Are we recognizing the “signs of the times,” which include things from past, present and future? Pastor Dodge explores three specific and important signs that are apparent, visible and happening today! They remind us that as believers, we need to recognize the “signs of the times” and to be awake (i.e. ready for Christ’s return)!

This week’s teaching shows us the importance of growth in faith.

Today’s scripture is on the story of Paul’s mission work in the city of Ephesus. As he begins to meet people he asks several believers if they received the Holy Spirit when they came to faith in Jesus. Their response was no, that they had never heard of the Holy Spirit. 

Sadly, this is much the condition of the christian church in America today. The Holy Spirit has often been ignored. 

Paul learns that the Christians there had received John’s baptism. They had heard the teachings of John the Baptist and had been baptized in a baptism of repentance. Paul taught them that the One (Jesus) that John had predicted was coming was here and this was Jesus. John had said that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Paul fills them in on Jesus, the one John had said was coming. So after hearing this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues.

Today speaking in tongues has become very controversial. How do we deal with spiritual gifts? 

Spiritual Gifts 

• Expired - A view that many have is that these once were, but have now ended with the end of the apostles and the end of the New Testament. But the TRUTH is that there is NO expiration on the gifs of the Spirit. We are to earnestly desire the gift of the Spirit. (1 Corinthian 12 and 14) And Jesus says in Luke 11:13 “…how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” There is nothing in the New Testament to indicate that these gifts have expired. 

• Everyone - People say everyone has to have the same gifts or we all have to have the gift of speaking in tongues and yet the New Testament, in 1 Corinthians 12, Paul says that the Holy Spirit gives different gifts to different believers, that not all have the same gifts. 

• Eliminate - Many desire the gifts of the Spirit be eliminated because they are controversial. This attitude is basically trifling with the gifts of God and in effect encourages the church to remain weak and spiritually deficient. However, Paul says to earnestly desire the gifts and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. We need to take to heart what Paul says. 

The gifts aren’t badges to impress others with our spirituality, but they are gifts from the Holy Spirit given to build up the body of Christ, encourage believers and to empower us to carry out the work God has given us to do. 

These opening verses of Chapter 19 of Acts - while controversial - show us that the gifts are still very important and require us to take a look at what the Bible actually says about them. We need to make sure we are allowing the scriptures to guide us rather than our own prejudices, our own practices and our own jealousies. 

As we continue looking at more of Paul’s work in Ephesus where he spent around 3 years, we discover more that we can learn. 

In the synagogue, Paul spoke out boldly about the kingdom of God, but after 3 months, individuals refused to believe and began to publicly malign the teachings on Jesus the Messiah. So Pal moves from teaching in the synagogue to teaching daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus for the next two years so that all the Jews and Gentiles who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the God. 

Paul was a tireless worker for the Lord, but what was it that he shared with the people of Ephesus? We can discover the answer to this in his epistle/letter to the Ephesians. 

The Book of Ephesians 

• Messiah - Firstly, Paul concentrated on sharing the Good News of Jesus the Messiah and that through Him we receive every spiritual blessing, we come to know the deep love of Jesus, that we are saved by grace, and to know the fullness of God. 

• Maturity - Paul encourages us to grow in our faith, in our knowledge and love of Jesus our Savior. He shares how to not grieve the Spirit of God through impurity, but instead to grow in fellowship with God and to be filled with the Spirit. Paul also teaches to always give thanks for everything and to put on the full armor of God.

In summary of today’s text, Christ is to be in the center of our lives and we are to grow up in our relationship with Him. This is God’s desire for His children. 

We do not want to hold to a form of religion and deny it real power.

• We want to hear the Holy Spirit's testimony
• We want to respond to what the Word of God has to say
• We want to live in a dynamic relationship with Jesus, that we might not only be blessed by Him but may be used by Him to be a blessing for others

The Gospel message of Jesus transforms! It has POWER! We encourage you to read the book of Ephesians.

