Scripture: Acts 2;1-21, Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:1-4, 2 Peter 3.

Pentecost is the birthday of the Christian church, but it's even more than that. Join us as we explore the story of the first Pentecost and specifically focus in on Acts 2;17 "'In the LAST DAYS,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit on all people.'"

The New Testament makes it clear that these are the last days - with the coming of Jesus in the flesh, His ministry, His death and resurrection, His ascension and Pentecost a new era has begun. Beginning then we have entered into the Last Days of what we know of planet earth. Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe." 2 Timothy 3:1 says, "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" 2 Peter 3:3 "Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires."

The "last days" are also in the Old Testament and they were:
Israel's Hope (The day they were longing for)
Numbers 11:23
Ezekiel 36:26
Hosea 3;5
Micah 4:1
Jeremiah 31:31-34

What the Old Testament pointed to is now being fulfilled in the New Testament. God's intent and plan has been there all along!

Applications
⁃ These are the Last Days! God is fulfilling his plan - not a cause of panic - God is faithful - we are to take Him seriously - these are exciting times - dangerous many times - difficult, yes - these last days are days that change our world view.
⁃ Holy Spirit is outpoured and that outpouring continues. Holy Spirit yearns to fill us to overflowing so that we walk and pray in the Spirit - Holy Spirit points us to Jesus, the Spirit convicts, guides, leads and directs our lives.
⁃ The New Covenant is here. The law shows us God's will but it doesn't save because we are all sinners. The New Covenant is about the grace of God in Jesus Christ - God paid the price of the penalty for our sin at the cross.
⁃ Heed God's Holy Spirit. Seek the Holy Spirit - do what He says - Keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit - we need the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life and to grow in faith.
⁃ Be Prepared - Be Awake! We are to be ready, on guard and awake!
⁃ Awake to:
⁃ What God has done
⁃ What God's word has declared
⁃ The truth that the Last Days are here
⁃ The reality of the Holy Spirit's indwelling
⁃ Awake and prepared for what is ahead.

We need what only God can provide:
⁃ Divine Wisdom
⁃ Divine understanding
⁃ His truth
⁃ Strength for today
⁃ Power for tomorrow
⁃ Assurance of life forever through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

Everything we do is to revolve around the goodness, grace, mercy, presence, love and forgiveness of God because He changes everything!

Pentecost is not just the birth day of the Christian church it is the culmination of all God had promised His Old Covenant people for centuries and that is fulfilled in Christ Jesus and His return.

We are in the Last Days - but THE Last Day is coming - as is the age to come that is forever with 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/40-10

Join us Sundays
https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

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

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!

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
https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

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

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
https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

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.

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

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Scripture: Acts 1:3, Luke 24:36-47, John 14:27, Philippians 4:7.

What does the sermon series "Forty Pus Ten" mean?
There were forty days from Jesus' resurrection to His ascension. Pastor will focus on the convincing proofs of Jesus resurrection demonstrated in what Jesus' final words and actions during the forty days and will show us how they still speak to our lives today. There were ten days from Jesus' ascension to the Day of Pentecost. Pastor will focus on what happened on Pentecost and what that means for our Christian walk and daily lives. Jesus lives! This is the most important event of the planet since creation! Join us and see why!

Our study for today is on the evening of Jesus' resurrection. They are experiencing fear, confusion and uncertainty. They've heard some of the stories going around that Jesus was alive and risen from the grave but just days earlier they had seen Him arrested, crucified, put to death and placed in a tomb. They were not expecting a resurrection!

On Resurrection Sunday morning the tomb had been found empty. As they gathered together in fear in a locked room, there was also confusion. They had heard the reports of people seeing and talking to Jesus. There was uncertainty - how could this be true? And then, "While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you.'" Luke 24:36

How is this story relevant for us today? All of us has encountered fear and Jesus speaks to us, just as He spoke to His followers that day: "Peace" Shalom. He spoke into their fears, confusion and uncertainties and He speaks Peace to each of us into our lives to our fear, confusions and uncertainties.

Jesus goes on and says why are you troubled? Why do doubts rise in your minds and then He shows them His hands and feet. In effect saying that it really is Him! He tells them to touch Him and then He eats food - He's in the flesh, He is alive.

He goes on to tell them how all that is written about Him in the Old Testament must be fulfilled and as He continues it begins to become clear to their minds - Jesus opens their mind explaining the what the Scripture declared all along has been about Him. Then He goes on to say what's ahead, "He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke 24:46-47

What this means for us today - because Jesus is alive it changes everything and it changes each one of us!

It changes:
⁃ How we look at life
⁃ The way we handle difficulties, fears, uncertainty, doubts and troubles
⁃ The way we look at the future
⁃ What matters in life

It gives us:
⁃ A reason for living
⁃ True living - forever!

Application
⁃ The call is personal to encounter Jesus Christ. To encounter Him and His Peace
⁃ We are called to heed the scriptures and to listen to them. As we listen - He comes into our hearts
⁃ We are called to experience a new mind - the Holy Spirit changes us from within.

Jesus is ALIVE! His resurrection is not only the most significant event in the history of the world, it is the most important thing in each of our lives.

No matter what we are going through - the fact that He is alive and that we by faith receive what He offers: forgiveness, hope, assurance and life forever —- that changes everything!

Pastor closes with the words from the chorus of a song from Bill and Gloria Gaither.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
 Because He lives, all fear is gone;
 Because I know He holds the future,
 And life is worth the living,
 Just because He lives!

Life is worth living, just because He lives!!!

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

Check out the video from our website:
https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

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