Awake Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Awake Church
Author, pastor and friend of Awake Church shares a life-giving word out of the book of James about the power of our tongue.
In this portion of Paul's letter to the believers in Ephesus, he reminds them of the eternal danger of living a life of immorality and greed. He encourages the believers to instead be repeatedly filled with the Holy Spirit, walk in the light and live fully awake spiritually, imitating Jesus by loving and serving one another, which rises as a fragrant aroma to the Father.
Living in the midst of a city rife with occult worship, superstition and greed, the Apostle Paul is encouraging the believers scattered throughout Ephesus to live differently. He shares about the gifts they have been given by Jesus through the Spirit and encourages them to use their gifts to serve and edify others while laying aside their old ways of living and talking.
Awake's Outreach Team Leader, Eric Hamm, shares about heavenly treasure and tools for sharing the Gospel.
Paul continues in his letter to the churches in Ephesus, to share about the beautiful mystery of the one new man - Jew and Gentile both united as one saved being by grace through faith, into the dwelling place of God Himself.
In the midst of idol worship, demonic activity and superstition, the church of Jesus is growing in Ephesus. The Apostle Paul writes to these believers, encouraging them in their identity in Christ and sharing with them some of the mysteries of their inheritance.
God created man in His own image, giving him masculinity, strength and ability to work, protect and love well. The life of Jesus shows all men how to be a manly, how to love selflessly, live strong in faith, lead with courage and be the kind of father's we are to be.
God has always wanted to be close to His creation: those made in His image and made for fellowship with Him. As we are now His temple, with His Spirit living within us, our devotion to Jesus means that we exchange our ways for His ways. Our devotion to Jesus means an identity shift, a heart replacement and us choosing to live committed, loyal and fully devoted to Him and His ways.
The world and the enemy attempt to dilute and distract from the simplicity of our devotion to Jesus. In this message, Matt shares some ways that we can stay focused on Jesus.
In this episode, Matt dives deep with Brian Simmons, former missionary, teacher, author and the lead translator for the Passion Bible. This episode is full of stories of God's love, miracles from Brian's life, as well as insights into the heart of God and what led him into translating the Passion Bible.
Brian & Candice Simmons
https://www.passionandfire.com/
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Learn more about us at https://awake.church
Knowing someone personally is much different than only knowing about them. The invitation of God to us is to know Him personally, and our eternity is based on this magnificent relational invitation.
In this message, Family Life Pastor, Brian Hedges, gives an overview of the gifts of the Spirit as outlined by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 & 14, with biblical and personal examples of them in operation.
From God's grand finale of creation, to the body of Christ referred to as His Bride, women are highly valued and equal heirs of the great salvation Jesus provides. In this Mother's Day message, Matt shares not only about honoring the mothers among us, but to honor women in general as equal partners with incredible calling, purpose and value.
During our semi-annual Outdoor Service, Matt shares part 2 of the Holy Spirit series, diving into the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This Spirit of God is the more of God, the nearness of God and God Himself dwelling in us to change us from who we have been into what He wants us to be.
Special guest speaker Brian Simmons is an author, former missionary and the lead translator of The Passion Bible. In this message, Brian shares about the heart of God and the incredible power of His mercy in our lives.
From the very beginning, God created and gave help to mankind. After Jesus finished His work on earth, His final action was to send the greatest help, the Holy Spirit to live within and aid mankind internally, as heaven's residing power within us. We have the help that we need to do all that He desires to do in the earth through us. The Helper lives inside of us.
One way that God's love is demonstrated to every person is how God has taken great care to plan and then protect the lineage of every person, down through the sands of time, through the great gauntlet of peril throughout every generation to bring them to the earth. Immense unseen resource and great love has surrounded the life of every person, bringing them safely to breathe air. Additionally, before they were born, Jesus died for every person so they could live eternally and has come personally to the door of every heart. Every life is a miracle and a treasure.
Pastoral Care Pastor, Dawn Bray teaches on the topic of spiritual authority in God, and how to reclaim the areas where we may have given our spiritual authority away.
Easter Sunday is a celebration of the most significant events in history - Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus stepped into human flesh and became the Lamb of God, dying for our sin and paying for our eternal life. He was then buried in a tomb and was dead for three days before resurrecting back to life in His earthly body and rising as a glorified Savior, defeating death, Hell and the grave. And He has invited us to follow Him and be filled with the same resurrecting Spirit that rose Him up.
God is love, love fulfills the law, and it is the love of God that we are invited to abide or live in daily. Apostle Paul describes what love is and what it is not. In this message, Matt goes through the "love chapter" of 1 Corinthians 13, highlighting the magnificent characteristics of love that are expressed through us as we choose to live the way of love.
Guest Speaker, Luke Humbrecht shares out of Ephesians on the theme of Making Space.
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Guest Speaker, Josh Young shares how the cure for fear is the revelation of God’s love. On the other side of fear is the life God created you to live.
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Love is an unfailing power, and we as followers of Jesus and hosts of the Holy Spirit have the ability to choose to love people in various ways. One of those ways is to celebrate and rejoice in and with others, particularly those in the household of faith.
In this fourth part of The Way of Love series, Matt reads the Apostle John's beautiful understanding of the essence of God and the motivation and action of God all being love. The love that supersedes feeling, emotion where He has chosen to love and demonstrate that love to us. In turn, we are invited to live in His love and share it with others. This is the way of love, choosing to love others from the overflow of the love that has filled us.
Guest Speakers Lori and Barry Byrne from Nothing Hidden Ministries share on taking spiritual authority as sons and daughters of God.
We have been loved by God with a magnificent love. A love beyond feeling from God, that set in motion the coming of Jesus and His actions of love and sacrifice. Love is an action word. It is not a passive emotion, but action and motion. Loving others demonstrates that we abide in God, and God abides inside of us.
As children of God, made in the image of God and filled with His Spirit, we have love to give. Today, Matt highlights the Apostle John's instruction to not direct our love toward things in the world, but rather toward one another. This is the "new" commandment that Jesus established, to find ways to love one another, fulfilling all of the law.