Scripture: Acts 19:1-10 and 2 Peter 3:18

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Luke 1:57-80; “John’s Story” 

Pastor Dodge explores Luke’s account of John the Baptist in today’s study.  It’s a story that starts with the miraculous pregnancy of Elizabeth who was well past her child-bearing years, yet God was faithful to His promise to her husband Zechariah.

In today’s text John is born and it is the 8th day after his birth, the day that the baby boy would be circumcised and named.  Their family and friends are sure the baby boy will be named a family name after Zechariah. However Elizabeth follows through with what the angel Gabriel had told her husband when the angel had announced they would have a son. And Elizabeth states the child would be named John just as the angel told them to name him.

Since the angel’s visit to Zechariah he had become unable to speak because he doubted the word of God through the angel. As family is saying how can you name him John, Zechariah writes on his tablet that the child’s name is John and he is instantly healed and able to speak.  He praises the Lord and everyone joins in thanking God for this miraculous healing.

The story is a reminder that God has never stopped doing things. He has never stopped acting. He is moving constantly and revealing himself to men, women and children.  He is the Living God. He is near and He does these things still today!

Zechariah is a priest - with some holy speculation - it is possible he is the one who may have circumcised John that day.  We read that Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit.  From the beginning of the Last Days which began with the coming of Jesus when Mary became pregnant God has been filling people with His Holy Spirit - men, women, young and old.  Not just then, 2000 years ago, but still today.

Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit and  then prophecies the coming of the Messiah, the fulfillment of God promises of a Redeemer.  Zechariah goes on to prophecy over his son as the one to prepare the way for the coming Messiah.

John grew up and became strong in the Spirit. He lived in the wilderness until he began to appear publicly to the people of Israel.

We read in all 4 gospels about 

JOHN’S CHARACTER

    1.     Prophetic - John was prophetic in his actions and his behavior.  Wearing a camel hair garment and a leather belt - an outfit that harkened back to the prophet Elijah - John like Elijah calls people back to God.       2.    Courageous - John called all to come back to God. He even told the religious. He told soldiers, prostitutes, tax collectors, even a king. John did not back down from courageously speaking God’s of all needing a Savior.     3.    Humble - John knew his life belonged to God. He knew his life was not his own.  We too are called to be humble before God because a humble heart is open to receive what God desires to impart.

JOHN’S MESSAGE

    1.     Sin - John taught the unpopular message that God takes sin seriously. Sin is rebellion against God.  All have sinned and all of us need a Savior.  Sin is treason against God.     2.    Repentance - repentance is the proper response to recognizing that “I am a sinner.”  Repentance is a 180 degree turn around - it’s an about face in one’s life and it is turning back to God. Repentance is also a change of mind in the way we look at our sinful nature.     3.    Salvation - John taught that God keeps His word and redeems us by sending His Son to save us all through faith in Jesus. John points us to Jesus - our Savior who brings us Salvation.

In our lives we too are to prepare the way for Jesus’ return, He is coming, and so we prepare by living for Him alone.

    ⁃    Prepared.       ⁃    Changed.      ⁃    Renewed.     ⁃    Inviting Jesus into our daily living.     ⁃    Reflecting on Him.     ⁃    Living out of the Good News.  

He transforms us  and on the last day  He will raise us!

Until then we are to serve, follow and grow in Him who is Lord of our lives.

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St. Luke’s Account is part three of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. This book written by Luke, a non-Jew, offers a unique perspective into the story of Jesus’ life.

This study is great for large group, small group or home group study.

God’s word teaches endurance: how to face the difficulties and challenges of life. The Bible doesn’t tell us we will get through life without difficult days and trials. God’s Word gives us encouragement because God’s word is true, it is genuine and it speaks directly into our lives.

Paul at Corinth is a story that shows us how God gives His children encouragement even in the most difficult of times, difficult of places and the most trying of circumstances.

Paul went on missionary journey to Corinth (in Greece) a very corrupt seaport city. They had a temple to Aphrodites and Paul found himself very discouraged at the evil he found there. But God brings encouragement in a way that teaches us to see the ways that God ministers to us in the darkest of days.

