Podcast
Awake Us Now
Hosted by Awake Us Now Ministries · EN
Awake Us Now is a body of believers who:
WORSHIP the Triune God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Praise Him with joy and thanksgiving for He is God and He is good;
WALK by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the clear teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and the clear declaration of the Scriptures. Such a daily walk is a far cry from mere religion or "church as usual;"
WITNESS to Jesus Christ our Savior in daily life situations. Take seriously His call to make disciples. Be alert to the opportunities God provides to encourage and mentor others in the Christian life. Utilize the developing technologies to reach a new generation with the timeless Gospel of Christ.
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Daniel: When Kingdoms Collide (7) - Babylon's Last Supper
1w ago00:25:01Tap to summarizeBelshazzar celebrated his reign in pride and mockery of God... and lost everything. But to those who approach God in humility, repentance, and belief, God offers everything worth having: forgiveness and eternal life!
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 34
1w ago00:25:01Tap to summarizeThis teaching is from Matthew 24:6-28. Today's class continues with Jesus' discussion with His disciples on the last days. In verse 6 He tells of wars and rumors of wars with the encouragement to not be alarmed, to not live in fear, because even in the most uncertain of times believers know that God is in control. Jesus goes on to mention famines and earthquakes with nation against nation and calls this the beginnings of birth pains. Jesus uses the analogy of a woman giving birth and the birth pains to represent the coming of the last days. Birth pains start slowly - far apart and then grow closer as she gets closer to delivering the baby - stronger and closer. Meaning these last days events (wars, famines, earthquakes) will become more and more frequent and more severe. Pastor shares statistics pointing to the evidence of these last days birth pains ramping up. Verses 9-11 point to even more attacks and persecution of believers and again these are likened to birth pains - becoming more frequent. Pastor shares stats showing the evidence of Christian martyrdom ramping up. Verses 12-14 - Jesus shares that there will be an increase of wickedness and that love for God will grow cold. Jesus encourages us to stand firm to the end and not to buy into the narrative of the culture. Jesus goes on to say that the gospel message would be preached as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come. With the current technology over the last 100 years, people have come to know of Jesus by the 100s of millions. We don't know the day - but we are called to be awake and prepared. As we read on, Jesus' focus switches to the "abomination that causes desolation" - Jesus refers to Daniels' prophecy in Daniel 9:26-27. In Daniel's vision he saw the day the Messiah would come, that He would be cut off - killed - and shortly after that the city of Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed. This all came to fruition approximately 40 years after Jesus spoke of Daniel's vision from centuries earlier from the Messiah's birth, to His death and 40 years later the temple and the city of Jerusalem being destroyed in 70AD. Jesus warns them of what's coming so they will be prepared. "When you see the signs get out of the city of Jerusalem," He said. Many were saved because they took this warning seriously. Many Bible scholars and Pastor as well, see The Great Tribulation is the suffering of God's people until the return of Jesus, not just the temple's destruction, but a time through to the end of time. In Matthew 24:21 Jesus refers to the great tribulation, saying, "For then" meaning from that point on, there will be great tribulation, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now - and never to be equaled again. What is Jesus saying? What does the New Testament tell us of the great tribulation? Many Bible scholars look at the great tribulation not simply as one narrow slice of tribulation at the end of time or one narrow slice of time of the temple's destruction but basically the suffering of God's people until the return of Jesus. Jesus says in verses 22-25 that these days would be cut short for the sake of believers and to not fall for false Christs or other religious schemes and ideas but instead to get into His word and search out His truth and to not be deceived. He is sharing this with us so we are prepared. In today's closing verses, 26-28, Jesus says we will all know when He returns! There will be no doubt when He returns!! Visit our website here https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/matthew-discipling Watch the video from Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOxHZDaamNk9DaM7h7LejJj7 Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app. We invite you to join us for our Sunday service every Sunday at 9:30am CT (live or on demand) here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 33
