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  • Questions - Week 18: What is the Unforgiveable Sin?

    Questions - Week 18: What is the Unforgiveable Sin?
    2026/03/15
    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
  • Kings & Prophets: From Solomon to Jeremiah - Week 11

    Kings & Prophets: From Solomon to Jeremiah - Week 11
    2026/03/14

    Pastor beings today's class with a Flashback to twelve years earlier from where we left off last week in order to take a look at the prophet Elisha.

    Elisha's name means "God is my Salvation." Even in this dark time of history, God uses Elisha to draw people back to Himself.

    Elisha's Ministry
    ⁃ Moab revolts (2 Kings 3) against Israel.
    ⁃ Widow's olive oil (2 Kings 4) God shows His love for individuals
    ⁃ Naaman healed (2 Kings 5) "The God of Israel is the God of the world!"
    ⁃ Blinded Arabians (2 Kings 6) "Don't be afraid," the prophet Elisha answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." 2 Kings 6:16-17.
    ⁃ Samaria besieged (2 Kings 7)

    Now that we know the activity of Elisha during these 12 years of turmoil leading up to the deaths of both the king of Israel and the king of Judah, we return to where we left off with our story last week.

    King Jehu of Israel
    ⁃ Kills Kings Joram (king of Israel) and Ahaziah (king of Judah) (2 Kings 9)
    ⁃ Has Queen Jezebel killed (2 Kings 9)
    ⁃ Has Ahab's extended family killed (2 Kings 10)
    ⁃ Has King Ahaziah's relatives killed (2 Kings 10)
    ⁃ Has Baal worship destroyed (2 Kings 10) "So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel. Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit." 1 Kings 10: 28,31. Such a powerful reminder to have a heart for the things of God, to not take lightly what God desires and has done. Jehu took political control but her did not take spiritual control.

    Meanwhile in Judah…
    "When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son had been killed by Jehu king of Israel, she took over the throne of Judah and proceeded to destroy the whole royal family of the house of Judah." 2 Chronicles 22:10. "But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal prices who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah's sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him." 2 Chronicles 22:11-12

    Then when the secreted away son of killed king Ahaziah of Judah was 7 years old, we read.…
    "In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of the a hundred, the Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the lord. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the Lord. Then he showed them deceased king Ahaziah's son." 2 Kings 11:4

    God had preserved the line of David!
    "Jehoiada brought out the king's son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted "Long live the king!" 2 Kings 11:12.

    Join us next week as our story continues!


    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

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

    Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.
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    25 分
  • The Living One - Week 31: Thy Will Be Done

