Awake Us Now

Scripture: Exodus 20:16, Proverbs 19:5, John 8:44, Ephesians 4:25, Ephesians 4:15, Proverbs 26:20, Romans 1:28ff, Philippians 2:5, John 8:31-32

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. Exodus 20:16

The Bible tells us that there is One who is only truth. One who is total and absolute in His Truthfulness and that is our Living God.

God values truth and judges lies. Proverbs 19:5 "A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free."

Pastor shares two examples from scripture. 1. From the Old Testament in 1 Kings 21 about Naboth 2. From the New Testament in Acts 6-7 about Stephen These stories encourage us to take seriously the importance of truth.

Lying is an issue in our culture today. Lying is seen in some of the highest places and some of the most common parts of our daily lives.

What does it mean "you shall not give false testimony" ⁃ REJECT THE LIE - Recognize where lies come from. John 8:44 "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." Lies come from the enemy - He's a liar and his lies are destructive to our culture and to ourselves. We are to turn our backs on the father of lies. ⁃ SPEAK THE TRUTH - we are to speak only truth. Ephesians 4:25 "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body." God only speaks truths and we are to speak truthfully, too. ⁃ SPEAK TRUTH IN LOVE - do not be spiritually haughty - that attitude tears people down. We are to speak what is best for people who we know Jesus died for. (Because he died for ALL) We are not to lie in order to seek to get even, or to lie in order to hurt others or to lie to make ourselves look good. Ephesians 4:15 " Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." Our words are to give glory to God and blessing to others. ⁃ RENOUNCE GOSSIP - Gossip destroys reputations, it destroys relationship with God. Proverbs 26:20 "Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down." God detests gossiping - so live like children of God. ⁃ BE CHRIST-LIKE - have the mind of Christ. Philippians 2:5 "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus"

Jesus is Truth and Truth sets us FREE! John 8:31-32 "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" God's truth changes us, changes families, changes communities and changes countries,

God is calling us to embrace the truth and to live the truth. He is The Way, The Truth and The Life. (John 14:6). And we are to reflect His goodness in this darkened world.

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out the video from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/ten-words

Check out the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Scripture: Exodus 20:15, Joshua 6-7, James 1:17, Ephesians 4:28, Leviticus 9:13, 1 Timothy 6:17-18, 1 Peter 2:12, Philippians 2:4, Philippians 3:20, Ephesians 2:8-10

This command is simple words, but words with great depth.

What does "stealing" cover? It's the taking of what's not ours. Pastor shares a biblical demonstration from the story of the Israelites of the consequences of taking what is not ours and what the Lord has said not to take. There are consequences to disobeying God's clear will and He has established moral law that's be given to us for a purpose - It's for the protection of society and for everyone.

You Shall Not Steal ⁃ Ownership - there is personal ownership but this is not absolute ownership, because everything we have comes from God. God is the giver of all good gifts. ⁃ Stewardship - take care of what we have - use wisely what God has given us, and bless others with what we have. ⁃ Citizenship - Be a good citizen - we are part of a culture and called to be a blessing. The way we behave: integrity and honor can be seen by others and can bring them to knowing Jesus and the way we behave brings glory to God. We are called to look out for not only our own interests but also those of others. Our citizenship is in heaven and so we live that way. Citizens of this world but above all we are citizens of heaven through Jesus and what He has done for us and THAT calls us to live like we know that!

TWIN DANGERS ⁃ Legalism - thinking we've done so much better than others. Legalism destroys faith, destroys relationship with God and becomes the worship of self rather than worship of God. ⁃ Antinomianism - is the thinking that since Jesus died for me and paid for my sins, I can do whatever I like. That is not true and is a complete misunderstanding of what the Bible says. It doesn't say sin doesn't matter! Jesus DID die, DID pay for our sins, DID rise from the grave, IS returning AND BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT - we don't want to do what we please. We want to do what pleases Him!

When God gave the Ten Commandments - He did not say, "Do these (Ten Commandments) to be save." He began these commands by saying, "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of bondage. I am the One who saves you. THEREFORE - now live this way: The Ten Commandments."