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The closest disciple to Jesus and the one who received the greatest revelation from Jesus is the Apostle John. John's writings proclaim the revealed Jesus, His words, His commandments and His joy for us to receive through the way of love. In this sermon series, explore this way of love that Jesus lived and invited us into with Him.
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When others offer us mercy, it is easy to give it back in return. What measure of mercy do we naturally have to give for those who are judgmental? Mercy that triumphs over judgment is a supernatural Kingdom offering that we give to others by receiving it from God first. In this message, Debbie Peterson dives into how we receive mercy that we can freely receive and give away.
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Christmas is about the revealing of the Savior. A supernatural love and presence of God gave mankind a supernatural Savior - both fully man and fully God, born as a baby. He was prophesied and awaited for a thousand years and when He arrived, He came in the middle of the night, laid in a manger as the bread from heaven, the lamb of God and the light of the world that would give life to the world.
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In part two, we are continuing our focus on the person of Jesus, His roles, His love and His action. Jesus is the King of all Kings, and the one with all authority in heaven and earth, who came as King and redeemer of our lives. He has redeemed us and purchased us from slavery out of love for us, so that we would welcome Him as King of our hearts and lives.
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The creator of the heavens and the earth is also the savior of the world. Jesus, the highest name of all, means Salvation. He is the Savior of the world. He is the Light of the world and He is Resurrection and Life. He is above all and through Him all things are held together. The greatest mystery of all is that we can be united with Him - living in union with the Lord of all.
Science observes the enormous positive effects of gratitude within the human body, promoting health and well-being. Complaining has the opposite effect, releasing harm on our bodies from within. The scriptures are replete with encouragement to be thankful, and the regeneration of our being by the Holy Spirit within us enables us to embrace gratitude in every circumstance, see with new eyes and become a joy to God with our thanksgiving.
At the Gates of Hell, the very place where Baal and Pan were worshipped and sacrificed to, Jesus brought His disciples and asks them to share who they think He is. Jesus affirms for the first time that He is the Son of the living God and the large rock that His church will be built upon. He then He gives them a key for His church to live in victory.
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As believers, we are also overcomers; those who contend, conquer, and prevail in victory through Christ. The three most common areas the enemy seeks to set up strongholds in the lives of believers to keep us from overcoming are our understanding of the goodness of God, our identity in Christ, and our belief to see the goodness of God manifested in our own life. Being aware of the nature of the battles we face and all the provisions that God has made for us to be victorious in these battles is key to living an abundant life in Christ.
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This message from guest speaker, Josh Young, is an encouragement to partner with God in the promises He's given, despite the current picture or circumstances. Josh shares practical, Biblical tools for what it means to wait on God's timing in faith and hope.
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We have an unfair advantage. We have the Holy Spirit actually living inside of us to help us as we allow Him. One of the actions of the Holy Spirit is to renew our minds and transform us so that we can think and live like Jesus thinks and lives. The person with the renewed mind thinks and lives counter-culturally as an awakened Son or Daughter of the King.
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An angel told the Apostles to share "the whole message of this life." The gospel or good news or message of this life is a story - the story of what God has done in Jesus. We have this message to tell and the world is ready to hear it.
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Awake's Outreach Team Leader, Eric Hamm shares about the difference between earthly treasure and God's treasure. His desire is for all to enter the Kingdom, and He chooses to partner with us to help reach those He longs to connect with.
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Jesus said that we are both Light and Salt in the world. We are to shine in dark places and be a flavoring agent wherever we are. In our dark world, God has chosen us to be the ambassadors of His Kingdom who shine with His love and bring hope everywhere we go.
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Philip was a man full of faith and the Spirit of God who was selected to feed widows in the thriving church. He also began ministering in power and changing Samaria before being sent by an Angel to meet an African dignitary who would bring the gospel to the African continent. Upon hearing Philip's sharing of Jesus in the scriptures, the African dignitary responds at the sight of water: "what prevents me from being baptized?" A heart response to the invitation of God for everyone.
Throughout history and the revelation of the scriptures, God speaks in numerous ways. A part of the adventure and privilege of our life as a child of God is to "seek" God - listening for the ways that He is communicating with us and partnering with Him in bringing heaven to earth.
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God is still speaking and we are His children. He communicates in a myriad of ways and a part of the journey with God and adventure in our life with Him is discovering the ways that He is communicating to us. Today, Matt shares a few different ways that God may be communicating with you.
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Every 'born-again' follower of Jesus is in the family of God and has access and relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This relationship means hearing God speak to us personally, learning what His voice sounds like and having a life-long adventure of discovering and getting to know Him.
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The gospel of the Kingdom isn't just talk or impressive words, it includes power. Power to save, power to heal, power to forgive, power to deliver, power to do the impossible.
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This week, our Missions Director, Scott Couch shared new insights on a classic and powerful parable from the Gospels, the Prodigal Son.
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Our Pastoral Care Pastor, Dawn Bray shares on the internal “operating system” of our hearts. What do we truly believe about God, about ourselves, and about His promises?
Discover how aligning our hearts with God’s truth leads to deeper faith, freedom, and breakthrough.
View on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/jXr47mgAKRE?feature=shared&t=2741
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This week Josh Young encourages us to embrace self-discipline as a key to spiritual and personal transformation, highlighting the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering change. He challenges us to rely on God’s strength to overcome struggles and live a victorious life through deeper intimacy with Him.
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We were born into battle and born-again into conflict, but Jesus has given us peace and victory. Regardless of our personality, we must deal with opposition, tension and conflict in nearly every sphere of life. Not run from it, but confront when necessary and stand in the midst of it with love and steadfast confidence in Jesus.
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Guest Speaker, Beth Johnson, continues our series called "Life of Faith" and helps us to understand that when we choose to submit to Him in faith, we give God something that He doesn't have - our obedience.
