wanted to mandate circumcision and kosher eating so they brought the issue to the elders and apostles.

Peter addresses the gathering with the story of how God had given the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles just as He had done for the Jews and that God did not discriminate between Jew and Gentile, because He gave them both faith. Peter then challenged the group to not test God because God had already made it clear that He gave the Holy Spirit and faith to gentiles just as He had for Jews. Peter concludes by saying that it’s no longer Jew and Gentile. It’s that both are now coming to faith in Jesus and are united by God’s grace for both.

We are only saved through Grace Alone! Not by how religious we are or because we’ve obeyed the commandments, or been good…. We are saved by grace and grace alone.

The Cause of our salvation is that Jesus died for us.
The Cause of our salvation is the grace of God in Christ (who reached in when we were God’s enemies).
It’s all about grace through faith in Christ.

The Result is we change – we grow and mature. Salvation is not earned, it’s something we receive and it has a powerful impact in our lives. Growing and maturing are not the Cause of our salvation, they are the Result of it.

When Peter had finished, James, Jesus’ half brother, spoke and he said it was his judgement that they shouldn’t make it difficult for gentiles coming to faith. James ends the gathering with encouragement to both Jew and Gentile to not stand in the
way of what God was doing and not to offend each other by how each lived.

Through the forthright words of Peter supported by James and through the power of the Holy Spirit, the division dissipated.

This story has clear directives for us today with new believers, different cultures and those converted from other faiths.

It teaches us that:
1. We are Saved by grace alone, so we will not make requirements of others that Jesus did not make. We are not to judge.
2. We are Saved by grace alone, so we will gladly restrict our freedom for the sake of others, so as not to offend.

Grace alone motivates us to receive others the way God does, with His love and mercy because all of us have been saved by the grace of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Jesus is the key to knowing the Father. Many religions acknowledge God the Father but do not acknowledge God the Son and because they don’t know the Son, they truly don’t/can’t know the Father. It is through Jesus that we come into relationship with the Father. Only knowing about the Father is just that, it’s knowing ABOUT Him. When we receive Jesus into our hearts and what He did for us (death on the cross, victory over the grave, returning for us) when we receive Jesus, it takes us from knowing about the Father to KNOWING Him. That’s when we finally step into relationship with the Father because it’s then that we understand the Father’s true character – one of grace and mercy and love. We see who the Father truly is when we know Jesus.

John 14:7 – Jesus said, “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.”

Scripture for the message: Acts 15:1-21

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Luke 15:11-32; Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 86:5, 15; Psalm 103:8; Psalm 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Luke 15:10.

This parable is called The Prodigal Son, but perhaps a better name for it is: “Prodigal Son – Prodigal Father.”

Why? The dictionary has 2 definitions for prodigal:
1. Wasteful – One who recklessly squanders what he has been given (This is the youngest son in this story)
2. Extravagant – One who abundantly gives and lavishly blesses (This is The Father)

The parable is the story of a son who asks for his inheritance early, leaves with it, squanders his newly given wealth in wild living and ends up spending it all and having nothing left. The only job he’s able to get is taking care of a farmer’s pigs. That’s when the regret settles in.

As Pastor progresses through the story he uses these words to describe the steps the prodigal son went through:
1. Rebellion – against God’s plan for his life
2. Recklessness – in our choices and behavior
3. Ruin – experienced as a result of rebellion and choices
4. Regret – wishing he could start over, a re-do to make different choices, but we can’t rewind or redo what’s already done; however, we can…
5. Return – to God. How will He receive us back? Will He be angry, accusatory, disgusted? No! The younger son returns, repentant, and the Father opens His arms, comes running towards the son and embraces him, welcoming him home with a heart full of love. This is the Father’s heart for each one of us. He stretches out nail-pierced hands and says, “Welcome home!” That’s the heart of God and that’s the love of God.

No matter what we’ve done, no matter where we’ve been, no matter how we’ve wandered – God is a good, good Father and welcomes us back to Himself with open arms of reception. John 3:16 – God loves and He wants us to come home – to come back to Him.

We can know for certain – We have a Heavenly Father who is perfect- who loves us unconditionally and who wants only what is best for us.

Even difficulties have the intent of drawing us back to Him. Even when we experience sorrows, loss and trials, God’s desire is that we wake up and see His incredible love for us in Jesus our Savior and there – no matter what – we will find forgiveness, mercy, love and peace – because God is a good Father.

But there’s more to this story…

So they’re having a party celebrating the youngest son’s return home – but the older son is jealous, indignant and angry that there is a party for this wayward brother and that the father hasn’t ever thrown a party for him and he’s been there working and helping the father and never left.