Ephesians 2:8-10: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

So by faith we give thanks for Jesus and we desire to live lives that give God glory and bless others.

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out the video from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/ten-words

Check out the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Pastor Dodge shares an archeological discovery uncovered from the 1980's that dates back to the early first century. This discovery draws our attention to the Bible's account of "Jesus Calms the Storm" found in Mark 4:35-41 and speaks to truth #18: "The Lord is near, even in the storm." The 1st Century fishing boat uncovered on the shores of Galilee in 1986 helps us understand the boat in which Jesus fell asleep during a storm (Mark 4:35-41). This story points to this Truth: The Lord is near, even in the storm. The disciples, seeing the wind and raging waves fall still at Jesus' command, were terrified and asked themselves, "Who is this?" The rest of Scripture gives the answer: He is God, and we can turn to Him when the inevitable storms of life overwhelm us.

The Gospel of John Week 7 Scripture: John 4:31-5:29.

Our study this week begins with a look at people beginning to realize that the Jewish Messiah has come, but He has come to be the Savior of all - not just the Jewish people, but ALL people!

Jesus has been in Samaria and now returns to Cana where a high official in the government seeks Jesus out to heal his son who is dying. Jesus heals the man's son and the official and his whole family came to faith in Jesus. Pastor talks about the feasts mentioned in the Gospel of John and how each finds its fulfillment in Jesus. The feast mentioned in John 5:1-3 doesn't specifically mention which feast event is going on at this particular time, but Pastor speculates that it could be the Feast of Trumpets - Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year - a time when the Jewish people are focused on this feast's call to repentance.

As we continue we see Jesus is at the Pool of Bethesda that had 5 colonnades. Pastor talks about the discovery of this pool in 1890 and shares some photos of his from a visit there in recent years. He also shares additional discoveries and info that are quite interesting regarding deeper insights into the use of this pool and by whom.

As Jesus approached the pool, hundreds of people may well have been at the pool. Jesus says to an invalid of 38 years "Do you want to get well?" There were many there but Jesus chooses to speak to just one person. Jesus, on this Sabbath Day, tells the man to get up and walk and the man walks away carrying his mat.

The religious leaders had added many additional specific regulations to God's Sabbath Day - rest day. They had added 39 additional man made rules and the 39th rule was that carrying a piece of property from 1 location to another location was not allowed and what this man just did in carrying his mat broke their Sabbath regulations.

Jesus had deliberately provoked the religious establishment's petty laws saying in effect "How dare you substitute the goodness of God with your own petty regulations and rules." And the religious leaders become incensed when they hear it was Jesus that healed him and so now they are after Jesus and they begin to persecute Him and desire to kill Him. Not only had Jesus broken their religious man-made rules by doing the work of healing this man on a Sabbath, but also because Jesus called God His own Father making Himself equal with God. Jesus claimed deity - Jesus is the Living God come to earth!! Yet they desired to reject this truth!

Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com

Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper

Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01

⁃ The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. ⁃ The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible. Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most "Gentile/Greek" of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before.

Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Scripture: Exodus 20:14; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Mark 10:6-9; Hebrews 13:4; Acts 17:30-31

The Ten Words are the equivalent of an Owner's Manual - showing us how to live a life that makes a difference for ourselves and everyone. And so let's wrestle with the question, "Does our Heavenly Father know what's best for each of us," especially in light of today's Word in Exodus 20:14. "You shall not commit adultery."

From the beginning God was concerned that the family be protected and that marriages be preserved.

Marriage - God's First Institution ⁃ One man and one woman ⁃ For a lifetime ⁃ Become one flesh - intimacy ⁃ For family ⁃ It was "very good" ⁃ Especially under attack today

God's plan is and was good, but the consequences of losing, breaking, ignoring and destroying what the Father intended are huge.

What is the biblical teaching on marriage and what does it tell us today:

Biblical Basics for marriage, sex, family and relationship: 1. Flee sexual temptation and sin. 1 Corinthians 6:18 "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body." 2. Honor and protect marriage. Mark 10:6-9 "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." 3. Reserve sex for marriage alone. Hebrews 13:4 "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."