1w ago00:25:02Tap to summarizeThis teaching is from Matthew 23:29 - 24:8. Pastor Dodge finishes up looking at the seven woes today with an exploration of the 7th. Jesus continues in this 7th woe to convict the teachers and phrases of being hypocrites. Jesus speaks this woe about acting like they were so much better than previous generations in their treatment of prophets. However Jesus tells them they are not different and that He sees their hypocrisy. Verses 29-32 are Jesus' prophetic words of judgement over them. Jesus knows what the next days are going to bring - His betrayal into the hands of the religious establishment, turned over to the Romans, crucified. Their ancestors murdered prophets, but those He is talking to will murder the very Son of God. Jesus tells them that He will send them teachers and prophets and sages and that some they will kill, others they will crucify, and others they will flog and expel from town. He tells how they are no better than their ancestors and tells the judgement they will face for this. Jesus tells of His deep anguish in verse 37 as He expresses His deep desire to bring them back to Himself, His longing to draw them under His wing. In verses 38-39 He shares the desolation of the temple. Moving into chapter 24 we delve into the topics of The Temple and The Last Days. As this chapter opens Jesus is with the disciples and they are looking down from the mount towards the temple and Jesus tells them that not one stone of the temple will be left on another, that the temple will be destroyed. Today we know the truth of Jesus' prophetic word about the temple as about 40 years after Jesus spoke these very words the temple was destroyed by the Roman army during the jewish revolt against Rome. The disciples go on to ask Jesus when the destruction of the temple will happen and what will be the sign of the end of the age. Jesus answers their two-part question with one answer "Watch out that no one deceives you, for many will come in my name claiming to be the Messiah and will deceive many." The sign of the destruction of the temple and of the end of time is deception. Deception is one of the clear sign of the end of days. Jesus goes on telling of wars and rumors of wars and not to be alarmed as these must happen before the end comes. Jesus tells that nation will be against nation, there will be famines, earthquakes and all these are the beginning of birth pains. So much is contained in the words "birth pains." Pastor Dodge will pick up with this topic next week! Plan to join us! Visit our website here https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website https://wpww.awakeusnow.com/matthew-discipling Watch the video from Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOxHZDaamNk9DaM7h7LejJj7 Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app. We invite you to join us for our Sunday service every Sunday at 9:30am CT (live or on demand) here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 32
1w ago00:25:02Tap to summarizeThis teaching is from Matthew 22:41 - Matthew 23:1-12 In today's study of Matthew we continue looking at the last week of Jesus' life before His arrest, crucifixion, death and resurrection. The religious leaders are continuing their pursuit of trapping Jesus into saying something that they could then bring charges against Him for and get rid of Him. Jesus asks the religious leaders this question: "What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is He?" They answer "The son of David," thinking they had done well in answering! But Jesus replies, "He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet." In this quote (Ps 110:1) who is the first Lord? It is God the Father. Who is "my Lord"? David is saying his Lord, meaning this sentence is The Lord (God the Father, Eternal Creator) said to my Lord (David's Lord - the Messiah) … Then Jesus goes on (verses 45-46), If David calls Him "my Lord" how can his Lord be his son? Jesus pushes their answer right back to them. This answer causes the religious leaders to stop asking Jesus questions. The leaders could not comprehend that David was pointing to the Messiah and that Jesus was pointing to Himself as the Messiah. Jesus is pointing out that the Messiah is far more that just a descendant of David. He is instead the Living God who took a flesh - true Gd and true man and offers Himself as the sacrifice for sin for all people everywhere throughout all time. Verses 1-12 of Chapter 23 is a HIPOCRISY ALERT A hypocrite is someone who doesn't practice what they preach. In these next verses Jesus encourages the people to listen to what the leaders are teaching from the Torah, BUT No to do what they do because they are hypocrites. They strove to show people that they were better than they were. They were showy. It was all about drawing attention to themselves and how great they were. Jesus calls us to Him as our Instructor and Teacher. To honor Him, serve Him, follow Him and warns us against raising up people to the level of God. Honor the Heavenly Father and listen to the voice of Jesus, and to heed what the Holy Spirit has to say. Our Messiah - Jesus - is our Instructor. We want to learn from Him, we want to learn of Him, we want to know Him, follow Him, be immersed in His teaching and want His words to dwell within us in everyday, in every time and in every situation. Jesus teaches against hypocrisy with a final instruction saying the greatest among us will be a servant. For those who exalt themselves (hypocrites) will be humbles and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Jesus is making it clear of us who know Him that we are called to serve God and others, because that is Jesus' example. "The Risen Servant" Jesus speaks the SEVEN WOES in the next verses. They were spoken against the Pharisees and against many of the religious leaders of His day. These are cutting and difficult words spoken in love to these leaders and teachers of God Torah (law) with the purpose being a wake up call to them, a way to show them they are sinners in need of a Savior. Plus these are words that remind us of the importance of taking to heart the very teachings of Jesus: love God above all else and love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus speaks truth bluntly to these leaders. His heart is to call them back to Himself. Visit our website here https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website https://wpww.awakeusnow.com/matthew-discipling Watch the video from Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOxHZDaamNk9DaM7h7LejJj7 Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app. We invite you to join us for our Sunday service every Sunday at 9:30am CT (live or on demand) here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service
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Dig Deeper - Acts Chapter 2: Devoted...
