Awake Us Now

Titled "Stone Boxes," this is a sermon probably unlike any you've ever heard! What are the stone boxes Pastor is going to talk about? Clue: these boxes are ancient. And what do these old stone boxes have to say to us today? What parallels can be found between Then and Now? Pastor shares a new truth: Truth #16 - It is dangerous to ignore clear evidence!

The Gospel of John Week 3 Scripture: John 1:19-51, Malachi 4:5-6, Psalm 105, Daniel 7:13-14.

Today we take a look at John the Baptist, his questioning by religious authorities, the Baptism of Jesus, and meet some of His first followers.

As Pastor begins today's class we learn about who John the Baptist was and Pastor shares personal photos he has taken in the location where John lived and preached.

John the Baptist is the one who God foretold through Malachi the prophet: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction." Malachi 4:5-6 John even dressed like Elijah: leather belt, animal skin clothing, ate locust and wild honey, lived in the wilderness. John the Baptist was totally devoted to preparing the way for the Messiah. John 1:23 tells us, "John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" He knew Messiah was coming!

Pastor lays out a map of the area around the Jordan River, Dead Sea and Bethany where John lived and preached and offered baptism - a cleansing done in anticipation of meeting God - a ritual washing in Judaism that signified a cleaning off of ones sins - repentance. John 1:29-31, "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

John the Baptist preaches that the Messiah is coming. And He calls Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. John the Baptist understands who Jesus is and in verses 32-34 - we read his testimony: "Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One.""

As we explore Jesus' baptism - the question is why was Jesus baptized? Let's start with why were people receiving John's baptisms - because they realized they were sinners and needed to repent and the baptism represented the washing off of sin. But Jesus is sinless - why doe He get baptized - because it symbolized His willingness to take on all the sins that had been washed into the river. He goes into the water implying He is willing to take all of our sins onto Himself. And that's where the road to the cross begins.

In John the Baptist's testimony says that the Spirit come down and remained on Jesus and He is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Jesus is the One who will bring the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Pastor shares an overview of the difference between the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and the Holy Spirit in the New Testament and shows us that we are in the Age of the Spirit. Pastor also shares encouragement for the American church to find its way back to acknowledging the Spirit of God that has been poured out.

As our story continues we see Jesus begin to gather the group that would become His disciples. We meet Andrew, Peter and Nathaniel. Pastor gives some interesting insights to these men.

Pastor summarizes this first chapter of the Gospel of John: Jesus is the Word made flesh, who dwelt among us, who is the very glory of the Heavenly Father and who is God come to earth.

Join us next week for chapter 2 as we continue to learn about Jesus' identity, about Judaism, about who Jesus the Messiah is, what He is doing and what that all means. We will look at His first miracle - one that many think is trivial - but as we will learn - it is NOT!

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

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⁃ 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!

Revelation 10:1 - 11:2 -- The angel with the Little Scroll; 1260 days and interpretations; John given a reed to measure the Temple, the Altar, and the worshippers; Old Testament parallels. What does The Book of Revelation say about the future? How does it address the events of today? So many different interpretations — which is the correct one? Is this book scary? — or — Is this book an incredible comfort? Join us as we explore this controversial book together. https://www.awakeusnow.com

Revelation 9:7-21 -- 5th and 6th trumpets sounded; Key to the abyss & "the Destroyer" (Abaddon/Apollyon) ; Four angels bound at the Euphrates are released; God wants to call people back to Him. What does The Book of Revelation say about the future? How does it address the events of today? So many different interpretations — which is the correct one? Is this book scary? — or — Is this book an incredible comfort? Join us as we explore this controversial book together. https://www.awakeusnow.com

Revelation 8:8 - 9:6 -- The 7 trumpets; 2nd, 3rd. 4th, and 5th Angels sound trumpets; Woes and judgments on the earth; Angelic message to the faithful: Al Tirah (Fear Not). Q&A session. What does The Book of Revelation say about the future? How does it address the events of today? So many different interpretations — which is the correct one? Is this book scary? — or — Is this book an incredible comfort? Join us as we explore this controversial book together. https://www.awakeusnow.com

Revelation 8:1-7 -- The 7th Seal opened, silence in Heaven; 7 angles & 7 trumpets; What is God's purpose in this section? Interpretations; The golden incense censer, connections with Old Testament & the Temple; The 1st trumpet is sounded. What does The Book of Revelation say about the future? How does it address the events of today? So many different interpretations — which is the correct one? Is this book scary? — or — Is this book an incredible comfort? Join us as we explore this controversial book together. https://www.awakeusnow.com

