Matthew 22:34-46;  Psalm 110   Have you been questioned about your belief in Jesus?   At some point you will be challenged about your belief in God.  You will be tested.   - Jesus is questioned by an expert in the Law of Moses:  Matt. 22:34-40        - The purpose of the question was to test Jesus.  vs 35         - Jesus responds with the correct answer.  vs. 37-40   - Jesus questions those who have questioned Him: vs. 41-42          - What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?    - Jesus challenges their answer to His question:  vs. 43-45   - Jesus explains it to them.  Psalm 110        - The LORD = YHWH = YAHWEH.  The I AM      - my Lord = Adoni = lord, master        - He sits at God's right hand. v.1      - He will rule over all His enemies. v.1-2      - He will lead His army.  v. 3      - He will be a priest forever, in order of Melchizedek.  v. 4      - He will crush kings, judge nations, and destroy the wicked. vs. 5-6      - He will be lifted up and exalted. v. 7   What do you think about Jesus?  What does He mean to you?

Numbers 11:16-17; 25-29.   Joel 2:28-32.  Acts 1:3-8.  Acts 2:1-4   What does Pentecost mean?       - It means 50.  Year of Jubilee - Freedom, Grace, New Start          - Moses in Numbers 11        - Joel spoke of it Joel 2:28-32   - The Importance of Pentecost:  Read Acts 1:3-8           Pentecost was sent by God according to His sovereign will.           Jesus commanded His followers to wait for it.             Jesus promised His followers they would receive power.   - The Day of Pentecost Described:  Acts 2:1-4   - The Results of Pentecost:           - Immediate Results:  The Birth of the Church                - Ongoing Results:  You and I   What does Pentecost mean to you?

Luke 24:50-53;  Acts 1:9-11;  John 16:16-20;  John 17:1-5   - The Ascension is very important because of where Jesus is going to and what He is going for.   - Luke describes the Ascension:  Luke 24:50-53;  Acts 1:9-11   The Ascension is important because:      -  Jesus is glorified.  The cloud:  John 17:1-5      -  Jesus is exalted.  He is seated on His throne.  Ephesians 1:19-21      -  Jesus leaves this world in order to send the Holy Spirit.  John 16:7      -  Jesus is interceding for us.  Hebrews 7:25;  1 Timothy 2:5      -  Jesus is preparing a place for us.  John 14:2      -  Jesus promises to return for us.  John 14:3;  Acts 1:11     The Ascension of Jesus is the exclamation point of His earthly ministry.

Luke 24:1-12;   1 Corinthians 15:1-22   Last week:  I asked what would you list as the TOP 5 most important dates in history?   - The Resurrection of Jesus is the greatest news ever.                  - Bad news:  (Matthew 16:21)            - Good news:  (Luke 24:1-12)   - The Resurrection of Jesus reveals God's power.  (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)        - The power of the Gospel. vs.1-4      - The power of a personal witness.  vs.5-11   -  The Resurrection of Jesus gives us hope. (1 Corinthians 15:12-19)   - The Resurrection of Jesus transforms our lives.  (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)            - Jesus did not die to make good people better, Jesus died and arose from the grave to make dead people come alive.   What am I to do?  Respond to the Gospel and the Greatest News Ever.            - Believe and Receive:  "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from             The dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses,            resulting in salvation."  Romans 10:9-10       HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!

1 Corinthians 1:18:  John 10:14-18:  Luke 23   What would you list as the Top 5 dates in history?   - The Day Jesus was crucified on the cross.    "For the word (message) of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."  (1 Corinthians 1:18)   - What did Jesus say about that day?               "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me              and I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep.  I have other sheep, which are not of this              fold; I must bring also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.              For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.  No one has              taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative.  I have authority to lay it down, and I have              authority to take it up again.  This commandment I received from My Father."  (John 10:14-18)   - What events took place in Jerusalem on that day?  (Luke 22:66-Luke 23)      - Jesus is questioned by the Council of Elders, Chief Priests, and Scribes.  (Luke 22:66-71)      - Jesus is questioned by Pilate.  (Luke 23:1-7)      - Jesus is questioned by Herod.  (Luke 23:8-12)      - Jesus is sentenced to be crucified and Barabbas is released.  (Luke 23:13-25)      - Jesus has his cross carried by Simon of Cyrene.  (Luke 23:26-31)      - Jesus is crucified between two criminals.  (Luke 23:32-43)      - Jesus died in such a way the Roman Centurion began praising God.  (Luke 23:47)      - Jesus has his body removed from the cross and buried by Joseph of Arimathea.  (Luke 23:50-56)

