Awake Us Now

Scripture: Exodus 34:6-7, Lamentations 3:22-23, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:7-21, 1 Timothy 1;15.

From Genesis to Revelation the steadfast love of God is very evident and His steadfast love is shown in spite of human rebellion. Even when we turn away from Him, He is still there.

In Lamentations the prophet Jeremiah understands the steadfast love of God as He prays, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

The cost of love was a love that was sacrificial, self-giving, a love that caused God, who loves the world and cares about each and everyone of us, to sacrifice His own Son for our rebellion.  

Love is the message of the Cross. 1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

In God’s love we find not only forgiveness, not only hope and peace, but we find an incredible resource for loving as He first loved us.

1 John 4:7-21 shows us genuine love. God is Love. God in His very essence, His very character is love - steadfast love. That love has shown itself in the Lord Jesus Christ and God’s gift of forgiveness and life and hope in Him.

God’s steadfast love is a fingerprint all over the pages of Scripture, all across the centuries, but especially at the cross. And that is the love God wants manifested in each of our lives, that more and more we love like He does.

Nothing speaks more powerfully to those who do not know God, than the unconditional love of someone who does know Him.

A breakdown of 1 John 4:7-21     ⁃    Love for God     ⁃    Love for truth     ⁃    Love for fellow believers     ⁃    Love for enemies

We are not to hesitate to love those who have hurt us, made our lives difficult or who’ve wandered from God. Our heartfelt prayer, and our spirit-guided work is to love them as God does and to woo them back. That is genuine love.

The fingerprint of God’s steadfast love changes lives, restores broken hearts, renews damaged spirits and restores life to the soul. 

We are to know His steadfast love and reflect it because that changes lives, that changes families, that restores communities, that redeems countries and that makes a difference for eternity.

And it begins one person at a time.

Watch the video from our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class

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

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

We invite you to join us for our Sunday service every Sunday at 9:30am CT (live or on demand) here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

The New Testament warns us that persecution is not unexpected, yet reminds us that the Lord remains faithful through it all and He calls us to be faithful to Him even in the face of opposition!

Up To Jerusalem - Teaching 15 Scripture: Mark 14:50-52, John 18:12-24, Matthew 26:57-75, Isaiah 53:7 Luke 22:61, Luke 22:66-23:1.

Nothing about Jesus' last hours was an accident. He was totally prepared and totally committed. He knew full well what was ahead of him. The disciples did not understand what was going to happen to Jesus and about all that He had been telling them was coming until they saw Him as the risen Savior. May we understand the significance of what Jesus did, the power of His life, His death and His resurrection, the power of the Holy Spirit and the power to live a life dedicated to Him.

Today, we pick up the "Up to Jerusalem" study where Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane as soldiers approach Him led by Judas, His betrayer. Peter cuts off the ear of one of the men and Jesus heals it.

We see that as the soldiers arrest and bind Jesus in chains most likely around the neck and ankles, that His disciples flee, leaving Jesus alone. The soldiers take Him first to Annas.

Trial #1 - before Annas - Jesus is questioned, treated cruelly, Peter denies knowing Jesus, and Annas then sends Jesus off to Caiaphus.

Trial #2 - before Caiaphus the High Priest - false witnesses come forward and turn Jesus' words around in a totally different way saying that this guy says he can tear down the temple and build it back up in three days when it has taken us decades to build it! (What Jesus had actually said and meant was, "Destroy this temple (My body) and in three days I will raise it up (predicting His resurrection on the 3rd day)." But Jesus remains silent against the interrogation - a fulfillment of what Isaiah had said 700 years earlier, "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth, He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mount." Isaiah 53:7. Caiaphus finds Jesus "guilty" of blasphemy and Jesus suffered more brutality.

Peter denies Jesus a third time as the rooster crows and in Luke 22:61 we read that as Peter was denying knowing Jesus, Jesus turns His glance to Peter and looked straight at him and causing Peter to remember Jesus telling him that he would deny Him 3 times before the rooster crows. Peter runs outside the courtyard and weeps bitterly for what he has done and who He has denied knowing. (In the coming weeks of this study we will witness the restoration, soon after Jesus' resurrection, of Peter's relationship with Jesus through a loving conversation with Jesus. A reconciliation that shows us the forgiveness and love of our Savior not just for Peter but for each one of us as well.)

