This series looks for answers to some of the most common, pressing and most difficult questions that are heard today.

The question for this video: "Is Jesus the only way to God?" This question comes from supporters of Jesus, from seekers looking for truth, and from skeptics.

Pastor will approach this question with the desire to be:
⁃ Biblically Accurate: tell what the Bible actually says
⁃ Rationally Defensible: and why what the Bible says makes sense

Many times our question, "Is Jesus the only way to God? Starts with this question, "Didn't Christians invent the claim that Jesus is the only way to God?"

So let's address this first. No, we didn't invent this - Jesus did, He's the one that made the claim.

John 14:6 we read: "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me.'"

Luke 19:10 - He came to save the lost
Matthew 20 - He came to give His life for us
Mark 10 - He is the ransom payment

Biblical Narrative
- Creation - The story of creation - God made all things by His Word and God gave man 1 choice….
- The Fall into sin - man broke the relationship with God, others, nature and self.
- Promise of a deliverer, the Messiah, Jesus.
- Provision through God's Grace - We are saved by the mercy of God not by our actions. God provided His Son as the Sacrifice for the sin, the shedding of blood and death on the cross
- Fulfillment was found in the coming of Jesus into the world, who lived the perfect life, willingly went to the cross for the sins of all. For my sins and your sins, it's personal. See John 3:16.

Our sin has separated us from God and what we need is a sacrificial victim who lays down his life for all and Jesus, the Son of God, gives His life for all. He pays the price for our sin.

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

1 Timothy 2:5-6 "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people."

1 John 5:13 "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may now that you have eternal life."

Eternal life is a gift offered through the shed blood, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. That is the clear teaching of the Bible. It is biblical accurate and rationally defensible.

The final question:
"Whom will YOU believe?"

When one looks at other religions outside Christianity, our to other leaders that people follow, they were and are mortal. There is only one who is immortal. Only one has conquered death through His resurrection. There's only one who is alive. And that is Jesus.

This is the fork in the road…
Who will you listen to. The dead ones or The Living One?

Jesus is alive forever more and He will return. Without Him there is no hope. With Him we have everlasting life and that is the Gospel truth!

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Pastor focuses in on Gamaliel's Speech found in Acts 5:34-39.

We know about Gamliel from the Bible, the writings of Josephus and rabbinical writings:

• Grandson of the Jewish teacher Hillel
• Especially influential ca 25-50 A.D.
• President of the Sanhedrin
• A devout and respected Pharisee
• Teacher of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 22:3)

In comparing Josephus' writings with the Bible we find an issue with Acts 5:36-37 "Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered."

The Controversy is the dating of the two men as this is what we know about them from Josephus:

• Theudas - revolt at the time of the Roman procurator, Cuspius Faus (44-46 A.D.)
• Judas the Galilean - rebellion in 6 A.D.

According to the Acts verses written by Luke, he quotes Gamaliel as saying that Judas the Galilean's rebellion came AFTER Theudas' revolt, but what we know about these two men from Josephus, shows us that Judas the Galilean's rebellion came BEFORE Theudas' revolt.

The Alternatives we can consider:

• Josephus was correct, Luke was wrong
• Luke was correct, Josephus was wrong
• Both Luke and Josephus were correct.

Pastor leans toward "Both Luke and Josephus being correct."

In Josephus' writings we read of Judas the Galilean as having led a band of people in revolt in 6 A.D.

In Josephus' writings we also read that after the death of King Herod the Great (about 4 B.C.) many revolted. Josephus does not name them.but clearly these rebellions were BEFORE Judas' revolt. Consider this: Is it possible that one of those individuals was named Theudas? Then the writings of Josephus and the Bible align.

Additionally, Luke gives this insight, he tells us that Gamaliel said the following, "Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered." Note that Gamaliel said ALL Judas' followers were scattered." But history shows us that Gamaliel saw Judas' rebellion as having come to nothing. However, about 25-30 years after Gamaliel spoke these words, those followers of Judas the Galilean not only were around, but had grown in number and ultimately triggered the revolt against Rome in 66 A.D.

What we see is an accurate account by Luke of what took place on the day the Apostles were flogged for speaking the name of Jesus and rejoiced for being worthy to suffer for His name.

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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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This is the final week in our study of 400 years of Kings and Prophets from Solomon to Jeremiah.

