Scripture: Psalm 145:13b, Acts 1:3, Acts 1:4-12, Ephesians 5:18, Matthew 5:16, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

How many promises are in the Bible? The number given by many different individuals and groups ranges from many hundreds to many thousands. We will settle on saying there are "lots and lots!"

Today, we take a look at several more of Jesus' appearances after His resurrection and explore three specific promises found in Acts 1 that are applicable to any believer's life.

Promise #1: Holy Spirit
Promise #2: Witnesses
Promise #3: Second Coming

Applications
⁃ Holy Spirit - given to all who believe. Ephesians 5:18 says, "keep on being filled with the Spirit of God." Listen to Him and seek His guidance.
⁃ Witnesses - disciples of Christ. Matthew 5:16 tells us to "let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Our witness flows from our faith in Jesus. We bear witness to Jesus with our actions and words (not to earn salvation, as it is a free gift through faith, but rather it flows from us in thanks for the gift of salvation.) We are called to be His witnesses in the world today
⁃ Jesus' second coming - a source of comfort and peace in the midst of a crazy world. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 assures of we will be raised to life forever with Christ.

Our salvation was won at the cross
Our salvation was guaranteed at the empty tomb
Our salvation is secured because Jesus is coming back!

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Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:6-8, Acts 1:15, Matthew 28:16, Matthew 28:20, 1 Peter 3:15, 2 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 4:11

During the forty days between Jesus' resurrection and His ascension, Jesus saw many individuals and small groups, but He also saw over five hundred people at one time. Where was it, and when did Jesus see this large group of people?

Jesus kept showing up…
⁃ Jerusalem
⁃ Emmaus
⁃ Mount of Olives
⁃ Galilee (Pastor shares why he thinks that Jesus may have been in Galilee when He saw the 500. Pastor shares several pictures of the area around Galilee.)

Those Jesus appeared to had a heart to share the amazing news after seeing Jesus truly was alive.

Because Jesus is alive - because there are convincing proofs - what does that mean for our lives?
⁃ sharing the Gospel message
⁃ Obeying what Jesus had commanded

APPLICATIONS
⁃ Purpose: Testimony - The One who rose, changes our lives and He is coming back! Peter's testimony - 1 Peter 3:15 "but in your hearts revere Christ as lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." When God has changed our lives through Jesus Christ, that gives us a testimony, it gives us purpose to share our personal testimony with friends, family, strangers. Our testimony isn't just what we say, it's how we live, too.

⁃ Purpose: Maturity - We are to grow in our faith, in our witness, in our knowledge of the living God, and not remain baby believers. 2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen." We are not saved because we are mature, but rather it is because we're saved, we want to mature. We don't; want to remain baby believers, we want to grow up in Christ. And that gives Him glory, Our purpose is anchored and centered in the Lord Jesus Christ, our risen King. And we are to keep on maturing.

⁃ Purpose: Service - We are called to service Him with the gifts He has given us, with the time He has given us, with the opportunities and settings He has given us, 1 Peter 4:11 "If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen." Speak the words of God and bring joy and hope, conviction and power into the lives of others. And serve them in God's strength so that He is praised through the witness we share of Jesus and who He is. Be encouraged to serve Him with the gifts you've been given., to serve Him with your lives, your talents, your examples and in the opportunities He provides.

Our purpose is to live for Him - Not for ourselves - but for HIM!

Today, people are coming to faith in the Lord Jesus like never before, faith in Christ is exploding. And we are called to be part of that!!

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

Check out this video series from our website:
https://www.awakeusnow.com/40-10

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

Our story picks up with Joash (the hidden royal) being brought forth at the age of seven and hailed as the king of Judah followed by the death of Athaliah. Peace reigns in Judah as we see over 100 years of four fairly "good" kings reigning in Judah from 835-731 B.C. These kings started well but didn't always finish well: Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah and Jotham.

King Joash
⁃ Takes the kingship at age 7
⁃ Jehoiada, the High Priest, is Joash's mentor, advisor and instructor
⁃ Spiritual reformation was taking place across Judah as Joash starts out so well with Jehoiada as his advisor - until Jehoiada's death
⁃ Joash then gets new advisors (2 Chronicles 24:17-18) and they led him astray, worshiping idols and God's anger came.
⁃ Zechariah is the High Priest after Jehoiada. Zechariah was Jehoiada's son. He tells Joash and his new advisors of their sin against God, so they plot to kill him. 2 Chronicles 24:20. Zechariah is stoned to death.
⁃ Hazael is victorious in bottles over Judah
⁃ Then Joash's assignation follows

Amaziah
⁃ Amaziah is Joash's son - Amaziah starts well but doesn't finish well, following the pattern of his father.
⁃ Mercenaries come from Israel
⁃ Amaziah is given victory as he acts on the words of God through a prophet. 2 Chronicles 25:9
⁃ But then Amaziah brings idols back from that victory. 2 Chronicles 25:15. Again a prophet comes to Amaziah to warn him, but this time Amaziah doesn't listen.
⁃ He is then defeated by Jehoash, king of Israel and he too is assassinated.

King Uzziah (also known as Azariah)
⁃ Uzziah is Amaziah's son. 2 Chronicles 26:4-5 tells that he had godly counsel and as long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.
⁃ He was an extremely capable king
⁃ Ruled for 52 years
⁃ In Israel, Jeroboam II was ruling. Uzziah and Jeroboam II expanded both nations to the original size of the kingdom at the time of David and Solomon.
⁃ New prophets arise during the reign of Jeroboam II and Uzziah: Jonah, Amos, Hosea and Isaiah
⁃ Their kingdoms experienced the glory days of David and Solomon
⁃ But then Uzziah does not finish well. His pride went to his head and he usurped the role of the priests in burning the incense and immediately gets leprosy. 2 Chronicles 26:16-17

King Jotham
⁃ Uziah's son, Jotham becomes king of Judah. 2 Chronicles 27:2. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but the people, however, continued their corrupt practices.
⁃ Battle with the Ammonites - Godly king who is victorious over the Ammonites. 2 Chronicles 27:6
⁃ Prosperity & Spiritual decline begins. The renewal did not spread throughout all the people.
⁃ We see the growing power of their enemy in Assyria

Next week our story continues with the rise of the power of the Assyrians.

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

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