Pastor shares recent archeological news of the discovery of an ossuary belonging to Caiaphus along with other "holy speculation" that helps fill in details as our story moves forward.

Trial #3 - Next Jesus is taken from Caiaphus to the Council. The Council asks Jesus if He is the Son of God and Jesus replies, "You say that I am." Thus they accuse Him of blasphemy and send Him to Pontius Pilate where we will resume the story next week.

Pastor ends the teaching saying Jesus really is who He says He is. He is Messiah, the Living God come in human flesh to give His life for us all. Nothing in all of life matters more than knowing Him. "Knowing Him" - that's not religion and church attendance - it means personally knowing who Jesus is, knowing His heart, His love, and internalizing His willingness to suffer and die on the cross for our sins.

This is not just a story — it is the story of God's love for you and me.

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

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

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Up to Jerusalem is a study of the final weeks of Jesus' ministry concluding with His resurrection and ascension, using the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John together with material from ancient sources and recent discoveries. Up to Jerusalem is part five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Up To Jerusalem is the story of the plan of God to redeem the world, and the story of a Savior willing to obey the Father's plan. As we study Jesus' final days, we will be impacted as we discover the Love of God for each one of us.

This study is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:14, 1 Corinthians 1:22-23.

The Fingerprints study today will show us the Lord Jesus risen from the grave, gloriously exalted at the Father’s right hand and returning soon!

Today, we explore the fundamental teaching of the Christian faith and the heart of the Bible: The Resurrection of Jesus.  We will take a look at God’s fingerprints that testify to the risen Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:14 “And if Christ has not been raised, what we preach doesn’t mean anything. Your faith doesn’t mean anything either.”

5 Fingerprints:     ⁃    The Women - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all say Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus. In that culture and in that day they would not have used the eyewitness of a woman to prove a story was true. They would not begin the resurrection story with a woman to first see Jesus risen.     ⁃    The Tomb - all Gospel authors admit the tomb was empty. We see eye witnesses who believed Jesus, but also hostile witnesses, opponents of the faith, who in fact admitted the tomb was empty.     ⁃    The Failure - the failure of Jesus’ friends to look good - when Jesus was arrested, they ran away as he was arrested. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. At the cross only 1 of the 12 was there. They were hiding, afraid and not ever expecting Him to rise.  And yet what happened to these fearful men? These individuals who cowered, who ran and hid became some of the most courageous witnesses the world has ever known. And during their lifetimes they turned the world upside down with their testimonies of Jesus. The truth of Jesus’ resurrection changed their lives.  They laid their lives on the line and were willing to die for the truth of Christ’s resurrection.     ⁃    The Scandal - Jesus was crucified. How could any one worship someone who was crucified - a death reserved for the most evil of people. So having Christ die by crucifixion - would not be the way to encourage people to see the story as true.     ⁃    The Enemy - Saul was a brilliant man who was a bulldog who recognized that the message of Jesus needed to fall or Judaism would fall. He hunted down followers of Jesus, arrested them, supported their deaths, AND THEN he met the risen Jesus on a walk to Damascus and under the Light and Voice of Christ, Saul was changed and became the apostle Paul, a mighty warrior for Christ.  This enemy - Saul - became the missionary Paul! All because He encountered the risen Christ.  The enemy became a man who freely gave himself to faith in Jesus.

Today’s fingerprints put together a chain of evidence - fingerprints of God. Everything stands or falls on this one event in human history. No one would invent this story unless it was true!!! Jesus is risen! This is real, this is genuine and this is true and He’s coming back! Because He’s risen, we’re gonna live forever! With Him!

Pastor closes class with an invitation to receive Jesus as your personal Savior and leads us in a sinner’s prayer of repentance and then acceptance of Christ.

Watch the video from our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class

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

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

We invite you to join us for our Sunday service every Sunday at 9:30am CT (live or on demand) here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

The apostles knew it was important for us to grow in our faith. God doesn't want us to remain baby believers, or merely converts. His desire is for us to mature in Christ! And in this crazy day in which we live, it is especially important that the children of God be fully mature, fully grown up in Christ, prepared for what is ahead.

Up To Jerusalem - Teaching 14 Scripture: John 17:1 - 18:12, Hebrews 7:23-24, Philippians 2:6-11, Matthew 26:36-44, Luke 22:42-46.

