Pastor opens by sharing that he is convinced the New Testament is genuine and true. Having read the Bible over 90 times in the last 15 years and having read original sources and the writings of scholars over the centuries, he is convinced the New Testament is trustworthy.

To answer today’s question, Pastor takes us on a journey through other common questions regarding the New Testament:
    ⁃    Who wrote the New Testament and when? This is a controversial subject. Modern skepticism says it has late dating and anonymous authorship. But this view ignores the latest scholarship which shows in recent research that the New Testament books have early dating before 70A.D. and that it was written by eyewitness authors who knew Jesus and were willing to risk their lives to proclaim Jesus and His resurrection.

    ⁃    How do I know it wasn’t tampered with?  There is manuscript evidence with over 5,800 Greek manuscripts showing the accuracy of the transcripts plus there are over 20,000 Latin, Coptic, Syriac and other translations that are also accurate when compared to each other. The variants are textual having only minor variation in spelling and word order but all with no doctrinal deviations.

    ⁃    Is there any evidence supporting its claims?  Non-Christian sources like references to persons in Acts and the local cultural peculiarities show that the Book of Acts matches up with what is said in the non-christian writings and sources from that time. Acts jives with what is written in the other non-christian sources. Archaeological discovers support the truth of the New Testament and Acts in particular. Excavations match the details found in Acts with some amazing artifacts showing that what we find buried in the ground bears new testimony to the very things we read in Acts. Pastor shares many of the recent artifacts and discoveries. What we see is that the New Testament is not just made up but the words of eyewitness who were there and saw what took place.

    ⁃    Isn’t it just pious “feel good” religious fiction?  Truthfully, the New Testament is not a “feel good” book. The New Testament is and has been culturally and morally unpopular – it says things people do not want to hear., things that make them uncomfortable. At the heart of the New Testament is a scandal – a crucified Messiah, humiliated before the eyes of all. Why write such a not “feel good” story…. Plus the New Testament calls people to radical discipleship with self denial as a lifestyle. It calls people to have love for their enemies. It is not feel good religious fiction – it is a powerful testimony to the very plan and character of God and the actions of God in history.

    ⁃    Is it too old to be relevant for modern times? In answer Pastor shares a personal story exemplifying the relevancy of the New Testament’s effect on his life and he shares how the New Testament continues to impact his life and the lives of others because it is relevant for all. Pastor shares that there is nothing more important than surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ. Just because the New Testament is old doesn’t mean it doesn’t speak to our day. It is still valuable and essential.  Old things are not worthless. 

Pastor continues with a challenge to read the New Testament and to see for ourselves, because to ignore the New Testament is to make the most serious mistake we can make. He passionately encourages us to read the New Testament allowing God to speak into our hearts and to mold and shape our lives, destinies, families, communities and the culture.

Pastor closes with: 
    ⁃    What do you think are the consequences of ignoring reading the New Testament if it is true? 
    ⁃    Will you act on what you sense the Holy Spirit is telling you?

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

Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer

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The Gospel of John Week 19
Scripture: John 14:6 – 31.

As we continue with more of the evening of Jesus’ last day with His disciples, we see Him sharing important teachings with them.
    ⁃    that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life
    ⁃    that He is the only way to the Father
    ⁃    the promise of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate
    ⁃    that He’s going way for a wile but will come back
    ⁃    that they are not to be troubled 
    ⁃    that they are not to be afraid
    ⁃    that He is sharing all of this so that when it happens they will believe.

In John 14:26 Jesus tells them, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Pastor shares that the Holy Spirit is a person, not an “it.” The Holy Spirit is a living being – not a force – and that the Holy Spirit lives in the hearts of believers.

Jesus then tells them, in verse 27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” 

Pastor shares a personal testimony about the Holy Spirit teaching him the meaning of, “Do not be afraid.” Do not be afraid, means don’t even imagine the things that cause you fear!

The One saying this is the One who loved us enough to die for us, He’s the One who endured hell on the cross for our sins and He’s the One saying, “don’t sweat this!” Can you imagine how much that meant to the disciples that night, but also in the days, months and years afterwards as they came to understand Jesus was risen, ascended, coming back and had given them a mission to carry out.  

Jesus is still telling us these same words today, we do not have to live in fear – we are to walk in His peace.

In verses 30 – 31 Jesus says, “I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” The prince of the world is the devil, but Jesus is telling them that the devil has no hold over Him! 