The older son doesn’t understand the Father’s love…. The older son sees the relationship with his father as one of performance and what the son has done for the Father, and how badly his brother has failed. The Father pleads with the older jealous son saying, “You are always with me – everything I have is already yours, but we must celebrate your brother’s return, for he was lost but now is found!” The older son doesn’t understand the heart of the father. The father is merciful. The younger son is repentant. The older son is prideful.

Why did Jesus end the story with the older son? There’s a lesson for us all in this story for we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Not just the younger son, but the older son as well. All of us like sheep have gone astray – but God laid on Jesus the sins of all and by His stripes we are healed. We need to understand the mercy of the Father and like the younger son – we need to recognize our rebellion and recklessness, we need to repent and return to God through Jesus, our Deliverer and Savior.

This story is a great summary of the greatest book ever written – the Bible – the Bible shares the story of a God who has loved us even though we rebelled against Him and when we turn around and return to Him there’s a celebration party! Luke 15:10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

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The Parables of Jesus is part two of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Jesus is known for telling some of the greatest stories ever told. In telling these stories He uses the form of a parable which is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus’ parables resonate in every culture and in every generation around the world.

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

Check out this episode!

This teaching is on Acts 14:8-22, “Incident in Lystra,” and is an account on idol worshipers. We are living in a time of great idolatry and how do we as followers of Jesus respond, react, and live?

In today’s story, Paul is teaching about Jesus in the town square of Lystra and sees a man lame from birth, but Paul also sees the man has great faith and Paul says, “Stand Up and Walk” and the man is healed.

While this story is nearly 2,000 years old, God has not changed and God still moves in remarkable ways. So let’s take note of the following OBSERVATIONS FROM THE STORY:

1. The Power of the Messiah – the power of faith in Jesus. We see the testimony that All Authority has been given to Jesus the Messiah and in His name this man was healed and God still heals today.
2. Inherently Religious Nature – human beings are inherently religious, longing for a power higher than themselves, a need. People find something to worship in their lives because we need purpose. We look for meaning for our lives in someone, something or in ourselves – a need to find something for our focus.
3. Created to Worship – We long for things greater than ourselves or things that matter most in our lives. People worship many deities today – we think we’ve outgrown idols, but we worship what those very idols of old represented: power, money, sports, sex, politics, living for things. How does a follower of Jesus respond to these, how do we deal with the pull of idolatry? Do we turn away? Engage? Do we demonstrate by our actions and words the power of God in our lives and do we worship Him alone?
4. Living God is Creator – at this time in history there is more evidence for the existence of our Creator than ever and that evidence points to the existence of God! Do we point people to the Living God, our Creator, and help them see we are created? This is a springboard to sharing the message of Jesus Christ. Without Jesus people are lost forever.
5. Gospel Proclamation – Paul was stoned and left for dead. He left Lystra and headed to Derba. However, he returned to Lystra to share the good news of Jesus because he had a passion to share Jesus and had compassion for the lost to know Jesus as their Savior.
6. Reality of Hardship – Paul and Barnabus knew there would be difficult times, but they held to the truth of God’s assurance that He will take even the difficult times and turn them around for His glory and our good. It can be hard to be a follower of Jesus, but it is worth it.

And this Lystra story continues in a later chapter of Acts… In Chapter 16 we meet Timothy – a man Paul meets on his return trip to Lystra. God uses, to His glory, all that Paul suffered in Lystra the first time, as we see Paul become a spiritual father to Timothy. We learn more about Timothy later in Acts.

Today, many are blinded by idolatry and have lost sight of the Living God (who delivers us through Jesus His Son) so it’s important for us to practice what we learn from early missionaries as we share Jesus and honor, worship and serve the Living God.

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Luke 12:13-21, Psalm 19:7ff.

It’s not what you posses that matters, but what possesses you. Our treasures are destined for a garage sale or a dumpster. What has enduring value?

It’s not what you possess that matters, it’s rather Who possesses you. That is at the heart of what Jesus is talking about today in the story we are going to examine together. It is recorded in the gospel of Luke chapter 12 verse 13. “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.'”

Apparently the issue here is that this is a younger brother. The tradition in Jesus day is the oldest brother got a double inheritance. The younger brother here apparently wants more. Jesus sees into the man’s soul. He understands that this is a question not about fairness, this is a question of greed.

And so Jesus replies, verse 14, “‘who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?’ Then he said, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’ This is a powerful truth. You can have it all, but if your heart’s not right with God you’ve got nothing. Jesus seeing right into the heart of this young man says, “Be on guard about greed.”

I have to believe those words apply to you and me as well, don’t you? The Lord understands how easily we can begin focusing on stuff instead of Him. So then Jesus taught the Parable Of The Rich Man. A man focused on himself and all that he had, but the end of this parable shares God saying, “You fool, this very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have stored up for yourself?” And now is the realization that it’s not me, me, me, it’s God, God, God. We are to be rich in God.

