Thanksgiving Message 2024
Awake Us Now
Happy Thanksgiving! A question: For you is thanksgiving a cultural tradition or a cultivated lifestyle? If thanksgiving is just a cultural tradition then it all centers around a one day get together and it’s over until next year. But if thanksgiving is a cultivated lifestyle then it flows out of a living relationship with the Living God and THAT is a really excellent way to live because it leads to a life of genuine purpose that never ends. Ps 106:1 and 136:1 speaks to the “never ends.” Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love ENDURES FOREVER! God is TRULY GOOD! Psalm...
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The Living One - Week 10: The Outpouring
Awake Us Now
Pentecost is a Jewish holiday (Shavuot, or Feat of Weeks), thanking God for His provision; a festival that gives us understanding of the Bible and also for God’s will and purpose for each of us in our walk with Him. The verses Pastor explores today are a fascinating section of Scripture that hold a mystery around the word "house." Was the place of the first Pentecost in a house, like maybe the Upper Room? Or was it referring to The Temple, the Holy House, the House above all other houses? And why does that make a difference?
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The Living One - Week 9: This Same Jesus
Awake Us Now
In the Scripture for this message, Acts 1:9-11, we read that a cloud came down and covered Jesus as He ascended. What is it that’s so important to know about the “cloud” that came and covered Jesus? Did you know that Jesus promises to return the same way as He ascended -- on a cloud! A fascinating study on a very fascinating and unique topic! Other text references: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 14:14, Titus 2:11-13.
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The Living One - Week 8: Key Words
Awake Us Now
The story of Jesus is not mere religion! It is life-changing, real and true, and so our lives can never be the same. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that is essential for the Christian life. Jesus will return and the season of His return is NOW. Today’s teaching explores some of Jesus’ last words before he was taken to heaven. These key words: proof, kingdom, Spirit, witness and restoration are words for us today!
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The Living One - Week 7: Opened Minds
Awake Us Now
Scriptures for this message: Luke 24:13-48. Are you familiar with the Bible’s salvation story? Two conversations recorded in the Bible have changed how we understand God not just 2,000 years ago, but today as well. These two dialogues are important for us who are living in a culture full of deception. Join us today as Pastor showss us hope and truth!
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Rekindle... Integrity
Awake Us Now
Scripture: Daniel 6:1-10; Revelation 2:10; Proverbs 10:9 TPT “The one who walks in integrity will experience a fearless confidence in life, but the one who is devious will eventually be exposed.” Integrity - or lack of it - shows itself in the way we live. The example of Daniel in the Bible shows us how personal conduct should match true faith in God. Our study today is on Daniel. We will explore what led up to Daniel being placed in the lion’s den. Daniel, in his 80’s, is chosen to be King Darius’ chief administrator. This position of power caused...
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Rescued by Truth: Week 47
Awake Us Now
How do we deal with worry that threatens to overwhelm us? Be it money, job security, relationships, health, current events... the list goes on! How does a believer deal with these? There is clear guidance and Godly wisdom in the Scriptures. Scripture testifies to this truth: God cares for His Children. He calls on us to TRUST in Him, REJECT the lies of the Enemy, ACT on His promises, and GROW in the new nature He has given us through faith in Christ Jesus.
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The Living One - Week 6: The Great Shepherd
Awake Us Now
In the last 40 years, scholars have thrown out several centuries of scholarly speculation on the Gospel of John. This book was written by Jesus’ best friend, an eyewitness to the life of Jesus. It testifies to the powerful and encouraging message for people then, and still for us today!
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Two Year Gospel Study Week 47
Awake Us Now
Luke 13:10-17; “Real Meets Ritual” Jesus is the Real Deal! He is the Messiah. He really desires that we know Him more and more and spend eternity with Him. So what does the Real Jesus have to say to us today? Today’s story in Luke tells how Jesus was in a synagogue teaching and there was a woman in attendance that had been crippled by a spirit for 18 years and was bent over and could not straighten up. (Note not possessed by a spirit but crippled by a spirit.) Luke recognizes that there is a spiritual dimension to our world. This was not just a physical illness. Jesus...
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The Living One - Week 5: Lord and God!