Soon they will see Jesus arrested, beaten, crucified and put in a grave. They will be devastated, but Jesus is telling them in advance that HE is in control – not the devil – Jesus says the enemy has NO hold on Him.  

He tells them He only does what the Father tells Him (and so He will go to the cross) and Jesus tells them, “My peace I give you, fear not!” for the devil has NO control over me!

1 Corinthians 2:8 says, “None of the rulers of this age understood it (God’s wisdom/God’s plan for salvation), for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 

Even when it looks like the devil has won – God triumphs!

God flips what looks like disaster and turn it into salvation!

Today the battle goes on, BUT THE WAR IS 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

    ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. 
    ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before.

Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Check out this episode!

Today we continue our study of Elijah’s ministry.

Elijah’s Ministry

    ⁃    Prediction and Provision – no rain or dew
    ⁃    Contest at Mount Carmel the time of drought ends in a contest
    ⁃    Encounter at Mount Horeb
    ⁃    Word at Naboth’s Vineyard
    ⁃    Elijah taken to heaven

We pick up the story from last week, at the contest at Mount Carmel where we learn that Jezebel has promised to kill Elijah. After the threat, Elijah, fearful for his life, travels forty days to Mt. Horeb (Mt. Sinai). Pastor shares several possibilities for the location of this mount leaning towards today’s Jabal al Maqla. 

Elijah makes it to Mt. Horeb and he is discouraged and fearful and exhausted and we read of his depression in 1 Kings 19:9-10. He ends this verse saying, “I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”  God’s response is, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Divine Encounter

    ⁃    Wind comes – but the Lord was not in the wind
    ⁃    Earthquake comes – but the Lord was not in the earthquake
    ⁃    Fire comes – but the Lord was not in the fire
    ⁃    Gentle whisper comes – the Lord speaks of Elijah’s assignment.  Elijah thinks of himself as a failure and wants to give up, but God tells him He has more for him to do, that he is not to give up.

Mission: Anointing

    ⁃    Elijah is told to anoint Hazael as king over Aram
    ⁃    He is told to anoint Jehu over Israel
    ⁃    He is told to anoint Elisha as his successor

Then God assures Elijah that he is not alone and tells him that there are 7,000 in Israel who have not bowed down to Baal.

Elijah obeys God’s commands and leaves Mt. Horeb and he comes to Elisha working in the field and Elijah anoints him. Elijah now has a partner for the rest of his ministry time on earth. This may have been as long as 10 years together.

God gives Elijah a word of judgement to give to King Ahab. Ahab’s response was to tear his clothes, put on sackcloth and fast. And because Ahab humbled himself in repentance, God withheld the judgement saying, “I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son” God relents, because He is gracious and He desires all people come to Him.  God responds when we repent.

At the end of Elijah’s ministry Elijah is one of two people mentioned in the Bible who were taken alive to heaven. We read in 2 Kings 2:11-12 “As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, ‘My father, My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!’ And Elisha saw Elijah no more.”

Elijah’s Legacy

    ⁃    Malachi’s prophecy (Malachi 4:5-6) 
    ⁃    Gabriel and Zechariah (Luke 1:17)
    ⁃    Elijah who was to come (Matthew 11;13-14)
    ⁃    Transfiguration of Jess (Matthew 17:2-3)
    ⁃    Prayer life of Elijah (James 5:17-18)

A big takeaway from Elijah’s story is that we are to follow God no matter what comes our way, no matter what may be happening in our lives or in the world around us because God is faithful and He knows how to defend and take care His own.

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

View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class

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

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“If someone dies, will they live again?”

Three Basic Views
    1.    Oblivion – there’s nothing more after this life. But Near Death Experiences (NDE’s) are challenging this view.
    2.    Reincarnation – a view held mainly in the eastern world. 
    3.    Afterlife – there is something beyond the grave, that our lives do not end when our bodies die. This is also at the heart of the biblical message.

Will All People Die? The answer is “No!” The Bible teaches in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 that there will be one generation that does not, the one alive when Jesus returns. The Bible teaches a resurrection.  

