Getting To Work, God's Way

Matthew 4: 23 - 25

Jesus has called those who are following close to him. They have dropped everything to follow and with them at His side, their tasks begin. Jesus begins teaching, preaching and healing.

He goes straight to where the people currently go to learn and be instructed - the synagogues. He starts preaching obviously in a way not heard of before. Most likely, He's telling them - the structured rules that are impossible to follow have been supplemented with His love and grace. He lets them know that God doesn't want legalistic people concentrating on rules, He wants sincere people who love their neighbors, who care for others, who show God's love here on earth. He is telling them of how to bring heaven's love here. He wants followers who live the rules, not just know how to quote and abide with the laws. Also, note that He is healing every disease and sickness among the people. Can you imagine the uproar, the stories, the excitement? Word quickly spreads to other areas and as a result, people from all over are bringing the ill and ailing to Him. What does He do then? He heals them too. Talk about a stir to get a ministry going! And what do the people do - they follow Him.

We can learn much from this small passage. We are to be Christ here on earth and allow His love to abide here and make God's kingdom here. We are to go to our places of work, shopping and places of worship, teaching and learning and looking to heal everything. A big job, yes. A big God to make it happen, oh definitely yes. Look around at the world you touch everyday and realize that there are so many that need God's love, God's grace and God's healing and use Christ in you to heal EVERYONE! Not for our glory or fame, but for His glory and for bringing others into His kingdom. Oh how the world can and will change as we are Christ to the world we touch each day. And as we do follow Jesus, so will the world.

I challenge everyone, everywhere you go - go out, teach, learn and heal those who need Christ's touch and healing.

Matthew 4:
23.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
24.
News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.
25.
Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Calling the Ordinary to Extraordinary Tasks

Jesus has heard that John was out of commission in telling the tale of repentance and the Kingdom of God. So, Jesus comes into his own, preaching and teaching the Good News to others. Once He starts his ministry, He builds His support team. He first finds two sets of brothers and calls them and they follow. They leave their jobs to take on the heavenly mission that Christ has for them.

I think there are many pertinent facts to this that can be overlooked if you just read the story on the surface. First, Jesus realizes that even though He is God Himself, He needs others. He goes in search of His crew of men that He will use to catch souls. And where does he go? To the synagogues, to the palaces, to the universities, to the philosophers? No, he goes to the fishermen. He chooses those familiar with loss, familiar with hard work, familiar with God's creation. He chooses men who are rugged, hard working (probably smelly) guys who have seen life and walked the road of commoners. Once again, God uses the simple and plain to accomplish the glorious.

Secondly, Jesus called them just where they were. As they were working, at just this time in their life. That's where He's calling us - just where we are, just as we are, just when He needs us. How many of us think, when I get married, I can serve God better. When I have children, I'll go to church. When the children are older, I'll get more involved. When the children are gone, I'll get close to Christ then. Jesus is saying - come to Me now. Serve Me where you are. Quit making plans and make your way to Me.

Finally, the men themselves show us the enormous sacrifice they make to follow Jesus. Jesus knows the future and what will be coming, but without knowing, these four drop everything and follow. They don't go get a change of clothes, they don't wait until the slow season of fishing, they don't wait even until the end of their fishing day. They go. And go they do. This group of commoners with Christ's help and the power of the Holy Spirit turn a world upside down and started what we all can enjoy and participate in today.

So, I ask myself and you. What's keeping you from serving? Drop the nets, shut off the computer, turn off the TV, put down the video game controller, let go and let Christ lead you. I know that your life will never be the same again.

Matthew 4:

12.
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.
13.
Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali--
14.
to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
15.
"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--
16.
the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
17.
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
0.
The Calling of the First Disciples
0.
4:18-22pp -- Mk 1:16-20; Lk 5:2-11; Jn 1:35-42
18.
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
19.
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
20.
At once they left their nets and followed him.
21.
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,
22.
and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Making it God's Way

(Matthew 4: 1-11 below)

Jesus is baptized, God speaks His favor of the event and immediately, Jesus is carried into the wilderness. A little aside here....Have you ever noticed when you are really trying to do your best to follow Christ, the most ridiculous, trying, ungodly temptations, trials and stresses enter your life? Satan knows we often tie our feelings and emotions to our faith, and if the devil beats on us enough, he knows we might give up. Take heart, if the devil isn't trying to bring you down, he's already got you and knows he doesn't have to stress you.