Faith is a necessity in our lives, not a luxury. This currency of the kingdom is essential - essential to do the works of Jesus that believers are all invited to do and essential to live as a partner with God in the earth.
Jesus marvels at the follower who lives by faith. We are called to live by faith, not by sight and we must exercise the faith that we have so that it will grow and the lives of others will be changed.
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Although living in a world driven by selfishness, the elevation of intellect and the pursuit of riches, we are called and invited to live much differently.
We are invited to live a life of Faith in God. Trusting in His ways, following Him into the unknown, always aware that Jesus actually lives inside of us.
At the perfect time, God sent Jesus into the world. Jesus brought with Him the Kingdom of Heaven and He left it here while encouraging us to pursue, receive, proclaim, demonstrate and pray it. The Kingdom of Heaven is within us and we are here as carriers and dispensers of the robust domain of heaven, sharing it throughout the whole world before the end comes. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
The Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, isn't just sharing about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. It includes the presentation and demonstration of the nearby and accessible domain of heaven that includes love, peace, joy, healing and freedom to all receive and enter it.GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
Jesus came to earth doing the impossible and bringing heaven's words to earth. Among all that He shared, Jesus talked the most about the mysterious and magnificent Kingdom of Heaven. In this series we explore what Jesus said and dive into this Kingdom that He said we should seek and pursue above everything else.GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
After the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. He is God, coming to live inside of us - helping us, revealing Jesus, comforting us and giving us power to be His witnesses throughout the earth. He is for all who believe from the 1st century to this very day. This Spirit of God is the more of God, the nearness of God and God Himself dwelling in us to change us from who we have been into what He wants us to be.GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
The Holy Spirit is the undiluted third person of the trinity, who the Father sent as the great helper and surprise of heaven to live within His new creation. God gave Adam a helper in Eve and God gave all of his sons and daughters the greatest helper in His very own Spirit to do the works of Jesus in the earth through them. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
Throughout the ages, the religious spirit has attempted to supplant the work of Jesus. It has wormed it's way into every religion, group and denomination, and is truly an anti-Christ spirit. Matt highlights how we are to be aware of these scheme's, so that we can remain focused on Jesus and find our identity in what He has done on our behalf.GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
The religious spirit is an anti-Christ spirit that attempts to worm it's way into every mind and heart, becoming a counterfeit spirituality that is devastating. As followers of Jesus, we must too be aware of the devices of the enemy and remain true in our devotion to Jesus and faith in Him alone, not our own works, efforts or law. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
Barry and Lori Byrne are the founders of Nothing Hidden Ministries, with the goal to lead people into spiritual, relational and sexual wholeness.
God has given us strategies to live from a place of rest. Debbie Peterson describes three things that try to take away from rest and how to combat them.
Awake's Missions Director, Scott Couch, shares about the story of Esther, and how God has designed each of us and appointed each of us to a specific purpose in life.
The Lamb of God, the Savior of the world has Risen from the Dead.GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
Jesus invites all of His followers into something new and full of promise - the invitation of abiding in Him and His love. Abiding in Jesus and His love is both the secret and the power-source producing fruitfulness and answered prayer. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
In this episode, Matt talks with Kamran Yaraei. Originally a muslim from Iran, Kamran met Jesus in a supernatural way, and his journey and friendship with God has given him a deep passion for the sharing the Father's love with the Middle East.
Guest Speaker, Scott Volk shares on what it means to live a life of true worship, drawing on the Hebrew word "Hineni" which means Here Am I. When we say this to God in true worship, we can expect His supernatural promotion and protection. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
In the beginning, God's first word was "Let," and the supernatural ideas in His mind became reality. He continued that throughout the scriptures and invited us to join in agreeing with and allowing His will to be done, His kingdom to come, on earth as it is in heaven. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
This week, in collaboration with The Breath and the Clay, we hosted guest speaker, Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns. In this message, she shares on wonder and how crucial it is to reactivate wonder in our lives and our bodies through relationship with God. We also had a special guest worship leader this week, with Amanda Cook leading. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
Eric Hamm, our Outreach team leader, is passionate about sharing the Gospel of Jesus. He shares scriptures, stories and testimonies of how we can all share the good news with those around us. This is a practical and encouraging message on sharing Jesus.