What happens when I die? A personal look using the Bible’s Testimony: 
    1.    Life – God is the author of life. Genesis 2:7, Ecclesiastes 3:11
    2.    Death – is a reality because of sin. Genesis 3:19, Romans 5:12
    3.    Paradise – with Christ when we die. Luke 23:43, Philippians 1:23. But this is not our destiny.  
    4.    Raised – The dead will be raised. Our destiny and future is to be bodily raised with new bodies that are glorified.  1 Corinthians 15:22, 1 Thessalonians 4:16
    5.    Judgement – For unbelievers it is a time of judgement, for believers their sins were judged at the Christ so that we do not need to suffer the punishment for our sins.  For believers the judgement is a time of reward. 2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrew 9:27 A believer’s life is to be lived as a thank you note to God.
    6.    Forever – believers will live forever in a new heaven and a new earth in new bodies with no pain, death or suffering. 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:4.  Our destiny is to live forever! That is why it is so important that we receive what God offers us: salvation, life, forgiveness, and assurance through faith in Jesus who died for us, rose from the grave and will return at the end of time.

For believers, death is not to be feared with dread, it is instead an assurance that there is more and that the best is yet to come. John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, ‘I’m the resurrection and the life. The one who believe in me will live, even through they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'”

Do you believe what Jesus said to Martha?  Will you respond to the gift God desires to bring to everyone, life forever with Him? He desires all to be saved through knowledge in the Lord Jesus Christ.

    1.    Sin – all have sinned and need a Savior and need to repent
    2.    Sorrow – realize we have sinned against a holy God, our Creator, and desire to repent. God is good and gracious and desires all repent and admit we are sinners responding with sorrow and trusting our Savior
    3.    Savior – the only One who can deliver us from death and the grave and a horrible future. He is the only who can give meaning to life today and meaning forever. We have a future beyond the grave.

What happens when I die? Jesus’ response to that question is, “I am the resurrection and the life, do you believe this?” 

Follow up questions to consider:
    ⁃    How would you answer the question; “What happens when I die?”
    ⁃    Do you believe the Bible’s testimony about life beyond the grave? Why or why not
    ⁃    Are you trusting the Lord Jesus for your eternal destiny?

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

Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer

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

Check out this episode!

The Gospel of John Week 18
Scripture: John 13:21-14:6.

We pick up with the rest of the story of the Lord’s Last Supper that Passover evening. Pastor shares what the layout may have looked like at this meal. Where people were at around the table, that they were reclining vs sitting, that they ate with their right hands and laid on their sides resting their heads in the left hands.

As the story continues, Jesus shares that He knows one of His disciples is going to betray Him. John asks who it is that will do that and Jesus says that it is the one I give this bread to. And then Jesus hands the dipped bread to Judas and he takes the bread and leaves.

After Judas leaves Jesus says, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him.  If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.”  What strange words to say after exposing that He will be betrayed…..

Why say them? Jesus is going to be arrested, beaten, scourged and die – how does this bring glory?  It’s because Jesus is looking ahead, He’s looking beyond the immediate to what lies ahead – His glorification. Hebrews 12:2 tells us, “For the joy set before Jesus, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

Jesus’ glorification is accomplished in following the Father’s will, the path to Victory and in glorifying the Father by doing so.  When Jesus is on the cross the Father is glorified because everything the Father had intended, everything that He had planned is now coming to fulfillment through His obedient Son, Jesus, the Messiah.

Jesus goes on in John 13:34-35 telling them to love one another as He has loved them. And then He tells Peter that he will deny knowing Him before the rooster crows.

Pastor shares great info on what “rooster crow” is and that it wasn’t a rooster crowing, but that was the way they told time. The Romans divided the evening watch into four watches:
6-9pm = evening
9-12am = midnight
12-3am = rooster crows
3-6am = dawn

We can see Jesus use these four terms here: “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!'” (Be Awake!)

Jesus is telling Peter that sometime between midnight and 3am he will deny knowing Him three times.

Then we move into John Chapter 14 where Jesus tells the disciples “Do not keep allowing your hearts to be troubled any longer. You believe in God. Believe in me.”

When we face troubled times, we believe in God – meaning we are to trust Him. And Jesus is saying believe in Him, Messiah, – trust in Him, He’s our Savior..  And then He tells them “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”  And what the disciples understand from the Jewish scriptures is that Jesus is talking in wedding language. 

Pastor shares Jewish tradition around wedding planning and weddings and what we see in the Bridegroom (Jesus) and His bride (the body of believers.) This wedding/marriage talk is Jesus’ way of expressing Hies deep love for us. Jesus is the groom and He is calling us to realize how much He loves us.