Today's study focuses mainly on Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, a prayer following His meal with the disciples and the night of His betrayal.

Pastor talks in depth about the prayer ⁃ Focusing in on what Jesus says about God's name ⁃ God's name is His character ⁃ God's name is called the tetragrammaton - it is 4 letters but we are not sure of the pronunciation. ⁃ What we do know is that at its root is "To Be" ⁃ The One who always IS ⁃ At Mt. Sinai God told Moses "I Am who I Am, if anyone asks who sent you, tell them I AM has sent you. ⁃ God is always with us ⁃ He does not change - the same yesterday, today and tomorrow - forever! ⁃ He is all powerful ⁃ All merciful ⁃ All loving ⁃ He is gracious ⁃ Jesus reveals the Father's character and shows us the Father's love ⁃ He is One with the Father

If you want to know what God looks like — Look at Jesus!

Something to think about: what must this have felt like for the disciples to hear Jesus praying this prayer to the Father?

⁃ When we walk with God we walk out of step with the world ⁃ God's word is the Truth - it is a Living Word - Jesus is Truth and speaks only Truth ⁃ Sanctification ⁃ Believers are to be one with Christ and one with the Father and one with each other. One in Body - one mind - the mind of Chris - focused on spreading the Good new in Christ ⁃ God is One ⁃ Suffering for faith ⁃ Experiencing the glory of God ⁃ Submission to God ⁃ Everything Jesus does is for the purpose of saving the world ⁃ He lives to intercede for us

Following the prayer, Jesus and His disciples head to the Mt of Olives and into the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus takes 3 of the 11 as He moves further into the garden. He tells them to stay awake and pray as He goes deeper into the garden. He is dealing with unimaginable anguish grief, and anxiety as He prays again to the Father expressing that His sole is overwhelmed to the point of death and prayer for "this cup" to be removed but only if it is the Father's will. Jesus is willing to do what the Father desires, and yet He shares His heart with His Father. Jesus is in so much anguish and agony He is to the point of sweating blood and yet He pushes through in endurance to follow the Father's plan.

A total of 3 times He prays and then returns to find the disciples asleep instead of staying awake and praying and trying to understand this is Jesus' greatest hour of need. The solitude and loneliness Jesus experiences must have been painful. He friends will abandon Him, His Father will abandon Him. It is Christ ALONE and He faces it all with the words of His prayer, "Your will be done." And this is the true picture of Love.

Today's study ends with a reading of the betrayal of Jesus and will pick up with this portion of the story next week. Please 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

Up to Jerusalem is a study of the final weeks of Jesus' ministry concluding with His resurrection and ascension, using the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John together with material from ancient sources and recent discoveries. Up to Jerusalem is part five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Up To Jerusalem is the story of the plan of God to redeem the world, and the story of a Savior willing to obey the Father's plan. As we study Jesus' final days, we will be impacted as we discover the Love of God for each one of us.

This study is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time.

Scripture: Matthew 5:44, Romans 5:8 and Acts chapters 6 & 7.

Today we will look at an incredibly powerful aspect of God’s character: He is a forgiving God. This is what the scriptures have declared and it is what God Himself says.  He leaves His fingerprints on a cross to demonstrate to us just how incredible His forgiveness is and the depth of His remarkable love.

Pastor shares a heart-wrenching story of unimaginable forgiveness, setting the stage for the lessons we learn from God’s love and forgiveness. The story shows the divine, all powerful love of God and His love alone is what can bring forgiveness to even the most difficult, painful, tragic, and horrific situations.

God forgives us with amazing love. He allowed His Son to stretch out His arms on a cross and to pay the full penalty for our rebellion against the Father - He showed us amazing forgiveness in the person of Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. And THAT changes everything.

His incredible love has the power to change any life, and to bring healing and forgiveness into even the darkest of places.

This is not saying that because God loves us we excuse or accept evil that is done to us.  God doesn’t say we need to approve of those who wrong or hurt us. Evil is still evil. Tragedy is still tragic, but what God says is that He gives us the power to rise above it, to overcome evil will good, to rise above tragedy so then we do not live in the past, grieving and full of despair. Instead, the Lord frees us, frees us to speak truth, but to speak the truth in love, and to forgive even those who have been our enemies.