King Josiah
• Young King seeks God
• Spiritual cleansing of Jerusalem
• Book of the Law discovered
• Reform beyond Judah
• Passover observance - King Josiah gives an order to all people to observe God's Passover. This had not been celebrated according to what was written, not even in the days of the judges, nor in the days of any of the kings of Israel and Judah. Josiah made sure the celebration was carried out according to what was written in the Book of the Covenant. He, like David, was a man after God's own heart. He reads the scriptures and applies them and a time of revival begins. We read in 2 Kings 23:25 "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did - with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses."
• Death at Megiddo - A prophetic word comes from Huldah telling Josiah of the judgment that is coming from God against the people, but that because Josiah's heart was repentant he would not see the judgment that would come. During this time there was great international upheaval between Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon. 2 Kings 23:29 "While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo." Jeremiah and the nation were devastated by the loss of king Josiah. Then Josiah's 3 sons reign. None were the king that their father was. They returned to the old ways for faithlessness to God.

Josiah's 3 Sons
• Jehoahaz - 2 Kings 23:31-33; 2 Chronicles 36:1-3 - reigned 3 month doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. He was imprisoned by Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, who was the one who had killed his father. Jehoahaz dies in Egypt.
• Jehoiakim - 2 Kings 23:34 - 24:7; 2 Chronicles 36:4-8 - reigned 11 years and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He was an evil and inefficient ruler. Constructed a new palace and Jeremiah denounces him for ignoring the people and ignoring God. Jehoiakim rejects Jeremiah and even burns the first copy of the book of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 36:23) The city of Jerusalem is overtaken in 605 BC by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and many of the people are deported to Babylon. (Daniel was one that was taken - Daniel 1:1-2). When Jehoiakim dies he is given the "burial of a donkey." Jeremiah 22:13-19. Johoiachin, his son reigns for 3 months doing evil like his father and was taken captive by Babylon - 2 Kings 24:8-16; 2 Chronicles 36:9-10
• Zedekiah - 2 Kings 24:17 - 25:21; 2 Chronicles 36:11-21; Jeremiah 39:1-10 - reigns for 11 years and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Zedekiah breaks the treaty with Babylon (Ezekiel 17:18). He looks to Egypt for deliverance but didn't receive any. The false prophets encouraged him in his evil ways. Jeremiah warns Zedekiah of coming suffering and prophecies. But Zedekiah does not change his way and Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians and Zedekiah dies in a tragic way. Jeremiah 39:6-7.

And so ends our study with the nation, the city of Jerusalem a the Temple destroyed in 586 B.C.

Interestingly enough the Temple would once again be destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. in the same month, on the same day. This was a day Jesus predicted because they did not recognize Him and had rejected Him.

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Last week we ended our study time looking at a great king of Judah, Hezekiah. Today we start with one of the worst kings of Judah, Manasseh, Hezekiah's son. Manasseh reigned from 697-642 B.C. His story is found in 2 Kings 21:1-18 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-20.

Manasseh reigned 55 years. He reigned longer than any other king and did more damage than any other king. He did evil in God's eyes. It is a disgusting and tragic story. He destroys everything good his father had done.

King Manasseh
⁃ Apostasy and Idolatry - 2 Chronicles 33:33
⁃ Sacrificed his children - 2 Chronicles 33:6
⁃ Innocent blood shed including the blood of prophets - 2 Kings 21:16. (Hebrews 11:37 - ancient Jewish tradition that says it was during Manasseh's reign that Isaiah was sawn in half by Manasseh)
⁃ Captivity in Babylon - Manasseh was taken prisoner by Assyria and taken to Babylon - 2 Chronicles 33:11
⁃ Repentance and return to Judah- while in prison Manasseh had a change of heart, humbling himself greatly before God and praying. The Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so God brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom, proving to Manasseh that He is the true God - 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

What we learn: God is a gracious God and hears the cries of those who humble themselves before Him. He responds to a repentant heart.

In the final years of his life, Manasseh worked to redo things but to no avail as his son, King Amon takes the throne. Amon reigned from 642-640 B.C. and his story is found in 2 Kings 21:19-26 and 2 Chronicles 33:21-25. Amon did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

King Amon
⁃ Return to idolatry - 2 Chronicles 33:22-23
⁃ Conspiracy and Assassination - 2 Chronicles 33:24-25 - Josiah, Amon's son was then made king.

King Josiah
Josiah is just a boy when he begins his 31 year reign and in Pastor's opinion, the greatest king of Judah. Josiah reigned from 640-609 B.C. His story is found in 2 Kings 22:1-23:30 and 2 Chronicles 34-35.

During his reign there were many prophets: Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Huldah. God is working to bring the nation back to Himself.

During King Josiah's reign, Judah experienced three of its happiest decades: peace, prosperity and revival.

