Scripture: 1 Samuel 18.

Today we look at the cost of fame, the discouragement of injustice, and we will see what we can learn from David on how to navigate through them.

In our text we read of David’s progression of fame. He was a natural leader, a brilliant tactician, and widely acclaimed for his accomplishments. While David increased in popularity, Saul became very angry and he began to keep his eyes on David.  Saul saw David as a threat to his throne and begins to want David killed, even throwing his own spear at him several times – but David escapes.

David is an honorable man and refuses to retaliate by attacking Saul because he knows that Saul is the currently anointed King. (David has been anointed to be the next king, but he knows God is in charge of that timing so honors God’s current choice of king by not retaliating against him.) 

Saul sends David away on warrior campaigns hoping David might be killed, yet David continues to be successful. With David’s continued success in leading the Israelites so skillfully in battle and his acclaim continuing to grow, Saul becomes afraid of David.

What we see is David’s fame increases as he navigates the perils of fame. How did God enable David to cope, thrive and survive the fame with people and the injustice from Saul?

A look at David’s Character:
    ⁃    David trusted in the Lord above all else. He trusted in the Lord and not in himself, not in his own abilities or his own insights. David did what Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “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.”

    ⁃    David was courageous because his courage came from God. David knew what the scriptures say, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

    ⁃    David was patient and did not act rashly or try to take matters into his own hands. He knew he was the Lord’s newly anointed king but he did not usurp that authority. Rather he remained patient in waiting for God’s timing. Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

    ⁃    HOWEVER! David WAS a sinner like all of us. Jesus is our Savior. We are not saved because of anything we’ve done, but rather we are saved because of everything that Jesus has done!! Philippians 5:8 tells us that Jesus, “being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” David is a great hero, but Jesus is our Savior!!

We not only have forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus, but we have the strength to live our lives each day with purpose and with profound impact by relying on Him alone!

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/david-and-gods-heart

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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The Gospel of John Week 2
Scripture: John 1:1-18, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Psalm 33;6, Psalm 107:20, Isaiah 55:11, Exodus 40:34, Exodus 33:18.

An Overview of the Gospel of John
    ⁃    Prologue 1:1-18
    ⁃    Jesus’ ministry 1:19 – 11:57
    ⁃    Passion of Christ and resurrection 12:1 – 21:25

Important terms in the Gospel of John (# = number of times it is used in the Gospel of John:
    ⁃    Life: 36
    ⁃    Light: 23
    ⁃    Witness: 47
    ⁃    Believe: 98
    ⁃    World: 78
    ⁃    Truth: 56
    ⁃    Glory: 42
    ⁃    Father: 136
Several of these key words above appear in the prologue.

Prologue (1:1-18)
The prologue begins John 1:1 “In the beginning” which is just how Genesis 1:1 starts “In the beginning.” In Genesis those words introduce creation.  In John those words introduce the new creation – God is doing a new things. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Everything that the Father said through the prophets from the beginning, and what was spoken since the beginning is coming to its fullness and fulfillment in Jesus the Messiah.

John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the word.” The following verses help us understand more about The Word. We read in Psalm 33:6 that “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” God’s WORD is living and active! Psalm 107:20 tells us that the Word rescues from the grave, just as Jesus rescues us from the grave. – “He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” And then in Isaiah 55:11 we read “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” God’s word accomplishes His plans and purposes. Just as Jesus accomplishes the fulfillment of God’s promises and plans and purposes.  

Everything was created by the Word of Jesus Christ. The Word holds everything together. And Jesus – The Word – was there at the beginning!

John 1:1-3 tells us that the Living God loved us so much that he was willing in a way beyond our ability to understand, willing to become one of us, a real human being but also truly and fully God. He gave Himself up for us all and that’s the way this gospel begins and that’s powerful!

John 1:4-5 reminds us of Genesis 1 where we read that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…. And He said let there be light. And in John we read, “In Him was life and that life was the Light of the World!”

