Matthew 4:12-17...

JESUS’ RETREAT TO the desert to fast may have seemed inconsistent with what some anticipated from a messianic deliverer.

But although he was weak at the end of a fast, Jesus vanquished Satan with a word of command.

This “deliverer” did not fit stereotypical messianic molds, because the power and authority Jesus displayed was neither militaristic nor political.

But his authority and power were staggering nonetheless. Jesus was

powerful enough to conquer the devilish ruler of this world,

universal enough to include both Jews and Gentiles in his messianic gospel,

authoritative enough to transform simple men into leaders of a movement that changed the course of history, and

effective enough to attend to the basic needs of the people—body, soul, and spirit.

This is the kind of messianic deliverer that advances the kingdom of God.

Matthew here begins his story of Jesus’ ministry, characteristically stressing the note of fulfilled prophecy.

He leaves the impression that Jesus was in Judea for some time after his baptism, moving to Galilee only after the arrest of the Baptist.

So Matthew is going to start his account of Jesus’ ministry with the fulfilment of prophecy.

It’s now time, when Jesus is to go forth to His great purpose.

There is much in this passage for every believer, layman and minister alike.

Every believer is called of God, actually sent into the world for a specific purpose.

The sad fact is that too many believers are not aware of their purpose.

They do not know why God sent them into the world.

I’m praying that God will call us to go forward as a church, knowing His purpose for our life together as a church.

Let us go forth as Christ went forth, to carry on the great task which God has given him to do.

Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2004). The Gospel according to Matthew: Chapters 1:1–16:12 (Vol. 1, p. 45). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

We are to be a church that is GUIDED.

"When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. "He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. "This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:” ()

When and Where is covered in these verses.

There was a sign to begin- John’s imprisonment. That’s when Jesus withdrew into Galilee.

John was sent to prepare the way, and the way was not fully prepared until John was removed from the scene.

Thought 1. The believer who lives and walks in Christ will be directed by God.

(1) He will know God’s purpose for his life.

(2) He will know when to go forth to his task, when to carry out God’s purpose for his life—just as Christ knew.

God will guide and direct His servant.

"He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” () "You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me up in glory.” ()

So Jesus withdraws and went “to live in Capernaum by the sea” (v13).

The billions of stars are lost when the sun rises. John goes to prison and then Jesus comes onto the scene.

Jesus knows that the the Pharisees in Judea were as much enemies to Him as Herod was to John,

But Jesus is going to supply that which was lacking in the ministry of John Baptist, and

to build upon the good foundation he had laid.

We come to see that God will not leave Himself without witness,

nor His church without guides;

when He removes one useful instrument, He can raise up another,

for He has the inexhaustible supply of the Spirit, and He will do it, if He has work to do.

Moses my servant is dead, John is cast into prison; now, therefore, Joshua, arise; Jesus, arise.

Jesus goes into Galilee.

Watch how awesome God is.

Throughout history Galilee had been invaded and repopulated again and again with different people and cultures from all over the world.

Galilee was strategically located. The world’s leading roads passed right through its borders. Merchants from all over the world passed through, boarding in its cities.

Galilee was heavily populated. It was also surrounded by the Samaritans, Phoenicians, and Syrians making it an open door for world evangelization.

This is when and where Jesus was guided.

Then we’re to be a church that FULFILLS Scripture.

Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2004). The Gospel according to Matthew: Chapters 1:1–16:12 (Vol. 1, p. 46). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

"This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:” ()

Jesus makes this deliberate decision to to to Galilee in order to fulfill Scripture!

As believers, followers of Christ, we are to heed Scripture! All of it! Peter says,

"Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly,” ()

We’re purified by obeying the truth!

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.” ()

"You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” ()

Ultimately what is written in Scripture must find its fulfilment in Christ!

Why would our Lord spend most of His time in despised Galilee?

In order to fulfill the divine purpose expressed in Scripture.

God has revealed what He desires us to be and may we endeavor to obey Scripture as well!

Oh may God work upon our hearts, that we might become a Church that endeavors to Fulfill Scripture.

Then we come right into The MISSION of the church. Purpose— Life: there was the mission. Christ’s mission was people; He focused on people.

Note what is said about the mission of Christ.

Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2004). The Gospel according to Matthew: Chapters 1:1–16:12 (Vol. 1, p. 47). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

He goes to the needy lands.

"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. "The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” ()

Note what is said about the mission of Christ.

He goes to the needy lands.

This is sovereign grace, in which God does the totally unexpected!

Not mainly to the Jerusalem upper class!! Oh no, no! But Jesus goes to the despised, sorely afflicted, and largely ignorant masses of Galilee!