    The Living One - Week 31: Thy Will Be Done
    2026/03/13
    How do we know what God's will is? Our Acts story continues: Paul leaves Miletus for Jerusalem and stays at the house of Philip the Evangelist. A couple days after Paul arrives at Philip's home a prophet named Agabus comes to visit Paul. Agabus takes Paul's belt, wraps it around his own hands and feet and says, "The Holy Spirit says, "In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles." The people gathered in Philip's home pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem after they heard this word, but Paul responds, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart. I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Paul makes it clear that he is willing to risk his life to give glory to His Lord, Jesus Christ. In Acts 21:14, we read that when the group could not dissuade him they gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done." The Holy Spirit had given Paul a warning through Agabus - that he would be captured by the Jewish leaders and then turned over to the Gentiles. So this is the question: Was Paul disobedient when he decided to go on to Jerusalem? Were the words of the Holy Spirit a warning to say do not go to Jerusalem or could they perhaps be words of warning meant to prepare Paul for what was coming? Could these words be asking Paul's obedience in going to Jerusalem but God in His goodness is giving Paul a heads up of what he will suffer for Christ's sake in obeying. Theologians are split on this but here are some reasons to see Paul's decision to go on to Jerusalem as being obedient. We will use Bible texts: Acts 9:15-16 - from Paul's conversion story we hear God tell Ananias that Paul will be a chosen instrument to proclaim God's name to many and God goes on to say, "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Paul as Saul had caused many believers to suffer, but as a transformed believer in Jesus - Paul would come to see that suffering would come into his life over and over again. (Beaten, ship wrecks, jailed, and many more difficulties) these were all part of Paul's life. Paul understood suffering. Acts 20:22-23 - When Paul had announced to the leaders in the Miletus meeting that it was time for him to move on, he said, "I am COMPELLED by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are ahead." He already knew that difficulties were ahead. The Holy Spirit had already warned him, nonetheless he says he was compelled. This text speaks nothing from God about NOT going - only that ahead were hardships. Acts 23:11 - Several chapters after today's text, Jesus speaks to Paul, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome." These are more warning words - no correction for disobedience, but rather kindness and encouragement for Paul - Take Courage! The Lord says! These words are words of kindness to prepare Paul for what more is to come. What we can learn from Paul: Comfort is NOT job #1. Comfort is not our primary focus. Obedience IS job #1. We are not saved by obedience, but by the death and resurrection of Jesus our Savior. Saved by and through Him alone, by grace. However, when we know Him - we desire to follow Him. Salvation leads us to obedience. God's glory is paramount - What matters MOST is that our glorious God receives glory in each of our lives. In thanks and gratitude for what the Savior bought for us (life forever with God) and so we give Him glory with our lives in response to His gift of salvation to us. God's plan is incredible - our destiny is to be made new - transformed with glorified bodies with Christ forever. As a result of Paul going to Jerusalem he WAS ACCUSED FALSELY WAS ATTACKED HIS LIFE WAS ALMOST TAKEN HE WAS PUT IN CHAINS SOME PLOTTED TO KILL HIM HE WAS JAILED FOR 2 YEARS THEN SENT BY SHIP BACK TO ROME AS A PRISONER TO APPEAR BEFORE THE EMPEROR But look at what happened as a result of Paul going to Jerusalem - Paul's Gospel testimony went to: Huge temple crowds Sanhedrin 2 governors King Agrippa Emperor Nero So to the question: Did Paul disobey by going to Jerusalem? Will we see the Holy Spirit warning as God's way of giving Paul the strength for what was going to happen in Jerusalem, because God wanted to use Paul's difficulties to get the Gospel message to many who otherwise may not have heard. As Paul walked faithfully before God, God used his faith in remarkable ways. God uses our faithful walk before Him in remarkable ways as well. Check out the video on our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/living-one Check out the video on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=...
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    25 分
  • The Living One - Week 30: The Inheritance

    The Living One - Week 30: The Inheritance
    2026/03/12

    Scripture: Acts 20:32-38

    Pastor continues with the story of Paul's talk with the leadership of the church in a gathering in the town of Miletus - it is Paul's farewell speech to this group of believers. Paul finishes his time with these friends and leaders with them all in prayer together. There are tears as the leaders are grieved at knowing they will not see Paul again. Paul knew he had complete his work here and in the surrounding cities and areas. The chapter closes with them walking him to the ship to leave.

    But let's focus on one of the words from Paul's speech as it draws to an end. He talks about our inheritance in Christ.

    What does inheritance mean in the Bible?
    The biblical definition of inheritance is speaking of what God gives to us through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Ephesians 1:13-14 tells us that when we believed in Christ, Christ identified us as His own by giving us the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the guarantee that Jesus will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people.

    1 Peter 1:3-4 tells us of an inheritance that comes to us through the death and resurrection of Christ and is an inheritance that can never perish or fade away.

    Jesus' death and resurrection is the heart of our inheritance. BUT there's more!

    The Essential Fundamentals of the Faith:
    1. Deity - Jesus is true man and true God
    2. Death - Jesus, the Lamb of God, through His death, paid for our sins on the cross
    3. Resurrection - Jesus' resurrection assures we too shall rise. The resurrection is God's declaration that the sacrifice of Jesus is accepted.
    4. Return - Jesus is alive forever more and is coming back. His second coming- He's coming back for us.

    These fundamentals are pointed to in the Old Testament, and are fulfilled in the New Testament.

    Jesus' return is the heart of Paul's teaching and Christ's return is what assures us of our inheritance.

    Are you doubting the Resurrection of Christ? Dr. Gary R. Habermas is a scholar of the resurrection of Christ and has written several books. Here are two we suggest for those wanting to read about the evidence of Jesus resurrection:

    "On the Resurrection: Evidences"
    And
    "On the Resurrection: Refutations"

    Anthony Flew, a renown atheist debated Gary Habermas. Several years later Antony rejected atheism because the evidence for God is convincing.