2w ago00:10:04Tap to summarizePastor digs deeper into being "Devoted." Acts 2:42 "They DEVOTED themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." They understood that the message of Jesus and the biblical faith is not an "add on" in our lives. It is the heart and center of our lives and influences how we look at God, others and the world. God broke in, in person, in the Person of Jesus Christ through His life, death, resurrection and pouring out of the Holy Spirit. And they realized this changes everything. And so they devoted themselves to: The apostles' teachings - We still have those teachings - The New Testament! And it still speaks to us today. It is why we need to be in God's word. Fellowship - with those with whom they had things in common. Believers together, sharing a common faith, caring for each other, a bond, unity through faith, in the family of God. Breaking of bread - Met together in homes and eat together and shared the "Lord's Supper" together. Prayer - prayerful worship of God. They prayer for God's will, for the world to know God and for all nations to come to God. When we are changed and live out devotion it changes others. The result of their devotion was that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. God moved mighty. God is moving mightily today. God desires to move mightily in and through each of us today. Let's be like those early believers. Let's be devoted and change the world! 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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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 31
2w ago00:25:02Tap to summarizeThis teaching is from Matthew 22:1-40 and continues our exploration into Jesus' final week of his ministry before his death and resurrection. While there is rising anger against Him Jesus' heart is to continue to work to call those against Him to the truth of the Scriptures and to God. Jesus makes it clear that it is possible to be incredibly religious and yet have no real genuine relationship with God. Pastor finishes exploring the 3 parables in Matthew 21 and 22 with today's dive starting with the third parable where we see that these individuals, the religious leaders, truly did not understand the scripture and did not respond to the obvious. 3 Parables 1. Indictment (Matthew 21:28-32) 2. Sentencing (Matthew 21:33-46) These two parables were discussed in last week's teaching. Use the links below to listen to Matthew Week 30) 3. Execution (Matthew 22:1-14) is shown in the Parable of the Marriage Feast. It starts by saying the kingdom of heaven is like a King (God) who prepared a wedding banquet for His Son (the Messiah coming to Israel). All of Israel was invited - the One they have been longing for! The king sends out his servants to let the invitees know of the banquet, but even though they have been eagerly anticipating the Messiah's arrival, verse 53 says, "but they refused to come." The king again sends his servants out to announce the banquet saying the dinner is prepared and all is ready! Come to the wedding banquet! (The long awaited Messiah is here!! Come celebrate!) The parable goes on to say the invited paid no attention to this second invite and some seized the servant announcing the invite and killed him. This enraged the king and he sent his army and destroyed the murderers and burnt down their city. (This is a foreshadowing - Jesus knows what is coming - because religious leaders and others rejected Him - not only reject Him but will kill Him and so this is Jesus giving a head up that judgement is coming to the city of Jerusalem (this will be discussed further in the upcoming weeks) The parable continues with the king telling the servants that as those invited did not come that they are to invite anyone they find.(prostitutes, tax collectors, and the non-Jewish world - Gentiles). And the servants filled the wedding hall. In verse 11 the King (God) notices a guest that is not wearing wedding clothes so the king asks him how he got in without the wedding clothes that he was offering to everyone who came. (The white robes of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ). The man not having the clothing was thrown out into the darkness. Jesus is making it very clear that there is salvation and life forever found through faith in Him and Him alone. He is challenging the religious leadership to see Him for who He is - the prophesied Messiah they have been waiting for! After Jesus told this Parable the Pharisees decided to lay plans to trap Jesus. They united with the Herodians in a well-planned attack with the question that no matter which way Jesus replied, He would be found guilty by one or the other group. The question: "What is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?" If He answered yes, pay the tax to Caesar, the Pharisees would have risen up against Him as they were not happy to be under the control of Rome and despised paying tax to the very ones whose rule they were under. If He answered not to pay the tax then the Herodians would have risen up against Him as they supported Roman rule. But Jesus cuts their scheming plan off at the knees by His reply:"Show me the coin used for paying the imperial tax. Whose image and inscription is this?" They replied "Caesar's." Jesus continues, "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." Jesus' answer was brilliant. His answer doesn't allow either of