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  • The Answer - Week 18: What is the Unforgiveable Sin?

    The Answer - Week 18: What is the Unforgiveable Sin?
    2026/07/17
    Today's question is one that Pastor says has been the question asked with the most fear. Other ways this question is asked: ⁃ What is the unforgivable sin? ⁃ What is the sin against the Holy Spirit? ⁃ How can I be sure I haven't done this? ⁃ If I have done this is there any hope? ⁃ How do I avoid the unforgivable sin? Matthew 12:31-32 Jesus says, "And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." What is that sin? Let's start by looking at the context … ⁃ Jesus was preaching and healing. Religious authorities saw Jesus as a threat. Jesus heals a paralyzed man and the religious leaders say Jesus is blaspheming because He told the man your sins are forgiven, take up your mat and walk. And the religious leadership are angry and they continue to get angrier. Matthew 9:3 ⁃ Matthew, one of Jesus' disciples, hosts a dinner, invites his tax collector friends and Jesus attends too. The religious leaders accuse Jesus of "eating with tax collectors and sinners." Matthew 9:11 ⁃ Jesus heals a demon possessed man and the religious leaders say Jesus was able to heal the man through demonic powers. Matthew 9:34 ⁃ Jesus and disciples are walking in the grain fields on the Sabbath Day, picking and eating grain and the religious leaders say they are working on the day of rest, which is unlawful. Matthew 12:2 ⁃ Jesus heals a demon possessed man and now the religious leaders plot to kill Jesus. Matthew 12:14 ⁃ Jesus heals a man and they say that Jesus healed by the power of Beelzebul (the devil) Matthew 12:24 It is at this point that we continue with the verses just before our text for the day on the unforgivable sin. We read in Matthew 12:25-28 "Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? (Meaning how can I be healing from demons by using demons?) And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." What Jesus is saying is look at what you see. Stop judging on the basis of your own anger and bitterness and look at what the Bible has said along. God's healing is being brought to people. The Holy Spirit is testifying that the Messiah has arrived! Then Jesus speaks the words we started with this morning. Note that the first words are "EVERY KIND OF SIN AND SLANDER CAN BE FORGIVEN." Jesus goes on and what He's saying is if we continually refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit and actually go so far as to call what the Spirit does as demonic then we are setting ourselves up for the unforgivable sin. (Note: Jesus is not saying they have done this, but He is calling them to search the scriptures, to search their hearts.) The Holy Spirit always testifies to Jesus. Jesus is saying do not sin against the Spirit because if you persist in that you are cutting yourself off from the only One who can save. The Holy Spirit leads us to faith and to Jesus, who opens our eyes to see the goodness and grace of God. What is the sin against the Holy Spirit? IT IS THE CONSCIOUS, DELIBERATE AND PERSISTENT REJECTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT'S TESTIMONY TO THE IDENTITY AND SAVING POWER OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Jesus speaks these words of warning to them to lead them to repentance and faith. God is merciful. His desire is for ALL. Classic example: ⁃ Saul of Tarsus - the persecutor of believers who becomes a transformed man - Apostle Paul. Pastor shares Saul's story of transformation. Paul understood the sin of the Holy Spirit because that was the path he had been on in his life. But then Saul has an encounter with God that changes him and he understands the immense patience of God and His amazing grace. Pastor closes with Romans 10:9-10 "If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." God is good! So let us listen to the Holy Spirit's voice who leads us to Jesus our only Hope. 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/whats-the-answer Join us Sundays https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service
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    25 分
  • The Answer - Week 17: When is the Rapture?

