Awake Us Now

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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As pastor takes a look at the word "Christian," its definition, what it means for us and for the world today, we will see a blueprint God has laid out for believers not just in Antioch long ago but also for us today!

The word "Christian" came about from non-believers in the city of Antioch. As persecution caused the Jewish believers in Jerusalem to seek other cities in which to live, many chose to move to Antioch. It was a welcoming city without persecution and the message of Jesus exploded. It was then that Barnabus was sent to encourage these new believers.

Barnabus, led by the Holy Spirit, taught these new believers to HOLD FAST to... 1. God's grace - Barnabus shared the truth of what Jesus did on the cross. In our crazy world it's important for us to hold fast to God's grace too, and not allow the enemy to confuse us.

2. Solid instruction - Barnabus and Paul worked to impress the truths of the God onto the hearts of believers, instructing them on how to apply God's truths in their lives and in their hearts. They encouraged them to continue to mature in their faith and to live God-pleasing lives. In our culture, applying God's truths is becoming increasingly confused and corrupt, so it is vital that believers today understand what God desires and what He says, not what is culturally acceptable. Solid instruction and time in the Bible are key.

3. Christian = Disciple - It was here in Antioch that the word "Christian" was first used. It was used by non believers to describe those who wouldn't stop talking about Jesus. The literal translation is "Christ-ers." Christian only appears 3 times in the Bible but Disciple, Jesus' favorite word for His followers, is mentioned over 200 times in the New Testament. "Followers of The Way (Jesus)" were referred to as Christians - Disciples. Being Jesus' disciple is what God still desires today. He does not want people to simply believe He exists - He wants individuals who willingly follow Him, know the Father, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, walk faithfully, and to seek to demonstrate what Jesus taught.

4. Prophetic gifts - God also desires that we use the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of strengthening and encouraging and comforting others. God desires that we earnestly desire the gifts of the Holy Spirit that enable us to carry out the His work.

5. Holy Spirit - The Spirit of God gives insight to what the Lord desires - and the Holy Spirit helps us follow where God leads.

What started in Jerusalem with Jews coming to know Jesus as their Messiah, spread to Antioch when persecution moved the "Followers of the Way" to this city. From there, Antioch became the hub of evangelism to the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. These believers relied on the Spirit of God and we too are to rely on the Holy Sprit, like them, to bring us:

Understanding Conviction Comfort Guidance Insight Direction And to lead us to faith to win the world for Christ.

The Hold Fast Antioch blueprint of Barnabus and Paul is still the blueprint God desires for us to use today. He says for us to Hold Fast to these truths:

That we live in the Grace found at the cross. That we soak up solid instruction so that we might be filled with an understanding of God's will and His word. That as Disciples we talk about Jesus all the time and live for Jesus and follow Jesus. That we seek God's prophetic gifts so that we are able to share what God is revealing to the world. That we keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Scripture: Acts 11:19-26 and Acts 13:1-3

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Scripture: Acts 12, John 14:27, 1 Peter 5:7, 1 Peter 5:10, 2 Peter 1:11

Even in darkness and apparent defeat, Scripture assures us of this truth: We win because God wins, and He will bring that victory to its final fulfillment on the day our Lord Jesus returns.

This teaching is taken from Acts 12. It is a story of Peter being set free from prison chains by an angel, but also set free from the destructive thoughts and emotions and feelings that can rise up inside us during challenging times. Peter shows us how to hold on tight to what we know about God and let Him carry us through difficult times.

In uncertain and challenging times, this story teaches us that, like Peter, we are: 1. Set Free from fear - Peter was at peace, sleeping between two guards, not fearing the imminent death sentence awaiting him, when the angel came to rescue him. John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." 2. Set Free from worry - Peter knew the Lord cared for him. Peter knew the Lord was at work in his life and that God had a plan and that plan is that God will win in the end! Peter did as the verse says, "Cast all your anxieties on God because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 We can rest in God's arms - at peace - because Jesus is our Victor! 3. Set Free from despair - Peter was at peace, not wringing his hands in despair or saying how can this be happening to me… Peter understood that God is in control and that God would give him everything needed to get through the trial. 1 Peter 5:10 "And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 4. Set Free from death, both the fear of death and the finality of death. We are, like Peter, to face our days with confidence and assurance. Heaven/life forever with God is a promise through our faith in His Son Jesus Christ. God setting Peter free still speaks to us today - Our God sets us free, too!