them to accuse Him of anything. His response amazed them so they left Him and went on their way. The dissension around Jesus is rising with verbal attack after verbal attack. At each attack the crowds hear Jesus' answers and they are astonished at His teaching while the religious leaders get angrier. Further on in chapter 22 Jesus is asked this question, "Which is the greatest command in the law?" Jesus' answer: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and will all your mind!' This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the law and prophets hang on these two commandments." Again they are amazed, but Jesus comes back immediately with a question for them! And it's a really good one! Come back next week to find out!! Visit our website here https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website https://wpww.awakeusnow.com/matthew-discipling Watch the video from Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOxHZDaamNk9DaM7h7LejJj7 Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app. We invite you to join us for our Sunday service every Sunday at 9:30am CT (live or on demand) here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 30
2w ago00:25:02Tap to summarizeThis teaching is from Matthew 21:23-46 and continues our dive into Jesus' final week of his ministry before his death and resurrection. The religious leaders are doing all they can to get Jesus to say something so that they can bring Him up on charges and get rid of Him. And there is a debate between Jesus and those leaders in the first verses of our study today. As the leaders (priests and elders) ask Jesus by what authority He was doing things in and who gave him this authority. This question might seem like a simple question but in reality it is a set up and they want him to reveal who He is so they can charge Him with blasphemy. These leaders should have understood who Jesus was; they had the opportunity to listen to His teachings, see His miracles, and hear testimonies of what Jesus had been doing. All these things predicted had been predicted by the prophets. Those with eyes to see could see who He was. Jesus takes their question and turns it around on them and responds that He'll answer them if they answer a question first. The question He gives them, they decide they can't answer. So there is a stalemate. So Jesus moves on into sharing three Parables that are addressed to the religious leaders. The Parables do the following: Indictment Sentence Execution The Indictment - the parable of the two sons. A father asks a son to go work in the vineyard and the son says, "No," but then changes his mind later and does go out and work in the vineyard. To the other son the father says to go work in the vineyard, but that son says, "Yes," but never goes and does it. Jesus poses the question, "Which of the two sons did what his father wanted?" The leaders reply, "the first son: and Jesus hands down this indictment to the religious leaders, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you … you did not repent and believe." This was a public rebuke of the leaders in front of a crowd. Jesus moves on to share another parable, the parable of the tenants. A landowner (God the Father) planted a vineyard, walled it in, installed a winepress and added a watch tower and leased it out to some tenants (religious leaders). When harvest time came he sent his servants (prophets) to the tenants to collect his fruit. The tenants beat and killed the servants that came to collect for the landowner. Then the land owner sent a second set of servants to collect and they too were killed. Lastly the land owner sent his son (Jesus) to collect, but they killed him too. (Prediction of what is to come and the revelation of the religious leader's plan). Jesus ends this parable with the question, "When the owner of the vineyard comes - what will he do to these tenants?" The religious leaders - being obviously spiritually blind did not understand the parable at all and that it was about them. Jesus is getting ready to speak their sentencing…. They answer Jesus, "He will bring those wretches to a wretched end," they replied, "and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time." Jesus points out to them that He is the One, the Son, the Stone the builders rejected. He is the awaited Messiah, the cornerstone, the rock on which we build our lives. And He replies to them, "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this Stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed." Jesus clearly states the sentencing against the religious leaders. 1. Points to the fact that only those who repent and believe in Jesus as Messiah and Savior have life ever after. 2. Jesus says it will be given to someone else. Alluding to the Gentile mission - the Kingdom of God coming to both Jews and Gentile; through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus, through repentance and faith and through the infilling of the Holy Spirit. God will carry out the world-wide mission! Verse 45 shares that the Pharisees (religious leaders) now knew He was talking about them! And so they looked for a way to arrest Him - but they were concerned about the crowd because they held that Jesus was a prophet - they were listening to Him. But what changes in the next few days that makes it possible for them to arrest and crucify Jesus? Join us next time to find out! Visit our website here https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/matthew-discipling Watch the video from Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOxHZDaamNk9DaM7h7LejJj7 Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app. We invite you to join us for our Sunday service every Sunday at 9:30am CT (live or on demand) here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service
