Matthew 4 - What We Can Learn

SF, Stagecoach, NV

Dear Brothers, Sisters, Prodigals and Unsaved

    Starting with Matthew Chapter 4 today and the Lessons within it; Jesus' temptations, how Jesus started His ministry, the first disciples and the ministry they had in Galilee.  Of course, there is much to learn and think about.  I HOPE and PRAY you're starting to do what Jesus said and did, as He taught me, [DWJD]. 

Verse 

1-2         Did you notice, that Jesus was lead into the wilderness, by the Holy Spirit, to be tempted by the twerp [satan] and He fasted for 40 days - then He was hungry?

              Why did Jesus have to be tempted, He was the Son of God after all and sinless?  Jesus in the flesh, was protected by His mother Mary and Abba His [Father], but He was still in the flesh, as you and I are.  We shouldn't complain about our trials, because 1) we're not perfect, 2) it matures us to seek the answers in His Word for authority and use it.  3) Health wise, we probably should not fast for 40 days, maybe a day once a week/month, to draw closer to Jesus or we can miss 1-2 meals  WHEN WE NEED A BREAKTHROUGH like David did in [1 Chronicles 14:8-11], Daniel [10:1-21] and Matthew [6:16-18] fasted in the New Testament [NT].  Fasting is primarily used to focus on our spirit, not our body, to get a breakthrough when we need one.  In truth, Fasting also leads to greater intimacy with our Lord, and a stronger fellowship with Jesus.

              Like us, once Jesus was baptized His commitment to Abba was made.  His purpose was to defeat God's enemy in the flesh.  Jesus could only do that if He did not turn away from Abba, during His trials - just as we MUST RUN to Jesus, as the enemy places trials in our paths.  YES, trials are not fun, but they get shorter and shorter, as we learn our authority in Jesus and use it to face any trial.

              [Hebrews 4:15 NKJV] "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all [points] tempted as [we are, yet] without sin." 

              When we get weakened; spirit, soul or body - that's when the enemy attacks to tempt us away from Jesus.  So if you are weakened or have a "lack of knowledge" in your faith, know the enemy WILL ATTACK!  Then again, he'll attack as you continue to grow too - that's his job!

              [Hosea 4:6 NKJV] "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children"  Yes, the Old Testament [OT] refers to the Jews, WE are no longer under the Law of Moses', because Abba sent Jesus, to set us free from the Law. Yet through Jesus, we are under Grace.  Which does not exclude the fact that we too must be tempted; to strengthen us spiritually, protect our bodies and nurture our souls and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom.

              [Revelation 1:5-6 NKJV] 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him [be] glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

              [Romans 10:4 NKJV] "For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." 

3-11       Jesus was tempted three (3) times and had VICTORY overcoming BY:
  1) The twerp tempted Jesus to using His powers to turn stone into bread when He was hungry.  Jesus used the Word to correct the twerp by quoting (Deuteronomy 8:3)
  2) The twerp took Jesus to a Holy City (Jerusalem) to the top of the temple.  Told Jesus to throw himself down - after all, Angels will bear Him up.  Jesus corrected what the Word said in (Deuteronomy 6:16).  Note: the twerp used an older scripture here.  One he hoped Jesus didn't know.  But Jesus was there in the beginning and knew all the scriptures - just like He knows the END.
  3) The twerp took Jesus to the highest mountain, saying ALL the kingdoms Jesus could see, he'd give Him IF He would bow down and worship the twerp.  Finally, Jesus had enough and said [as we should] BEGONE SATAN [in Jesus' name - for us].
  Then the twerp left and Angels ministered to Him. 
  As I've taught in previous blogs, we have the same AUTHORITY that Jesus had - He gave it to us, to stand against the enemy, to continue His work on earth - now you know why reading THE WORD is so important to us!

12-14      Jesus left Galilee; Nazareth and went to the Capernaum region of Zebulun and Naphtali.  This was to fulfill the words of [Isaiah 9:1].  Galilee was known for the Gentiles [or non-believers].

              [Romans 1:16 NKJV] "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

15-16     The Israelite's were sitting in darkness.  When Jesus came, they saw a great light.  Wherever Jesus went, He always chased out darkness from anyone's life and removed any shadow of death.
  Now He had their attention and He would preach; repentance and that Kingdom of God is near.

20-21     Two Zebedee brothers; James and John, Jesus called to them and the left their father and went with Jesus.  Something had to have stirred their spirits, to follow someone they didn't know and in this case, the Zebedee brothers immediately left their dad to follow Jesus.

24          Jesus went to their (Zebedee's) synagogues, PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL of the Kingdom, healing various diseases and sickness among the people.  News spreads fast, even in their time!  Jesus is now training 4 of His 12 disciples how to preach the Kingdom, heal the sick, Epileptics, Paralytics, and cast out demons and probably shocking them, that a man could do this.  But more and more people then followed Jesus, they might not have known who Jesus was, but they knew He was there to help them. 
  Do you think that Jesus was also teaching us?  Keep in mind, Jesus only did what Abba told Him to do each day.  Are you doing any of the above - to scary?  It shouldn't be, what Jesus did is what we're called to do.  (truthfully, for me, it's feeding the 4-5,000!  Since the Holy Spirit started my ministry with healing the sick and seeing manifestations when I prayed for others.  He had me after the first time!)  And I'll also tell you, He fed the 15 for me, when I couldn't.

25          The signs will only follow those who BELIEVE!  But more and more people followed Jesus.  Also note, Jesus healed their bodies first.  WHY?  He was setting the captives FREE and I know how hard it is to mentally understand, or think straight when your body is in pain.

    "Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick ... So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere" [Luke 9:1-2, 6].  Jesus told us to heal the sick.  Healing should not be an isolated, one-chance-in-a-100-or-1,000 type of occurrence.  Healing should be everywhere. It is part of the gospel. It is what will open the masses to the gospel. It is God's dinner bell for sinners to come and be saved.

    As usual, I'll close with this prayer 4 U:  Father, in Jesus' Name I'm asking You to reveal, to Your Children, how to think from Heaven's perspective, so we can release Heavenly solutions to others and help us NOT TO LEAD with our head, but with the heart of JESUS!  -  In Jesus' Name - AMEN! and AMEN!

Blessing to ALL, see you Thursday

Sandy F.

The Lord's Servant

FYI:  There's an old saying, TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT!  Also, WWJD...it's exactly what WE SHOULD BE DOING!