    The Answer - Week 17: When is the Rapture?
    2026/07/16
    Pastor opens with a prayer for God to build unity among believers especially in the areas where we have differing opinions, that we would show grace to one another and humility before God. Pastor begins with the "rapture" passage in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will be with the Lord forever." "Will be caught up." This caught up is the rapture. "Will be caught up" is one word in Greek: harpazō (Latin was used to translate the Greek work and in Latin the word is rapiemur from which we get "rapture") Let's check out 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16 where Paul answers the question about Christian believers who have died, "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. According to the Lord's word we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first." These are encouraging words for believers, giving them the assurance of Jesus' Second Coming and the assurance of the resurrection of the dead, the gathering of the living and all going with Jesus in the air and of being with Him forever. If we take Paul's powerful words of summary of the Second Coming in these verses - it seems to be saying that the rapture occurs when Jesus returns, when the dead are raised and when we are all caught up in the air with Him. Paul goes on to say in verse 18: "Therefore encourage one another with these words." In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 we read that Christ comes at a time no one knows, and He comes not only to bring His people to Himself, but to bring judgement. Verses 4-6 goes on to tell us that we belong to the Light and not to the darkness and Paul calls us to understanding that Jesus can come anytime and that we should be ready and looking forward to His return. Common questions: What is all this talk about the Rapture - its referring to believers who have died in Christ and those who are alive when He returns and the risen dead and the alive will be united with Christ Will there be a rapture - Yes!!! Where is the rapture found in the Bible - In 1 Thessalonians 4 When will the rapture take place - at the Second Coming of Christ Will Christians go through the Tribulation - The word for tribulation is the Greek word thlipsis. It is used 45 time in the New Testament. (Suffering, persecution, tribulation) Pastor takes us on an exploration of the ways thlipsis is used in the New Testament by looking at: John 16:33 Matthew 24:21-22 Romans 5:3 1 Thessalonians 3:7 2 Thessalonians 1:4 Revelation 7:14 We see in these verses that tribulation is a reality, we read of the tribulation of others, of Jesus saying that in this world we will have tribulation, that there will be tribulation, and we read about glorying in our tribulations. Pastor shares the tribulation of the apostles, disciples, and early believers, and that throughout the centuries there has been tribulation of Christian people and in our day the tribulation that is attacking many believers around the world (kidnapped, raped, captured, hunted down, killed, ridiculed, put down, in fear of losing jobs, etc). Tribulation is real, it's a reality. the Bible doesn't say we will escape it, instead it says we will be persecuted. Our hope is not based on being taken out of tribulation, our hope is on the second coming of Christ. And the assurance that we will be raised on the last day and will live with Him forever. Believers have differing opinions - Pastor encourages us with what the Bible says: to maintain the peace of the Holy Spirit. To search the scripture to not get caught up in details that cause controversy to focus on the mission of bringing others to Christ Jesus is the only message of reconciliation and eternal life. That is our focus, labor, prayer and service. Bottom line …. The entire New Testament points to the Second Coming of Christ and urges us to live in such a way as to be always ready for His return. Pastor's closing prayer speaks of thanks to God for the Scriptures, while in them we don't find everything we want to know, the Scriptures do provide ALL that we need to know. 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/whats-the-answer Join us ...
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    25 分
  • The Answer - Week 16: Who Needs the Holy Spirit?

    The Answer - Week 16: Who Needs the Holy Spirit?
    2026/07/15

    The answer? EVERYONE!

    The Holy Spirit is found in the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament the Spirit came mainly to specific people for specific purposes, but there was the foretelling of the Spirit being poured out in abundance - an age of the Holy Spirit ushered in by Jesus. Jesus the Messiah ushers in the Age of the Holy Spirit.

    Mark 1:7-8 John the Baptist tells us, "And this was his message: "After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

    Acts 1:8 Jesus tells us, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

    Acts 2:16-17 "this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: "'In the last days, God says,
 I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
 Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
 your young men will see visions,
 your old men will dream dreams."

    One of Jesus' teachings on the Holy Spirit is found in Luke 11:9-13:
    A.S.K.:
    Ask - for the Holy Spirit and you will receive
    Seek - the Holy Spirit and you will find it
    Knock - and the door will be opened

    Jesus' desire is that the Holy Spirit is moving in each of our lives.

    Then Jesus ends this teaching with Luke 11:13 "So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."

    Jesus is not rebuking us - He's inviting us to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. His desire is to have the Holy Spirit poured out on all of us.

    The Holy Spirit in the disciple's life:
    1. Romans 8:5-6. "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." We are to allow the Holy Spirit to lead and direct our lives. We are invited to let go and let the Spirit of God take control of our thoughts, behaviors, prayers and lives.
    2. 1 Corinthians 3:1 "Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ." We do not want to remain spiritual babies. We need to rely upon God through the power of the Holy Spirit in us. We are called to new life through the Holy Spirit governing how we think, behave and live.
    3. Galatians 5:22-25 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." We can ask ourselves if we see the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Since the Holy Spirit brings us to Christ, changes our minds, changes our behavior as we listen to Him so let us keep in step with Him and allow the fruit to blossom in our lives.
    4. Ephesians 5:18-20 "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." We are to be filled with the Spirit, and to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit.

    We are called to a God-focused life, to a life of purpose, meaning, joy and peace. We are called to go through this life with the assurance of what lies ahead. And what lies ahead for the believer is life with God forever when Jesus returns! We are called to live in the light of that truth, to make music in our hearts to God, to sing praises and to live a life that matters and to live in a what that reflects the Lord Jesus. THAT is a life empowered by the Holy Spirit!

    Pastor closes with a prayer stating in faith the desire to be filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit and to be empowered by the Spirit to call others to knowing Jesus.


