Peter Ahlin

Guest Speaker - Peter Ahlin - Five Breakthroughs

Guest Speaker

Individual (Genesis 38:27-30)

Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in [Tamar’s] womb. And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.

Familial (Ruth 4:9-14,18-22)

Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day.” And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman.” So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel!”

Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron; Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab; Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon; Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.

National (1 Samuel 17:23-24,45-53)

As [David] talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron. Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents.

Global/Eternal (Acts 10:38-40; Hebrews 2:14-15; Colossians 2:13-15; 1 John 3:8)

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

(καταργέω -- to deprive of force, influence, power)

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

(λύω – to untie, loose | to dissolve, overthrow, destroy)

Transformational (1 Corinthians 15:57; Romans 5:17; Matthew 28:18; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:29; 1 John 5:4)

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Jesus said to them: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Whoever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.

Guest Speaker - Peter Ahlin

Guest Speaker Peter Ahlin

(1)    What will the world do?

a.       Living without awareness

(Matt 24:37-39) -- 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.

b.      Lawlessness spreading

(Genesis 6:5) The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

(Matt 24:12) Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.

c.       Laughing at any concept of judgment and accountability

(2 Peter 3:3-6)  In the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.

(2)    What is God doing?

a.       Preserving the heavens and earth for the day of judgment

(2 Peter 3:7,10) -- 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.  10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

b.      Preparing new heavens and a new earth

(2 Peter 3:13) 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

c.       Patiently waiting that as many as possible would be saved

(2 Peter 3:8-9) With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

(3)    What should we do? 

a.       Stand firm

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.

(Matthew 24:12-13; II Peter 3:17)

b.      Spotlessly live

(2 Peter 3:11,14) 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives! … Since you are looking forward to this [i.e. news heavens and new earth], make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.  (both judgment and reward motivate this)

c.       Speed His coming!

(2 Peter 3:12) 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

Second City Church: Guest Speaker Peter Ahlin 2016