Those who receive Jesus as Messiah become the children of God – adopted by the Creator of the Universe!

Right from the opening of this powerful and amazing book we see who Jesus is – He is the Living God. – He is the Messiah – He is The Word – He is the fulfillment of every promise of God.

John 1:6-14  – Pastor talks about John the Baptist who bares witness to Jesus the Messiah as the Light and shares pictures of the Jordan River at the town of Bethany – the traditional site of Jesus’ baptism.

The Gospel of John is uniquely crafted by the Spirit of God to bear witness to Jesus and to lead people to faith.  It’s an easy read but filled with depth!

John shares that Jesus wasn’t who was expected and that the people didn’t recognize Him as the Messiah. Jesus came in flesh to dwell (tabernacle) among us as God did with Moses – Exodus 40:34. Side note Jesus is referred to as Emmanuel in the Old Testament and that means God with us! And He is!

John 1:15-18 Law came through Moses – Grace and truth come through Jesus Christ and Jesus is the fulfillment of everything God promised in the Torah.

Jesus is not simply a great teacher or merely a worker of miracles, He is the One who is the Only begotten God.

In the prologue we see who Jesus is and starting next week we will see what this means and how this works!  Join us!

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

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

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    ⁃    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!

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17-51, Ephesians 6:10, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 1 Corinthians 15:57.

Today’s story is the most familiar, famous and well-known battle in the Old Testament – David and Goliath – but is there still something we can learn from a story we know so well?

This is a battle between Goliath and the Philistines and the Israelite army. Goliath challenges them every day for 40 days: “send a man to battle me, if I kill him you become our slaves and if your man kills me we will become your slaves.”

40 days are significant in the Bible – it is a time of preparation and renewal that at its end brings forth mighty things from God.

On the 41st day of the challenge – David arrives with food for his brothers and others in the army and he learns of Goliath’s challenge. David is in his teens – younger than age 20 and he arrives at a critical moment. He is concerned for God’s honor. Seeing this challenge as a spiritual battle, he speaks bravely.  His brothers ridicule him – yet he says he will take Goliath on. 

To King Saul, David shares stories of past bravery and says the Lord will rescue him from the hand of Goliath. David is Spirit-filled, knows his strength is in God alone, is confident and bold and recognized it is God who saves. David trusts the Lord who delivered him in the past to deliver him again.

So Saul tells David to fight Goliath and he outfits David in his armor but David takes it all off as he’s never worn anything like that before.

Comparisons:
    ⁃    David a young teen and untrained in battle vs Goliath a well trained warrior
    ⁃    David is of small stature vs Goliath who stood at 9 feet 9 inches tall
    ⁃    David is dressed in a shepherd’s simple clothing vs Goliath with a bronze helmet wearing 125 pounds of body armor 
    ⁃    David’s weapons were his shepherd’s staff, a slingshot and 5 smooth stones vs Goliath carrying a 15 pound spear plus a javelin.

And David goes out to meet Goliath and says, ‘you come against us with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the Name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the Armies of Israel and this day the Lord will deliver you into my hands – I will strike you down and cut off your head for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give all of you into our hands.”

David runs toward Goliath and slings a stone hitting Goliath in the head and Goliath falls down dead.

This is not simply an historic battle record – it is clear insight into what the New Testament describes as spiritual realities.

Spiritual Realities
    ⁃    Spiritual warfare – life is a battle but we know God wins.
    ⁃    Spiritual weapons – we put on the armor of God: prayer, the Name of Jesus, God’s word, daily filling of the Holy Spirit
    ⁃    Spiritual victory – is in Christ Jesus.

From this familiar story we are to learn we are to be familiar with the lessons that
    ⁃    We are in the midst of a battle
    ⁃    The Lord provides strength to triumph through faith in Jesus Christ.

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/david-and-gods-heart

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 1
Scripture: An overview of John chapters 1-21.