    The evidence for the existence of God and for the resurrection of Jesus is powerful and convincing. Many people have never examined the evidence but instead they have just bought into what they've been told by the world rather than the things they could have discovered.

    What does it mean for us that Jesus is alive? What is our destiny? It is NOT as a spirit in heaven. The Bible teaches the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

    Pastor sites these verses for what the New Testament says about the:
    Deceased Believers
    Luke 23:43 - in paradise
    Philippians 1:23 - with Christ, better by far
    1 Thessalonians 3:13-14 - asleep

    BUT on our destiny we read in
    1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
    1 Corinthians 15:22-26, 51-52
    Titus 2:13-14
    John 5:28-29 that:

    1. Jesus will come down from heaven with a trumpet call and a loud voice of the archangel
    2. The dead will rise
    3. We will be with the Lord forever
    4. A new heaven and a new earth
    5. Death will be destroyed
    6. We will all be changed in the twinkling of an eye - imperishable!


    Our destiny is to be raised to life forever with God with transformed glorified bodies in a new heaven and a new earth - ALL things new.

    May the truth that we too shall rise anchor us in our faith in God and give us strength in opposition, joy in the face of loss and assurance in the face of death.

    https://www.awakeusnow.com

    Check out the video on our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/living-one

    Check out the video on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOwUarSm3uJrzLI4thAJNXQj

    Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.
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    25 分
  • The Living One - Week 29: Warning Words

    The Living One - Week 29: Warning Words
    2026/03/11

    Today's message is a continued study of Paul's farewell words of encouragement and warning to the gathering of church leaders.

    Paul shares honestly that he understands his time left on earth is short. He states how he has proclaimed the whole will of God.

    What is the Whole Will / Counsel of God?
    CREATOR - We and the world are intentionally created by a pure, loving, holy creator who shows us how brilliant a Creator / Designer He is. His design points us right back to Him, our Designer.

    CONDITION - Our condition is that - All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. None of us is righteous.

    CHRIST - we all need a Savior and that Savior turns our lives around. Christ is the prophesied Messiah:
    Deity - God
    Death - on the cross for us - paid the price of our sin by taking it on Himself that we might be saved.
    Resurrection - His resurrection ensures our victory over death. We will be raised on the last day when He returns.
    Returning - He will return and we will have eternal life with Him forever.

    Paul encourages the leaders to take care of themselves and the flocks God has given them. They are to be shepherds of the church of God.

    Paul warns them of the spiritual war that is all around and to be cautious not to fall prey to the eternal and internal threats against the truth of God's word.

    Paul closes by telling them to be on guard because remaining on guard is a life and death matter. Not just a life and death matter temporally (on this earth). It is a life and death matter eternally! (Our eternal destiny). We must be on guard - in Greek this is one word. That word is AWAKE!

    We need to wake up to the truth of what God says in the Bible.

    BE AWAKE - be prepared because Jesus is coming back!

    He will return, so….
    Be awake in prayer
    Be awake in faithfulness to God
    Do not be deceived!

    https://www.awakeusnow.com

    Check out the video on our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/living-one

    Check out the video on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOwUarSm3uJrzLI4thAJNXQj

    Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.
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    25 分
  • Dig Deeper - Week 6: One Taken, the Other Left

    Dig Deeper - Week 6: One Taken, the Other Left
    2026/03/10

    Pastor starts today's class by taking a look at Matthew 24:37-39a "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away."

    This text is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount of Olives and He is talking about His second coming. Jesus compares what it will be like at the end of time, to what happened at the time of Noah's flood. Noah and his sons built the boat over a long period of time and people could see he was building a huge boat, but they continued doing their regular life things and the flood took them all away. They had not listened to Noah's preaching and warnings. It will be like that at the end when Jesus returns.

    In 2 Peter 3:3-10 Peter shares another comparison of what the Second Coming of Christ will be like. There will be a time when God keeps His word once again. There's been a warning that there will be an end - the Second Coming of Christ and it will take place. We are called to be alert, listen and respond and not to ignore that He is returning. We are to be ready and waiting.

    Matthew 24 continues with verses 39b-42 "That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 'Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.'"