Back to our original question: "Does our Heavenly Father know best?" Yes… He does….. And so, when we find WE'VE WANDERED from the Creator's will - HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THAT?

1. Listen - to our Father Creator 2. Repent - have a change of mind 3. Repent - change your direction. Acts 17:30-31 "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." Jesus Christ, cares in spite of what we've done. He paid for our rebellion and sins and offers us life, forgiveness and hope through repentance. 4. Trust - Jesus Christ - The Risen One. We can trust the One who stretched out His arms to die for us, who is risen from the grave and who is returning. 5. Follow God's Word and God's Spirit.

Our God gave us the Owner's Manual. He also gave us the Deliverer, Jesus. And in Him we find, hope, forgiveness and power to live a new life freed of bondage to the past.

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out the video from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/ten-words

Check out the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Scripture: Exodus 20:13, Genesis 4, 2 Samuel 11-12, Genesis 9:6, Matthew 5:21-22, 1 John 3:15

Exodus 20:13 "You shall not murder."

Many believe they have not broken this commandment - but what we will discover is that we have all broken it. This will be a message that will offend many and we will see our incredible need for a Savior. We will also recognize He is giving us direction for our daily lives.

The Ten Commandments were given as a Curb Mirror Guide

There are so many stories of murder in the Bible: Cain and Abel - Genesis 4, David and Uriah - 2 Samuel 11-12. In Genesis 9:6 we see that God considers life to be sacred, precious: "Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind."

Murder is a violation of the very heart of the Living God.

Jesus defines murder in greater detail in Matthew 5:21-22 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment."

We are guilty of sinning against this commandment with our hearts and minds - one we thought we were exempt from. Anger, resentment and hatred - destroy us from within. "All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them." 1 John 3:15.

God calls us to be slow to anger, quick to forgive and to take seriously the heart of this commandment. Not just our outward actions but our inner thoughts. This command shows us our inner need for a Savior and calls us to Christ, showing we all need a Divine Deliverer.

What more is in this command?

Specific Issues: PUNISHMENT and WARFARE - Government: death penalty, wars: Romans 13:4 gives authority to government to carry these out. SUICIDE - affects the individual, their families and even communities. We are not to take our own lives. Many think of this is the unforgivable sin - yet the Bible does not say that. ABORTION - See Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:16 and Luke 1:41-44 where we see that Scriptures do not distinguish between the unborn and born.

Responding to this command - do we accept a world view?

Here's a common saying today: "If you are against abortion, don't do it. But don't impose your views on others." With a closer look - try substituting different words in place of "abortion" such as: murder or slavery or sex trafficking. How does that change your view?

Response ⁃ Realize: I may have accepted a worldview that is contrary to God's ⁃ Repent: ask Him for forgiveness ⁃ Receive: forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ. ⁃ Rely: on His Word which is true, on His Holy Spirit who guides and directs and gives revelation and understanding.

It is painful to admit our sin, but glorious to receive what God offers: forgiveness and life in Christ.

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out the video from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/ten-words

Check out the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Scripture: Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1-3, Lue 2:51, 1 John 3:1, Matthew 11:28-30

Do the ten commandments feel like just a negative list of "thou shalt nots?" Or like God's trying to take away your fun, or trying to limit your enjoyment of life, trying to make you feel guilty?

Well, nothing is further from the truth. God is good and He is gracious! Today's commandment doesn't have a "shall not," but it does have a promise: Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."

As it comes with a promise, God considers this an important command. Family is of primary significant importance. We even see that when the Living God took on flesh as Jesus, He came to a family. And we see Jesus obeying this command in Luke 2:51 "Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart." Even the incarnate son of God was obedient to His parents. Clearly it's important to our Creator but also important to our culture.

The Family Is God's Design Application: ⁃ Authority - by God's authority He tells us to honor our parents. Mom and Dad are His representatives on earth to nurture and raise their children. ⁃ Act Honorably - Kids are told to honor parents but parents are told they are to act honorably, too, in a way that gives God glory, sharing faith with their kids, giving godly love and discipline and modeling honoring God. ⁃ Honor Them - we honor our parents no matter how old we are - that doesn't end when we leave home, we are to honor them always - even as they age.