    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/whats-the-answer

    Join us Sundays
    https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service
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    25 分
  • Dig Deeper - Acts Chapter 7_ The Witnesses Laid Their Coats...

    Dig Deeper - Acts Chapter 7_ The Witnesses Laid Their Coats...
    2026/07/14

    We dig deeper into a few specific aspects of Stephen's execution.

    Acts 7:57

    When Stephen completed his speech the leaders and people covered their ears and rushed at him dragging him out of the city to stone him.

    Why stone him? Because they thought he was guilty of blasphemy (but he was not) and the Torah in Numbers 15:35 we read that the guilty were to be stoned outside the city. Keep in mind, though, that Stephen was not guilty of blasphemy.

    Acts 7:58

    We read that the witnesses involved in the stoning, laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

    What do we know about the witnesses? We read in Acts 6:13 that they were FALSE witnesses. We know that they also stripped off their coats. But according to Jewish tradition, the guilty were stripped so that the punishment would be more brutal. However, here we read the witnesses took off clothing. (Unbeknownst to them admitting guilt)

    Saul, who we know today as the Apostle Paul, had not yet experienced his conversion, he had not yet met Jesus on the road to Damascus. At this point he is young, probably late teens to early 20's.

    Acts 7:60

    Tells us that Stephen fell on his knees and cried out to the Lord not to hold this sin against them. Then he died.

    Again Jewish tradition sheds light on this. The tradition was that the guilty were to confess their own sins. But instead, here we see Stephen (the innocent one) confessing the sins of the guilty. He was confessing the sins of the ones who were his persecutors.

    The enemy attacks the innocent and applauds the guilty but Stephen walked faithfully with Jesus and even in death showed the mercy of Christ in his final words.

    Pastor wonders how impactful that prayer of Stephen was as he was being stoned…. Was that prayer part of the reason that the young man named Saul would ultimately become the Apostle Paul?

    God moves in mysterious ways!

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

    View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class

    For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper

    For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now

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    9 分
  • Big Questions - Receive... the Holy Spirit!

    Big Questions - Receive... the Holy Spirit!
    2026/07/14

    When Jesus says to His disciples, "Receive the Holy Spirit," it is not a "one-and-done" activity. He desires us all to live continually in the Spirit!
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    25 分
  • The Answer - Week 14: Why Am I So Tempted?

    The Answer - Week 14: Why Am I So Tempted?
    2026/07/13
    Common questions on this age old topic: ⁃ Why is sin so tempting? ⁃ Why do I do things I don't want to do? ⁃ How can I conquer temptation? ⁃ Where can I find strength to resist? ⁃ Why is this so difficult? Genesis 3:1-7 - First sin in the Bible. But prior to sin, Adam and Eve were in a time of blissful innocence. A perfect creation, perfect relationship with God, perfect relationship with each other. No death, no sorrow, no pain, but that would change once sin came. Who is the serpent in Genesis 3:1? We find the answer in Revelation 12:9 "The great dragon was hurled down - that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray." Satan is a Hebrew word meaning - the adversary, the enemy. And the serpent takes on the form of a serpent. We read what Jesus says about the devil in John 8:44 that the devil "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." Satan's Garden Strategy ⁃ Doubt God's Word - Genesis 3:1 the devil says to Eve "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The devil plants doubt. Eve replies in Genesis 3:2-3 that they could eat fruit from the trees except not from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, lest they would die. ⁃ Deny the consequences - Then the devil replies in Genesis 3:4 "'You will not certainly die,' the serpent said to the woman." The devil moves her toward denying the consequences. ⁃ Deify ourselves - The devil continues in Genesis 3:5 "'For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'" We want to be in control instead of allow God to be. Then we read in Genesis 3:6 "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her and he ate it." From this we learn that temptation comes with: Passion - I want things that I like and that look good Pleasure - I want things that give me joy and comfort Pride - I want to be in control 1 John 2:16 we read, "For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - does not come from the Father but from the world." Our story continues in Genesis 3:7 "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made a covering for themselves." They now understood good and evil, their eyes were opened to evil and they had shame, sorrow, loss, pain, suffering, guilt. Sin took away their blissful innocence. What happened next? Then we read in Genesis 3:21 "The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them." What does this tell us? It tells us that sin brought death to an innocent victim - an animal was slain - and it shows us sin has a consequence - Sin must be paid for by an innocent victim - and this is a foreshadowing of the Lamb of God - Jesus - who would lay down His life on a cross for us, because we all have fallen for the devil's garden strategy. 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." Confronting Temptation: ⁃ Remember Jesus, who He is and what He did - 2 Timothy 2:8 We are to keep our eyes focused on Jesus ⁃ Resist the devil and he will flee from you - James 4:7 ⁃ Run from temptation and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace - 2 Timothy 2:22 ⁃ Replace our focus on the things that destroy with the things that build us up. We are not to focus on the things that are tempting, but rather we should focus on what God's word says. Let His word take root in our lives because God's word give us power and strength, direction and guidance- Psalm 119:11 ⁃ Rely on the Holy Spirit who leads us to faith and brings to mind the teachings of Jesus - Romans 8:6 Pastor closes with a beautiful hymn that his mother taught him. 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/whats-the-answer Join us Sundays https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service
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    25 分
  • GOD ACTS! (Chapter 7) - Just Like Your Ancestors