We were created and formed with the intention of being friends with God. Friendship with God is the result of the process of walking with God, listening and doing what He asks and loving Him. Friendship with God is the highest privilege of our lives and the ultimate reason that we were born. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
We were created for fellowship with God. Religion is like an inoculation against God. From the beginning, God has always desired to have close relationship with us. We have the privilege and the open invitation to know Him personally, to walk with Him as a friend.GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
This week Barry & Lori Byrne from Nothing Hidden Ministries share powerful insights on marriage, inner healing, and living a Spirit-led life. With years of experience guiding couples through their Holy Spirit-led workshops, Barry & Lori bring wisdom, authenticity, and hope for deeper connection and freedom. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
We conclude the epic prophecy of Revelation, with the reintroduction of the Tree of Life and the New Eden that God has made. The bond-servants of Jesus are the bride of the Lamb, and the age of restoration has taken place, beginning a new age with God in a new world where heaven has come to earth, God lives with mankind and sorrow is no more. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
In the scenes unfolding in Chapters 20 and 21, John is shown the binding of the devil and throwing him away, along with the spectacular New Jerusalem, which we are told is the bride of Jesus. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
The Apostle John is invited to watch the judgment of the Harlot and Babylon that have done so much harm. He then watches the return of Jesus and the announcement of blessing to all who have been invited to the coming marriage of the Lamb. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
As the harlot, beast and anti-christ spirits war against the Lamb, God pours out wrath upon them as the Lamb overcomes them all. Those followers of Jesus who are called faithful and chosen that stand with the Lamb conquer along-side of Him.GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
In this section, we see the Lord dealing with rebellion and sin, while standing personally alongside His victorious saints as they sing the victory song of the Lamb, echoing the song the Israelites sang when God delivered them from the Egyptians. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
In this episode of Into the Deep, Matt speaks with author Chris Gore, who has witnessed and helped facilitate many miraculous healings. Matt and Chris dive into questions like - Does God still heal today, or is it only for biblical times? - How does our faith, our disappointment in unanswered prayers, and a "feeling" (or a lack of feeling) play into the reality of miracles and healing? Chris Gore was a pastor in New Zealand before moving to Redding, California in 2006. He was the Director of Healing Ministries for Bethel Church and returned to New Zealand in 2022. While having an unquenchable hunger for God’s Presence, Chris’ passion is to see ordinary saints walking in extraordinary exploits by releasing the kingdom through healing and miracles. Chris teaches and activates the church to walk in a kingdom mindset and the full inheritance that Jesus paid for. Show Notes: Chris Gore: Website: https://www.chrisgore.org/Recent Books: #Positioned: to Receive and Maintain Your Miracle - https://a.co/d/hpt52udApprehended Identity: Taking Back What Was Stolen https://a.co/d/iMD1S3YHydrating Humanity: Join One Tribe at joinonetribe.com or visithydratinghumanity.org to learn more about life-saving, clean water projects in East Africa.About Awake Church: Learn more about us at https://www.awakechurch.com/ Livestream with us on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. EST Follow @awake_church on social media
As a church, we are very thankful for all that God did in 2024, and looking forward to His works and help in 2025. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
The beastly fallen nature of man will rise repeatedly until the end, warning us and encouraging us to not be captivated in heart or character by the world and it's ways. The bride is to keep her eyes on Jesus, the Lamb and be devoted fully to Him through until His appearing.GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
Jesus humbled Himself, shedding multiple dimensions and power to go on the mission of saving the world. Through love, He came as a baby, grew as a son and became salvation for all of us. Christmas is about Emmanuel, Jesus with us forever!GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
Jesus is empowering His followers to overcome and throw down the accuser by the power of His blood, our testimony about Jesus and loving not our lives, even when faced with death. God will supernaturally fight for and protect His bride and her victorious children. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
Guest Speaker, Robin McMillian shares that joy is a by-product of the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person's life. Drawing from scripture, he shares how transformative joy can be and how it can bring hope.
Complaint is natural for the selfish, but thanksgiving and gratitude is a by-product of the awakened. For the awakened son and daughter, thankfulness is our new way of living.
God's two witnesses prophesy, die and are then resurrected, signaling the 7th trumpet of God and the declaration of the Kingdom of Jesus swallowing up every earthly kingdom. This pivotal chapter is a turning point in the revelation of Jesus in the earth and with His bride.
This week, Beth Johnson shares on the importance of knowing what season God may have you in, so that you can grow and change with His direction.
This week, Josh Young shares about the importance of lighting up the darkness in the world through the hope of Jesus inside of you, and fulfilling your Kingdom purpose in the world. GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
Jesus sees and knows us individually, but also views us as a small part of His very own large, global body that resides throughout the earth. In order for His entire body to be healthy and thrive, each individual person is to love one another and to put their gifts to work in serving and helping others. In this way we love Jesus and will see His body change the world.
WATCH HERE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB2Lm2zkoXw GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
Our Outreach Leader, Eric Hamm shares about the importance of fervent prayer and how we as a church can help to uncap the well of prayer in Winston-Salem. We also launch our September 24/7 Prayer Initiative and discuss how it will work in the month of September.
Awake Kids hosted a parenting class with guest speaker, Kristen Carmitchel. Kristen is part of the Awake Church family, is the School Director for a local Christian school, and was recently commissioned as a Colson Fellow. This class is an empowering and helpful class for any young adult, parent, or adult equipping young hearts and minds to live out a Biblical worldview.
In his final words to the Romans, Paul encourages the church to encourage and build up one another, while persevering and finding encouragement in the God of Hope.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvx2wb3Xd6Q GIVE HERE - https://awake.church/give
In this special live event for those in the first part of adulthood, Steve Witt gives insight, tools + encouragement for mapping out a meaningful life. Steve Witt is the Senior Leader of Bethel Cleveland, an author and an Awake Church Board Member with a passion to see believers come into their God given potential.
In this special live event for those in the latter stages of life, Steve leads activations for those navigating the last third of their lives. Steve Witt is the Senior Leader of Bethel Cleveland, an author and an Awake Church Board Member with a passion to see believers come into their God given potential.
In this special live event for those in the latter stages of life, Steve provides strategy + vision for navigating the last third of our lives. Steve Witt is the Senior Leader of Bethel Cleveland, an author and an Awake Church Board Member with a passion to see believers come into their God given potential.
In chapters 13 and 14 of Paul's letter to the mixed Roman church, he shares how we are to conduct ourselves in this world while living under secular governments. He encourages them to obey the laws of the land while employing God's law of liberty to love one another, live free of sexual sin and live supernaturally by faith.
Watch the video version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_86198DCffg
Steve Witt gives a timely encouragement to Awake Church by sharing how, like our new building, we are being repurposed through Jesus.
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Paul continues explaining natural and spiritual Israel and then shifts to begin talking about our part in living a life of service to God and serving others in the body of Christ. He emphasizes the importance and beauty of having our minds renewed and becoming transformed in the midst of our worldly culture so that we overcome evil with good.
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In chapters 9 & 10 of Romans, Paul shares his compassion for the people of Israel along with explaining how God has elevated faith in Jesus as the determining factor for those who are children of God - for Jews and Gentiles alike.
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In this manifesto for living as a follower of Jesus, Paul dives into explaining the role of the law, his own struggles with sin and how sin produces death. He then reveals the unstoppable power of God's love and the love that we can live in that awakens us to arise as children of God who shake off sin and change the world.
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Paul continues with the theme that Jews and Gentiles are ALL under the power of sin and we are only made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. In this powerful presentation of the Gospel, Paul brings King David and Our Father of Faith, Abraham as witnesses from scripture to prove theologically that ALL are justified by grace through faith.