Pastor has us take a look at the story of Stephen, as told in Acts chapters 6-7, who as he was being unjustly stoned and killed, speaks truth, mercy and forgiveness.  Stephen’s Prayer as he was being stoned to death - Acts 7:59-60 “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Died).  Stephen knew the words Jesus spoke from the cross, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” And Stephen now takes that example of love and forgiveness and with his dying breath spoke forgiveness.

God tells us as He has forgiven us, so we also are to forgive others. 

Matthew 5:44 “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  It’s not about liking them or accepting their actions - It’s about loving them - genuine love is not a matter of feelings.  Instead it is an act of the will.

We, as an act of will by faith in Jesus Christ, can love even our enemies. We are encouraged to allow the incredible love of God to deeply impact our lives.

Pastor shares three truths for why we are to forgive and shares insight into the benefits of forgiveness. When we reflect the character of God in our lives, it not only honors Him, it strengthens others and changes us.     ⁃    God     ⁃    Others     ⁃    Self

The class closes with another story that gives a profound example of forgiveness that is motivated only by the goodness and grace of God.  A gut-wrenching testimonial that’s the result of a powerful act of will that shows unexpected, unexplained love and forgiveness that changed the lives of all involved in this tragic event.

We are called to love and forgive because God has loved and forgiven us.

Watch the video from our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class

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

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

We invite you to join us for our Sunday service every Sunday at 9:30am CT (live or on demand) here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

The Holy Spirit was given 2,000 years ago, but the outpouring continues today for believers in Jesus Christ! If you want to be the person God declared you to be, you need the Holy Spirit.

2 Year Gospel Study - week 71 (Friday, 05-09-25)

Up To Jerusalem - Teaching 13 Scripture: John 16:1-33, John 17:1-2.

In today's teaching we continue with Jesus and His disciples having finished the Last Supper, Judas has left and Jesus and the 11 are walking towards the Garden of Gethsemane.

God's call is to radical faith - the kind that allows us to stand strong against the enemy - Jesus shares that they hated Him, they will hate them, they persecuted Him, they will also persecute them. Yet, Jesus assures the disciples by telling of the coming of the Advocate - Holy Spirit - who will testify about Jesus and will bring power and strength and truth. This persecution comes but Jesus doesn't want us to live in fear, but rather to trust and depend on Him.

Jesus shares that He must leave, remove His physical presence from the world so that the Father can send the Advocate - Holy Spirit - who will be with us. And no matter what we face the Holy Spirit is with us and lives in us.

The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, convicts us of righteousness (right relationship with God offered through faith in Jesus who is our only hope because we are sinners). Having the Holy Spirit draws us to righteous living through His power. The Holy Spirit also convicts about judgement because Jesus is the Victor through His death and He shows that the judgement of the Holy God has been carried by the Son of God.

The measure of God's love is that: He doesn't give us what we deserve, He gives us Himself. He doesn't give us what we've earned, He gives us what Jesus has earned. He doesn't give us what we've achieved, He gives us what Jesus achieved - and that is resurrection through faith in Him!

Jesus telling of the coming of the Holy Spirit was a prediction that He said before His ascension, but then at Pentecost after His ascension - it is our present reality! We are living in the Era of the Spirit. We are called to: live in the power of the Holy Spirit seek the Holy Spirit listen to the Holy Spirit follow the Holy Spirit rejoice in the Holy Spirit!

Pastor shares that the Holy Spirit is not an "it," but rather a Person. The Holy Spirit is God. A real person and we want to seek the fullness of the Holy Spirit and live in relationship with God that the Holy Spirit provides - dynamic and radical faith!

Jesus goes on to say that they would see Him for a little while and then see Him no more and that after a little while they would see Him again. The disciples are puzzled but in the days ahead this would all be revealed as truth. Their faith would blossom and grow! And just like His disciples, we too can always be growing in faith and in relationship with God.

Jesus prophecies that there will be grief and sadness ahead but it ends with Joy - that because He suffers and dies and rises everything changes. We now are able to come to the Father through Jesus and we can ask the Father anything - we are called to be people who are radical - not only radical in our faith but radical in our prayers because God's will is to accomplish the seemingly impossible.

Whatever tribulation we face remember: Jesus has overcome the world Jesus has overcome the adversary Jesus has defeated the devil Jesus has won the final victory

And so in Him we have hope and peace. AND the promise of His return. Because of Jesus' victory - we who are followers of Jesus are overcomers, too, through our faith in Him!

