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_outlineThis teaching is from Matthew 24:36-25:30.
We pick up today’s class with Jesus and His teaching on His Second Coming. In these opening passages of today’s text we hear Jesus’ encouragement to not let the day of his final appearing catch us unaware. We can’t know the day or the hour of His return but, we CAN know Him! We can’t know the time of his return but we CAN know the importance of living by faith in Him. So multiple times Jesus encourages us to KEEP WATCH and to BE AWAKE to His return.
Next Jesus shares three parables all having to do with His return and us being ready - awake - when He comes.
1 - Owner and Thief - Jesus’ coming is unexpected
2 - Wise and Wicked - Jesus’ coming is sooner than expected
3 - Ten Virgins - Jesus’ coming is later than expected.
These three parables again speak to the fact that we just do not know when He will return so we need to be always be ready for His return!
After these three parables about being ready for His return, Jesus tells a parable: “Bags of Gold (often called Talents of Gold) from Matthew 25:14-30.
The story is of a Master entrusting His wealth to 3 of His servants. Each is given a different amount and then the Master goes on a journey. The servant that received 5 bags of gold puts his money to work and gains 5 more bags and the same thing for the servant given 2 bags of gold, he doubles his as well. But the man who received 1 bag dug a hole in the ground and hid the money. Then after a long time the Master returned and settled the accounts with the 3 servants.
Servants 1 and 2 each received these words from the Master, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” This is what we each want to hear from God - that we used what He gave us wisely. The parable continues with the Master inviting them saying, “Come! Share in your Master’s happiness! (Eternal Life forever with Him).
We are to live by faith - serving and honoring God. We are not saved because we serve and honor Him - rather we serve and honor Him because we are saved through Jesus.
With the third servant who hid the gold - this servant said, “I know you are a hard Master so I was afraid and hid your gold, but here’s what you originally gave me.” (This is not a true statement by this 3rd servant. God’s character is one of goodness, He is pure, holy, just, faithful, true and loving.) This servant did not live by faith but was instead hard-hearted. The Master replies to him, “You wicked, lazy servant,” and this servant’s gold was given to the servant with 10 bags of gold and that 3rd servant was thrown into the darkness.
Jesus is returning and there is judgement - either to eternity with Him or to eternity without Him.
With Him forever is what we want - so be encouraged to serve Him with your eyes on Jesus, and eagerly anticipating His return!
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