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The Book of Romans, Part 1 (Chapters 1 & 2) -- In this manifesto for Christian living, Paul writes an incredible letter to the believers in Rome, beginning his letter by talking about who Jesus is, and then sharing about the twisted mindset and unnatural behavior of those who deny that God exists. He then shares on the importance of believers to not stand in judgement of others when we commit similar sin ourselves.
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The privilege and calling of a Father is to be like the Father in our behavior toward others. Father's are intended to do righteousness and justice. To take action to insure that others are free.
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As we grow in our Christian faith, we are learning to live in a new spiritual reality. In this message, Debbie shares hindrances to living a spirit led life and provides strategies in overcoming them.
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Debbie Peterson, our Children's Pastor hosted a parenting class titled "Technology: You Should Care, and This is Why" led by special guests, Lora Geer and Josh Moormann.
Lora's family was the primary subject of a film exploring the impacts of technology on youth. Lora shares on the effects of technology on our brains and habits, and offers ideas of how she has guided her children into healthy practices.
Josh Moormann has spent over two decades in the global telecommunications industry, providing him with a front row seat to the good and bad parts of the Internet in our society. Josh provides practical guidance and examples that families within our community can implement, while we work to create strong families that impact our community for Christ.
In his final words to the church at Philippi, the Apostle Paul warns and encourages them, and then shares keys to victory over anxiety.
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In this second part of Paul's letter to the church in Philippi, Paul begins instructing them in how to live fully alive, while sharing some of his own inner wrestling as he contemplates the short time he has left on the earth. Paul encourages them to live selflessly, holding firmly to their faith without complaint so they will shine brightly in the world.
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In the scriptures we have received an abundance of instruction to live fully alive and to grow and build our faith as we pursue Jesus. In this first portion of Philippians, the Apostle Paul shares with the church at Philippi about the importance of living lives of holiness, not being discouraged by suffering for the sake of Jesus in the midst of a crooked world, and the reminder that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord.
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Much is talked about regarding following Jesus, but Jesus shared a revolutionary way of living that involved something more than following. Jesus pulled back the veil to describe how those who follow Him can also live IN Him, "Abiding" in Him as He invited us to do. And that this is the only way to produce fruit - fruit that glorifies the Father.
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Eric talked about how we can avoid the silent mistake of the 1930s German Church.
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This Fall season is a prophecy and a sober and wonderful reminder that Jesus is soon to return to the earth. In this message, Matt shares about the fulfillment of Tabernacles being the return of Jesus, along with 'how' He will return, 'when' He will return, 'what He will do' when He returns, and how we are to be living as we eagerly await Him.
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In this message Matt continues to overlay truth onto current cultural trends to see if they pass the test of truth or are a deception. He also shares about the pillar and support of truth in the world being the living church of God, and our role in sharing and living true lives of moral excellence.
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With Jesus as The Truth, the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth, and the scriptures being the "Sum of Truth," we can know and have truth. We can also begin applying truth to every issue, cultural and societal trend to see if indeed it is true. In this message, Matt begins to apply truth to a few of confusing issues in our current culture.
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As Truth has been established as the person of Jesus, the Spirit of Truth and the sum of the scriptures, we can overlay actual truth onto everything that arises in culture to see if it passes the test. Today, Matt begins to dive into some of the cultural lies that don't pass the test of truth and we can see the death and destruction that result.
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This is the beginning part of the series about Truth. God has given us truth. Truth is His Son and His Spirit, summed up in the scriptures. The enemy has always and will always war against that which is true and attempt to undermine, twist and destroy truth, because freedom comes from truth. We can have confidence in knowing truth and building our lives on what is true not false.
Our thoughts shape our will, which in turn determines what we will agree with. Our agreements in life will either bear godly fruit which leads to life or rotten fruit which leads to death & destruction.
Jesus made it clear how to identify one of His disciples - by their love for one another. Followers of Jesus don't just have truth, knowledge and have been saved eternally, they demonstrate and live a life of love. In this message, Matt shares about both the power of love and ways to show love.
God has provided everything related to life and godliness for us, but we have to apply and receive what is available by faith. Knowledge and information without application is useless and sometimes even harmful. In life there is God's part and our part.
Three people from Awake will share about the ways God has stirred their heart to take action in the world and help others.
After beautifully expressing the preeminence of Jesus and the supremacy of the New Covenant, the writer begins to show us how to apply faith to all we now understand. Faith like the saints of old is needed so that we don't shrink back, but live out His purposes for our lives and see the power of God working through us.
The writer of Hebrews has established that Jesus is supreme above all angels, men and in today's passage, even the High Priest. Our hope, fixation and salvation are to be upon Jesus Christ. The forever High Priest whose one-time sacrifice for all time enacted a New Covenant, cleanses us from our sin and enables us to have personal relationship and closeness with God.
Earthly priests offered sacrifices and prayers to make us holy before God. The final and greatest High Priest is Jesus, who was chosen not by lineage but by righteous design who was human just as we are and can intercede for us. Let us all make sure to lay a firm foundation of the key elements of faith, but then not stay there. In this process of faith, we have this anchor for our souls, that God has promised by himself so we can be full of confidence through the cleansing work of Jesus.
In these two chapters, the author of Hebrews is encouraging Jewish believers to hold on to their confidence in Jesus by pointing out that he is the only one that can lead them to rest. Even Moses, who was faithful to his calling, couldn't succeed at leading the Israelites to rest, but we have access to God's rest in Jesus. We'll end by talking through some practical ways to "strive to enter that rest" (4:11).
The scriptures are a treasure of priceless value and in them is the description and knowledge of Jesus. The book of Hebrews describes and reinforces the supreme nature of Jesus, reminding us that He is over all, has the greatest name and is superior in love to all.
