GOD ACTS! (Chapter 13) - Everyone Who Believes is Set Free
Awake Us Now
Chapters 1-12 the focus has been on the Jerusalem believers, Apostle Peter Chapter 13 and onward will be focused on the Apostle Paul (also known as Saul) and the church at Antioch. In the book of Acts Paul travels 12,000 miles (20,000 kilometers) to bring the message of Jesus to people who had never heard of Him. Acts 13 THEN + NOW Seek and heed the Spirit. In the first 3 verses of this chapter we see them praying, fasting and doing as the Holy Spirit leads.Seeking the Spirit’s guidance and then heeding it is an important truth for us today individually and as the Body...
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Armor of God #9 - Pray in the Spirit
Awake Us Now
Why does Paul connect prayer with the Armor of God? Because when we "pray in the Spirit," we have something that front-line soldiers have always longed for: the ability to talk directly with our "Commander-in-Chief!"
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Growing Gracefully: Infilling
Awake Us Now
Everyone who is a true disciple of the Lord Jesus has the Holy Spirit. But does the Holy Spirit have us? It is one thing to know the Living God and to know Jesus as Savior, but it is another thing to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit on a regular, daily basis!
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Growing Gracefully: Awake
Awake Us Now
God charges His disciples to "be awake" in all times and all situations. We are especially charged to be awake to God's Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), the reality of spiritual warfare, and the signs of the times.
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Growing Gracefully: Prepared
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Almost two thousand years ago, John the Baptist called people to repent and prepare for the coming Lord. Today, we are still called to have repentant hearts that receive and extend the forgiveness of the Living God, and to prepare fruit for Him in our lives!
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Dig Deeper - Acts Chapter 12: Herod's Demise
Awake Us Now
Herod Agrippa I Ruled 41-44 A.D. Grandson of King Herod the Great Imprisoned Peter during Passover in 42 or 43 A.D. He died before Passover of 44 A.D. Herod went from Judea to Caesarea following Peter’s angelic escape from prison. Herod was quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They joined together asking for an appointment with Herod requesting for peace as they depended on Herod for their food supply. From writings from Flavius Josephus “Antiquities of the Jews, Book 19” (Translator: Paul L. Maier) Josephus tells us that Herod met with the representatives...
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Growing Gracefully: Holiness
Awake Us Now
Holiness is a gift, offered to us in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But once God has made us holy, we are then called to pursue holiness in our lives!
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Growing Gracefully: Obedience
Awake Us Now
Growing gracefully in obedience is a response to the salvation God has worked in our lives through Christ Jesus. We are called to walk in obedience as a response to our faith in Jesus. Obedience is not necessary for salvation, but obedience is necessary! Join us as we explore Growing Gracefully in our relationship with Jesus Christ through obedience to Him and His Word. Obedience does not save, but neither is it optional. God desires not simply outward actions, but inner obedience to His Word. Pastor focuses on two important Biblical truths: 1. Obedience does not save - Jesus saves --Grace of...
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GOD ACTS! (Chapter 12) - He Proceeded to Seize Peter
Awake Us Now
God’s word brings light into our lives, gives us direction and points us to Jesus showing us where our hope and strength are found. Today’s story demonstrates this truth. Join us! Chapter 12 is about some of the persecution Peter experienced and we will look at Peter’s writings in 1 Peter in conjunction with this story in Acts chapter 12 for additional insights. THEN + NOW Persecution - Acts 12:1-4; 1 Peter 4:12-13 Herod Agrippa the First, encouraged by approval after arresting believers and putting the Apostle James to death, decides to arrest and imprison Peter. He has...
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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."
info_outlineChapters 1-12 the focus has been on the Jerusalem believers, Apostle Peter
Chapter 13 and onward will be focused on the Apostle Paul (also known as Saul) and the church at Antioch. In the book of Acts Paul travels 12,000 miles (20,000 kilometers) to bring the message of Jesus to people who had never heard of Him.
Acts 13
THEN + NOW
- Seek and heed the Spirit. In the first 3 verses of this chapter we see them praying, fasting and doing as the Holy Spirit leads.Seeking the Spirit’s guidance and then heeding it is an important truth for us today individually and as the Body of Christ. Acts 13:1-3
- Rely on the Holy Spirit. Paul and Barnabas follow the Holy Spirit’s leading and head to the island of Cyprus. There they meet the proconsul Sergius Paulus and his attendant, a sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus. The sorcerer tries to stop the proconsul from faith in Jesus as Paul and Barnabas share the Good News. God blinds the sorcerer and when the proconsul sees this he believes because he was amazed at the teaching about Jesus. There is power in the Name of Jesus, there is power through the Holy Spirit, there is insight given to those who believe and trust the Lord and who rely upon the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:4-12
- Connect Scripture to today. Paul and Barnabas leave Cyprus and sail to Perga and then travel to Pisidian Antioch. They go to the synagogue and are asked if they have a word of exhortation to share with the people. Paul talks through the history of the people of Israel and all that God had done ending with God’s bringing of the Messiah, Jesus the Savior. Paul connected the scripture to the present day. The Bible is for all people, in all times, in every generation. The Scriptures are relevant for us today. Acts 13:13-26
- Testifies to the Risen Savior. Paul goes on to say how people missed and ignored what was prophesied about the Savior even going so far as to execute Him on the cross even without proper grounds to do so. Then they laid him in a tomb and God raised Him from the dead and there are witnesses to His resurrection. Paul makes it evident that what the prophets had said would happen was accomplished with Jesus Christ the Messiah and risen Savior. Our mission is to testify what God has done and point people to Jesus. Acts 13:27-32
- Christ alone can free us. Paul shares by quoting Scriptures: Psalm 2:7, Isaiah 55:3, Psalm 16:10 and goes on to tell that all sins are forgiven in Christ. Following the Law doesn’t save us, rather it shows us our failure to uphold it and shows our need for the Savior. Through faith in Jesus we are set free from every sin, a justification we are unable to obtain ourselves, it is only in Jesus Christ alone. Act 23:33-43
- The following weeks many came to the synagogue to hear the Good News but some Jews were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what Paul was saying, heaping abuse on him. Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly that they had to speak the Word of God to the Jews first but that now they would teach the Gentiles. The gentiles rejoiced and the word of the Lord spread throughout the whole region and as it did the Jewish leaders incited the Jewish people against Paul and Barnabas until they finally left, shaking the dust off their feet and going to Iconium filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:44-51
This week’s READING ASSIGNMENT:
Acts chapter 13-14.
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