Observations: Provision: Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla - God provides as he brings people into our lives who will minister and encourage us. Support: Silas and Timothy - God’s support through colleagues that helped Paul be able to devote full time effort into preaching the Gospel. Opportunity: Jews from the synagogue didn’t want Paul teaching any longer in the synagogue, so Paul went to a man’s house next door to the synagogue and there he preached the gospel to the gentiles. Even in the difficulty of being rejected by the Jewish community, God gave Paul an opportunity to teach Gentiles. Assurance: Corinth was a difficult city to share the Gospel, but Jesus speaks by a vision to Paul, saying, “Do not be afraid - Keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you and no one is going to attack or harm you because I have many people in this city.” God says this to you and me as well, “Don’t give up because I am with you!” So Paul stayed in Corinth a year and a half teaching them the Word of God. Protection: There is dissension between the Jews going to synagogue and the Jews and Gentiles that believed in Jesus as the Messiah. Consequently, after teaching for 1 1/2 years, Paul was arrested and charged with the crime of practicing an illegal cult. They wanted him imprisoned or killed. But Gallia - the court judge - says the one bringing Paul to trial needed to figure things out on their own and that he would not rule on the charges, nor would he punish Paul and Gallia dismissed the case. God knows how to deliver His people! He did it for us at the cross! And the final victory is now ours. We win!

Surprise!: Surprisingly, following the dismissal of the case against Paul, the Jews from the synagogue attack the synagogue leader and beat him up instead of Paul! God’s additional surprise is that in 1 Corinthians 1:1 we read that this synagogue leader, Sethenese, becomes a believer in Jesus and part of the house church in Corinth.

And God has surprises for us in the difficult times, too, because our God is a good and gracious God. He loves His children. He is always with us in difficult times and easy times. He brings joy and hope, endurance and assurance to those who call on Jesus, the Messiah, our Savior!

Scripture: Acts 18:1-17, Romans 15:4

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This account takes place on Paul’s second missionary trip, on his trip to the city of Athens, A city that prided itself on knowledge and education, learning, culture and the arts. It was also a city filled with idols.

As Paul looked around and saw all the idolatry it just really riled him up and he began passionately sharing the gospel message in the synagogues and even in the market places. He worked to draw people to Jesus and not to idols. His impassioned message caused much interest, but also much controversy.

Paul teaches us to not give up - when we are confronted with issues or by people who reject what we believe we don’t give up - we are kind, gracious, we are generous and merciful, but we can be encouraged by Paul’s example. In this story we learn that we do not need to hesitate to say what we believe and why.

Paul’s persistence cases those listening to become curious. They ask questions and want to know more and more. While they were curious, they were still not wanting to believe. So Paul says that he noticed how “religious” they are, but what they took as a compliment Paul meant as a warning because what is necessary is a relationship with the Living God and not mere religious behavior.

But stating he noticed their “religiosity” was a great starting point for keeping them listening. He tells about all the idols he’s seen and points out an altar they have with the world, “to an Unknown God” on it. He points out to this group of people (who despised ignorance and prided themselves on wisdom) and goes on to say that he will tell them about the Unknown God. Paul will make the Unknowns KNOWN!

Today many are influenced by an Unknown God: 1. Never heard of Him 2. Never understood anything about Him 3. Never cared to know about Him 4. Never believe in Him

These were the issues Paul was facing - the same issues we face today.

Paul goes on to say that the God who made the world is not a statue and is not confined to a building. He’s not served by human hands (like their idols are) and it is God that gives everything life and breath. God, from one man, made all nations, thus showing His concern for all nations and that God has mapped out each nation’s appointed time in history. Nothing that happens on earth happens without God’s foreknowledge and without His plan coming to fruition.

Paul’s life had been transformed when he came to know Christ, and it is Paul’s desire that these people experience that same thing.