The Gospel of John is different than the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. The Gospel of John is unique as 90% of what is written in this gospel is found nowhere else. And John gives us a unique view of Jesus, too.

Pastor Dodge shares with us who John was, and the evidence around John being the author of this book.  John was considered Jesus’ best friend and one of Jesus’ inner circle.  Also, John and Peter often worked together in their mission work.

It is thought that The Gospel of John was primarily the gospel story written for gentiles. However, this view changed after the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Pastor shares the interesting story of the young boy, tending his sheep, who discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in Quman Cave 4 around 1946-47 on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea Scrolls contained copies of the Hebrew Scriptures. After there discovery, the Gospel of John was seen as a book that speaks to all, but was written to let the Jewish people know the Messiah has come.

Pastor shares that recent archaeological evidence points to the accuracy of the Gospel of John and shares several examples.

Simple Outline of John:
    ⁃    Prologue 1:1-18
    ⁃    Jesus’ ministry 1:19-11:57
    ⁃    Passion of Christ and Resurrection 12:1-21:25

From the opening verses of this gospel it is clear it is special. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  John 1:1-5

This book is all about God’s love for us, about Jesus’ identity, who He is and written in a way that proves Jesus is who He says He is.  John shows Jesus as being the One who fulfills everything that God promised to His people. We see John’s purpose in the end of chapter 20, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30-31.  

John ends his gospel with, “This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” John 21:24-25. Jesus did so much that if we wrote down everything the world itself couldn’t contain the volumes!

Next week we will dive head long into the Gospel of John and move from this broad view to a verse by verse study of the book!

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!

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16.

There are many Biblical characters of faith in the Bible, but none with as many Old Testament chapters devoted to them as David.

Abraham – 14 Chapters
Joseph – 14 chapters
Jacob – 11 chapters
Elijah – 10 chapters
David – 66 chapters (and this does NOT include the Psalms written by him!)

Our story takes place around the year 1025 BC. We read in 1 Samuel 13:14 that God is going to replace the Israelite’s first king, King Saul.  In 1 Samuel 13:14 we read about Elijah telling Saul the following, “But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” 

In 1 Samuel 16:1 “The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

So Samuel sets out for Jesse’s home with oil to anoint the next king of Israel.  Samuel arrives at Jesse’s home and sees Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son, and this is the one he thinks is to be anointed but God has other plans.  We read in this verse, one of the most important verses about God’s heart, 1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

The world looks at a person’s job, wealth, good looks, accomplishments, status, possessions, BUT God looks at the heart of a person. Seven of Jesse’s sons come to Samuel but he tells each that they have not been chosen.  Then Samuel asks Jesse if there are any other sons – Jesse says there’s one left in the fields with the sheep.  The smallest, least likely of choices, but Samuel has him sent for.  David is found, tending sheep and is then brought before Samuel ho acknowledges him as the Lord’s choice, and Samuel anoints David to be the next king of Israel. Today’s verses tell us that from that time on, the Spirit of the Lord was upon David. 

What is it about David’s heart that stands out? How did David reflect God’s heart?

David’s Heart
    ⁃    Faith-filled heart – had a heart filled with faith in God. David wrote Psalm 23 – this psalm opens with :The Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need.” David knew he could depend on God, that God cared for him and so David trusted God. David walked by faith.
    ⁃    Humble heart – David wrote Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” David realized he needed God, relied on the grace of God, wanted God to mold and shape him, wanted God to draw him ever closer to Himself. David not only lived by faith, he walked in humility.
    ⁃    Honest heart – In Psalm 78:72 we read the following, “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” Not that he was sinless, he was not, but he was honest and had integrity and lead his people that way.

We too are called 
To walk by faith
To be humble before God
To be honest and to have integrity

Like David we are to have a heart after God’s own heart.

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/david-and-gods-heart

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!