God is not saying it’s wrong to have stuff. God’s not saying things are evil. What God is saying is that you can have everything the world has to offer, but if you do not have a relationship with the Living God, you have nothing that lasts. He wants us to seek the riches that really matter. We are to seek His kingdom because with Him we have everything! Without Him we have nothing.

No matter what our circumstances, when we know the living God we are spiritually rich!! Where do we find spiritual wealth, where do we find riches that last, where do we store up riches in heaven, Where do we find true riches.

The answer: in Jesus, the Living God!

What are the truths about spiritual riches:
1. His Word (it brings true wealth and genuine riches).
2. His Presence (God knows what we are going through. He is near to us, close at hand and when we live with that knowledge, we are rich). We are rich when we know the Living God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are created to live in relationship with God.
3. His Son (a richness that comes through the Son). Paul wrote about this from prison. He knew what it was like to suffer, but he also knew what it is like to have abundant joy and true riches. In Philippians 4:19, he says the following, “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” In the Lord Jesus Christ there are genuine riches. In the Lord Jesus Christ there is true wealth. In the Lord Jesus Christ no matter the circumstances of your life or mine, there is abundance, abundant life. That’s what Jesus gives.

Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and have it in abundance. In Christ there is true richness. There is real wealth. There is wealth that lasts. Your stock portfolio may be doing well but tomorrow it could take a hit. Your bank account may be fine right now, but tomorrow the bank could collapse. There is
only one thing that endures no matter what is going on in the world around us, and that is the very Word and Presence, the very Son of the living God. That is where real wealth is found.

There is nothing in this world more important than knowing the living God through Jesus, our Savior. It’s true for me. It’s true for you. Don’t run the risk of being a fool. Don’t persist in foolishness. Hear the voice of the Son of the living God, and understand that those who are rich in Him have something that truly lasts.

God is good. He is faithful and He keeps His promises. It’s just that simple, but it’s also that profound.

https://www.awakeusnow.com

The Parables of Jesus is part two of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Jesus is known for telling some of the greatest stories ever told. In telling these stories He uses the form of a parable which is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus’ parables resonate in every culture and in every generation around the world.

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

Check out this episode!

Luke 11:5-13, John 7:38.

When asked about prayer, Jesus told his listeners to ask God boldly – even “audaciously” – for the fulfillment of His promises.

In this parable, The Friend at Midnight,” Jesus takes a humorous story and converts it into a dramatic promise and powerful pledge. Because the friend at midnight, knocking on a neighbor’s door asking for food, would not relent until the friend finally got up and gave him all that he had need of. This parable is not just a funny story…. It’s a promise and pledge from God to give the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said, “If anyone believes in me, out of his innermost being will flow streams of living water.” We are told in the gospel of John chapter 7 that when Jesus said that he was talking about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes like streams of living water flow out of every believer. It is a promise and a pledge not just to a select few, but to all, because Jesus is the one who brings abundant blessings into the lives of all those who know Him, trust Him, and follow Him.

Jesus says that if a friend will do something he doesn’t really want to get up to do, but does so because the one at his door keeps asking and knocking, just think how much more the Father in Heaven will offer to His children because they asked and kept on asking, were seeking and kept on seeking, were knocking and kept on knocking. He promises to listen and He will respond.

What God yearns for is that you and I experience all that He desires to bring into our lives. It is a joy to be guided by the Spirit of God. It is a joy to hear the Lord speaking to us in His Word, and whispering in our soul as He brings to light the teachings of Jesus and brings to mind the ways that you and I may serve and glorify Him. That’s what Jesus is offering, and he tells a funny story to get to a profound point.

So for each of us the question is: will we heed His voice? Will we listen to Him? Will we keep on asking? Will we keep on seeking? Will we keep on knocking? That is not a burden. That is not something that we say, “Ah yeh, I guess I’ve got to do this.” Instead it is the privilege of every individual who has been washed in the blood of the Lamb, redeemed by the sacrifice on the cross, renewed in hope by His resurrection from the grave, and filled with the promise of the Father for the Holy Spirit. It is not simply for believers 2000 years ago. It is for us today.

Dear friends, if ever in our nation’s history there was a time when we needed a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit this is the time. In my lifetime I’ve seen dramatic changes in the face of our nation and in our culture. So have you. Those of you who are older you’ve seen a lot, but those of you who are young you’ve seen much as well. It’s become almost a weekly phenomenon. We are shocked by what is taking place. Many people are saying, “What in the world is going on?” It has caused great debate, but at the heart is that we have wandered from the living God in this land.