Today we celebrate fathers and the Father. The Father is the source of life, the determiner of our identity and the one who first made and then loved us. People and individuals are unhealthy to the degree that their fathers are absent, and we are healthy as a person and a society when the Father is present. A part of every believer's journey in life is to develop a healthy relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Following Jesus means living counter-culture lives. Jesus did the opposite of everyone else and has given to us His Spirit to indwell us so that "as He is, so are we in this world." Our lives are to reflect His life, not just value His words and position. More than anytime in our lives, we are living in days where light is needed and we are the light of the world.
After it was prophesied for thousands of years, Jesus preparing people for His coming, 50 days after the death of Jesus, the promise of the Father came. The Holy Spirit came upon and within the followers of Jesus and the birth of the Church began. It was not just an event, but a beginning of a lasting empowerment and indwelling that would happen through every generation until Jesus returns and He is here, in us, helping us and overflowing through us to do the works of Jesus.
Jesus has a beautifully different view of women than you may have heard. Beth took us on a tour of women in the word beginning with Eve and how the Lord fashioned her and made her in his image. Finally we looked at how Jesus sees women, how that challenged the religious leaders of his day, and is continuing to challenge us today.
God commands and instructs people to do things so that they remain free, help and love others and avoid sin. And God invites all to receive, so that what He paid for and sent fills our lives. This infilling is empowering and the very promise of the Father that Jesus came to deliver to us. Our part is to believe in Jesus and then receive what He wants to give - His Holy Spirit.
The most ignored, misunderstood and avoided person in the Universe is actually the Spirit that Jesus sent to reside inside of His bride. He is the power of God and the comfort of God, doing what human strength and ingenuity cannot do and filling our lives with wonder.
On a day of gloom, despair and hopelessness, God did the impossible and raised Jesus from the dead - raising hope for every person in every age to come. Today we celebrate and remember the victory over sin, death, Hell, and the grave...and our entrance into a new life with Jesus.
The Devil is our primary enemy, but like an intelligence agency, he works through inside secret agents. The inside agent we all carry and must put to death daily is selfishness. Jesus showed us the way and called all who follow Him to carry our cross daily, not allowing selfishness to operate or drive our lives.
There are many ways to live in this world and then there are God's ways. God's ways are right-side-up from the ways of the world and include great blessing, but are also filled with difficulties. The difficulties are worth it as we don't live for ourselves but for the One who made us.
In a world filled with distractions and false teachings, the Apostle Paul shared his deep concern with the Corinthian congregation to keep them from being deceived. In this message, Matt shares about the similarities we have to the Corinthian church and the many false gospels we must reject. He also talks about how we must remain devoted to Jesus daily.
Today, Matt continues to explore the Kingdom of Heaven with us, talking about the spectacular realm and domain of God - what it is, what is contains, what we receive, then share and give away.
Jesus talked about two things more than any other - His Father and the Kingdom of Heaven. As the King and representative of the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus brought it, gave it away, and asked us to seek it above all else. In the first part of this series, Matt begins to explain elements of what the Kingdom of Heaven is and how we interact with and share it ourselves.
Proverbs tells us that wisdom has extraordinary value. Wisdom protects us from future regret. We want to dig into the book of Proverbs in order to live our best life. In this message, Debbie Peterson shares about discovering the difference between knowledge, understanding and wisdom, and learning how to apply them all.
Christmas is the celebration of life, hope and peace arriving. It is remembering the love of the Father that dispatched and gave His Son to suffer a murderer's death in order to set free billions of enslaved. Christmas is the beginning of the gospel of the kingdom and the blood inside of the Messiah baby, the antidote to all enslavement and death. We celebrate Him coming and living even now in us.
Jesus desires first place in us. His sacrifice and love deserve the best, and He desires to have first place in our thoughts, decisions and devotion. He is deserving of all and whatever we surrender to Him, He is able to renew or restore. He is the answer to every human need, the desire of the nations and the lover of our soul. Jesus is King.
We all face adversity, and holidays (particularly this year) can be especially difficult for many due to the loss of loved ones, isolation, rejection from friends and family due to personal choices, anxiety, depression and even suicidal thoughts. I am sharing parts of my testimony to impart HOPE and inspire us to Believe for our God of the impossible to help us overcome!
Just as an EKG provides a health-check of the natural heart, a lifestyle of thankfulness indicates a healthy person. Complaining and grumbling are irritants to God, while our gratitude invites His presence and help. We have the supernatural ability to choose to be thankful in "all things," which sets us apart as lights in a the midst of a dark generation.
described the greatest people as those who serve others. In a world surrounded by a consumer, self-focused mentality, the greatest and most joyful people in the world life in an opposite spirit - looking to give rather than get. There is great reward both here and in heaven for those who commit to a lifestyle of serving others, allowing their giftings, time and efforts to be used for others.
The definition of boldness for the gospel is being willing to initiate the conversation with people about Jesus. A person's answer to the question, “Who do YOU say Jesus is,” determines not only the rest of their life, but also their eternal destination.
Knowing about someone is significantly different than knowing them personally. The unique calling and invitation to every follower of Jesus is to know the Father and the Son - to use knowledge of God as a springboard into relationship, and enter the greatest adventure of all time. Christianity isn't following a system or a manner of living, but a thriving and living relationship where we invite God to be a part of all that we do, discovering Him.
Life is about knowing God. Eternal life is about knowing God. The privilege and adventure of our lifetime is found in the invisible realm of relationship with the Creator, Father of all the living, and the King of the Universe. Throughout this series, Matt shares about how we can know Him more.
Life offers opportunities to be offended at every turn, even offended by the way that God does things. In this message, Matt shares about Jesus' blessing of not being offended by how God chooses to do things. It is vital that we aren't serving images in our minds of how something will look rather than denying ourselves and following Jesus daily, leaving the outcomes to Him.
Continuing on with some non-essentials, Matt shares about the essential of the return of Jesus and the Non-Essential of exactly when. He explores a possible timing that sets the course for believers to endure to the end and not be deceived or fall away from the faith before the Savior arrives.
Along with the essential doctrine and reality of who Jesus is, there are non-essentials that we are exploring for the sake of removing unnecessary stumbling blocks for others. Today, Matt focuses on a couple more non-essential elements of our faith, but important issues relating to the sovereignty of God.