Up To Jerusalem – Teaching 20
Scripture: John 20:24-31, John 21:1-15, Matthew 28:16-20, 1 Corinthians 5:6-7, Acts 1:3-14.

Today is the final teaching on part four of five of our Two Year Gospel Study. Pastor takes us on an adventure examining the last appearances of Jesus during His final forty days on earth after His resurrection.

Pastor begins with the story of Thomas and shares interesting insights into Thomas’ faith, along with sharing the special story of Jesus proving He is alive to Thomas. It’s a story that shows the depth of Thomas’ faith: “My Lord and my God!” Thomas realizes fully who Jesus is. Pastor delves into the depth of meaning in Thomas words in light of the Hebrew language.

John uses Jesus’ visit to the disciples at the Sea of Galilee to share a powerful fish story. The disciples had been out all night fishing and caught nothing. That morning, Jesus is standing on shore, though they did not recognize Him.  Jesus encourages them to throw out their net and when they did their net filled to overflowing. At this point they recognized Jesus! “It’s the Lord!” 

Jesus had built a fire on the shore and invited them to breakfast. The Greek word used for this fire means a “coal fire.” It’s a word not normally used for a fire, but there’s something to learn from the choice of it here in this story.

The only other time that “coal fire” appears in the New Testament is on the night of Jesus’ betrayal when Peter was standing by the “coal fire” and denied knowing Jesus three times. This is “coal fire” is not accidental, it is intentional and Jesus is being very deliberate. We are encouraged to understand that in confronting the painful – God heals us. And Jesus proceeds to ask Peter three times if he loves Him. This breakfast is a gracious portrayal of how much our God loves us. His desire is to restore.

Peter’s restoration is happening and in the future Peter would stand firm and testify to knowing Jesus. Jesus tells Peter to take care of His flock. (Believers)

Pastor shares several other appearances of Jesus including Matthew 28 where Jesus speaks the “Great Commission” to reach all nations and all people with The Good News.

Pastor concludes with an overview of several observations:
    ⁃    First eyewitnesses
    ⁃    Earliest objections
    ⁃    Alternate explanations
    ⁃    Ultimate price

This is the concluding teaching on this fourth part (of 5) of our full Two Year Gospel Study.

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

Up to Jerusalem is a study of the final weeks of Jesus’ ministry the earth, concluding with His resurrection and ascension, using the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John together with material from ancient sources and recent discoveries. Up to Jerusalem is part five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Up To Jerusalem is the story of the plan of God to redeem the world, and the story of a Savior willing to obey the Father’s plan. As we study Jesus’ final days, we will be impacted as we discover the Love of God for each one of us. 

This study is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time.

Check out this episode!

Scripture: Acts 2:41-42.

What we see in today’s Scripture is that believers “practiced” living out their faith by doing. Not with head knowledge of “HOW to do things,” but by simply “DOING things.” Today’s verses tell us they devoted themselves NOT to the “How,” but rather to the “Doing.”

Today verses say:

Acts 2:41-42 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

They not only DID these things, they “devoted” themselves to doing them. They practiced them.

Practice definition – noun:
    1.    The actual application of use of an idea, belief, or method as opposed to theories relating to it.
    2.    The customary, habitual or expected procedure of way of doing of something.

Pastor shares a great basketball example to help us understand the difference between “how to do things” and “doing things.” And in his example we will see that doing requires practice!