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GOD ACTS! (Chapter 2) - When the Day of Pentecost Came...
2w ago00:25:02Tap to summarizeThe book of Acts has so much to say not only about our past but also about today and how followers of Jesus are called to live. This book also speaks to those who don't yet know Jesus as Savior, those on the fence, seekers, doubters and those questioning or interested. Chapter 2 Acts 2:1-2 "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a soundalike the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting." This chapter starts out with the Jewish Festival of Shavuot or Pentecost. And the disciples and others gathered in a house. There would have been 10's of thousands of people gathered in the streets of Jerusalem and at the Temple for this festival. Acts 2:3-4 "They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (languages) as the Spirit enabled them." Rushing wind! Tongues of fire! Acts 2:5ff The group has moved into the streets and Jews from every nation who had come to Jerusalem for the festival, heard the sound of the wind and gathered in bewilderment because each one heard their own language being spoken by those with the tongues of fire. The crowds were amazed to hear the disciples with the tongues of fire declaring the wonders of God in their own languages. In verse 13 we hear the disciples being made fun of as they speak in tongues. Some people saying they are drunk. But in the following verses Peter speaks to the crowd. Then and Now Holy Spirit is Predicted by Joel (Acts 16-21) Then: Peter speaks the prophetic words from God given to Joel "I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." Peter ends with "and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." They were witnessing what was predicted/prophesied hundreds of years earlier. This book (often referred to as The Acts of the Holy Spirit) shows us the remarkable ways God was moving. Now: Pentecost ushered in a new era in human history. In our day God's spirit is still moving. The gospel of Jesus is spreading around the world like never before. It is everywhere. God continues to move and pour out His spirit and change people's lives. The Risen Christ is Proven by God (Acts 2:22-24) Then: Jesus' miracles and teachings were seen and witnessed. Jesus was crucified on a cross but God raised Him from the dead. They had living proof. Now: No human life has ever made so powerful an impact than did the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It has changed the world. And we have the recorded history of those who did witness Jesus works, death and resurrection. Messiah was Predicted by David (Acts 2:25-31) Then: Peter quotes David who believed that there was One who would come and not see decay and would be One who would save. Peter continues by saying this One David talked about was none other than Jesus Christ. Now: God continues to be at work today and the things that Jesus spoke of that would come and those things He predicted are being fulfilled today. Jesus Ascended and was Exalted by God (Acts 2:32-35) Then: Peter tells them how God raised Jesus from the grave and has poured out the Holy Spirit and that they were witnesses to that. Peter tells them that Jesus is Lord! He is worthy of worship! Now: this is true for us today. Jesus is risen! He continues to pour out His Holy Spirit! Jesus is Lord! He is worthy of worship! Accountability because You crucified Him (Acts 2:36-37) Then: Peter gets personal, telling them that "God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah." And "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'" The message of Jesus demands a response. We are collectively guilty of crucifying Jesus. We all have sinned. Now: The message of Jesus still demands a response. It is our sin that put Jesus on the cross. And still today, when people hear and internalize the message of Jesus Christ it changes them. Forgiveness brings New Life in Christ (Acts 2:38-41) Then: Peter called them to repentance and baptism Now: have you heeded the call to come to faith in Jesus. This is still the desire of God, that we come to Him through faith in Jesus, that we repent, are baptized and give our lives to Him. Pastor closes with a look at the recently discovered Pool of Siloam and its archeological impact on what the Bible says. This week's READING ASSIGNMENT: Acts chapter 2 (if you want to read ahead, read chapter 3 as well) Join the conversation around this teaching. Download our Awake Us Now APP, then join the conversation. Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com
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Daniel: When Kingdoms Collide (6) - Testimony
2w ago00:25:01Tap to summarizeKing Nebuchadnezzar gave powerful testimony to the One God, but only after God first leveled his pride and then restored him to the kingship. Like Nebuchadnezzar, we in the 21st Century are often blind to our own sins of pride, lack of mercy, and moral failure. What will it take to make us see them as God sees them?