In a nation that formerly was built on the values of the Bible, we have upended everything. We have chased God out of our schools. We’ve chased Him out of the public square. We have determined that those things which have been true for generations, for thousands of years, are now subject to the whim of the day and we can discard what God said in the very beginning. We have watched as families disintegrate, as moms are desperately trying to raise kids on their own while juggling a couple of jobs, abandoned by the one who gave them that child. We see young men who are basically floating on the water with every wind of teaching and belief, looking for meaning, but finding little that matters. We see a society that is filled with violent video and pornography that is simply oozing out of the woodwork and we wonder, “Why is all of this coming undone? “What can be done?”

The answer is found when people listen to the living God. It changes their attitudes, it changes their culture, and it changes even a nation. I believe we need to be asking God like never before. I believe we need to be seeking God like never before. I believe we need to be knocking like never before.

The Scripture is very clear when it says that judgment begins with the household of God, and unless and until the people of God are humble and repentant before Him, seeking the fullness of His Holy Spirit, the rest of the world will never listen. Jesus is telling us through a humorous story, but through a powerful promise, that if ever there were a day when we need to be asking and seeking and knocking, THIS IS THE DAY!

We do not look to our culture and our country for that change. We look up instead and say, “Only in the living God is there deliverance from the hell that we are making. Only in the power of the Holy Spirit is there the supernatural resource to truly change.” That is what Jesus offers. I believe that’s what we ought to be seeking, because His desire is clearly stated in Scripture, He wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.

Our God is a God who yearns and longs to bless, and to bring joy, and He does that at an incredible personal cost. The cost of His own Son. It is the Son who says to you and me, “Ask, seek, knock.”

Our God desires to pour out His Holy Spirit in power!! The Father desires to pour out the fullness of the Holy Spirit. THIS IS THE DAY TO ASK! SEEK! AND KNOCK!!

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The Parables of Jesus is part two of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Jesus is known for telling some of the greatest stories ever told. In telling these stories He uses the form of a parable which is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus’ parables resonate in every culture and in every generation around the world.

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

Check out this episode!

As pastor takes a look at the word “Christian,” its definition, what it means for us and for the world today, we will see a blueprint God has laid out for believers not just in Antioch long ago but also for us today!

The word “Christian” came about from non-believers in the city of Antioch. As persecution caused the Jewish believers in Jerusalem to seek other cities in which to live, many chose to move to Antioch. It was a welcoming city without persecution and the message of Jesus exploded. It was then that Barnabus was sent to encourage these new believers.

Barnabus, led by the Holy Spirit, taught these new believers to HOLD FAST to…
1. God’s grace – Barnabus shared the truth of what Jesus did on the cross. In our crazy world it’s important for us to hold fast to God’s grace too, and not allow the enemy to confuse us.

2. Solid instruction – Barnabus and Paul worked to impress the truths of the God onto the hearts of believers, instructing them on how to apply God’s truths in their lives and in their hearts. They encouraged them to continue to mature in their faith and to live God-pleasing lives. In our culture, applying God’s truths is becoming increasingly confused and corrupt, so it is vital that believers today understand what God desires and what He says, not what is culturally acceptable. Solid instruction and time in the Bible are key.

3. Christian = Disciple – It was here in Antioch that the word “Christian” was first used. It was used by non believers to describe those who wouldn’t stop talking about Jesus. The literal translation is “Christ-ers.” Christian only appears 3 times in the Bible but Disciple, Jesus’ favorite word for His followers, is mentioned over 200 times in the New Testament. “Followers of The Way (Jesus)” were referred to as Christians – Disciples. Being Jesus’ disciple is what God still desires today. He does not want people to simply believe He exists – He wants individuals who willingly follow Him, know the Father, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, walk faithfully, and to seek to demonstrate what Jesus taught.

4. Prophetic gifts – God also desires that we use the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of strengthening and encouraging and comforting others. God desires that we earnestly desire the gifts of the Holy Spirit that enable us to carry out the His work.

5. Holy Spirit – The Spirit of God gives insight to what the Lord desires – and the Holy Spirit helps us follow where God leads.

What started in Jerusalem with Jews coming to know Jesus as their Messiah, spread to Antioch when persecution moved the “Followers of the Way” to this city. From there, Antioch became the hub of evangelism to the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. These believers relied on the Spirit of God and we too are to rely on the Holy Sprit, like them, to bring us:

Understanding
Conviction
Comfort
Guidance
Insight
Direction
And to lead us to faith to win the world for Christ.

The Hold Fast Antioch blueprint of Barnabus and Paul is still the blueprint God desires for us to use today. He says for us to Hold Fast to these truths:

That we live in the Grace found at the cross.
That we soak up solid instruction so that we might be filled with an understanding of God’s will and His word.
That as Disciples we talk about Jesus all the time and live for Jesus and follow Jesus.
That we seek God’s prophetic gifts so that we are able to share what God is revealing to the world.
That we keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Scripture: Acts 11:19-26 and Acts 13:1-3

https://www.awakeusnow.com

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