1. Talks about the natural knowledge of God which all have instinctively - that we innately know there must be a divine being. 2. Talks about the revealed knowledge of God, that He has revealed Himself as Creator of all and loves us and desires we know Him. 3. Tells them that having natural knowledge and revealed knowledge requires a response, that human ignorance is not overlooked by God.

God calls us to repentance, making a U-turn in our lives and having a changed mind and attitude - re-directed lives. If God truly is God — He cannot be manipulated through statues. We are called to yield to Him.

Paul ends with the story of Jesus Deity, Death, resurrection and Return. Without Jesus and a relationship of faith we are lost.

God is God!

Many listening to Paul repented and received relationship with the Living God through Jesus Christ - the Savior or ALL nations.

The fruit of Paul’s efforts were many becoming believers and followers of Jesus because Paul had the courage to share Jesus with them and confront them with TRUE Wisdom.

Scripture for the message: Acts 17:16-34

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This teaching is from Matthew 26:26-39 and Exodus 6:6-7

Our story continues today with the Lord’s Supper.

Jesus is going to make it clear that He is the Passover Lamb who lays down His life for all people of all time.

Pastor overviews the Passover meal: why it was done, what the purpose was and shows us how Jesus changed the script that had always been spoken during this meal since the time of Moses. 

Taking the bread Jesus says, “Take eat; this is My body.” Then after that He took the cup saying, “Drink from it, all of you, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Pastor shares about the 4 cups of wine during the Passover meal referencing the four verbs in Exodus 6:6-7. Four verbs, four cups of wine:     1.    Cup 1 - I will BRING you out     2.    Cup 2 - I will FREE you     3.    Cup 3 - I will REDEEM you     4.    Cup 4 - I will take you as My people

According to what is said in the gospels it appears Jesus spoke the words “drink this cup…” with the 3td cup - the Cup of Redemption.  Jesus talks about this cup as “my blood of covenant given for you and for many.” This cup not only reminds us of God’s great deliverance of His people from bondage in Egypt, but it is God’s new covenant of deliverance from the bondage of sin for all people. 

The disciples could see something unique was happening.  Clearly Jesus is speaking of Himself as the redemption. In the days to come the disciples would look back on this Supper, Jesus’ Last Supper, and they would see it more clearly.

In the next verse, as Jesus finishes this 3rd cup, taking what is written here in Matthew 26:29 and in the other gospels it appears Jesus is saying He will not drink the 4th cup until the day we are all together in His Father’s kingdom (meaning when everything is fulfilled) when he said, “ I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 

Jesus will take this fourth cup, the Cup that will be celebrated at the “Marriage Feast of the Lamb” on His return.  “When I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom,” this is the assurance of His return and a celebration that will never end.

Then Jesus and His disciples head to the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane. He tells them that He is overwhelmed to the point of death. Jesus is truly God in human flesh - a real human being going through agony and sorrow at what He knows is to come.

He asks the disciples to stay with him and keep watch or in other words, “Be Awake!” What does it mean to “be awake?” It means to recognize the times, to be ready and prepared, to be one with our Lord Jesus, one with our Heavenly Father and one with the Holy Spirit.  Be Awake!

Jesus asks that “this cup to be taken from me, yet not as I will but as you will.” Jesus - fully divine but also fully human speaks to His father and says could we go with another plan? But concludes His request with not my will but your will.  This is how we too should pray - praying in God’s will.  

We know things that God desires and we can pray in His will without hesitation:  For awakening in our country For people to come back to the Lord For people to know the Lord For those going through difficult days And holding one another up in prayer

But there are some times when we don’t know what God desires because His ways are far beyond our ways and even Jesus prayed not my will but your will to the Father.

“Thy will be done,” even in the face of overwhelming agony of what was ahead He stilled prayed “Your will, Father” and we are called to pray the same way.

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As the church began to grow with believers both Jew and Gentile, a division between the two started, especially as Jews began to be out numbered by gentile believers who brought in their customs.

Many gentile believers were God-fearers who believed in the Old Testament but weren’t circumcised and didn’t eat kosher, yet went to the synagogue to worship God. Other Gentiles were proselytes and were circumcised and ate kosher and followed rituals prescribed by the Hebrew Scriptures.

