The message and notes from Week 2 of the Awakening series.

Matthew 4:1-4 (NKJV)
¹ Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. ³ Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” ⁴ But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

This hunger for God is what fuels obedience

3 components of obedience

1. Hope/Fear based
2. Responsibility based
3. Passion/Affection based

Titus 2:11-14 (NKJV)
¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Drawing near to God

James 4:8 (NKJV)
⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Showing God love

John 14:15 (NKJV)
¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

1 John 5:3 (NKJV)
³ For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Overcoming temptation

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Here is a copy of the message and notes from the first week of the Awakening series. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

1 Corinthians 15:34 (NKJV)
³⁴ Awake to righteousness, and do not sin;

2 Peter 2:19 (NKJV)
¹⁹ While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

Romans 6:12-14 (NKJV)
¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body . . . but present yourselves to God . . . ¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)
⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

The Key to an Awakening

Before a person can have an awakening, there must be complete surrender and complete repentance in their life.

Romans 2:4 (NIV)
⁴ Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

James 4:2-8 (NIV)

² You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁴ You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? ⁶ But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:10 (NIV)
¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

The Grace of God Produces . . .

1. Hunger - An appetite to experience the presence of God.

   Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)
   ¹¹ You will show me the path of life;
   In Your presence is fullness of joy;

   Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)
   ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

2. Joyful Obedience - We show God love by obeying His commands.

   John 14:15 (NKJV)
   ¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

   1 John 5:3 (NIV)
   ³ This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

3. Connection - Connect to an accountability group of like minded people.

   James 5:16 (NKJV)
   ¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

4. Freedom

   Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
   ¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

   1 John 2:27 (NKJV)
   ²⁷ But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you . . .

   Isaiah 10:27 (NKJV)
   ²⁷ . . . And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.

   James 5:14 (NKJV)
   ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.