We spend the vast majority of our time speaking about essential aspects of spirituality, the gospel of the kingdom, the person of God. Every once in awhile we discuss some non-essential things, that we may disagree upon, but can be helpful to discover, pray about and seek God about. In this message, Matt dives into the first non-essential which deals with the six days of creation and what a day is to God.
Throughout every age and every generation, the unspoken internal question persists of "Who am I." The church has struggled in answering this for people and to the degree we have gotten the answer wrong, we've labored in vain, harmed others and not represented God well or lived in internal peace. Internal peace and fulfilling our purpose has everything to do with knowing who we are. Our identity as a child of God.
Toward the end of the dark ages just as the Black Plague was fading, a spark was lit through John Wycliffe who believed all should have the scriptures available. This torch was passed to Jan Hus who furthered the message and within another 100 years, a great change began toward getting back to the teachings of Jesus. But this change was slow and fraught with mixture and guns pointed at a wrong enemy. Just as the first 300 years after Jesus did the church thrive, although persecuted, the last 300 years have been a bringing back to the essential teachings of Jesus, filled with His Spirit and readying for His return at the end of the age. The modern body of Christ can learn a lot from its past as we put Jesus in the highest place and prepare for His return.
The Body of Christ is a spiritual, living organism that has been on the earth for around 2,000 years. Matt shares highlights of this journey of the Church from the revelation of Jesus to our modern day and how important it is for us to understand our spiritual history.
The Bible isn't primary a rule book, but an invitation to show us how to live in the impossible - to know God, follow Him and live "in the manner that Jesus lived." We need reminded that Christianity isn't primarily about the brain and knowledge, but about the heart, relationship with God and living as new creatures, Sons and Daughters of our Father. All of His children have a calling to live in the impossible realm, the realm of the Spirit.
Just as God grows food in a natural garden when we plant seeds, weed seeds also grow and intend to take over. Spiritually, our minds are a garden of thoughts. Some thoughts grow into fruit that is good, but many grow into weeds that crush, snuff out and take over. We are the gatekeepers of the garden of our thoughts and called to be ruthless with the weeds that want to kill, steal and destroy life.
As we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, He will lead us with His peace through the fiery ordeals and the tensions in life, creating through us a sound that is beautiful.
God has bestowed on us such a great love, that we are called the Children of God! This love pursued each of us, won our hearts and paid for our freedom and entrance into His eternal family. We have been awakened to the reality of this marvelous salvation that changes us forever!
Where fathers are absent, crime and dysfunction thrive. Without the presence of the Father in a believer's life, we can be equally dysfunctional. Jesus came to not only save the world, but to reveal the Father to us so that all who follow Him would live in His love and presence.
In this second message on the life and book of Daniel, Matt shares from chapters 5 through 8, highlighting the "extraordinary" character of Daniel. How he was fully devoted to God, honored and served the godless and harsh King, sought God and was the recipient of heavenly revelation for the whole world to the end of time. This book and the life of Daniel are as relevant for today as it was then.
50 days after Jesus died for our salvation and freedom, the risen Savior went to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to live forever within His body. Pentecost was the day when the Spirit that the prophets, John the Baptist and Jesus said would come, came. It was the day that the church of Jesus received power. Power to be witnesses, power over sin, power to live like Jesus in the earth until He returns.
The same Spirit that hovered over the waters at creation has been sent to live inside of every follower of Jesus, giving us power to do the works of Jesus and be witnesses of Him in all of the earth. This Spirit is the great Helper sent from heaven, bringing truth, revealing Jesus and doing the impossible through us.
We have been given everything to live here on earth with God in a heavenly atmosphere in our mind, soul and body.
In this third week on the Churches of Revelation, Matt shares about the words of Jesus to the final three churches which were spread throughout modern day Turkey, and the application for the modern church today around the world. The heart and love of Jesus for His body is evident throughout as He communicates both His encouragement and His reproofs that will save their lives and give them great reward. These words are powerful, clear and helpful for us in this moment in history.
In the personal message from Jesus to the Seven churches, Jesus communicates both His encouragement and helps adjust their errors and sin. Jesus takes the unprecedented time and share these words to those He loved and His words can be applied as both encouragement and correction for His body in every age, including ours. The concerns of Jesus for these churches certainly would be His concerns for His church today, as His body is surrounded by the world's influences and immoralities. Through it all, there is great reward for staying the course, repenting for our errors and shaking off the thinking and behavior that offends Jesus.
The Revelation of Jesus and His words to the churches was given to the Apostle John at the end of his life. In this multi-part message, Matt shares the words of Jesus that He gave personally to John for the church of that age and this one. In these words are keys, encouragements and corrections that the church needed then, and needs today. There is a blessing for those who read, hear and heed these and we want to be those who do.
After 1,400 years of celebrating the blood of lambs that saved the Jews from the death angel, the Lamb of God gave His life and His blood, when received and applied, saves every person from death. Three days later, His mutilated body that was lying in a garden tomb, came back to life. The breath of the Father filled the body of Jesus and brought Him back to life again, defeating death once and for all time. Those who follow Jesus remember this resurrection Sunday, the day that we were given eternal life and life with power here on the earth.
Stephen Roach shares his intertwined faith and art journeys to end The Breath and the Clay 2021 conference.
Steve Witt joins us to speak about what it means to be a Jesus follower. Steve Pastors Bethel Church in Cleveland and is a longtime friend of our head pastor Matt Peterson. Steve moves powerfully in the gift of prophecy and you don't want to miss what he has to say!
There may be no other supernatural action we can make that is greater than forgiveness. Forgiving people doesn't just help others, it is the pathway for us to be free ourselves. Jesus paid for our freedom, for us to be entirely free, but without forgiveness we are bound and imprisoned. Torture accompanies unforgiveness, while hoy and wholeness surround those who let go. As those full of the Spirit of God, He enables us to enter into the process of forgiveness, freeing us from the bounds of where we were wronged.