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The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 29
2w ago00:25:02Tap to summarizeThis teaching is from Matthew 21:10-23 and continues a study of Holy Week - Jesus' final week before His resurrection. In today's story, people recognized Jesus as a prophet, but He was much more than a prophet! Over the next few weeks we will be exploring: The heart of the Gospel as the heart of God's message of salvation, and that message is at the heart of who Jesus is. Let's dig into what that means for us. Following Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, in today's text picks up with Jesus entering the temple courts and how he drives out all who were buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. Jesus says, "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers." Pastor shares the perspective that this is the second tine Jesus cleansed the temple, the first was at the beginning of His teaching ministry and the account in Matthew brings the second time Jesus does this. Pastor talks in detail about the temple at this time: size, construction and the courts on the sides of the temple allowed possibly as many as 200,000 people to worship at the temple. Following the overturning of the tables in the temple court, the blind and lame came to Jesus and he healed them and children were singing hosannas. But this angered the priest and teachers of the law, revealing their spiritual blindness and arrogance. Jesus desires that heir minds would be opened and that these leaders would be accept Him for who He is. He desires that we all come to Him in humility and genuine worship. Jesus then leaves the temple and heads to Bethany for the night. Everything the scriptures have predicted is about to take place... Today's teaching closes with the story of the cursed fig tree. What does this story tell us? Was Jesus just in a bad mood? Was he 'hangry?" No, there is much to learn from this story, here's how it goes. Jesus is hungry. He goes to a fig tree to pick fruit but there's nothing on it except leaves. But it wasn't the season for figs! Didn't Jesus know this? Here's what we do know: Prior to the season for figs to come on a tree there are small nubs that grow on the tree called paggim. They are edible - but there aren't even any paggim on this tree. All Jesus finds are leaves. It's then that Jesus says, "May you never bear fruit again!" The fig tree is a symbol for Israel, the fig tree is often used as a representation of the children of Israel. And Adam and Eve, after the fall, were clothed in fig leaves. So the fig tree is a reminder of human sin, Genesis 3, but also a reminder of the nation of Israel especially its leaders. What Jesus sees as he looks at this tree is that it looks like a great tree but it has no fruit. This is a prophetic judgement on the leadership of Jesus' day - it is also a clarion call to us to take seriously the things of God! What God desires is that we don't just "look good" on the outside, He desires that we bear fruit! Jesus tells us throughout His ministry that if we continue in His word we will bear fruit. We're not saved by our fruit production but because we are saved, we will produce the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control so that others are drawn to Jesus. We don't want our lives to be all for show - we want to produce fruit! Jesus goes on to let us know we can trust God to hear and heed our prayers and that we can, with confidence, do the work He has called us to do: on our knees, praying and believing what Jesus says, "You will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." We can ask anything according to His will - He hears and answers! Visit our website here https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/matthew-discipling Watch the video from Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOxHZDaamNk9DaM7h7LejJj7 Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app. We invite you to join us for our Sunday service every Sunday at 9:30am CT (live or on demand) here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service
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