How many of you struggle with remembering things?   - The Point of Remembrance:  (Luke 22:1-13)         Passover was the most sacred feast of the Jewish religious year. (Exodus 12)         Disobedience is associated with the forgetfulness of God.       Obedience is the result of remembering Him.     - The Power of Remembrance:  (Luke 22: 14-20)         The Lord's Supper is a celebration.         - It causes us to remember what Jesus did for us on the cross.       - It causes us to celebrate His victory over death in His resurrection.       - It causes us to proclaim the Lord's death until He returns.               "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the             Lord's death until He comes."  1 Corinthians 11:26   - Let's participate in the Lord's Supper:  Do this in Remembrance of Me.

Life is lived at the feet of Jesus and is where you can experience UNDISTRACTED DEVOTION in a world filled with DISTRACTIONS.

 

…remember this…

Jesus invites you to experience life to the fullest. 

…a life of purpose, joy, and overflowing love. 

Will you…

• Choose Jesus? 

• Will you turn away from the path you're on and follow Him? 

• Will you receive Him and believe in His name?

• Surrender and Trust Jesus? 

• Will you give up the fight and find peace in His control? 

• Will you rest in His presence and find security in His strength?

• Love Jesus Audaciously? 

• Will you love Him with a love that is bold, unreserved, and overflows into every aspect of your life? 

• Will you step out in faith, knowing He is always with you?

 

Do you live with an awareness of God's presence?   1.  There is the Omnipresence of God:            - God is everywhere even when you do not experience His presence.          - God's omnipresence can exist without our awareness.          - Psalm 139:7-12:  Where can I flee from God's presence?                    v. 8. Death cannot separate you from His presence.             vs. 9-10. Distance cannot separate you from His presence.           vs. 11-12.  Darkness cannot separate you from His presence.   2.  There is the Manifest Presence of God:           - God's manifest presence is when He is made known.  It is clear to see.        - Adam & Eve:  Genesis 3:7-8        - Cain:  Genesis 4:16        - God the Father manifested Himself to Moses at the burning bush.  Exodus 3       - God the Son (Jesus) manifested Himself in Daniel 3.                  Jesus the Word became flesh in John 1:14.        - God the Holy Spirit manifested Himself at Pentecost in Acts 2.   3.  There is the Indwelling Presence of God:             What is better than Jesus walking beside you?  It is Jesus living inside of you.                     - Acts 1:8;  Acts 2:38-39           - 1 Corinthians 6:19   What is the result of being in God's presence?   "In Your presence is fullness of joy."  Psalm 16:11                Are you living aware of God's presence?              Do you have the indwelling presence of God?

God desires our obedience, but He does not force us to obey.   - You have a choice:                If you choose wisely and obey, you experience God and His blessings.            If you do not choose wisely and disobey, you experience the consequences.   - Joshua chose wisely and was blessed.  (Joshua 24:15)   - Gideon chose wisely and experienced a great victory.  (Judges 7)   - Moses chose wisely most of the time, but one moment of disobedience cost him.  (Numbers 20:8-12)   - Saul did not choose wisely and it cost him his kingship.  (1 Samuel 15)             v. 3. Saul was given a command from God.           v. 9-35.  Saul disobeyed God and suffered the consequence.                    v. 9 Partial obedience is complete disobedience.                   v. 22.  "to obey is better than sacrifice."                   v. 23.  Disobedience is sin.  It is rebellion.  It is the sin of divination.  It is idolatry.     -  The consequence of disobedience is serious.  It is sin which leads to death.             "Jesus being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."           (Philippians 2:8)   TODAY is 3:16                God chose to love you even in spite of your disobedience.