Let’s examine verse 42.
    1.    Devoted themselves to the apostles teaching – the Greek word used for “devoting” actually is more accurately translated as “continually devoting” themselves to what they had been taught about the Gospel message of Jesus. We are to hold onto the right teachings and truth and practice living them. The application for us for “being devoted to the apostles teaching” is through:
    ⁃    Regular study of God’s Word
    ⁃    Solid biblical teaching
    ⁃    Christ-centered, Spirit-lead
    2.    Devoted themselves to fellowship – time with others that believed. Fellowship has several meanings, all which apply. It can mean communion both in having communion with the Holy Spirit and communion with the body and blood of Jesus. It can also refer to participation in sharing with others, being generous. The application for us for “being devoted to fellowship” is through:
    ⁃    Large and small groups
    ⁃    Christian friends and mentors
    ⁃    Generous life style
    3.    Devoted themselves to the breaking of bread which is they had meals together for sharing their faith both privately and publicly. They went to temple (large groups) and to small home groups along with doing the Lord’s Supper together. The application for us for “being devoted to breaking of bread” is by:
    ⁃    Christian fellowship at mealtime
    ⁃    Faith talk at meals
    ⁃    Lord’s Supper
    4.    Devoted themselves to prayer by following the morning and evening prayer times, formal times of prayer, but also informal prayer times in home gatherings and other places both public and private. The application for us for “being devoted to prayer” is by:
    5.    Having a personal prayer life – God desires we talk to Him
    6.    Prayer partners – people we pray with
    7.    Public prayer and worship 

We too are called to practice, not just understand what the Bible says about the Christian faith but DOING what the Bible says about the Christian faith

Questions – Am I aware of what God is saying? Am I growing in the apostles teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer? Am I putting these into practice?  Do I understand AND apply this verse? Do I understand what I am to do and do I do it?

God is calling us to act on – to practice – the application of what we saw in today’s verse.

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/40-10

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

Check out this episode!

Up To Jerusalem – Teaching 19
Scripture: Matthew 28:9-10, 1 Corinthians 15:5, Luke 24:13-49, John 20:19-23

Today we continue with our look at the events of the day of Jesus’ resurrection and those who saw Him that day. 

Pastor talks about the Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and that their stories were written as eye witnesses .  These are the accounts of people who were there.

Last class we looked at those who had seen Jesus first that morning, it was the women who came to the tomb and saw Him, but the first of His disciples to see Him was Peter – the one who had denied knowing Jesus 3 times during His arrest and trial. Consider the emotions that had to be going on in Peter’s head and heart since his denial of Jesus and now he’s face to face, one on one with Him. (1 Corinthains 15:5) What was this meeting like….very personal…

Then Jesus meet s2 men on the Road to Emmaus, family members, but they didn’t recognize Him. They tell Him all about the events of the women and that they didn’t know what to think of it all. They were doubtful about the truth of what they had heard and Jesus says, “How foolish you are and how slow you are in believing all the prophets have spoken.” And then He explains to them what was said in all the scriptures concerning Himself.  A crash course in biblical truth! That had to be an amazing conversation!

At dinner with them, Jesus breaks the bread and gives thanks and suddenly they realize that the man they’ve been with is the risen Jesus! And then He vanishes. The men run back to Jerusalem to where the disciples and others are staying to tell them that Jesus is indeed risen. As they begin to share their story suddenly Jesus is there with them and says, “Peace be with you.” 

Jesus startles the group and some think they are seeing a ghost, and so Jesus encourages them to touch Him and then He asks for something to eat. Yet some still were struggling to believe what they were seeing and then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures.

Jesus goes on to share the “cliff notes” of the Hebrew Scriptures to them:
    ⁃    Messiah will suffer
    ⁃    Messiah will rise from the dead on the third day
    ⁃    Repentance for the forgiveness of sin will be preached in His Name
    ⁃    Preached to all nations
    ⁃    Beginning at Jerusalem
The resurrection of Jesus is a call to repentance for the forgiveness of sins, to repent and believe the Good News.

This message is for us today. A message we are to respond to. Not with half-hearted intellectual belief. This is about a lifetime commitment and coming to grips with the Living God who gave His only Son for us, raised Him from the grave and who will come back as ruler of all – Jesus. Jesus calls us to repentance and to believe the Good News of who He is. 

We can see we are sinners and need a Savior and Jesus calls us to repent = change of mind and change of direction (a U-turn). How we live is a response to knowing we have a Savior and wanting to live for Him because God loved me so much He gave His only Son die for my sins, and so then I want my life to give glory to Him.

