Kingdom Keys - Matthew Series

So maybe you’ve heard it said, ‘read your bible’ so you tried and failed. Our hope as leaders is that all of us will pick up God’s word and come to understand the true nature of God. After all, the bible is God’s Word curated over centuries detailing His nature, His will, the meaning of life and humanity’s historical interactions with Him. The Bible details the hidden keys to the Kingdom. Hence, the reason we are reviewing a new book each week.

This week we move to the first of the four gospels entitled Matthew. As the video highlights, the book’s larger message is to show that Jesus isn’t just another prophet or king. He’s the ultimate prophet-priest-king, the fulfillment of everything that Moses foreshadowed, the King who was promised to rescue Israel and restore humanity to the garden and God’s presence.

And even more, Jesus is God with us. He is the place where Heaven and Earth overlap permanently. A profound statement for sure but one that seems obvious in the scriptures.

But sometimes, what seems obvious to us is clouded with our human perspective. It reminds me of a story.

Me (in a tizzy): God, can I ask you something?

GOD: Sure.

Me: Promise you won’t get mad?

GOD: I promise.

Me (frustrated): Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today?

GOD: What do you mean?

Me: Well I woke up late,

GOD: Yes

Me: My car took forever to start,

GOD: Okay….

Me (growling): At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait

GOD: Hmmmm..

Me: On the way home, my phone went dead, just as I picked up a call

GOD: All right

Me (loudly): And to top it all off, when I got home, I just wanted to soak my feet in my foot massager and relax, but it wouldn’t work. Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?

GOD: Well let me see….. the death angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that.

Me (humbled): Oh…

GOD: I didn’t let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that might have hit you if you were on the road

Me (ashamed): …………

GOD: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn’t want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn’t afford to miss work

Me (embarrassed): Oh…..

GOD: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give a false witness about what you said on that call, I didn’t even let you talk to them so you would be covered

Me (softly): I see God

GOD: Oh and that foot massager, it had a short that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn’t think you wanted to be in the dark.

Me: I’m sorry God.

GOD: Don’t be sorry, just learn to trust me………in all things, the good and the bad

Me: I WILL trust you God

GOD: And don’t doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan

Me: I won’t God. And let me just tell you God, thank you for everything today.

GOD: You’re welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I love looking after my children. - http://persecutedchurch.info/2012/03/24/things-to-ponder/

Along these lines, let’s jump into the book of Matthew and one of its many points.

The gospel of Matthew offers four opportunities to learn what it means to “be thankful” or “grateful” as a Christian

The first insight comes to us from Matthew 11. Jesus is expressing his thankfulness for those who will not surrender to His authority and remain self-serving. Jesus actually praises God for these people who walk away and reject His teaching.

I know it's strange right? We often hear God wants everyone to come to Him “not willing for any to perish” (2 Pet 3:9) so what gives? Stick with me as I explain this first lesson of Christian Thankfulness.

We enter into Matthew 11 just after John the Baptist’s disciples have come to find out if Jesus is the one - the prophesied Messiah. He assures them He is, by telling them to look at the fruit of his ministry. As they leave to report back to John in prison, Jesus chastises the religious people from places where miracles happened but people were led to ignore the truth. In the most curious fashion, he gives thanks for those who wouldn’t listen. Jump down to verse 25.

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”