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!
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Growing Gracefully: Forgiveness
Awake Us Now
Jesus not only taught the importance of forgiveness, He practiced it, even from the cross (Luke 23:43). The example of Jesus and the magnitude of His love changes people and gives them the power to forgive even the most bitter of enemies!
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Growing Gracefully: The Ultimate Indicator
Awake Us Now
Our devotion to the Living God is demonstrated in the way we love other people - including even our enemies. Genuine love is the truest expression of right doctrine (teaching) - and without love, the doctrine collapses.
info_outlineThis 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 and the Psalms.” Luke 24:44. He tells them everything written there points to Him.
Then next verse says, “Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” How did Jesus do that? Let’s look at Luke’s clues …
Law of Moses
- Passover Lamb - Exodus 12. As protection from the tenth plague God told them He would passover their homes if they would take a lamb without spot or blemish, kill it, spread its blood on the doorposts of their homes, then roast and eat the lamb.
- In Luke 22:15-16 Jesus tells His disciples: “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” What He is saying about the Passover is that HE is the one that will fulfill it as The Passover Lamb. The Passover is a preview of God’s redemption through the shed blood of Jesus.
- Blood of the Covenant - Exodus 24. Moses built an altar at the foot of Mt. Sinai and the Israelites pledged to follow God. Moses took the blood of bulls, sprinkled it on the altar and the people saying, “This is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you…” Exodus 24:8. What this is, again, is a preview of the coming Christ and the fulfillment being found in Him.
- Luke 22:20 Jesus says, “This cup (passover meal glass of wine) is the New Covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.” This is just what Moses was showing was coming in Jesus.
Prophets
- New Covenant - Jeremiah 31:31. God said that the days were coming when He would make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah and put His law in their minds and hearts and change them from the inside out! A Heart change!”
- Jesus says, “This cup is the New Covenant!” Luke 22:20 Meaning He is the New Covenant.
- Suffering Servant - Isaiah 53. “He was despised… He was pierced for our transgressions… the punishment that brought us peace was on Him… by His wounds we are healed… the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all… it was the Lord’s will to crush Him… to make His life an offering for sin… He will see the light of Life (raised)… He poured out His life unto death and numbered with the transgressors.”
- In Luke 22:37 Jesus says, “It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’ and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me.” He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament words.
Psalms
- Crucified Victim - Psalm 22. “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?… hands pierced… lots cast for his clothing…”
- Jesus speaks these very words from the cross: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me.”
- Luke 23:34 we read, “and they divided up His clothes by casting lots.” Jesus is the fulfillment of the words in the psalms.
- David’s Lord - Psalm 110. David wrote of the Messiah, “The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand while I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
- Luke 20:41-44 We see Jesus using these very words to describe Himself.
How are minds opened today? The same way today they were then:
- Encountering Jesus and seeing Him as the Risen Christ. The risen Jesus transforms people minds and brings relationship with the Living God.
- Encountering the Scriptures and seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of everything written about the Messiah in the Law, Prophets and Psalms. Encountering the scriptures changes us as we read them.
- Encountering the Holy Spirit. No one can believe without the Holy Spirit.
Luke 24 concludes with “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Today those words of Jesus continue to be fulfilled!
God our Father desires we repent and turn to Him so that our minds may be opened and our lives renewed forever.
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