Jesus is in the wilderness and the devil tempts Him in the most basic ways. Feed your flesh. Feed your need for immortality. Feed your thirst for power. Who doesn't want to be fed? Who doesn't want to live forever? Who doesn't want to have power and influence? Let's look closer into what Jesus is rejecting in the devil's temptations.

Satan finds a hungry, 40 day fasted Jesus. Satan tells Him - if you are who they say you are, let me see you "do your stuff." I know you're hungry, there's no food - make some food so you can eat. I know you can. Jesus knows that He can make the food, but He looks deeper into what is going on. Jesus tells the devil - I don't need food, I need the word of God. My body doesn't need food, My Spirit needs nourishment! Later in the New Testament, we hear further from Jesus: Seek first the Kingdom of God and everything else will be added to you. He gets the priorities right and doesn't abuse the power He has.

When the devil sees the temptation of the flesh won't work, Jesus is tempted to try the word of God. To tempt God, as it would be. How many times have many people we known or heard of been brought low by thinking they can participate in or be involved or entrapped into the ways of the world? Jesus sees the danger in the tempting of fate, the sampling of the devil's ways and doesn't tempt His soul with the suggestions of the evil one. In the Lord's prayer, we see lead us not into temptation - do not put yourself where you do not belong. Christians have no business dealing with the devil's playthings.

Then when the great liar sees he's about to lose, he gives Jesus the ultimate ultimatum - give up who you are, your being, your connection to God; worship the devil and everything will be given to Jesus. No way, not today, not tomorrow. Jesus doesn't trade today's power for eternity's promise.

So let's do as Jesus did. Let's face the evil one and the evil of this world with fasting and prayer. Know the Word of God and the promises of the Word. Feed your soul and your other needs will be fulfilled. Do not play around with evil, don't even be led toward temptation. The body is weak as many writers have said. Lean on the truth of God and follow His ways. And finally, keep your eyes on the eternal prize. Don't give up forever placing all your hopes on today and its futile, temporary promises.

1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'[a]"
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[b]"
7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'[c]"
8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'[d]"
11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Making God Proud

(Matthew 3: 13 - 17 below)

As I had written in my last posting, people were all coming out to John, showing repentance and being cleansed by baptism. Jesus goes out to His cousin to get the same baptism. Isn't this peculiar when you think of it? God in the flesh who needs no purification, no washing, no cleansing asks for baptism - the outward sign of a cleansed heart that is willing to repent. Why did He do it? I think it was to show that although He was God, at this moment, He was a man, and as any man needed to show His responsibility in the faith - to show the outward sign of cleansing. To show us that rituals and rites do have meaning. To link a physical action with a godly reason. To bring an activity on earth and connect it to a heavenly purpose. You see, I don't think Jesus was saying - I need the baptism to make me pure, He was saying, I need the baptism just as any man would that is to continue in the work of God. John is as humble as always when it comes to Christ - John states that not only is he not fit to baptize Jesus, that Jesus needs to baptize him. Jesus, knowing His calling and also knowing John's purpose, says no, Jesus must be baptized. And what happens when he does? He receives immediate fatherly approval from God. Not only does He receive approval, He gets the affirmation that what He was called to do is what God is pleased with.

We all have callings from God everyday to do things to link earthly action into heavenly purpose. I have not read the book, but it's out there entitled "Every Bush is Burning". From what I understand it's a metaphor of all the places, times and things that God uses to get our attention and call us for His purpose. What bushes have you seen lately that are burning? What things have you seen that God pulls you to so that you can pull the ordinary into the supernatural, the worldly into the godly, the earth into heaven? Let's all look around for those callings, doing those things that tie us to eternal servant hood to God. And we will find, God's spirit settling on us like a beautiful dove and hear His voice stating His love and approval to us. What better way to live can we find than in serving others in a heavenly purpose and hearing God say that He is pleased.


