Armor of God #10 - Keep on Praying!
Awake Us Now
"Prayer in the Spirit" is about taking time in the presence of the living God and allowing Him to nurture, nourish, transform, and renew our souls. It is not about "give me, give me, give me," but about "mold me, shape me, use me."
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Growing Gracefully: Training
Awake Us Now
Despite the most rigorous physical exercise and training regimen, our bodies will age and, eventually, die. But there is a training - training in godliness - that lasts into eternity. The spiritual diet we eat, the spiritual exercise we do and the spiritual training we choose affects our ability to grow graceful as Jesus’ disciples. Training ourselves for godliness has benefits for today, tomorrow and for eternity. Spiritual training is timeless. Train to be godly - Christianity is not a spectator sport. We can’t be a couch potato. We must be in training to be godly. This is training with...
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Growing Gracefully: Contentment
Awake Us Now
Even in the most difficult of times, believers such as the apostle Paul have known contentment, an inner peace, a certainty that God is in control. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we know that, through faith in Him, we will live forever. That certainty brings true contentment!
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Growing Gracefully: Humility
Awake Us Now
The humility modeled for us by Jesus is not only refreshing, it is life-changing and God-pleasing! Pride, on the other hand, makes us nauseating not only to others, but to God as well.
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Dig Deeper - Acts Chapter 11: The Origin of "Christian"
Awake Us Now
In Acts 11:26 we read that the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. “Disciple” is the most used word in the New Testament to describe followers of Jesus. It is used 261 times. The word “Christian” is used only 3 times in the New Testament. Brothers and sisters, believers, followers are also used but “disciples” is Jesus’ favorite word to describe His followers. Matthew 29:19-20 - the Great Commission - Jesus says, “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, and teaching...
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Growing Gracefully: Freedom
Awake Us Now
True freedom is living the full life that God always intended us to possess. In Jesus, we are freed from bondage to sin and are now free to please God!
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Growing Gracefully: Thankfulness
Awake Us Now
Some Biblical virtues mirror God's character, but this one -- thankfulness -- exalts God's character. Thankfulness promotes humility in us and strengthens our faith. ThankLESSness, by contrast, is an exceptionally dangerous sin.
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GOD ACTS! (Chapter 11) - The Disciples Were Called Christians
Awake Us Now
God’s Gospel Goes Global After Peter told the story of his vision and going to Joppa to the home of Cornelius, we read in Acts 11:18 that “… the believers in Jerusalem had no further objections and praised God saying, ‘So even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.’” And now the barriers that had existed between the Jewish world and the non-Jewish world are down in a single moment. The believers in Jerusalem that had grown up as devout Jewish people had their eyes opened to understand the new age that God promised had arrived. AND God’s Gospel Goes...
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Armor of God #11 - Full Armor
Awake Us Now
We are to be strong in the Lord (with His strength), and to put on the full armor of God (His equipment), so that we are both prepared and equipped for spiritual warfare!
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Growing Gracefully: Kindness
Awake Us Now
Kindness is not weakness. Kindness reflects the character and strength of God, and is seen throughout the ministry of Jesus Christ. Followers of Jesus should show that same character in their lives!
info_outlinePastor gives us a look at the story, “On the Road to Emmaus,” found in Luke 24:13-27.
We don’t know the actual location of Emmaus, nor do we know the names of those walking with Jesus in this story.
The story takes place later in the day on the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Those Jesus walks with do not recognize Him. They are trying to figure out everything that had happened with Jesus and thinking about what the women had said about Jesus being alive and about the disciples having gone to the tomb and found it empty.
Then Jesus begins to explain the scriptures to them concerning Himself. What Jesus shared is not recorded, but wouldn’t it be fascinating to hear what was shared during that multi-mile walk!
What did Jesus tell them?
Pastor shares the idea of Jesus, starting with the story of Abraham and Isaac in the book of Genesis:
- Genesis 22:1-18 - this is the story of Abraham and Isaac at Mt. Moriah. Pastor shares some overwhelming details of this prophetic event.
- God tells Abraham He is going to test him and tells Abraham to sacrifice his son. And Abraham steps into obedience.
- Pastor explores several phrases found in Genesis 22 “only son,” “whom you love, “Moriah.” (Moriah is where the temple wold be built in Solomon’s day.)
- Abraham travels to Moriah and “on the third day” they arrive at Moriah and Abraham and Isaac leave the servants and head out the rest of the way alone. Isaac carries “the wood” for the offering.
- Isaac asks Abraham “where is the lamb?” And Abraham replies that “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”
- Isaac willingly allowed his father to place him on the altar. As Abraham raises the knife, an Angel of the LORD calls out, “Abraham, Abraham, don’t lay a hand on the boy. I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
- Isaac comes off the altar and the LORD provides a lamb for the sacrifice.
- In verse 14 we read that Abraham called the place “The Lord Will Provide.”
- What Abraham saw was a picture of the sacrifice of God the Father in giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
- The story ends with, “and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” The fulfillment to that promise to Abraham is found in Christ alone.
Jesus is the Living Hope of all the world.
First use of “love” in the Gospels…
Matthew 3:17 - at the baptism of Jesus “this is my Son, whom I love.”
Mark 1:11 - at the baptism of Jesus “You are my Son, whom I love”
Luke 3:22 - at the baptism of Jesus “you are my Son, whom I love”
John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
As Jesus talked to the disciples, these are the kinds of things He would have reminded them of: He is the only One who is the Savior of the world. The only One who brings forgiveness, life and hope. The only One who brings life forevermore. He is Risen!! He is risen indeed! He is alive! And He is returning!
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