The substance of God is love, and every believer's wholeness and fulfillment is found in living in the love of God and giving it away. Love endures through every age and is the most powerful weapon that we have. In this series, Matt begins sharing part of one of a three on the greatest of all and how we can live in love and love others.
Seeing clearly means that we need to receive the healing for our eyes that Jesus talked about, and we need to shed all other lenses. What we value most becomes the lenses we see things through. When Jesus and what He says and thinks become our highest value, we will see clearly.
There is a battle in the invisible world of thoughts and we must win it to have life. God has given us His words, His ways to think upon and the enemy has flooded the atmosphere and our feelings with thoughts of fear, doubt, accusation and worry. We get to choose what to listen to, what to think about and what to allow into our hearts.
From before humans were made, God had a plan to send His Son into the world to save the world and restore relationship with Himself. Jesus was the plan from before time and He humbled Himself as a seed to be implanted into the womb of a woman, to be born as an under-cover King and restore all that was lost back to it's original intention.
Weariness comes from our journeys in life. Journeys through difficult terrain, difficult circumstances, daily hardship. In the midst of weariness, Jesus puts out an invitation - "Come to Me." When we do, He takes the heaviness that we have and gives us what He has - rest, refreshing, joy, peace, hope, abundant life. As believers, we need to become consummate traders - those who daily trade with Jesus and stay full of His living water.
As believers through every generation upon the earth since the time of Christ, we are needing to navigate this age as lights in the darkness and pillars of truth. In this message, Matt begins to share about issues of our time and how we need to remain devoted to Jesus above all, while being fully alive and our minds transformed to make the right decisions that we need to make.
Every renewed follower of Jesus can hear His voice. When He speaks to us, it's important that we grow in understanding what He is saying, or interpreting what we are hearing. In this message, Matt shares some keys to interpreting and understanding what God is saying to us today.
Since the Creator of communication lives inside of His children, He is connected and can communicate to us in unlimited ways. He is speaking to each person and the adventure of life is to discover the ways that He is already talking with us so that we can listen and follow Him. In this message, Matt share over a dozen ways from the scriptures that God may be communicating to you already.
From the day we were born again, God has been speaking to you. He communicates in thousands of ways as He lives inside of you and is connected to every part of our lives. He communicates to you, for you, and for others. The adventure of life is daily asking Him to "speak, Lord. I'm listening," and then discovering the many ways that He is already talking.
We live surrounded by the temporal, but filled with eternity. None of us know how much time that we get here on the earth, but the time we do have effects our forever. Everything counts, is remembered and will be rewarded in the age ahead. The difficulties, the hardships and suffering will not be able to even be compared with the beauty and glory of what awaits us.
Jesus is building, cleansing and growing His body to become something radiant and ready for His return. We are this body, this gathering of devoted followers of the King who is directing us in these days to reflect Him in the earth. He is in love with His bride. We are a part of something greater than we can imagine and we have a purpose greater than we realize.
There is power in unity. Power in one-ness between us and Jesus, and unity among one another. As the Body of Christ, or the vehicle of the Kingdom in the earth, we were made for unity, connected to Him. The enemy works tirelessly to accuse and sever unity, separating us from Jesus and one another. Aware of his schemes, we must intentionally stay united in Christ and believing the best about one another - judgment free.
Throughout the centuries, Jesus has been building His body and using them to demonstrate the Kingdom of Heaven. His prayer that is still echoing is that all of His followers would be one, and when they are, His glory is seen to everyone. This is one of our goals, missions as the body of Christ. To be one and reflect heaven in each of our assemblies.
Every believer can hear God speaking, but we also need to understand what He is saying, what it means and how to apply it. Today, Matt shares some keys to interpreting and sharing with others the mysteries of God.
God is all knowing and in need of nothing, yet He has chosen to love and have relationship with us. As a multi-faceted being, He communicates to us in numerous ways and a large part of our journey in life is learning how to hear Him. In this message, Matt shares some of the thousands of ways that God speaks to His children.
Every born-again believer who has now become a son or daughter of God can now hear God speak personally. As a child of God, we have the privilege of hearing and communicating with God and enjoying Him. Life then becomes an adventure and each new day a discovery as we identify the ways that He speaks, He renews our minds and changes us while as we pursue Him.
The caveat to being forgiven by God is that we in turn forgive others. Jesus refused to get bitter in the midst of His crucifixion and forgave His offenders. Following Jesus means that we stay in a place of constant forgiveness toward others, and He has given us the Holy Spirit to help us supernaturally release to others the kind of forgiveness that we have received.
In this two-part series on Forgiveness, Matt shares about the beauty and power of the forgiveness that is offered to us through the person of Jesus and the sacrifice of His life. It takes humility to receive what we don't deserve, but without receiving by faith what Jesus has done for us, we are stuck with our mountain of sin, and kept from the life of the Son.
What does the Abraham, the father of our faith, have in common with Rahab, a prostitute? In this message, David finishes the second part of the study of the James passages about faith and works.
The law of supply and demands says that when supply is high, value is diminished. When supply is low, the value rises. The body of Christ has a high supply of voices, but a low supply of hands and feet. The value of laborers is at an all time high. In this message, David Olinger preaches from the book of James, “faith without works is dead.” This is a challenging message to our fellowship to step out and be the hands and feet of Jesus.
A short study in the life of a shepherd tending his sheep. The Lord as our Shepard, leads us, protects us, defends us, nourishes us, refreshes us, and lovingly pulls us back on life's trail when we slip or fall. He even rewards us for following him.
We get to have a relationship with the Creator, the most important and powerful being in the Universe. We are His children and He hears our prayers, our requests, but He desires to know us and wants us to desire to know Him. Knowing Him means adopting a posture of listening for Him daily and an adventure for our lives.
Genesis 28.10-22.Sorry to say that the recording cut out half way through... so you have to fill in the rest with your imagination. Blessings on that.