Thomas says, “Where are You going, Lord?” And Jesus says, “I am the way. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” 

Getting to heaven is not about being a good person, because no one is truly good – all have sinned. It’s only through faith in Jesus and what He did for us on the cross and His resurrection that we go to heaven.

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

    ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. 
    ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before.

Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Check out this episode!

Pastor opens today’s class with the words from Psalm 135:15-18 “The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”  We will see the truth of these words in today’s study.

Elijah’ Days: Most of this prophet’s ministry was during the height of King Ahab in the north in Israel and King Jehoshaphat in the south in Judah. His name, Elijah, is even prophetic. In Hebrew it literally means, my God is Jehovah.

    ⁃    A time of great apostasy – under Ahab and Jezebel there was an attempt to get rid of any semblance of worship of the Living God and to supplant God with the worship of Baal. 
    ⁃    A prophet of great faith (Elijah)
    ⁃    A man of insignificance (very little is know about him, was he even an Israelite?)
    ⁃    A time of great danger for believers. Ahab and Jezebel sought to destroy God’s prophets.
    ⁃    A ministry of great impact

Elijah’s ministry is recorded in 
1 Kings 17-19, 21
2 Kings 1-2
2 Chronicles 21

Elijah’s Ministry:
    ⁃    Prediction and Provision (1 Kings 17) Elijah speaks that there will not be rain or dew for the next few years. This is a direct attack on King Ahab’s gods. And the drought begins. Elijah goes into hiding. There are some great stories of God’s miraculous provision for Elijah during the famine.
    ⁃    Contest at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18-19) God tells Elijah 3 years after the drought started that he was to go to Ahab and tell him that God would send rain. Elijah confronts Ahab about abandoning God and says for Ahab and his people and 850 prophets of Baal to meet him, a prophet of God, at Mt. Carmel and offers them the choice to follow God or Baal.  Elijah is severely outnumbered against 850 false prophets, but the contest begins.
    ⁃    The Contest – those prophets worshiping Baal were told to pray to Baal for Baal to bring fire onto their altar, but it never comes. Elijah then builds his altar of 12 stones (1 for each tribe of Israel), slaughters the bull and then covers the altar in water and at 3pm he prays to God and the fire of the Lord falls on Elijah’s altar. When the people see this they fall and cry out, “The Lord, He is God, the Lord, He is God!” They destroy the false prophets, and the rains start falling. 
    ⁃    The Aftermath – Elijah runs to Jezreel (the summer palace) where Jezebel threatens him saying she is going to ensure he is killed. Elijah becomes fearful and runs for his life. He hides in the wilderness and becomes very discouraged and depressed.  He tells God that he’s had enough, and to take his life. Then an angel of the Lord comes and tells him to head to Mt. Sinai where the Lord will appear to him.

Join us next week as we continue our study of Elijah!

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

View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class

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

Check out this episode!

Did Jesus exist? 
Is Jesus a myth? 
Is there any evidence that Jesus actually lived? 
Is there any evidence outside the Bible? 

The answer is absolutely, there’s a great deal of evidence. Many are unaware of some of the very profound and powerful evidences for the existences of Jesus. 

Today we will take a look at the evidence for Jesus’ existence, coming at it from three different vantage points:

Ancient Hostile Witnesses: (Pastor goes into detail regarding each of the following hostile testifiers to Jesus and His followers)
    •    Tacitus – Annals XV, 44 (ca 55-120A.D) 
    •    Suetonius – Claudius, 25 and Nero, 18 (ca 117-138 A.D.)
    •    Pliny the Younger – Letter to Roman Emperor Trajan (ca 112 A.D.)
    •    Sanhedrin 43a (part of the Talmud)
    •    Josephus – “Testimonium Flavianum”  Antiquities, 18:3 (ca 37-97 A.D.)

Earliest Witnesses
    •    Doctor Luke and John Mark
    •    Jesus’ best friend, John
    •    Saul of Tarsus (Apostle Paul)

Accepted historical Facts: Acknowledged by Scholars, Liberals, Conservatives, Christians, Jews and Agnostics:
    •    Jesus died by Roman Crucifixion
    •    His tomb was discovered to be empty
    •    His disciples said they saw the risen Jesus
    •    His disciples lives were radically changed
    •    Resurrection proclaimed early in Jerusalem
    •    James and Paul became believers

Pastor concludes the teaching time telling us that God changed his heart and the direction of his career.