As a result of the growing number of God-fearers, a division between Jew and Gentile began to grow. One group of Jews wanted to mandate circumcision and kosher eating so they brought the issue to the elders and apostles.

Peter addresses the gathering with the story of how God had given the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles just as He had done for the Jews and that God did not discriminate between Jew and Gentile, because He gave them both faith. Peter then challenged the group to not test God because God had already made it clear that He gave the Holy Spirit and faith to gentiles just as He had for Jews. Peter concludes by saying that it’s no longer Jew and Gentile. It’s that both are now coming to faith in Jesus and are united by God’s grace for both.

We are only saved through Grace Alone! Not by how religious we are or because we’ve obeyed the commandments, or been good.... We are saved by grace and grace alone.

The Cause of our salvation is that Jesus died for us. The Cause of our salvation is the grace of God in Christ (who reached in when we were God’s enemies). It’s all about grace through faith in Christ.

The Result is we change - we grow and mature. Salvation is not earned, it’s something we receive and it has a powerful impact in our lives. Growing and maturing are not the Cause of our salvation, they are the Result of it.

When Peter had finished, James, Jesus’ half brother, spoke and he said it was his judgement that they shouldn’t make it difficult for gentiles coming to faith. James ends the gathering with encouragement to both Jew and Gentile to not stand in the way of what God was doing and not to offend each other by how each lived.

Through the forthright words of Peter supported by James and through the power of the Holy Spirit, the division dissipated.

This story has clear directives for us today with new believers, different cultures and those converted from other faiths.

It teaches us that: 1. We are Saved by grace alone, so we will not make requirements of others that Jesus did not make. We are not to judge. 2. We are Saved by grace alone, so we will gladly restrict our freedom for the sake of others, so as not to offend.

Grace alone motivates us to receive others the way God does, with His love and mercy because all of us have been saved by the grace of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Jesus is the key to knowing the Father. Many religions acknowledge God the Father but do not acknowledge God the Son and because they don’t know the Son, they truly don’t/can’t know the Father. It is through Jesus that we come into relationship with the Father. Only knowing about the Father is just that, it's knowing ABOUT Him. When we receive Jesus into our hearts and what He did for us (death on the cross, victory over the grave, returning for us) when we receive Jesus, it takes us from knowing about the Father to KNOWING Him. That’s when we finally step into relationship with the Father because it’s then that we understand the Father’s true character - one of grace and mercy and love. We see who the Father truly is when we know Jesus.

John 14:7 - Jesus said, “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.”

Scripture for the message: Acts 15:1-21

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This teaching is on Acts 14:8-22, “Incident in Lystra,” and is an account on idol worshipers. We are living in a time of great idolatry and how do we as followers of Jesus respond, react, and live?

In today’s story, Paul is teaching about Jesus in the town square of Lystra and sees a man lame from birth, but Paul also sees the man has great faith and Paul says, “Stand Up and Walk” and the man is healed.

While this story is nearly 2,000 years old, God has not changed and God still moves in remarkable ways. So let’s take note of the following OBSERVATIONS FROM THE STORY:

1. The Power of the Messiah - the power of faith in Jesus. We see the testimony that All Authority has been given to Jesus the Messiah and in His name this man was healed and God still heals today. 2. Inherently Religious Nature - human beings are inherently religious, longing for a power higher than themselves, a need. People find something to worship in their lives because we need purpose. We look for meaning for our lives in someone, something or in ourselves - a need to find something for our focus. 3. Created to Worship - We long for things greater than ourselves or things that matter most in our lives. People worship many deities today - we think we’ve outgrown idols, but we worship what those very idols of old represented: power, money, sports, sex, politics, living for things. How does a follower of Jesus respond to these, how do we deal with the pull of idolatry? Do we turn away? Engage? Do we demonstrate by our actions and words the power of God in our lives and do we worship Him alone? 4. Living God is Creator - at this time in history there is more evidence for the existence of our Creator than ever and that evidence points to the existence of God! Do we point people to the Living God, our Creator, and help them see we are created? This is a springboard to sharing the message of Jesus Christ. Without Jesus people are lost forever. 5. Gospel Proclamation - Paul was stoned and left for dead. He left Lystra and headed to Derba. However, he returned to Lystra to share the good news of Jesus because he had a passion to share Jesus and had compassion for the lost to know Jesus as their Savior. 6. Reality of Hardship - Paul and Barnabus knew there would be difficult times, but they held to the truth of God’s assurance that He will take even the difficult times and turn them around for His glory and our good. It can be hard to be a follower of Jesus, but it is worth it.