Repent and believe is not a popular message in the American church today – It’s not a message people want to hear. We tend to prefer that God approve of what we do rather than us to approve what God says. And what God says is what Jesus speaks. And He calls us to repent for the forgiveness of sin and proclaim that to all the world!

Then Jesus tells them they are witnesses to these things. We are witnesses too. We can all share how Jesus has changed our lives.

Then Jesus tells them that the Holy Spirit is coming. The resurrection of Jesus ushers in a new way of God dwelling with His people. They are told to wait there until they receive what God has promised to give them. The Holy Spirit – whom the Father had promised.

Resurrection Day is the most remarkable day in history. A glorious day!  Jesus continues to open peoples minds to the scriptures today and continues to draw us to Himself.  And the Holy Spirit continues to be poured out!

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

Up to Jerusalem is a study of the final weeks of Jesus’ ministry on earth, concluding with His resurrection and ascension, using the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John together with material from ancient sources and recent discoveries. Up to Jerusalem is part five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Up To Jerusalem is the story of the plan of God to redeem the world, and the story of a Savior willing to obey the Father’s plan. As we study Jesus’ final days, we will be impacted as we discover the Love of God for each one of us. 

This study is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time.

Check out this episode!

Scripture: Acts 2;22-41

Pastor continues our study of Pentecost with a look at part two of Peter’s sermon as shared in Acts 2 on that first Pentecost.

The Bible account of this story tells us that “Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

So let’s dig into what Peter said that pierced their hearts, into what the Holy Spirit was doing and into their response.  Then, let’s see what we can learn.

In part one of Peter’s sermon in Acts 2, he shared the story of Jesus’ incarnation – of God coming to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. As we pick up with the rest of this sermon, Peter is talking about how Jesus is the Promised One that fulfills God’s promises made in the Old Testament. Then Peter tells them of Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion and states that they are the ones who crucified Jesus.

As we consider this accusation, we ask who did put Jesus on the cross? Was it the Roman rulers who ran the Jesus trial? The soldiers that beat, whipped and nail Him to the cross? Was it the religious zealots that wanted Jesus stopped? Who put Jesus on the cross.  The Bible tells us that “everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Meaning we all need a Savior Jesus died for our sins.  WHO put Him on the cross? WE put Him on the cross. 

Peter goes on with the good news of Jesus’ resurrection from the grave and that death could not hold Him quoting King David, “‘…My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave….'” Acts 2:26b-27. Peter shares that this prophetic word from David was about Jesus who is the Messiah they have been awaiting.

Peter tells them that after Jesus’ resurrection He ascended to God’s right hand and that the Holy Spirit was released just as Jesus had promised and tells them that is what they are witnessing this very day.

Then the high point of the message is reached in verse 36, “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Jesus is the Chosen One, the Savior!

In the next verse we see their response to hearing Peter’s words.  It is the verse we started with today, “Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 

Their response was their hearts are pierced, cut to the heart by what Peter said, heart-broken, filled with sorrow, convicted. Having their hearts pierced, led them to see Jesus’ story as personal and made them want to change so they say, “What shall we do?”

Accepting Jesus as our Lord, our Savior, our Messiah requires a response. What He’s done for each of us is personal and it requires a personal response.

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Peter’s message is one of the most important ever taught. 
    ⁃    Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophesied Messiah
    ⁃    Repentance is recognizing that, “I’m a sinner. I need a Savior.” It is a change of heart and a change of mind.
    ⁃    Baptism in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of sin.
    ⁃    Holy Spirit – Jesus desires to pour the Holy Spirit out into us today and everyday!

Peter’s sermon brought thousands of people to faith in who Jesus is, to repentance, and to baptism.

If you have walked away from Jesus or if you have not come to faith in Jesus, our prayer is that Peter’s message pierces your heart and brings you to faith in Jesus your Savior and Messiah!

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