Matthew 4 ~ Follow Jesus

  

Matthew 4

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.


12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”


18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”[b] 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 
22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.


23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.

 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 

25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

A Great Sermon at HopePointe Anglican Church
Oxford University's
The Rev'd Dr Simon Vibert  - Sermon Link
Director of the School of Preaching at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford
A joy and privilege to have him with us! He has a strong interest in training the next generation of Preachers. https://www.amazon.com/Simon-Vibert/e/B00DXKAMPC/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1


The Bible is Living and Active. And when we concentrate on Jesus, we are going to read a Scripture verse or chapter and see something different. We are all part of the Body of Christ and will have a different Purpose in Jesus Christ. This enables us to have conversation and reach out to the entire Body. This will provide a different viewpoint on Scripture - The Word of God is Nurture and Nourishment.

Why Matthew 4 During Lent?

Good point. Jesus was fulfilling the Word of God. When a ministry is begun - all of us will do something God does as well - Proverbs tells us - count the cost.

Lent is a season of preparing for the jolt of Holy Week. Remembering again the Terrible Cost of Amazing Grace. Jesus died for me. We are thinking of the absolute Gift of Jesus.

Jesus Servant King as a very auspicious presence in counting the cost. Someone who very dearly wants Jesus to count the cost as too high, too dear, too tragic, too messy, too uncomfortable, too ignoble, too insignificant for God, too inconspicuous, too ill advised, very un-glamorous.

God wants Jesus to be fully informed. The presence will use God in Deuteronomy to try for the path of good intentions.

What is the Cost to Minister Jesus

Jesus is - fully, completely informed of the cost. The Cost. Jesus has seen Nations and Glamor and Power. Jesus has Chosen to be - My Redeemer. Your Redeemer. The Redemption of your children. The Redemption of your grandchildren.

This is Truly the Son of God. A man fully - who has given wellness, healing, hope, encouragement and Love. His Blood will flow, His Heart will break - causing the murders to cry out, "This Truly is The Son of God."

What we Need to Represent God

Evil knows that to represent God - we are not sufficient. And Evil begins to plot what to ask Jesus to do. Tell us Your Strength. Tell us What You Can Do for Us.

Evil is not terribly creative. Evil repeats and repeats. Turn stones to bread. Feed The People. Give them something they will WANT you for. There are variations. Evil would say you deserve to be 'stoned'. You deserve the adultery - you hurt. You deserve to overspend. You deserve to be selfish. Evil starts out by saying "Give them something they Want."

Jesus - could do this. In fact Jesus rebukes the massive crowd fed after John the Baptist died and Jesus fed them to look beyond the visible. Jesus refuses to put on - a show.

Jesus The Lord -  is going with Truth. We will go with Jesus.

What We Think We Need to Represent God

Evil tries again. Be Spectacular. And reveals how Spectacular Spectacular can be. Jesus knows He is not a Rock Star, Jesus is the Foundation of God. The hope of mankind - our very Light and Life.

Jesus is our Righteousness. Jesus Tells us Be Confident and Bold before God Himself.

Hebrews 10:19
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus


1 Corinthians 1:26-30

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus,
who became to us wisdom from God,
righteousness
and sanctification
and redemption,
31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

The Response - The Word of God

Luke 10

18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”


Jesus did not want evil to be part of His Father's House. Jesus said rejoice your names are written in "Heaven" and plan on excluding what is not God's. Jesus was giving His Father. Giving. A new Heaven and a new earth. Giving.

Lent would be a good time to refrain from many things not pleasing to God.

The Deeds of God

Jesus did not plan on His Rise to Power. Jesus did not plot to take down Herod or Herod's children. Jesus did not plot to take over the Temple. Jesus did not say, "Set up tent here, lads." In fact, Jesus had a different response to the Treasury of the Temple.

Jesus frequently asked for privacy. Jesus frequently healed taking the dear beloved one privately and using gestures that the deaf could understand or the blind would have sensation to be involved.

Jesus frequently spoke in the wilderness. Jesus did not ask for money - Jesus asked for hearts. For lives of ministry. Sadly, Jesus rarely received gratitude outrageously. And Jesus received the gratitude after the Cost was given. Telling us, our fathers and our children and grandchildren "You will want to see the Days of Jesus."

Pleasing God Himself in Jesus Christ Our Righteous Lord

Father God, We want more of You.

Dwell within us, help us bring more Heaven to earth. We count on Your Righteousness to be our life. Help us to see Your Willingness daily. Send us there. We want to be pleasing to You as we work daily to be Loving, Mercy, Justice, humility, Hope, Faith, Joy, Peace, Goodness. Enable us and strengthen us to put You First, Jesus Christ.

Remind us to have Gratitude for Your Blessings. Call us to see Your Mercies Renew each Day.

We are not sufficient and call upon Your Mercy for those we Love and the people You have given us. Help us to lift Your Face to Shine and Smile. Give us the Joy Jesus tells us is His. Cover us in the Name of Jesus, Abba. And we will have Peace. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †