Unlike happiness, joy is not an emotion, dependent on particular circumstances. Joy is anchored in God, and through Jesus it is triumphant even over the sufferings of this world!

Growing Gracefully In Joy - We are living in a time of chaos and uncertainty, a time of unbridled anger on all ends of the spectrum and if ever there was at time that the people of God needed to remember and reflect the joy of the Lord, THIS IS THE TIME!

This is a great time to be growing in joy as we rely on the Holy Spirit to empower and strengthen us every day and in every circumstance and situation.

The Bible is full of joy, 440 times it is mentioned. God brings joy to the lives of His children. The joy of the Lord is our strength!

Pastor answers these questions:
Where does joy come from?
How is joy developed?
What nurtures joy?
What hinders joy?

Many of us are living in fear, wondering about the things that are coming. Fearful about what may happen in the coming months. But the Bible has clear teaching in the scriptures about Joy.

These are:
Joy...
Is anchored in God
Is a choice
Is sometimes hindered
Is not circumstantial
Is triumphant

Using a book by Jerry Bridges, "The Practice of Godliness," Pastor sets forth several

Aids to JOY...
1. Confess and forsake sin
2. Trust in God
3. Take the long-range view of life
4. Give thanks in all circumstances

God IS faithful!

Scripture sources: Luke 10:21, James 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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Today's question is one that Pastor has heard most often from young people. The questioning of the Gospels seems to center around miracles, especially the resurrection.

Atheistic Materialism Worldview
⁃ No God - universe is by chance
⁃ Matter only - Life came from non-life
⁃ No Miracles - Life is meaningless

Bible's Worldview
⁃ There is a Creator
⁃ He created life
⁃ Life has a purpose

These two worldviews are in conflict with each other but careful analysis of the Bible shows the Biblical worldview to be trustworthy.

No matter your worldview - there is evidence of the Biblical worldview.

THE FOUR GOSPELS:
⁃ The Gospels are Jewish in both their content, background and details
⁃ Matthew - Genealogy + 55 quotations
⁃ Mark begins with Old Testament quote
⁃ John: "In the beginning…" just like Genesis starts
⁃ Luke: Priesthood + "deathbed prayer" Luke 23:46 + Psalm 31:5 (Jesus spoke this prayer "into your hands…")
⁃ Geographical knowledge - written by people familiar with the territory
⁃ 26 different towns; Sea of Galilee, etc.
⁃ Up to/Down from Jerusalem
⁃ John: 2 pools - Bethesda + Siloam (archeological proof has been found)
⁃ 2 Gardens - Gethsemane + Golgotha
⁃ Details
⁃ Common Jewish names in Israel
⁃ Clarification: e.g. frequently used names: Simon…Mary… thus the need for the clarity given in the Gospel around common names
⁃ Dill and cumin dispute (Mt 23:23) things known at only a specific time in history
⁃ Tax Collectors in Capernaum/Jericho
⁃ Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic languages
⁃ Identity - not the most likely candidates to have written the Gospels
⁃ Interesting names of Gospel authors
⁃ Matthew = former tax collector
⁃ Mark = not one of the original 12
⁃ Luke = physician, Gentile(?)
⁃ John = Jesus' closest friend
⁃ Dating - when were they written? Everything that we have suggests that these books were written early and are accurate
⁃ The Gospels reflect the "early days" of the Jesus movement. Jesus is Jewish, the 12 disciples were Jewish, the early believers were Jewish - The Gospels speak from a Jewish view
⁃ Passover within Jerusalem's walls
⁃ Best documented texts from antiquity
⁃ Paul quotes Luke's Gospel (1 Tim 5:18 from Lk 10:7 and 1 Cor 11:24-25 from Lk 22:19-20)
⁃ But this verse is a stumbling block for acceptance to the gospels because it is "productive prophecy": Jesus said, "Jerusalem will be destroyed…"

And that brings us back around to the word:
MIRACLES.

If your worldview is that of atheistic materialism, a miracle / predictive prophecy would seem impossible.

But if you believe there is a God and that He is the Creator then He does these things.

If Jesus is….
who He claimed to be…
who the Gospels declare Him to be….
who the Old Testament said He would be…

Then
that Good News in the Gospels changes everything
the Gospels deserve to be observed
they call us to believe
it is not irrational
it is not foolish
the Gospels make perfect sense
it is rational
it is reasonable
and Jesus alone offers life forever and He invites you and me to receive what He freely gives.

