Awake Us Now
God calls His people not to blend in to society, but to stand out, to reflect the mercy and goodness of God, so that He may be exalted through all the nations!
info_outlineAwake Us Now
Prayer is an amazing gift from God! We have His plea to talk with Him. Genuine prayer; not showy prayer, but rather simply experiencing the presence of our Living God, the Father. Other topics covered are Jesus’ teaching on fasting and possessions. Based on Matthew 6:5-24.
info_outlineAwake Us Now
Pastor points out the Old Testament’s words, “Thus says the LORD,” and compares them to the words of Jesus in the New Testament that say, “But I tell you.” What does this tell us about who Jesus is? Pastor explores the “But I tell yous” as found in Matthew chapter 5 and we learn what Jesus calls us to. That call is to a changed heart, which can only happen when we come to faith in Jesus. God’s call is personal! He wants to change each one of us by the shed blood of Jesus, the Son of God.
info_outlineAwake Us Now
In Week 7, we hear more of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus calls us salt and light. What does He mean when He uses these words to describe how we are to be? As historians have looked at world history, more and more of them are coming to the realization Christianity changed everything. Jesus has had a greater impact on the human condition than anyone in all of history. What Jesus produces in people, changes them!
info_outlineAwake Us Now
We will look at the two pictures of the Messiah found in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). 2 Pictures of Messiah Reigning King Humble Substitute This double picture is what led some of the great Hebrew rabbis to suggest there might be two Messiahs that would come at different times and in different manners. And that then became the dominant tradition: Messiah will raise the dead Messiah will be victorious Messiah will reign in Jerusalem Messiah will bring peace If we look at the New Testament the early followers of Jesus believed this same thing about the Messiah....
info_outlineAwake Us Now
We finish Matthew 4 on following Jesus, and begin the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 that opens with the Beatitudes.
info_outlineAwake Us Now
Week 5 of our Matthew study digs into chapter 4 on the Temptation of Jesus, His three temptations and the reality of an unseen spiritual world.
info_outlineAwake Us Now
This message focuses on the question: “How are minds opened today?”, which is part of our ongoing series: “What’s the answer?” Pastor explores how people’s lives are changed and what changes their attitudes about God, about Jesus, the resurrection, and about the power of God’s Word. Pastor takes us through Luke 24:36-47, an encounter with Jesus that His disciples have with Him after His resurrection. Jesus tells them: “This is what I told you while I was still with you; Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets...
info_outlineAwake Us Now
The Book of Daniel is the story of the collision of two kingdoms, a spiritual war that is still being fought in the heavens and on the earth. In the end, the Kingdom of God wins!
info_outlineAwake Us Now
Week 4 of our Matthew study is all about John the Baptist and his message of repentance, a message that can be difficult for the religious to accept.
info_outlineScripture: Exodus 20:7, Exodus 3:14, John 8:58, Matthew 15:8-9, Psalm 40:3, Psalm 50:15, Psalm 145:18, Leviticus 19:31, Romans 10:13, John 17:6, Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:14
Exodus 20:7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
This means we are to understand that God’s Name is powerful, God’s Name is Holy. This is the only one of God’s Ten Words/Commandments with a threat and no promise.
God’s Name is a 4 letter tetragrammaton and we aren’t even sure how to pronounce His Name because by 200 BC the Jewish people no longer spoke God’s Name for fear of misusing it. The Jewish people still today will not speak His name and simply refer to God’s Name as “Ha-shem” - “The Name,” though others pronounce it in several different ways: Yahweh and Jehovah are a couple.
God takes His Name seriously - it is not a swear word - His Name is the revelation of Himself. In His Name God reveals His identity and character to us. His Name speaks of His goodness, mercy, love and His awesome and profound holiness.
We dare not treat Hm or His Name lightly, In Exodus 3:14 God says to Moses, “I am who I am.” Deliver. Guide.
In John 8:58 Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!” Jesus is the Living God who has taken on human flesh to deliver us all. We are all sinners and sin, deserving the punishment Jesus took for us on the cross.
In John 17:6 Jesus is praying to God the Father saying, “I have revealed You to those whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your word.” In these words, Jesus is the revelation of the character and identity of God. If you want to know what the invisible God is like you look at the visible Son of the Living God - The One through whom all things were created. God’s character is summed up in His Name. His Name is wonderful, holy and worthy of praise.
What is the misuse of God’s Name?
1. By cursing, speaking threats, judgements and swearing. Romans 12:14 tells us that we are to “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
2. Through the occult - horoscopes, ouija boards, séances, eastern mysticism that open a destructive door in one’s life. Leviticus 19:31 tells us “‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.”
3. By deception - professing to be godly but in reality living a double life having a veneer of religion but having lives that deny it. Matthew 15:8-9 says, “‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” We should not use His Name to deceive others or to try to deceive God. We are to use God’s Name to give Him honor and to express understanding of His character.
What are some proper uses of God’s Name?
1. Receiving Him - Romans 10:13 tells us, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” God offers forgiveness, restoration, redemption, hope, peace and joy to all who repent and call on Him saying, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner, I receive what You offer to me through Jesus, my Savior.”
2. Relying on Him - Psalm 50:15 says, “Call on Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” Psalm 145:18 tells us that “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” When we go through difficult times we are to call on His Name - to rely on Him - because He is near, He is not distant.
3. Rejoicing in Him - In Psalm 40:3 we read, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him.” We properly use His Name when we use it to give Him honor and praise and thanks. God’s Name deserves our praise and rejoicing. As we live a joyful life, especially in a world that is often falling apart - it causes others to be drawn to Him as well! THAT is an excellent way to use His Name - in sharing it with others!
Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.
Check out the video from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/ten-words
Check out the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams
Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.