Cling to the Lord Jesus for dear life!

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This teaching is taken from the Acts 10, the story of Peter and Cornelius the Centurion. Both Peter and Cornelius experienced divine encounters through visions. Cornelius sees an angel with a message, Cornelius obeys and has Peter brought to his home.

Peter receives a vision in which God gives Peter eyes to see beyond his cultural rules of clean and unclean. Peter was a prisoner of his culture until God gave him a vision of truth and that breakthrough brings Peter to a Gentile's home, Cornelius' home, and Peter, going against the culture, obeys God and enters the house of a Gentile. Barriers were broken as Peter allowed God to broke into his heart. Peter understood that God wants ALL people to know and believe in Him.

Peter shares the gospel story with Cornelius and the people gathered to listen. Before Peter was even finished sharing, the Holy Spirit descended onto the group, just like what had happened to the disciples on Pentecost.

The ministry to the non-Jewish world takes off because God has intervened and God has directed it! God uses Peter (the apostle to the Jewish people) to bring the Gospel message to Cornelius and opens up the message of Jesus the Messiah to the Gentile world!

This story still speaks to us today: 1. Culture or Scripture - am I following my culture or am I following the Scripture? 2. Self or Spirit - will we go with our own plans or will we heed the Spirit of God? 3. Home or World - am I concerned about my own little group, the people I'm comfortable with or will I let God use me to reach all? 4. Works or Gospel - It's not about how good I am, it's about how good God is!

Remember: It's about CHRIST ALONE!

It's easy to mirror your culture, rather than reflect the teaching of the Living God. God calls us to be faithful and obedient, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and thus reflecting the very teachings of Christ.

Scripture Romans 12:2; Acts 10

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Pastor starts with a deeper exploration of John 16:13 "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears and he will tell you what is yet to come."

People have used this verse to argue that the word Spirit is not about a personal being but about an impersonal force because in the original Greek text "spirit" (pneuma) is a neuter noun. Yes, this is true, and so they determine that neuter means the Holy Spirit is an IT.

Yet the verse goes on by saying, "…He will guide you…, He will speak…. He will tell you…" The original greek text for He is a masculine pronoun (ekeinos). The Holy Spirit is a HE! We must pay attention to this! God is speaking very intentionally here!! The author of scripture is the Holy Spirit and the Spirit is making sure we understand HE IS personal because He's a person not an it. He desires to be a part of our lives. He's not a force imposed upon us.

The Spirit is the very presence of the Living God and desires that we come to know Him more and more and He reveals Jesus Christ to us.

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Today's teaching show us the significance of the Conversion of Paul. Not only is it a remarkable event, it brings forward remarkable truths. New archeological discoveries of Paul's tomb help emphasize these verses are not just a story. This is an actual account of an actual event, that happened to an actual person, and it changed the world!

This account of Paul's conversion calls us to a deep relationship with God and demonstrates how God desires to be at work in our lives not just back then, but today in the 21st century as well. God took Paul from being a bulldog for the enemy's use against those following The Way, Jesus, but Jesus turned Paul into one of His sheep in His flock for His use in sharing the Gospel. God used Paul's testimony of Jesus changing his life to reach into the hearts of the people of his day and that testimony is still reaching all the way into our hearts today. Paul's story testifies to the heart of God to be in relationship with each one us no matter who we are or what we've done. God's arms are open to us all.

Come along with us today as we explore Paul's testimony and allow it to open our hearts to what God wants to do in our own hearts and lives.

Scripture text: Acts 8:1-20

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Today's teaching shows us what happens when we follow where God leads and when we share the Good News of our Savior Jesus. Philip used "Isaiah's Prophecy" to teach the man in today's story, all about Jesus. Scripture text: Acts 8:26-40, Isaiah 52:13-52:12 awakeusnow.com

A study on how God uses opposition, and how to handle it. Pastor teaches us to deal with opposition through the applied truths found in the Bible. These words of God will encourage, build up, and carry us through our times of opposition!

A study of the story of Stephen, a man who understood the truth of Jesus and experienced the consequences of speaking the wisdom the Holy Spirit gave him. God is calling us today to have the faith of Stephen, to follow the Lord Jesus, to be faithful, to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, and to speak God's truth in love.