We live in a day and age where families are falling apart - where people are trying to re-design the family -

When families disintegrate so does the culture. What do we do to deal with dysfunctional families and homes? We go to God's Word - the Bible - a book filled with dysfunctional families. One example we can learn from is the story of Joseph. His father had 4 wives, siblings had anger issues, there were rivalries, bitterness, jealousy and hatred between siblings. But what we learn is that Joseph broke the chain! He had 1 wife and raised a godly family.

There is hope for every situation in life because our God is a God who redeems the parental wounds of neglect, absence, abuse and withholding of nurturing.

Restoration is available: ⁃ It is God the Father's heart to love - 1 John 3:1 "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" By faith in Jesus we are the Father's children. In Him is healing - in Him life is renewed. ⁃ Jesus' invitation - No guilt - what is offered is an invite to hope. Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." His invite is to come to Him - the one who forgives, gives strength, gives healing and gives hope. There is no limit to what God does. No limit to his grace. ⁃ Forgive and Release - the Bible gives a path to restoration and reconciliation in Colossians 3:13 we read, "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." One of the most important steps in healing, particularly from parental wounds, is to forgive. This doesn't mean their behavior is justified - it does mean that just as we have been forgiven by the Lord we forgive those who have hurt or wounded us. Saying, "Lord, I forgive them as You have forgiven me" is an important healing step.

Forgiveness changes everything - and this too is part of this commandment to honor our parents - even if they were bad parents.

Honor makes a huge difference in our lives, the lives of our family members and even into our culture.

Lord may we recognize the goodness of our heavenly Father's heart in this command. May we hear Jesus' invitation to come to Him and may we forgive as we are forgiven.

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out the video from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/ten-words

Check out the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Jeremiah 6:16, Matthew 11:28-30, Mark 2:27-28, Colossians 2:16-17, Romans 14:5, Romans 12:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Colossians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." Exodus 20:8. Is going to church what this commandment is about? Or is there something deeper than simple church attendance? Is this command requesting Compliance with an order without the Comprehension of who God is?

How do we "remember" the Sabbath Day? By worshiping and praising and acknowledging God as our Lord, King and Savior. However, some have a false understanding of worship. In the Old Testament they see worship as attending Saturday Synagogue and in the New Testament they see it as attending Sunday Church.

The Sabbath is all about RESTING - let's take a dig into what resting means and is. Jeremiah 6:16 says, "Stand at the crossroads and look: ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." Rest for one's soul is found in God, in His truth, in who He is, in what He has done. Jesus says the same things in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

True rest is not found in a building - it is found in Him - in a relationship with the Living God.

Digging deeper into the command, "Remember the Sabbath Day." The Resurrection of Jesus was on a Sunday. While many in Jesus' day went daily to the temple to Praise God for what Jesus had accomplished in the resurrection, Sundays became their sabbath and each Sunday was a mini Resurrection Day celebration in honor of Christ's victory of the grave. In Colossians 2:16-17 we read: "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." This verse tells us it's not about worshiping God on a specific day or way. This verse tells us that Jesus is the genuine Sabbath! Rest is found in Christ! He is rest. In Him is rest.

Rest is a precious gift found in Christ. Mark 2:27-28 tells us, "Then Jesus said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.'"

Even though the New Testament day of worship became a Sunday for believers in Jesus, Romans 14:5 tells us that God does not command us to set aside one particular day - though we are free to do that - like we continue today to gather together on Sunday's in memory of Jesus' resurrection. But that doesn't mean we all have to do that - in fact the New Testament doesn't say to worship on any specific day of the week. What we are told is to worship God ALL the time; worshiping Him with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind and worshiping, praising and thanking Him in all situations

Jesus tells us that He is the one who is rest and who brings rest. How do we practice the command to "remember," how do we do what we are called by God to do? Here are some New Testament Essentials:

⁃ We are called to worship - worship is to be a life-style, it's the way we live. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." Romans 12:1 Daily worship is the heart of our lives - relationship with Him brings forth worship. ⁃ We are to be in God's Word - allowing it to transform us - to be made new in Christ. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." We are to allow the Word of God to be part of our lives and to allow His Word to change our lives. ⁃ We are to practice godly Wisdom. Colossians 3:16 "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." We also worship God when we wisely take care of our bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, " Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."