A mixed Gentile-Jewish population, is where God would send His Son!

It was in and around Galilee that Jesus spent most of his incarnate life on earth.

It was here that he grew up; here also that he subsequently traveled from village to village on his

errands of mercy,

imparting comfort and

healing, and above all else

seeking to save the lost.

It was here that

he walked the shores and addressed the crowds.

It was in this general region that

he gathered around him a band of disciples.

It was from this northern portion of Palestine that

his words of life and beauty, of admonition and consolation,

were carried far and wide and from father to son.

I really want us to focus on our mission brothers and sisters!

On our mission, we’ll find that some are in greater darkness than others!

v16, “The people who live in darkness”.

We know that divine sovereignty runs through all of God’s dealings.

he doesn’t evenly spread out the privilege of hearing the gospel to all in the same way.

Some lands have never had a missionary step foot in their land!

And here in America we have churches on every corner! How do we explain that?

God poured out His favor and grace to us!

Some are born in church and others have never gathered in a time of worship with God’s people!

God gives these graces and privileges as He wills!

Darkness prevails on our mission field of Roselawn and abroad for several reasons!

IGNORANCE Few teachers of God’s Law had every been among them. They certainly didn’t know the letter of the law.

As it in here in our surrounding area, there are many, to whom the gospel, even the theory of it, is scarcely known!

Some places, that call themselves churches, you could sit in them for years and never actually even hear the gospel!

You’ll hear plenty of ranting of how sinful the nation is (maybe).

Preaching on their favorite preferences on bible versions and clothing attire.

Philosophy’s and traditions abound! And they are expounded upon and the gospel just fades into the distance!

Repent! Believe and Live go to the background, so that kids who learned to memorize the books of the bible as kids,

now don’t know the the plan of being saved by the righteousness of Jesus Christ!

There’s more darkness that follows. It’s the darkness of ERROR.

"Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes.”” ()

If people are not taught of God, they soon become taught of Satan.

Oh the mercy of God to save people out of heresy!

Those who have received false doctrine, and

added darkness to darkness in so doing, can yet be brought into the glorious light of truth.

Though they may have denied the Deity of Christ,

though they may have doubted the inspiration of Scripture,

Spurgeon, C. H. (1871). Light for Those Who Sit in Darkness. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 17, p. 506). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

though they may have doubted the inspiration of Scripture,

though they may have fallen into many traps and pitfalls of false doctrine,

though they may have fallen into many traps and pitfalls of false doctrine,

yet the Divine Shepherd,

when he seeks His lost sheep, can find them out and bring them home again.

People that are ignorant and in error and wrapped in DISCOMFORT AND SORROW.

“Darkness” expresses and type of sorrow.

The mind that doesn’t know God, doesn’t know the heart’s best rest!

There is no solace and comfort for their griefs like the gospel of Jesus Christ is for us!

And those that are ignorant of it and always tossed about upon a stormy sea and have no anchor!

It says in v16 that they lived in the land of the shadow of death.

Under death’s cold grip and depressing shade, as though grim death stood over them in all that they did!

This shadow has kept sinners from seeing the light of heaven.

Think too, for some here this morning. If you’re sitting IN the shadow of a thing, you’re near it.

And the sinner, one who is awakened to the condition of being guilty before God because of his sin,

is only sure of one thing, and that is, that he is in immediate danger of being cast into hell.

I’ve read of some who were afraid to close their eyes, lest then should open them in torments.

When a man is sin-sick, his soul detests all manner of spiritual food, and

unless the Beloved Physician shall steps in, the man will die of famine with the Bread of Life

spread out before him.

Brothers and sisters, if this speaks to anyone here, may the Lord visit you with His

saving health, and give to the saddest of you HIS joy and peace in believing.

It’s a devastating description, to live in darkness and to dwell in the shadow of death!

But there’s great hope and light (in these verses) for those in darkness and on the edge of hell!

The the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, the gospel did come!

Thielman, F. (2013). Matthew. In B. Chapell & D. Ortlund (Eds.), Gospel Transformation Bible: English Standard Version (p. 1273). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

It came with great power to the souls enveloped in gloom, the gospel comes today as a cheering and guiding light for you!

The gospel has reaped very rich fruit over

homosexuals

cannibals,

prostitutes,

drug addicts,

porn addicts,

drunkards,

God sent miracles of mercy to these repenters!

Those once enslaved to sin, their hearts are now warm, which rejoice in Jesus Name.

Those of us, who by God’s grace, we were emptied of hope and in total despair, like someone who wipes a clean wet dish, dry and then turns it upside down.