Then Pastor changes the question to “Does Jesus really exist?” and continues with the following: “If Jesus is alive, if He has risen from the grave, that changes everything. It means that God has broken into our world. It means that there is life and forgiveness in Him, and that apart from Him, you have nothing. Today’s question is not simply a question about the historical past, this is a question about eternal destiny!”

Jesus is alive! And we pray that He will be, if He’s not already, the Lord of your life!

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

Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer

Join us Sundays 
https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

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

Check out this episode!

The Gospel of John Week 17
Scripture: John 12:27-13;30, Isaiah 6.

Today’s study takes us through an insider’s view of the final hours before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.

We open with Jesus words in John 12:27-28, “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”

We see Jesus’ heart here – In the verses we see Him not as fully God but as fully man – fully human – He is bearing the weight of the world in His soul and in His heart. This is a reminder of just how great His love is for us.

The Father in heaven answered Jesus – in verses 28-29, “Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.”

To the crowd they thought it was thunder or that an angel spoke! But it was the voice of God the Father. The Father will be glorified through the sacrifice of His Son, by His Son’s willing submission to the Father’s will.

The Father brings judgement on the Son because His love for us is so great that He is willing to take our penalty for sin. We will see Jesus is exalted as He gives up His life and is lifted up (onto the cross) for all of us.

We learn in today’s study that God’s heart desire is to turn people back to Himself. God’s heart is to bring healing.

In verse 42-43 we read, “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.”

Following God no matter the cost, choosing to be right with God instead of right with people…

Pastor spends time explaining the timing of Jesus’ death in the Gospel of John against the timing in the other three gospels.

We take an in-depth look at the Passover Meal and the washing of the disciples’ feet by Jesus.

As Jesus does the feet washing what He’s saying is that this is not about mere ritual, this is about relationship with Him that transforms our lives. He’s acting out that transformation as He washes their feet.  He says, “you also should wash one another’s feet.”

We end by beginning to explore Jesus predicting His betrayal by one of the disciples.

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

    ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. 
    ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before.

Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Check out this episode!

Pastor opens with Psalm 33:12  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.” 

Our class starts and ends with the story of the kings of Judah. But in between Asa’s 40 year reign as a king of Judah and his son, Jehoshaphat’s 22 year reign, we see the turmoil and chaos that is transpiring in Israel the northern kingdom.

Major events of Asa’s Reign: 
    ⁃    Zera the Cushite attacks (2 Chr. 14:8-15)
    ⁃    Azariah and Covenant Renewal (2 Chr. 15:1-19)
    ⁃    Treaty with Ben-Hadad of Aram (2 Chr. 16:1-6)
    ⁃    Hanani the Seer rebukes Asa (2 Chr. 16:7-10)

In 1 Kings 15:16-17 we read about the tension between Baasha, King of Israel and Asa, King of Judah, and how there was war between Asa and Baasha. Baasha fortifies Ramah on the main road to Jerusalem close to the border between to Israel and Judah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering Judah’s territory.

Asa retaliates but instead of calling on God as he has in the past, he calls on a foreign power and gives temple adornments, silver and gold to the King of Aram and asks him to attack Baasha. Ben-Hadad of Aram does attack Israel, the northern kingdom and wins. 

Hanani, a prophet comes to Asa following his treaty with Aram and says, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” Asa was so angry at the prophet that he put him in prison.

Asa was a good king and had sought to follow the Lord when he first ruled, but in the later years of his reign he did not call on the Lord, instead he relies on himself and others and not God.

The scriptures say, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Asa started out that way, but he did not finish that way. A lesson for us today.

Meanwhile, up north… (in Israel) we read in 1 Kings 15-16.  910-870 BC during the 40 year reign of Asa in Judah, this is how it was going in Israel.

Jeroboam’s son Nadab is on the throne and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord following the ways of his father Jeroboam. Nadab rules for only 2 years. Baasha kills Nadab and rules Israel for 24 years. Baasha battles Israel because of King Asa of Judah’s request. Baasha defeats Israel and kills off all of Jeroboam’s family, ending the rule of Jeroboam’s family and fulfilling the prophetic word given to Jeroboam.  Ahijah’s prophetic word had said that Jeroboam was to follow God, and if he did his family would continue to reign but if he did not it would end. 

