When God seems distant, absent, or silent, we should cry out to him saying: "we miss you, we need you, and we’re waiting on you!: We should plead with God to pour out his Spirit to revive our hearts, to restore our fortunes, and to reveal the glory of Christ crucified, both to us, and to those who don’t know Him.
God's King reveals His Kingdom
In this short passage from Matthew 4, we are given a rare opportunity. We are given the opportunity to see what type of kingdom, God's King, Jesus will have. It is one that we all want, one without suffering and pain, stigma and brokenness, and one we can all experience if we will but simply accept God's King, and what he calls us to do.
The call of the King - Matthew 4:18 - 22
When Jesus calls four brothers they immediately leave careers and family to follow him and his calling to become ‘fishers of men’. We see Jesus make a radical personal claim to be God’s King; Jesus demands a radical personal commitment to follow him; and Jesus gives a radical personal commission: to be fishers of men. Will you investigate Jesus claims? Will you make him number one in your workplace and relationships? Will you embrace his call to be calling people into his kingdom wherever Jesus leads you to follow?
The Light has dawned - Matthew 4: 12-17
Jesus is God’s King who brings light and life to everyone that lives in the darkness of this world - even those we might least expect. If we want to enter the light of his kingdom we have to turn away from trying to find light in this world, and surrender our lives to him as the Light of the world.
Triumphing over temptation - Matthew 4: 1-11
In this passage we see that we can triumph over temptation by fixing our eyes on Jesus, because as we do that we're reminded that our Father is good, he will protect us, and that he promised us eternal glory.
Looking behind the curtain - Matthew 3: 13-17
In this passage God gives us glimpse behind the curtain into the spiritual realm. As we look behind the curtain we see the Son submit, the Father speak, and the Spirit descend, and we see that God offers the opportunity to enter into the his family.
How John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus - Matthew 3: 1-12
John the Baptist prepares the way because that's who he is - it's his job - he also prepares the way in how he lives, what he does, and what he says.
Take Refuge in Jesus - Matthew 2:19-23 and Psalm 2
Jesus is God’s Son, Immanuel, the ruler of Israel, the true Israel, the true King, the Nazarene – we need to take refuge in him and in his death on the cross