Wiped completely out of hope, we hadn’t even a drop left in us, but we rejoice in Christ Jesus today,

and we say to despairing souls, we are personal witnesses that Christ has saved such as you are today.

FEAR

In our case, He caused the light to sing on those who lived in darkness and

out of death’s cold shade into life’s full light He has brought us as prisoners of hope.

Therefore in can be the same for you today! Be of good courage, there is hope for you!

Listen to the call of the Kingdom to enter in!

"“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ()

How precious is that word for laboring and burdened sinners?

What do you say to the gracious words in Isaiah?

"The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I will answer them. I am the Lord, the God of Israel. I will not abandon them. "I will open rivers on the barren heights, and springs in the middle of the plains. I will turn the desert into a pool and dry land into springs.” ()

Listen to the light in the word of love:

"Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive.” ()

"Who is a God like you, forgiving iniquity and passing over rebellion for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not hold on to his anger forever because he delights in faithful love.” ()

Oh what sweet music to the downcast heart of sin!

"He will again have compassion on us; he will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” ()

And then there’s the three words that God used to save me.

"For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ()

Everyone who calls!

"Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.” ()

He is able to save completely!

Jesus tells His disciples to begin their labors in spreading the gospel in Jerusalem.

Amongst those who murdered Him, among the hypocritical Pharisees and pride filled Herodians.

They were to begin were the devils strongholds were the strongest!

They were to present Christ to the worst sinners first! How about us?

Let’s follow Jesus in these areas!

So, your neighbor’s and Save-a-lot workers, the greatest of sinners are around you, dwelling in the shadow of death,

and far from being excluded, they are just those to whom the good news was first meant to be published to!!

To those who live in darkness, there are special promises for them and we’re supposed to be telling them!!!

You see, at best we are all Davids. Forgiven Adulterers and Murderers.

David said, "Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you.” ()

Let’s teach those who rebel God’s ways and they will return to God!

Zealous saints are usually those who were once in the greatest of darkness!

They lived in the valley of the shadow of death, then came into union with the living God!

There is great and unshakable hope for troubled and poor souls!

And the hope contained in all those promises I read a moment ago, all point to a Person!

You see, these people who lived in darkness, saw something. They saw a great light (v16)!

Now Christ is not only light, but great light; He reveals great things, He manifests great comforts, saves us from great sin and great wrath, and prepares us for great glory. He is, however, a Saviour that must be seen.

“The people who live in darkness have seen a great light.”

Light is of no use unless it be seen.

Spurgeon, C. H. (1871). Light for Those Who Sit in Darkness. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 17, p. 511). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

Faith must grab hold of the blessings which the Savior brings!

"In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” ()

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” ()

““Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”” ()

How exactly is Christ the light to every believing eye and delivers troubled souls from eternal danger?

Well, there’s light in Christ name for troubled sinners. What is it? Jesus. Jesus, a Savior.

I am a sinner lost and ruined, but I rejoice, for

Jesus has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

My sins trouble me, but He shall save His people from their sins.

Satan annoys me, but He has come to destroy the works of the devil.

Then more encouragement in the title Christ, which means anointed.

Our Lord Jesus isn’t an amateur Savior, who’s come w/out a commission from God.

He didn’t come from heaven to go out on some adventure doing something that He’s not qualified to do!

No, the Spirit of the Lord is upon Him because the Lord anointed Him to do and accomplish the work of salvation of the souls of men.

Jesus is anointed from God and is utterly able and willing to save the guilty!

Darkness and death () were appropriate metaphors for the horrors of enemy invasion,

Darkness and death () were appropriate metaphors for the horrors of enemy invasion,

the consequence of human rebellion against God.

Now, in the preaching of Jesus in this same geographical region,

God shines the light of His truth on His people and urges them to choose life.

"From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.”” ()

God would have been just to reject His people and leave them to the darkness and death they had chosen for themselves

but He is a “merciful and gracious” God, “slow to anger, and abounding in faithful love and faithfulness” (; cf. ; ; ; ).

Jesus’ call to repent in advance of the coming kingdom, then,

is part of God’s continuing mercy toward those who had previously rejected him.

His proclamation of the coming kingdom remains a merciful reminder that

the heavenly kingdom will one day arrive in all its glory and bring light and life only to the repentant.

So watch this. What a church that’s on mission with God?

It’s a church that is guided by God.

It’s also a church that’s going to fulfill Scripture.

Let us seek the face of God as we close. And as we Behold our God!

Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2004). The Gospel according to Matthew: Chapters 1:1–16:12 (Vol. 1, p. 45). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

Wilkins, M. J. (2004). Matthew (p. 171). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.