13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
15Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Calling Out to You

(Matthew 3:1-12 below)

John the Baptist, First Baptist, no less....Sorry, couldn't resist. John was Jesus' first cousin. Nothing is said of their relationship prior to their adulthood. Sometimes I wish we had more fill in the blank info on the years not recorded in scripture. John and Jesus had to have known each other growing up. In John's adulthood, he has either been called by God and/or seen who Jesus really is and has gone forth to notify the world of the impending ministry of Jesus. John has seen who Jesus is and John knows what he must do. As so many who come face to face with Jesus and so many that have come to Jesus since, John has to tell, John can't keep quiet, John wants EVERYONE to know.

John is in the desert. People have to come out to him, away from their homes. They are told to make straight paths for the Lord. I think this is quite telling. We are told to come to Jesus, leave our earthly ways, venture into an area where we are totally dependent, a desert of sorts, void of our earthly comforts. The story is telling us, pull away from the things holding you, come out to an area of total dependence, one where you aren't the provider, one where God provides.

Let's look deeper at John. He's one of a long list of Biblical misfits - those that society wouldn't see as significant, intelligent, having any purpose to attract any attention, except maybe scoffing and stares. God does with John as he often did in the Bible and in our day today. He calls John out to speak for Him. Calls him right where he is. Just as he is. John is probably one of the original granola and spring water folks. Not looking for attention, fame, fortune - just looking to do what God called him to do. And do it, he did. John called out for people to repent and be baptized. Called them to make a straight path for the Lord. Give God a straight path to their heart. The people confessed their sin and were baptized. Washed clean on the inside with an outward show of faithfulness.

The religious leaders came out to see what was causing people to go into the desert. John sees them, knows their purpose, maybe he can feel that they and their like are afraid of a personal, faith driven belief, not a belief on laws, regulations, connecting all the dots to favor with God. John has most likely grown up around these legalists and sees their teachings connected to the Law as a soon to be way of the past. He calls them a brood of vipers. A family of snakes. A community that breeds evil, a system that drives people away from God, a method of self dependence, not God dependence. John strikes right at their faith - don't rely on your past, your heritage, your rules of living. Instead John tells them, they must produce repentant fruit, fruit that is aligned with living a Godly life, not following stringent rule based religion. John then tells them that the ax is going to fall on their system of belief, their years of structure and law. He goes on to let them know that they aren't special. If God wants children who are "dumb as rocks", He will raise up the rocks to be "children of Abraham". What a blow this must have dealt to the religious leaders of the day. Can you see that in today's church? Let's see how it might go: The head of the administrative council goes to the pastor and states, "You know, our family, two generations ago started this church. We have always been here every Sunday, tithing faithfully, teaching Sunday school, why if it weren't for us, Sunday nights and Wednesday night services wouldn't even exist. But you know, our family has always been the owner of xyz, inc. and our largest client is the establishment you preached against on Sunday. Our family can't have you down talking our money source - you understand, don't you?" Now, just as then, the true faith in God will be the divining rod, the standard by which life will be measured. Jesus is coming to cut down the legality and emptiness of their religion and plant seeds of love, seeds of grace, forgiveness and joy. Jesus will be doing away with the hollow existence and live with us.

John goes on to say that his water baptism will be replaced by baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire. A baptism that will not only cleanse the repentant person, one that will set afire with the Spirit of God to serve and follow Jesus - the Spirit that will change the world. John relegates himself as a lowly servant not worthy to carry Jesus' sandals. A humble gesture to point to the true saving power, not to himself. John then states that Jesus will be harvesting the wheat and burning up the chaff, an uncomfortable picture, but one of accuracy as to the final judgement that we all will face.John has announced Jesus' coming. The common people have recognized the need for repentance and the "religious" ones are scoffing at the possibilities of this message that John is bringing. We are all searching in a wilderness for that "God shaped hole" that is in us all. Let us find Jesus, count ourselves as humble servants and continue to change the world with Jesus working through us.