    Pastor zeroes in on the words "one will be taken the other left." The question is taken to where?
    Believer opinions are:
    ⁃ Taken for judgement
    ⁃ Taken to be with Christ

    Pastor refers back to a recent teaching entitled "What Happens When I Die?" That teaching can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/live/5L41Ufkiq2w?si=xxcv4CNj2FC-y7XD
    Part of that teaching is on 1 Thessalonians 4:13- 5:6. These verses are Paul's description of the Second Coming of Christ. Paul makes it clear that when Jesus returns the dead believers will be raised first and those still alive will be caught up with them.

    Pastor takes a deeper look at the original Greek text of the word Jesus uses for our translated word "taken." For the "taken" Jesus uses here, the word is paralambanō which means to be taken to one's side, to receive to one's self. It is a positive and affectionate word. It's the picture of the Bridegroom taking His bride (His people) to Himself.

    In our day it is like Noah's day and Jesus' day where people are just going on like normal and ignoring God or not paying attention to Him or His Word. But Jesus speaks a word of warning to those not listening and a word of encouragement to believers. In verse 42 He says, "Therefore keep watch!" The greek text for "keep watch" is the word grēgoreō and it means to keep awake! And to be ready for Christ's return!

    In closing, Pastor shares a saying he once heard: "Live as though Christ died yesterday, arose this morning and is coming again tomorrow!"


    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 more check out the series, "What's the Answer" https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer

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

    Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.
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    9 分
  • Message - The Living One - Week 28: Ephesian Farewell

    Message - The Living One - Week 28: Ephesian Farewell
    2026/03/10

    God's word is compelling and so very practical. It thoroughly equips us and it still speaks to us today.

    Today's story takes place in the town of Miletus where Paul is speaking to leaders of the church sharing the difficult challenges and testing he experienced in his three years of mission work in Ephesus. He shares how he humbly did the work God gave him even in the most despairing times he humbly hung on tight to God who brought him through it all.

    What can we learn from Paul's speech?
    1. Humble Service - we are called to humility before our awesome and mighty God, recognizing all we have and are comes from Him and that we are all in the same condition - sinners. We need a Savior and only God can save us. Humility is needed in understanding this.
    We are called to serve God in humility and to humbly server others to use our gifts, time, talents, abilities and opportunities that God gives us to serve Him and bless others. Our lives are to be lives of Humble Service.

    Paul goes on to summarize what he taught while in Ephesus: that all must turn to God in repentance and have faith in Jesus. He taught the full counsel of God, not just the popular things but also the things that weren't. He did so without camouflaging God's word or avoiding those things that could be heard as upsetting. He spoke the full truth to all.

    Repent and believe the good news is the heart of the Gospel message - come back to the living God in the way we live and walk with a change of heart and mind through Christ.

    2. Steadfast Truth - Speaking the truth in love - that we need to repent before God. Martin Luther says, "When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said repent, He willed that entire life of a believer be one of repentance." Repentance is a calling - a daily calling to turn back to God, to daily recognize the importance of walking with Jesus. We are not called to simple religion, we are called to a relationship with God through faith in Jesus, God's Son, who died, rose and is coming again! We are to live in this truth and to share that truth with others
    As the story continues, Paul shares how he will go where God leads even though he does not know what lies ahead. He shares how the Holy Spirit has warned him that prison and hardships are coming but even in the face of this knowledge, Paul follows willingly where the Holy Spirit compelled him to go, regardless of danger and threats ahead.

    3. Spirit Directed - we too have a calling from God - to know Him, to rejoice in Him, to receive hi forgiveness in Christ, to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to allow the Spirit of God to guide and direct our lives. It's not always easy or comfortable, but it is for our benefit and God's glory.

    We are called to listen to the Holy Spirit, walk in the Holy Spirit, to follow the Holy Spirit, to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal and show us God's goodness.

    Paul's story concludes with him stating his life's aim is to complete the task the Lord Jesus had given him - the task of testifying to the Good News of God's grace.

    Pastor shares a personal story regarding this verse, a conversation with a college professor and the place he had this verse inscribed prior to his wedding day. This verse had a profound effect on Pastor life and he shares the impact of visiting the city of Miletus several years ago and being where Paul had spoken these words of Acts 20:24.

    Without Jesus we are lost - when Jesus breaks into our lives we are changed!!

    4. Life's Commitment - we are to live our lives committed to Jesus. We are to live our lives for Jesus and "finish the race," the course of our lifetime as planned by God.

    Our life is a "race." Towards the end of Paul's life he writes the following in 2 Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." That is our calling, too!

