At the end of Mtt 3, Jesus is baptized by John.
John is at first taken back- resists baptizing Jesus
Mtt 3:15
Jesus said to John- permit it at this time.
This was the moment in time that God chose for Jesus step out onto the stage of public ministry.
Mtt 4:1
Matthew- Jesus- led by the Spirit into the wilderness.
Mk 1:12 Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. NASU
Immediately- straightway, at once, immediately
There was a sense of urgency in this setting.
This was Jesus time and He was to step immediately into God’s purpose and calling for His life.
Jesus is led by God- into the wilderness- where He would be tempted by the devil.
Why did God lead Him into the wilderness?
What was this season of temptation all about?
Tempted- to try, test- to test one’s faith/character.
It was Satan’s effort to seduce Jesus from His allegiance to the Father.
Is this not what he did in- garden of Eden w/Adam?
The devil is known in the Bible as both the tempter and the accuser.
Mtt 4:12
Coming out of this experience- hears about John.
From here Jesus steps into His calling- busy about the Father’s work for His life.
30 years earlier he had been supernaturally conceived in the mother of a young girl by the power of- HS.
Now He steps forward- in God’s chosen time.
Just like Esther- young Jewish girl- raised up from obscurity into prominence- to become- queen.
No sooner is she in this position that she uncovers a plot to kill all the Jews in the country.
She has to risk her life by initiating an audience with the King in hopes of saving her people.
Esther 4:14 Est 4:14 “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" NASU
Both Esther and Jesus step into their ordained destinies in God’s appointed time.
Urgency
Mtt 4: 17
Usually focus on-word-repent-and it is-powerful word.
Repent- to think differently, change direction, to look back w/horror over your past life- decide to change.
However, I want to focus on the words-
At hand- to draw near, the time is hear, the nearness of God’s work, God is about to move in some way.
Mtt 4:18-22
V19 Follow Me- come here.
V21 He called them- invited them, to call out in a loud voice, to call one to stand before you.
Look at how all four of them respond to the Lord-
V20, v22 Immediately- they stopped what they were engaged in,
set aside what they were doing, and they followed Him.
There was an urgency that these men recognized in Jesus call on their lives.
They were normal people engaged in normal activity, like you and I, when Jesus interrupted their lives.
2000 years ago- for Peter/Andrew, and James/John-
this was not a time to hesitate or look back, but a time to count the cost,
lay aside their plans and allow God to establish His plans.
One of the things that has amazed me over the years- is the patience of God.
He really does not want any to perish, but He will not wait forever.
1 Pet 3:18-20
1 Pet 3:8-9
It is foolish for us to believe that things are going to go on forever.
Mtt 24:37-39
For many- return of- Lord will take them by surprise because they are so deeply engaged in this life.
Col 3:3-4
Is my life hidden in Christ or am I fully engaged in the here and now and
hidden from Christ?
The mission of Jesus Christ was/is to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God.
The message of the Kingdom is that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, and he is using His power to fix everything that sin and corruption has ruined in this world.
Certainly first and foremost in that is the human heart, but not just the human heart.
Jesus has come to bring healing to the entire world and as those in this world, if we repent, we can likewise enjoy the benefits of His Kingdom.
Col 1:15-20
Jesus died for our personal salvation, but also to put all things in the world He created back into their right place and relationship.
Ezra and Nehemiah.
Ezra 1:1-4
Jerusalem was in ruins, the Temple of God was in ruins.
God called a heathen King to release the Jews so they could go back and rebuild the Temple of God.
He exhorted both those who felt led by God to suffer the danger and hardships of the journey, as well as those who remained behind to offer their generous financial support.
Everyone was to participate in building of God’s Temple.
As they were called to participate in the building of the Temple, we are called to participate in the building of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus said the, Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
Ezra 7:6-9
Ezra responded to God’s call and found God’s favor.
It does not say he did not have difficulties, because the enemies were everywhere.
Because he was willing to step out, God’s supernatural provision was there to help Him.
Ezra 7:10
Ezra set his heart to-
study the law,
practice the law,
teach the law.
Set- to be established, readied, prepared, certain, to be firm or fixed, unchanging, enduring.
Study-
Practice-
Teach-
Ezra 9:3
Also look at Nehemiah, also involved in the work of rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple-
Neh 1:4
Both Ezra and Nehemiah were greatly affected by the spiritual condition of the Jewish people.
These men mourned because the people fell so short of God’s purposes for their lives.
When they took time to ask and discover the true condition of people spiritually, and understood their unfaithfulness of the people in their relationship with God, it says that they-
tore their garments, pulled out their hair, were appalled,
prayed,
confessed the sin of their people as their own,
wept,
laid prostrate before God,
mourned for days,
fasted.
First these men has a sense of urgency to God’s call upon the Jews in captivity to return to Jerusalem.
Life could not go on for them as normal, they had to participate, get involved, first in seeking God themselves, and second in helping the people to fulfill their divine destiny in the power of the Spirit of God.
Two thousands years later, should we not also have an urgency in our hearts to respond on God’s call to His people and His church?
Should we not also have compassion for the spiritual condition of the church?
Have we responded with-
tore their garments,
pulled out their hair,
were appalled,
prayed,
confessed the sin of their people as their own,
wept,
laid prostrate before God,
mourned for days,
fasted.
Notes
Two errors-
King w/o a kingdom
Kingdom w/o a King
Unbelief is a foundation for fear in our lives and opens the door of our hearts to fear.
Faith in a Sovereign God, one who is Holy, Good, and Righteous, produces peace in the heart of man.
Without faith we open ourselves up to fear, and without faith we cannot please God.
Heb 11:6
Do not doubt God’s Word, doubt your own doubt.
If we do not live our Christian life intentionally and with purpose, we will find ourselves stumbling through life, rather than being able to stand in the middle of adversity or whatever comes our way.
Jesus Christ became what we are so we can become like Him (who He is).
Wrong thinking leads to wrong believing and wrong believing leads to wrong confession.
1 Tim 6:12