1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' "[a]
4John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11"I baptize you with[b] water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Out of Egypt

(Matthew 2:19-23 below)

We don't know exactly when this happens, it states that Jesus is still a child. Herod has died and his plan of doing away with Jesus has failed. God sends and angel to speak to Joseph again - twice to be exact. The angel lets Joseph know that all is well, you can go back. Upon arriving in Israel, Joseph is told of danger since Herod's son is ruling in his former area. Under advisement from the angel in a dream, Joseph settles in Nazereth.

Nazereth - the Nazarene people - what is particular about this? Once again, God takes what people thinks should be and turns it upside down. Jesus, the King of the Jews is to be raised in Nazereth, a place that the Jews looked down upon as a poor area and thought that the people were not “pure” Jews. Jesus’ father was a carpenter. His family was not rich. Once again, God is showing - it's not where you're from, it's not who you know, it's not what you do, it's what you allow God to do with you, just where you are, as who you are and in all you do.

Joseph also shows us once again the value of listening to God. Joseph most likely didn't want to go to Egypt. He sees later the value in God's leading. He then most likely doesn't want to go to Nazereth, yet seeing Jesus grow and mature there speaks volumes of God's plan to Joseph.

We see here an often repeated refrain in God's Word. God leads us to places we don't understand, puts us places that aren't overly glamorous and God usually turns the world on its ear when it comes to choosing who, when and where His work will be done.

Is God leading you somewhere today? Does it not seem to make sense? Look backward at times of stress or difficulties you have survived in your life. Do you as I see deliverance in ways that we couldn't have even imagined to pray for? That's God's plan - God's working in us. Let us look forward with the same amount of trust in God's future for us as we have in knowing how He has successfully led us through our past.

19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."
21So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

Letting God Rule

(Matthew 2:13-18 below)

The wise men have left Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The gifts have been delivered and after the wise men have witnessed the Savior, they proceed home, interestingly by a different path. They have seen God on earth, realized Herod's attempted deception and in their wisdom have realized that this "King of the Jews" was no threat, He was a blessing. God comes to Joseph again in a dream. First God entered Joseph's dreams to tell him to keep Mary, change his plans to do away with her. The next time God speaks to Joseph, God tells Joseph to up and move from their home, to take refuge in another country. Joseph must think - you know, if I quit sleeping, maybe God can't keep changing my plans! But once again, good reliable, faithful Joseph does as commanded by God. He takes his family and flees to protect Jesus. Herod flies into an envious power hungry rage - no one will take his kingdom from him! He takes the gruesome path - kill all the boys in the Bethlehem area who are less than 2 years old. Imagine the fear, imagine the carnage. Just as in the days of Moses childhood, a self-centered, egotistical maniac leader murders innocents to get his way.

The story is a tragic one, one that makes you wonder how, why, what in the world is happening. Imagine the fathers and mothers, older brothers and sisters of the day seeing toddlers and babies murdered. Imagine Joseph and Mary, once in Egypt realizing that they have been delivered from the carnage in Bethlehem. What can be learned from the story?

We can see the pure rage and barbarianism that lies in us all if our goal is to be the ruler of our lives instead of Jesus. Sure, we wouldn't have children killed, but our misplaced rule of our lives plays out in different ways. We waste our time on the clock with non-productive activities; we get a friend to clock in for us when we're running late; we look over at someone else's paper because we don't quite know the answer; we take the extra $10 in change and don't say a word. All of these things are against what we know is right and what God's plan is for us. But we're not that bad, right? Bad is bad, wrong is wrong and we're looked at as Christians to be a reflection of Christ. If we rule instead of Jesus, our self-centered selves take over and we're seen, our actions don't perform to honor Christ and we fail.

What else can be seen from this? God does have a plan. God came to Joseph in a dream and told him what to do. Joseph surely realizes later what their fate would have been if he didn't listen. From Egypt, he surely holds Mary and Jesus close and thanks God that he was in tune enough not to doubt and to listen.

Two glaring distinctions are shown in the passage. Live as though you are God and the ruler of your life and the worst products of jealousy and rage will be the outcome. Live open and listening to God and let Him rule and safety, rest and a future is before you. Let us live as to let God rule. After all, it takes a lot of pressure off of us, to say the least.

13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."[f]
16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."[g]