Awake Us Now
When "Doubting Thomas" saw the risen Lord for himself, his skepticism changed to acknowledgement of Jesus as "My Lord and my God." Jesus responded by saying, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.” The Holy Spirit still brings faith to those who will hear, even in our skeptical generation. Today’s message invites us to come meet Jesus as we explore the story of the disciple Thomas. He was a brave believer who was willing to die for Jesus, but also one who is most well known as “Doubting Thomas.” Our world is one of...
info_outlineHow do we know what God’s will is?
Our Acts story continues: Paul leaves Miletus for Jerusalem and stays at the house of Philip the Evangelist.
A couple days after Paul arrives at Philip’s home a prophet named Agabus comes to visit Paul. Agabus takes Paul’s belt, wraps it around his own hands and feet and says, “The Holy Spirit says, “In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.” The people gathered in Philip’s home pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem after they heard this word, but Paul responds, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart. I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Paul makes it clear that he is willing to risk his life to give glory to His Lord, Jesus Christ.
In Acts 21:14, we read that when the group could not dissuade him they gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
The Holy Spirit had given Paul a warning through Agabus - that he would be captured by the Jewish leaders and then turned over to the Gentiles.
So this is the question: Was Paul disobedient when he decided to go on to Jerusalem? Were the words of the Holy Spirit a warning to say do not go to Jerusalem or could they perhaps be words of warning meant to prepare Paul for what was coming? Could these words be asking Paul’s obedience in going to Jerusalem but God in His goodness is giving Paul a heads up of what he will suffer for Christ’s sake in obeying.
Theologians are split on this but here are some reasons to see Paul’s decision to go on to Jerusalem as being obedient. We will use Bible texts:
Acts 9:15-16 - from Paul’s conversion story we hear God tell Ananias that Paul will be a chosen instrument to proclaim God’s name to many and God goes on to say, “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Paul as Saul had caused many believers to suffer, but as a transformed believer in Jesus - Paul would come to see that suffering would come into his life over and over again. (Beaten, ship wrecks, jailed, and many more difficulties) these were all part of Paul’s life. Paul understood suffering.
Acts 20:22-23 - When Paul had announced to the leaders in the Miletus meeting that it was time for him to move on, he said, “I am COMPELLED by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are ahead.”
He already knew that difficulties were ahead. The Holy Spirit had already warned him, nonetheless he says he was compelled. This text speaks nothing from God about NOT going - only that ahead were hardships.
Acts 23:11 - Several chapters after today’s text, Jesus speaks to Paul, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome.”
These are more warning words - no correction for disobedience, but rather kindness and encouragement for Paul - Take Courage! The Lord says! These words are words of kindness to prepare Paul for what more is to come.
What we can learn from Paul:
Comfort is NOT job #1. Comfort is not our primary focus.
Obedience IS job #1. We are not saved by obedience, but by the death and resurrection of Jesus our Savior. Saved by and through Him alone, by grace. However, when we know Him - we desire to follow Him. Salvation leads us to obedience.
God’s glory is paramount - What matters MOST is that our glorious God receives glory in each of our lives. In thanks and gratitude for what the Savior bought for us (life forever with God) and so we give Him glory with our lives in response to His gift of salvation to us.
God’s plan is incredible - our destiny is to be made new - transformed with glorified bodies with Christ forever.
As a result of Paul going to Jerusalem he
WAS ACCUSED FALSELY
WAS ATTACKED
HIS LIFE WAS ALMOST TAKEN
HE WAS PUT IN CHAINS
SOME PLOTTED TO KILL HIM
HE WAS JAILED FOR 2 YEARS
THEN SENT BY SHIP BACK TO ROME AS A PRISONER TO APPEAR BEFORE THE EMPEROR
But look at what happened as a result of Paul going to Jerusalem - Paul’s Gospel testimony went to:
Huge temple crowds
Sanhedrin
2 governors
King Agrippa
Emperor Nero
So to the question: Did Paul disobey by going to Jerusalem? Will we see the Holy Spirit warning as God’s way of giving Paul the strength for what was going to happen in Jerusalem, because God wanted to use Paul’s difficulties to get the Gospel message to many who otherwise may not have heard.
As Paul walked faithfully before God, God used his faith in remarkable ways.
God uses our faithful walk before Him in remarkable ways as well.
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