    GOD ACTS! (Chapter 7) - Just Like Your Ancestors
    2026/07/12
    The Bible is not ancient words. It has so much to say to us today. It is for every generation but especially needed in this generation. Then AccusationsFalse witnesses came forward accusing Stephen of blasphemous words against the Torah and the Temple (Acts 6:11, 13)These are charges that would lead to capital punishment.Acts 7:1 the high priest asks Stephen if these charges are true. Stephen begins his response very graciously "brothers and fathers…" and at that moment Stephen goes from Defendant to Prosecutor. Stephen's Response (part 1) - TorahA trip through Israel's history…Abraham (Acts 7:2b-3) Stephen begins his speech with "The GOD OF GLORY appeared to our father Abraham…" and shares the story of Abraham. We will see he ends His story with the words Glory and God as well! Joseph (Acts 7:9-10) Joseph was hated by his brothers, but ultimately used by God to save his brothers and families. Those God uses are often persecuted. Moses (Acts 7:25-40a) Moses was used by God to save the people, but the people did not recognize he was sent to rescue them. Using the history of Israel Stephen continues to demonstrate how often God's people have rejected the very ones God has raised up. Steven talks about Moses receiving "LIVING WORDS" to pass onto the people. Jesus is the Living Word - we see this in John 1:1, John 1:14. Stephen is communicating that Messiah has come and He is the Living Word all without mentioning Jesus name. Stephen's Response (part 2) - TempleThe history of Israel's idolatry…Tabernacle (Acts 7:44-47)God gave Moses the pattern for the tabernacle of the covenant law to have with them in the wilderness. God gave the people the design of the tabernacle and that He would dwell in their midst but the people chose to worship idols instead and that resulted in exile. David ushered in a period of revival and Solomon built the Temple but ultimately ended up worshiping false deities. Temple (Acts 7:48 - 53)Stephen shows how the temple has become an object of worship rather than God: Worship of things rather than the Creator. Stephen calls these important leaders a stiff-necked people and accuses them of being just like their own ancestors. He tells them they resist the Holy Spirit and asks them, "Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?" And he goes on to accuse them of killing the Righteous One. Now Ignore the Scriptures - Then - they took the parts of Scripture they liked and ignored the parts they didn't. Now - this same thing continues today. Followed self-made gods Then - followed the gods and ideas of others rather than the ScripturesNow - today we buy into the lies of the culture - Christians are often ignorant of what the Bible has to say. Buildings over MissionThen - they idolized their templeNow - many see the Christian faith as having a nice social network when instead our mission is to lead the world to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus. Miss Jesus the MessiahThen - this testimony of Stephen was for calling the people back to GodNow - God today seeks to call us back to the knowledge of Jesus the Messiah. Resist the Holy SpiritThen - many resisted the Holy SpiritNow - today many resist the Holy Spirit. God calls us to despair of doing things in our own power and to humbly receive what He offers in Jesus our Savior. He desires we listen to Him and follow Him as Abraham, Joseph, Moses, the prophets, Stephen and the Apostles followed Him. God yearns for us to know Him Jesus loves us desperately and in Him is hope, forgiveness, power to live a new life and life forever. Acts 7:54-60. There are only 2 ways to respond to this message: 1 - to be angry 2 - to be repentant How did the Sanhedrin respond to Stephen's message? They were angry, but Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looks up to heaven and sees the GLORY OF GOD and concludes his testimony with, "Look, I see heaven open and the Son of Man (Jesus) standing at the right hand of God." Then they take Stephen out to stone him and his final words are: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Do not hold this sin against them." This week's READING ASSIGNMENT: Acts chapter 7-8 (read and reflect on these two chapters together). 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/god-acts-then-now Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service
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    25 分
  • Daniel: When Kingdoms Collide (13) - No Fear!

    Daniel: When Kingdoms Collide (13) - No Fear!
    2026/07/11

    The visions from chapters 10-12 in the book of Daniel may seem confusing and even frightening. But in them, God begins with words of peace and reassurance, reminding us that He is listening to us and that we should not fear!
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    25 分