August 8, 2010
Evening Service

Matt. 4:12-25

 

Review:

1.      This morning we discussed Jesus’ baptism, and His being tempted by the devil.  We went on to say that the same thing will happen with you.  The spirit of satan, the same spirit that rose up in Cain, and killed his brother Abel, is still alive and well in this ole world.  As a matter of fact satan is referred to in these Scriptures:

·         Joh 14:30  Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

·         Joh 16:11  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

·         2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

·         Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

·         Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

 

So we can that just as God gave satan the ability to do what he did to Job, God has allowed satan this right of being called the prince of the power of the air, and the god of this world. 

 

So you see he had the right to offer, and to give to Jesus the things he tempted Him with.  But Jesus saw right through his tricks, and did not want to be separated from His Father.  You see in order to receive from satan, you must bow down, and worship him.

Mat 4:9  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

 

Jesus teaches us;  Mat 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 

Let’s go on with chapter four verses 12 – 25.

 

One thing to notice right off the bat, when satan leaves off tempting you, then you go about your Father’s business with power, and confidence.

 

Mat 4:12-25  Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;  (13)  And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: 

• Then Matthew shows us another Scripture that is fulfilled.

(14)  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,  (15)  The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, 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. 

• This prophecy came through the Prophet Isa. 9:1-2.

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

• You will notice that this is the same message that John came with.  They are still obligated to keep the law of Moses, and ceremonial washings under it.  It will be the same until the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord.  Then we will begin the Christian dispensation.  This began on the day of Pentecost AD 33.

 

(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. 

• I told you this morning that this Man had more charisma in His little finger than all these preachers today.  Never a man spoke like this man.
• What drew these men to Him?  Joh 6:44-45  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.  (45)  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
• You see you can’t be a true Jew without being religious.  They were taught the law of Moses, and most tried their best to live of it.  They were told to tell their children about being delivered from Egypt, by the hand of God, each Passover celebration.  They would discuss the things that God had done for them time and again, it was embedded in their minds.
• They would go to the synagogue, and hear the Word of God, and it’s like I’ve said many times, the ones with their cups turned upright, meaning the ones who were ready to receive from God are the ones that the Father could draw to the service of His Son.
• The same is true today.  You will never be truly happy until you have given yourself totally to God, and His service.  He must be first, then everything else will fall into place.
• Let satan know that he has no part with you, and to get away from you, and he will flee.  At the name of Jesus he must flee.

(23)  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.  (24)  And his fame went throughout all Syria:

• Preaching the gospel of the kingdom;   a gospel of love, peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation to God the Father.
• Healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.  He was very God, and He could make people whole.  He was using this to call His people to His side.  And those who had an ear to hear, would come, and follow Him.
• Throughout all Syria.  To think the Master walked on the very soil that now so hates Israel.  The very country that housed Damascus, the city in which Paul, and Barnabas was called to the missionary work that they did.  The place where the Scripture says, “the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.  (25)  And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.

 

The mighty works that Jesus did prompted this remark:

 

Mat 9:33  And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.  THIS IS OUR LORD, AND GOD.

 

Joh 20:30-31  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:  (31)  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.