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

Up to Jerusalem is a study of the final weeks of Jesus' ministry concluding with His resurrection and ascension, using the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John together with material from ancient sources and recent discoveries. Up to Jerusalem is part four of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Up To Jerusalem is the story of the plan of God to redeem the world, and the story of a Savior willing to obey the Father's plan. As we study Jesus' final days, we will be impacted as we discover the Love of God for each one of us.

This study is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time.

Scripture: Psalm 119:105, Mark 7:6-23, Ezekiel 26, Luke 24.

"Can I really trust what the Bible says?" An increasing body of evidence says "Yes," but are we willing to let God's Word impact our lives? 

We continue to look at ordinary things that are often overlooked but when we have eyes to see - we suddenly recognize the incredible power and presence of God among us.

Today, we talk about the Bible and its reliability.     ⁃    Can I trust the Bible? Is it trustworthy? True?     ⁃    Does this really matter for me today? Does it apply to my life?

What God desires is to bring answers to those questions, life changing answers, answers that speak directly into our doubts and questions. Sometimes we don’t want our doubts answered because we are comfortable with them.  Are you willing to let His Word (Bible) change that?

FIVE EVIDENCES that tell us of the reliability the Word - things readily seen, clearly demonstrated, and that can be carefully researched and checked out

- Documentary Evidence How do I know that people didn’t change what was originally written? How do I know the words haven’t been tampered with over the years? Are there ways to examine if the word has been changed over time?

In the last 70 years remarkable discoveries for the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures make it very clear how incredibly reliable those ancient words of the Bible have remained.

Pastor shares archaeological information of recent discoveries like the Dead Sea Scrolls that show really remarkable faithfulness of the transmission of these scriptures down through the ages. These scrolls date back to before Jesus.

For the New Testament Pastor shares proofs of the New Testament being remarkably well attested as one compares all the diverse copies written down in various centuries preserved over the years. We are able to compare multiple volumes and find they have been faithfully preserved. As well, other ancient writings from even non-Christian historians document the events of Jesus’ life bearing evidence of reliability of the scriptures.

    ⁃    Archaeological Evidence Discoveries in the last few decades give cause to even the most skeptic of minds to say, “maybe there’s something to this!”

Pastor shares several archaeological discoveries of 2005 (David’s palace), 2004 (Pool of Siloam), 2015 (ancient bullah - clay seals with the inscription, “belonging to Hezekiah son of Ahaz, King of Judah.”) and 2018 (another seal inscribed with “belonging to Isaiah the prophet” dating nearly 3000 years ago). These are the very names of people who are described in the Old Testament scriptures and this reminds us that these people as well as the places they inhabited are REAL!

The Bible is not made-up stories. It is the true and living account of real people who encountered the real God and whose lives were transformed.

These ancient evidences remind us that the Bible is something genuine, sharing the successes, but also not does hesitating to share the failures of its heroes. God is a truth teller.

    ⁃    Prophetic Evidence These are things recorded for centuries before Jesus came and which were fulfilled decades, centuries and for some millenia later - some in our own day. (See week 2 for more on this)

Biblical prophecy is the clear declaration of what is to come, and shows the truthfulness of what the Bible proclaims and has been proven reliable.  

Pastor shares several prophetic examples. Throughout the Scripture we can see amazing prophetic words that are key, critical and powerful testimonies to an all knowing God!

    ⁃    Christological Evidence Pastor shares evidence of Jesus - Jesus was more than a “great man” and tremendous teacher. He made it clear that the Hebrew Scriptures point to Him.  Pastor sights several examples of Jesus fulfilling what the Old Testament proclaimed.

    ⁃    Personal Evidence Pastor shares testimonies from people whose lives were dramatically changed through encounters with God’s Word, including his own testimony.

God’s Word (Bible) is reliable - allow His Word to speak to your heart. God speaks to us personally through His Living Word. It’s a Word that changes lives. Let Him change yours. It’s a Word that renews the soul. Let Him renew yours.  It’s a Word that  gives direction, guidance, comfort, assurance and power to those who will hear His voice.  Will you see the Scriptures as reliable?

WE ALL NEED HIS WORD IN OUR LIVES TODAY!

Watch the video from our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class

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

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

We invite you to join us for our Sunday service every Sunday at 9:30am CT (live or on demand) here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service