Tag School Yard Games #2 Series

3/21/21 A.M. “Tag” Matthew 4:13-22 School Games #2

A couple of weeks ago I preached an IMPORTANT MESSAGE on, “RED ROVER, RED ROVER let Mitch come on over.” If you missed it, you’ll be OK.

This morning I want to go back to the SCHOOL YARD. I guess I’ve been REMINISCING too much lately. But I want to look at another school yard game. Are you ready? “TAG”

Now when I was a kid there were three different versions of the game of TAG. You had REGULAR TAG where if you were touched by the TAGGER then you were OUT.

Then you had the MORE EXCITING version of the game called FREEZE TAG. When you were touched by the TAGGER you had to FREEZE. You couldn’t move until someone who hadn’t been tagged touched you and UNFROZE YOU. Now THAT’S the VERSION I liked to play. You see, in the REGULAR VERSION of TAG only one person got to go around and TAG people. But in FREEZE TAG if you saw a PRETTY GIRL get TAGGED you could make your way over there and “UNFREEZE” her. Then you were the HERO. I mean, things like that are pretty important in Grade School!!!

But then you had the version, “TAG YOU’RE IT!!!” That’s where, when you got TAGGED, you had to RUN AROUND trying to catch people and TAG THEM and then they were with you TRYING to TAG OTHER KIDS until everyone had been TAGGED. And that’s the VERSION I want to talk about today. TAG ... YOU’RE IT!!!

Man those were EXCITING TMES. Doesn’t that make you want to go out and play some TAG?

This morning I want to go back to the Book of Matthew. Matthew 4. In this chapter Jesus had FASTED for 40 days in the wilderness and afterward Satan had come to Him and began to TEMPT HIM.

A. He had TEMPTED Jesus in the FLESH.

“Jesus, I bet you’re hungry. If you’re really God make these STONES into BREAD.” And Jesus answered in Verse 4,

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

B. He is then TEMPTED with the PRIDE of LIFE. He takes Jesus up to the TOP of the TEMPLE. “Hey Jesus, if you’re REALLY GOD’S SON then he’ll take care of you. Right? Just throw yourself off.” He then quotes Psalms 91. Jesus answered in Verse 7,

“Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

C. Jesus is then TEMPTED with the LUST of the FLESH. Satan takes Him up to a HIGH MOUNTAIN. “Look around Jesus, everything you see I’ll give you if you’ll just BOW DOWN and WORSHIP ME.” Jesus then answered in Verse 10.

“Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Each time Jesus RESPONDED to Satan with scripture. Jesus TEACHING US how to HANDLE temptation when it comes our way. Go to the Word of God.

And so at this point, Jesus HEARS that John the Baptist has been thrown into PRISON. And so He departs for Galilee. And that’s where we will begin reading. Matthew 4 beginning at Verse 13.

“And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.”

As I was reading this it kind of STRUCK ME that, as Jesus came walking along, He basically said, “Tag you’re it.” “You’ve been chosen.” “You’re the one.” And what’s so AMAZING, these guys, WITHOUT FAIL, accepted the CALLING. And as they accepted THE CALLING they basically left EVERYTHING BEHIND. You know it’s NOT POPULAR PREACHING TODAY but when Jesus TAGS YOU, there’s going to be things you’re gonna need to LEAVE BEHIND. So that’s what I want to preach to you today. “Tag, you’re it.”