King Josiah
⁃ Young King seeks the God of David - he followed in the ways of David - 2 Kings 22:1-2 and 2 Chronicles 34:3
⁃ Spiritual cleansing of Jerusalem - 2 Chronicles 34:4-5
⁃ Book of the Law of God written by Moses (possibly the original Torah) is discovered - 2 Chronicles 34:8, 2 Chronicles 34:14, 2 Chronicles 34:19, 2 Chronicles 34:22. In 2 Chronicles 34:27 we read of Huldah who tells the king that God says that judgment is coming, but because he (Josiah) had humbled himself before God, wept and torn his robes, that Josiah will not live to see the destruction. Josiah recognizes the Lord's graciousness and he sets forth to bring revival.
⁃ Revival happens 2 Kings 23:2-3 - God's people pledge themselves to the covenant of God.
⁃ Revival and reform go beyond Judah - 2 Kings 23:15, 17

Josiah was a bright, brilliant, incredible and godly leader, a man bold in his faith and one who trusted God. May we learn from his example.

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The prayer found in Daniel 9 is one of the most powerful and profound penitential prayers in all the Bible, and it has dramatic application to our lives today!

Today we come to one of the most fascinating times in the history of the kingdom of Judah, an amazing king who does amazing things by the power of an amazing God.

But first we take a look at King Ahaz who ruled from 731-715 BC. In 2 Kings 16:2-3 we read that Ahaz did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of other kings, even sacrificing his son in the fire.

King Ahaz
⁃ Finds himself under attack by Pekah and Rezin
⁃ Discovers there is a price to pay when you turn your back on the Living God
⁃ Seeks help from the Assyrians - Assyria was a massive growing super power.
⁃ Then God brings a rebuke through the prophet Isaiah (a most effective and influential prophet) but Ahaz refuses to listen.
⁃ Ahaz continues to turn away from God and desecrated the Temple of God as he continues to rebel against God.
⁃ His rebellion brings sadness and tragedy and he continues to suffer military attacks.

During Ahaz's reign in Judah, we read in 2 Kings 17:5-6 that Israel is defeated by the Assyrians after a 3 year siege.

At the end of Ahaz's reign we see that in spite of the faithlessness of God's people, God remains faithful. The next king of Judah is one of the best. King Hezekiah is Ahaz's son and Hezakiah rules 715-686 BC.

King Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 2 Kings 18:3.

King Hezekiah
⁃ In the first month of the first year of his reign he had the Temple cleansed. 2 Chronicles 29:3-5
⁃ Then Hezekiah holds a national Passover celebration inviting all of Israel and Judah. They had a 2 week Passover celebration. 2 Chronicles 30:1.
⁃ Hezekiah destroys the sacred stones, high places and Asherah poles and also brakes into pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had used to God's glory but that had become an idol of the Israelites who had been burning incense to it. 2 Kings 18:4
⁃ Hezekiah is facing the enemy of Assyria as they are coming to conquer Jerusalem and so in 2 Kings 20:20 we read that he built a tunnel and a pool. In the 1880's the Siloam Inscription was discovered. It tells the story of the building of the tunnel. Hezekiah built this tunnel to ensure there would be water when under siege by the Assyrian army by diverting the Gehon spring into Jerusalem leaving no fresh water available to the Assyrian army.
⁃ Then the siege begins against Jerusalem. 2 Kings 18:28-29 the king's commander, speaking in Hebrew, calls out that the king of Assyria says that Hezekiah has deceived you because he will not be able to deliver you from me and my army. The king of Assyria is trying to get the people in Jerusalem to just give up.
⁃ Then Hezekiah prays a beautiful prayer - 2 Kings 19:15-16 and God listens and the King of Assyria is defeated by God Himself. 2 Kings 19:35-36. The Assyrians withdraw and return to Nineveh and the siege is ended.
⁃ Then Hezekiah becomes very ill to the point of death. Isaiah comes to Hezekiah to tell him to put his house in order. Hezekiah weeps and prays and God sees Hezekiah's tears and hears his prayer and God heals him. 2 Kings 20:1-5
⁃ Hezekiah is visited by the Babylonians, a rising power that will ultimately defeat the Assyrians. 2 Kings 20:13 we read of Hezekiah being tempted by pride. The prophet Isaiah then brings a word to Hezekiah telling him that everything you just showed off to the Babylonians will be taken by Babylonians. Hezekiah repents.
⁃ The prophets Micah and Isaiah were very active during Hezekiah's reign.
⁃ Hezekiah was one of the greatest kings the nation had ever known. 2 Kings 18:5-6 tells us that Hezekiah trusted the Lord, that there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, both before and after him, that Hezekiah held fast to the Lord and did not stop following God and that he kept the commands of the Lord.

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