Revelation 7:13 - 8:1 -- The Great Tribulation - varying theories; The Rapture - differing interpretations; Silence in heaven after Seventh Seal opened. What does The Book of Revelation say about the future? How does it address the events of today? So many different interpretations — which is the correct one? Is this book scary? — or — Is this book an incredible comfort? Join us as we explore this controversial book together. https://www.awakeusnow.com

Rescued by Truth Week 28, "Stumbling Stones," has profound significance for today. This message is based on 1 Corinthians 10:11, words that call us to learn important lessons from what happened in the past. The stones are crying out to us and speaking boldly to our confused, mixed-up and deceived times. The stones teach us important life lessons.

The Gospel of John Week 2 Scripture: John 1:1-18, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Psalm 33;6, Psalm 107:20, Isaiah 55:11, Exodus 40:34, Exodus 33:18.

An Overview of the Gospel of John ⁃ Prologue 1:1-18 ⁃ Jesus' ministry 1:19 - 11:57 ⁃ Passion of Christ and resurrection 12:1 - 21:25

Important terms in the Gospel of John (# = number of times it is used in the Gospel of John: ⁃ Life: 36 ⁃ Light: 23 ⁃ Witness: 47 ⁃ Believe: 98 ⁃ World: 78 ⁃ Truth: 56 ⁃ Glory: 42 ⁃ Father: 136 Several of these key words above appear in the prologue.

Prologue (1:1-18) The prologue begins John 1:1 "In the beginning" which is just how Genesis 1:1 starts "In the beginning." In Genesis those words introduce creation. In John those words introduce the new creation - God is doing a new things. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Everything that the Father said through the prophets from the beginning, and what was spoken since the beginning is coming to its fullness and fulfillment in Jesus the Messiah.

John 1:1 - "In the beginning was the word." The following verses help us understand more about The Word. We read in Psalm 33:6 that "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth." God's WORD is living and active! Psalm 107:20 tells us that the Word rescues from the grave, just as Jesus rescues us from the grave. - "He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave." And then in Isaiah 55:11 we read "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." God's word accomplishes His plans and purposes. Just as Jesus accomplishes the fulfillment of God's promises and plans and purposes.

Everything was created by the Word of Jesus Christ. The Word holds everything together. And Jesus - The Word - was there at the beginning!

John 1:1-3 tells us that the Living God loved us so much that he was willing in a way beyond our ability to understand, willing to become one of us, a real human being but also truly and fully God. He gave Himself up for us all and that's the way this gospel begins and that's powerful!

John 1:4-5 reminds us of Genesis 1 where we read that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…. And He said let there be light. And in John we read, "In Him was life and that life was the Light of the World!"

Those who receive Jesus as Messiah become the children of God - adopted by the Creator of the Universe!

Right from the opening of this powerful and amazing book we see who Jesus is - He is the Living God. - He is the Messiah - He is The Word - He is the fulfillment of every promise of God.

John 1:6-14 - Pastor talks about John the Baptist who bares witness to Jesus the Messiah as the Light and shares pictures of the Jordan River at the town of Bethany - the traditional site of Jesus' baptism.

The Gospel of John is uniquely crafted by the Spirit of God to bear witness to Jesus and to lead people to faith. It's an easy read but filled with depth!

John shares that Jesus wasn't who was expected and that the people didn't recognize Him as the Messiah. Jesus came in flesh to dwell (tabernacle) among us as God did with Moses - Exodus 40:34. Side note Jesus is referred to as Emmanuel in the Old Testament and that means God with us! And He is!

John 1:15-18 Law came through Moses - Grace and truth come through Jesus Christ and Jesus is the fulfillment of everything God promised in the Torah.

Jesus is not simply a great teacher or merely a worker of miracles, He is the One who is the Only begotten God.

In the prologue we see who Jesus is and starting next week we will see what this means and how this works! Join us!

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!

Revelation 7:1-14 -- The seal of God on His servants; The 144,000; The 12 tribes as listed in Revelation; The multitude in white robes, come out of the great tribulation. What does The Book of Revelation say about the future? How does it address the events of today? So many different interpretations — which is the correct one? Is this book scary? — or — Is this book an incredible comfort? Join us as we explore this controversial book together. https://www.awakeusnow.com