We begin to see that when a nation abandons God it invites disaster. The kingdom  of Israel is in chaos. We can see it in the list of rulers of Israel over the next years:
Nadab – 2 years (son of Jeroboam)
Baasha – 24 years (kills Nadab and Jeroboam’s family)
Elah – 2 years (son of Baasha killed by Zimri)
Zimri – 7 days (killed by Baasha’s family)
Omri – 12 years (build new capital: Samaria)
Ahab – 22 years (Omri’s son – he was the worst king of all. Marries Jezebel and establishes Baal worship) 1 Kings 16-22.

God’s anger is aroused with this succession of evil kings of Israel….

…But in the southern kingdom of Judah, Jehoshaphat is king. 1 chronicles 17 870-848 BC – he was a man who sought the Lord his God. Jehoshaphat was the son of Asa. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of David instead of the practices that we see goin on in Israel.

Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor. He removed asheriah poles, he sent teachers out to the people of Judah to teach them about the law in the Torah and revival breaks out.  

Join us next week as we meet Elijah!

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Questions about the Trinity are often asked this way:
    •    Is the word “Trinity” in the Bible?
    •    Do Christians worship three Gods?
    •    Was “Trinity” invented by the Church?
    •    Isn’t the notion of “Trinity” irrational?
    •    Don’t you think this is a minor issue?

Pastor digs into the question of the Trinity by starting at the beginning, in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In Hebrew the word for God that is used in this verse is Elohim. Elohim is a plural noun. God is being described in plural terms!

Genesis 1:2 “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” In Hebrew the Spirit of God is “Ruah Elohim”. This is describing God as the Holy Spirit. 

Genesis 1:3 “And God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” The word that stands out here is “said”. 

Observation: Genesis 1
    1.    Plural noun for God the Creator
    2.    Spirit of God involved in Creation
    3.    God’s Word brings forth the Creation

This three-fold pattern continues throughout the Hebrew Scriptures:
    1.    Father – Deuteronomy 32:6 “Is He not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?”
    2.    Spirit – Job 33:4 “The Spirit of God has made me, the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
    3.    Word – Psalm 33:6 “By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” 
  
But the Old Testament also says there is but ONE God. Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel; The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”  

And yet one God is describe in a multiplicity of terms. One God and three very distinct Persons. This pattern continues in the New Testament:
    1.    Father – 1 Peter 1:2 “…chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.”
    2.    Spirit – Acts 5:3-4 “…you have lied to the Holy Spirit…you have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
    3.    Word – John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” 

In John 1:14 we read more about the Word, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 

THE WORD is none other than Jesus, Himself.

The Bible sets forth clearly that the One God has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Jesus says in Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”   

The word that stands out in this verse is the word NAME – singular – yet THREE are named.

2 Corinthians 13:14 “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”  

This is clear Biblical teaching that the One true God has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is complex!!! His ways are higher than ours!

God who created us….
    •    Planned to Save us (God knew we would wander away from Him, but His plan from the beginning was save us)
    •    Came to Save us (we cannot save ourselves, we need a divine rescue. Our Divine Rescuer is Jesus who came to earth taking on human flesh and enduring the cross)
    •    Dwells in us to Save us (the God who created us dwells in us, brings us to faith, changes hearts, gives power and testifies to Jesus the Savior)

God works as a unity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – each unique and distinct but also uniquely ONE.  

Is the word “Trinity” in the Bible? The word is not but “the Trinity” is found: Father, Son and Holy Spirit in both Old and New Testaments.

Do Christians worship three Gods? No, there is but ONE God, but has revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We do not need to comprehend this to know God’s power and presence and truth. 

Was “Trinity” invented by the Church?  The term is invented but The TRUTH of THE TRINITY has been there since the beginning.

Isn’t the notion of “Trinity” irrational? This is a profound mystery, but not irrational. Pastor shares a lesson from Dr. Walter Martin and the Triple Point of Water where water is solid, gas and liquid all at one time. Three yet one. Is it irrational that the God of the universe can “three yet one.”

Don’t you think this is a minor issue? No because when we start ignoring what God says about Himself and what the Bible teaches we go into false teaching and false testimony. This is where false religions come in. We’re living in a culture that has walked from God and it is disastrous. This is NOT a minor issue – God is above ALL things and He is worthy of our worship and praise.

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Check out this episode!