And this Lystra story continues in a later chapter of Acts... In Chapter 16 we meet Timothy - a man Paul meets on his return trip to Lystra. God uses, to His glory, all that Paul suffered in Lystra the first time, as we see Paul become a spiritual father to Timothy. We learn more about Timothy later in Acts.

Today, many are blinded by idolatry and have lost sight of the Living God (who delivers us through Jesus His Son) so it’s important for us to practice what we learn from early missionaries as we share Jesus and honor, worship and serve the Living God.

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Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25, Micah 6:8

Being in the Scripture is a great place to be because God DOES speak in His Word, both 2,000 years ago and today!  

Today’s text from the Bible is a powerful Word, a life-changing Word…

Matthew tells the Christmas story from the vantage point of Joseph, who after finding out about Mary being pregnant decided to divorce her quietly, but…

Joseph receives a visit by an angel in a dream and the angel tells him that he is not to divorce Mary, that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit, and that he is to name the child Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.  Following the dream, Joseph stays engaged to Mary, doesn’t consummate the marriage until after Jesus’ birth, and he names the baby, Jesus.

A virgin birth is implausible if there is no god. But there IS a god!  He is the God who reveals Himself in the Scripture and through His Holy Spirit and like in today’s reading, through angelic beings.

What prophets predicted, is fulfilled in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth. 

Immanuel: God with us.  Fully human: suffers as our substitute for our sin Fully God: eternal redemption by His blood

Apart from Christ our lives hold no hope. No matter how good we are it’s not good enough. We cannot save ourselves for we have all sinned and we need the Perfect One to save us. Apart from Jesus - nice guys finish last. With Jesus there is life, forgiveness, peace, strength, joy, hope and the assurance we will live forever with Him.

Today’s Bible story still speaks powerfully to us today. God revealed the identity of Jesus to Joseph - and for us God is still speaking and revealing His identity to each of us through Joseph’s story.

In Joseph we see an example of what a godly person ought to be:     ⁃    Our faith is based on the truth that God has revealed to us in His Word     ⁃    Our faith is more than head knowledge     ⁃    Our faith informs our behavior

Joseph’s example:     ⁃    Faithful to God’s Word and wanted to live for God. He knew God is to be trusted, honored and obeyed.     ⁃    Merciful in a culture that looked at Mary’s pregnancy as a disgrace, that recommended a public divorce, Joseph did not want to humiliate Mary.     ⁃    Obedient to what God revealed in his dream and also obedient to the Word in the Bible of “the virgin will conceive and bare a son” and so he took her as his wife.     ⁃    Courageous individual who put family first and God over all. An individual who did what God told him to do despite pushback and persecution.  He understood that it is more important to follow God than to worry about public opinion.

Joseph wasn’t saved because he was a good man. He was a good man because He was saved.

So we too are encouraged to live lives as a response to the incredible gift of the grace and goodness of God in Christ.

Micah 6:8 says: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

May we exhibit that kind of a life-style in response to the revelation of who our Lord Jesus Christ is.

Lord Jesus help us live courageous lives for You!

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“Rescuer,” based on Mark 5:21-43, shares two powerful and encouraging stories of Jesus rescuing people. Even today He is still rescuing us, because as Truth #31 says: Jesus is our Rescuer! He rescues all of us who trust and believe in Him and His victory over sin, death and the devil.