May we each respond to His Word of truth as we see it proclaimed by those early eye witnesses.

Pick up a Bible and read it today!

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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.

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True faith is not simply a matter of knowing certain truths. It is a matter of knowing Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and allowing the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out!

The Bible is more than just a fascinating book! It was written by an author who loved us enough to die for us, and it is a book that leads us to the One we worship.

Prayer is not about rules and obligations! It is how God invites us to talk with Him in order to build a personal relationship. Discipleship, then, is about living that relationship in our daily lives.

The past Sunday Pastor taught on "What's the Answer - what is the unforgivable sin?" using Matthew 12:24-32. Today, Pastor digs deeper and takes a look at Mark 3:22-29 - which also talks about the "unforgivable sin."

In Mark 3:22-26 we read that the teachers of the law say that Jesus is possessed by the devil, doing healings in the devil's power and doing what the devil wants. But Jesus responds by sharing parables and asking how can Satan drive out Satan? A house divided cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand. Jesus explains how illogical their accusations are.

Jesus goes on in verse 27 saying that in fact no one can enter a strong man's house without first tying him up. Then his house can be plundered.

Jesus is not denying the devil is strong, but He's saying He is stronger! He is challenging these men to think things through, to think about what they are saying. Jesus is encouraging them to listen not to their prejudices, but to the Holy Spirit's testimony, that of what is spoken in scripture and the things that Jesus is doing and what the Spirit is revealing about who Jesus is.

In verses 28-29 Jesus continues, "Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin."

He doesn't say they have done that sin, but reminds them that is the path they are on. Jesus tells them that ALL and any sins and slander can be forgiven, except the persistent refusal to listen to the Holy Spirit. Meaning never letting the Spirit in or listening to Him. The Spirit will transform our lives, Jesus will heal us, forgive us, and bring us into His eternal kingdom.

Jesus' power and the Holy Spirit can deliver us from the bondage of the enemy and give us freedom through Jesus' saving power at the cross and resurrection because Jesus HAS bound the strong man!

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

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

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus states that He has been given "all authority on Heaven and on Earth," and with that authority gives us our marching orders - make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy spirit, and teach them to obey everything He has commanded. But this isn't just about His command, this is about God's faithfulness and His desire for us to experience that faithfulness.

Let's begin by contrasting genuine faith with mere religion:

⁃ Relationship vs. Religion
⁃ Knowledge of God/Knowing God vs. Information/Knowing ABOUT God
⁃ Trusting in God vs. Believing only certain things
⁃ Obedience because we trust God vs. Acceptance of only certain things

We are to keep on growing in faith - to know and experience Him - to follow and obey Him. In our verses today, His desire is that we not only obey, but that we teach others to obey Him. He gives us the command to "Make disciples," and to encourage us He gives us the promise of His faithfulness "to the end of the age."

Jesus opens today's teaching with "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
- Authority of Jesus: Why? because of His death and resurrection, His sacrifice on the cross and His glorious triumph AND His obedience to the Father. Thus we live in His authority, living by faith in the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus continues, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations."
⁃ Priority of Discipleship: Note that He didn't say make church members. He didn't say make Christians. He didn't say make converts. He said make disciples (followers of Jesus) - build up each other in the faith.

Jesus goes on with, "baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
⁃ Unity of God: three, yet One.

And then He says, "and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
⁃ Necessity of obedience: we are not saved by obedience, but when we know Him and are empowered but the Holy Spirit, our desire is to obey Him.

Then Jesus closes with, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
⁃ This is His assurance! His promise! And this gives us strength, hope, power, encouragement and peace, because God is faithful. God is good but above al else He is faithful and God can be trusted no matter what is happening in our lives.

Pastor goes on to share a very powerful and very personal story centered on his grandfather. It is an amazing story of God's faithfulness. (Grab a tissue…)

Our good God is calling us to walk with him, to know him more and more, to experience the fullness of His presence, His Holy Spirit and His astonishing love in Jesus ,our risen and returning Savior, the One to whom all authority has been given, the One who tells us, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.." And we can do this because He ends this Great Commission with this great promise, " And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

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