    We are to run the race with endurance, to follow Jesus as our Savior and Guide, to honor, worship and praise our Heavenly Father, to listen to the Holy Spirit as He speaks into our hearts, to follow where God leads NO MATTER THE DIRECTION. NO MATTER THE COST.

    Scripture: Acts 20:17-24, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

    https://www.awakeusnow.com

    Check out the video on our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/living-one

    Check out the video on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOwUarSm3uJrzLI4thAJNXQj

    Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.
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    25 分
  • The Living One - Week 27: Enemy Territory

    The Living One - Week 27: Enemy Territory
    2026/03/09
    Today's teaching is on enemy territory and the reality of spiritual warfare. In a fallen world the battle is not between people - it is between the Living God and the powers of darkness, It is between the Body of Christ and those under the spell of the devil. Ephesus was the center of worship of Artemis and also a hotbed of the occult, magic, eastern religions, drugs, alcohol and many of the same things we encounter in our world today. Ephesus is where Paul carried out some of his most important mission work and it is where God shows us some important lifetime truths through how He worked in Ephesus nearly 2000 years ago. Where we left off last week was with Paul spending two years teaching daily in the Hall of Tyrannus. Verse 10 of Acts chapter 19 tells us that all Jews and Greeks in the area heard the word of the Lord. Paul and others were training up believers to share their faith and so the Gospel message was shared all over Asia. During Paul's time in Ephesus he experienced more push back than ever before. God was doing extraordinary miracles through Paul and many were healed physically but Paul was also casting out demons and healing people from spiritual illness. DIVINE POWER We need to be connected to the Living God. Our faith is not to be a little bit of head knowledge, a song and a prayer. Our faith is to be life changing, it is to be the heart of who we are. Because God was doing amazing miracles through Paul, news traveled that Paul was not only healing physically but also doing spiritual battle and that He was healing in the name of Jesus. Ephesus was a town filled with evil but the DIVINE POWER of God was so obviously being displayed in the miraculous healings done in Jesus' name, that it caused the name of Jesus to be held in high honor and it caused a reaction of believers to openly confess what they had done as part of the evil in Ephesus. TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY A massive move of God caused people to take Him very seriously. Our faith molds and transforms us because we are delivered from bondage to sin and death. God offers deliverance from the power of the demonic and the things that can so easily destroy our lives. CLEANING HOUSE People who had practiced sorcery burned their scrolls publicly and the word of the Lord continued to spread and grow in power. as believers changed and non-believers become believers people grew and matured in their faith and suddenly began to realize they needed to do a house cleaning in their lives. God's Holy Spirit is gracious and reveals things to us as we grow and mature in faith. We are not fully mature the moment we believe - It is a life-long process. God's desire is that we clean house in our lives, in our homes, in anything that gets in the way of our love and worship of God, anything that controls us in ways that are dangerous and spiritually defiling. With all the awakening to the reality of the Gospel Power of Jesus and the importance of a God-pleasing life of faith, those who didn't have that faith were began to try to stop all that was happening in Jesus' name. WORLD VIEWS COLLIDE A worker who made silver shrines to Artemus was very concerned about his economic future in light of the amazing growth of Christianity. And so he spoke out publicly, drawing a crowd and the two sides began to collide. World views are colliding in our world today. The world view of our culture is: All that matters is me All that matters is what I want All that matters is that you don't stand in my way and say anything to upset me. The world view of the Bible is: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God God sent His one and only Son The Living God took on flesh and brought life and forgiveness through His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection from the grave. In Jesus there is life, forgiveness and power. The power to live a new life. And so their two world views clashed then and they are still clashing today. We are called not to fight with human weapons, but to recognize the reality of spiritual war and to use the weapons of the Holy Spirit: Prayer Trust in God God's Word The power of our testimonies Today's scripture reading ends with the whole city in an uproar - both sides shouting and many joining in the near riot. CROWD FOLLOWERS It can be easy to just go along with the crowd Yet God warns us not to follow the crowd. Exodus 23:2 says, "Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong." Wise words for us today! Scripture: Acts 19:11-41, Ephesians 6:12 and Exodus 23:2 https://www.awakeusnow.com Check out the video on our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/living-one Check out the video on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOwUarSm3uJrzLI4thAJNXQj Watch via our ...
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