God calls us to rest - Jesus is Rest - Resting in Him is something that is good for our souls, our hearts, our bodies and our minds. We aren't to go through the motions of rest one day a week - that's RITUAL. We are to live in Him and for Him daily - as a RESPONSE to who He is: Our place of rest because He is our gift of salvation.

St. Augustine said it well: "You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in You."

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out the video from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/ten-words

Check out the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Scripture: Exodus 20:7, Exodus 3:14, John 8:58, Matthew 15:8-9, Psalm 40:3, Psalm 50:15, Psalm 145:18, Leviticus 19:31, Romans 10:13, John 17:6, Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:14

Exodus 20:7 "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."

This means we are to understand that God's Name is powerful, God's Name is Holy. This is the only one of God's Ten Words/Commandments with a threat and no promise.

God's Name is a 4 letter tetragrammaton and we aren't even sure how to pronounce His Name because by 200 BC the Jewish people no longer spoke God's Name for fear of misusing it. The Jewish people still today will not speak His name and simply refer to God's Name as "Ha-shem" - "The Name," though others pronounce it in several different ways: Yahweh and Jehovah are a couple.

God takes His Name seriously - it is not a swear word - His Name is the revelation of Himself. In His Name God reveals His identity and character to us. His Name speaks of His goodness, mercy, love and His awesome and profound holiness.

We dare not treat Hm or His Name lightly, In Exodus 3:14 God says to Moses, "I am who I am." Deliver. Guide.

In John 8:58 Jesus says, "Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!" Jesus is the Living God who has taken on human flesh to deliver us all. We are all sinners and sin, deserving the punishment Jesus took for us on the cross.

In John 17:6 Jesus is praying to God the Father saying, "I have revealed You to those whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your word." In these words, Jesus is the revelation of the character and identity of God. If you want to know what the invisible God is like you look at the visible Son of the Living God - The One through whom all things were created. God's character is summed up in His Name. His Name is wonderful, holy and worthy of praise.

What is the misuse of God's Name? 1. By cursing, speaking threats, judgements and swearing. Romans 12:14 tells us that we are to "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." 2. Through the occult - horoscopes, ouija boards, séances, eastern mysticism that open a destructive door in one's life. Leviticus 19:31 tells us "'Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." 3. By deception - professing to be godly but in reality living a double life having a veneer of religion but having lives that deny it. Matthew 15:8-9 says, "'These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.'" We should not use His Name to deceive others or to try to deceive God. We are to use God's Name to give Him honor and to express understanding of His character.

What are some proper uses of God's Name? 1. Receiving Him - Romans 10:13 tells us, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." God offers forgiveness, restoration, redemption, hope, peace and joy to all who repent and call on Him saying, "Lord, have mercy on me a sinner, I receive what You offer to me through Jesus, my Savior." 2. Relying on Him - Psalm 50:15 says, "Call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me." Psalm 145:18 tells us that "The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth." When we go through difficult times we are to call on His Name - to rely on Him - because He is near, He is not distant. 3. Rejoicing in Him - In Psalm 40:3 we read, "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him." We properly use His Name when we use it to give Him honor and praise and thanks. God's Name deserves our praise and rejoicing. As we live a joyful life, especially in a world that is often falling apart - it causes others to be drawn to Him as well! THAT is an excellent way to use His Name - in sharing it with others!

Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out the video from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/ten-words

Check out the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Synagogues were places for community gatherings and reading of the word, which began to spring up following the destruction of the Temple. Galilee, a place Jesus ministered and taught in, had an abundance of synagogues. In the excavations at Capernaum, you can stand above the foundation of the synagogue where Jesus preached in Mark 1:21-27. Yet Capernaum was one of three Galilean towns condemned by Jesus for unbelief in the face of miracles (Matthew 11:20-24). The ruins at Capernaum remind us that Jesus is the only sure foundation of faith and salvation.